If you’re like most people, you get the impression that there are only a few "right" ways to use social media – and you’re not very good at any of them. The reality is that the Web 2.0 trend has created almost as many ways to use social media as there are users ... or at least 101 ways. Find out what you’re doing right, and capture a lot more ideas that can broaden your social media horizons.

1. 101 Ways to Use Social Media
or, Your Way’s Right, Too
Jon Evans & Will Gray
Social Media Club Greenville
13 April 2009

2. 1. Update people on your life

3. 2. Share things you like

4. 3. Create a business network
this is the heart of Will’s Facebook network

5. 4. Spread breaking news
one of many stories scooped in 08 by socmed

6. 5. Weekly promotions
like Liquid Highway’s Twitter Tuesdays

7. 6. Urgent power cord location
It worked for Guy Kawasaki & Will Gray, anyway.

8. 7. Develop your personal brand
Gary Vaynerchuk at Web 2.0 Expo (2008)

9. 8. Find freelance work
Or even a new job!

10. 9. Amber Alerts
this is the iPhone app

11. 10. Find people close to you
as in, actually close, not just touchy-feely close.

12. 11. Solve problems
Zicam found people talking about colds, and
gave them a free coupon

13. 12. Get / give a recommendation
a restaurant, spa, flight service, plumber —
you name it, someone’s got a recommendation

14. 13. Pimp a scooter
It worked for Jon

15. 14. Support a charity
start a movement

16. 15. Save links to great places
or even discover new fabulous places

17. 16. Make people laugh
check out “Facebook in Reality” on YouTube

18. 17. Live-blog a relevant event
Will did it for the Oscars

19. 18. Get feedback on your haircut
we wouldn’t recommend this style for you

20. 19. Check traffic before you drive
this also works for walking, bicycling & flying

21. 20. Use twitter to feed your dog
or even to let you know when your washing
machine’s finished

22. 21. Share stories that enrich lives
YouTube is a wonderful way to do it

23. 22. Pick up chicks
we would not recommend this

24. 23. Give them a way to meet you
prospective employers love it
so do new, overly-curious friends

25. 24. Stalk someone
we would actually not recommend this

26. Is there more than one right way?

27. Even better than knowing 101 ways to use social media
is knowing YOUR way.

28. The 4 Steps
to social media enlightenment

29. The 4 Steps
to finding your way

30. Step 1
who am I?

31. how do I introduce myself?
how do others introduce me?
could I define myself in a single sentence?
could I do it in a way that distinguishes me from
everyone else?

32. Step 2
what am I passionate about?

33. what would I do even if I wasn’t getting paid for it?
could someone create my ideal job?
take a Life Planning Day
what do other people ask me about?

34. Step 3
who do I want to listen?

35. who is in my tribe? who should be?
clients? prospective clients?
friends?
2 schools of thought:
befriend everyone you can
befriend as many relationships as you can maintain

36. Step 4
what do I want to say?

37. social media =
creating relevant conversation & building
community

38. what is relevant conversation for me?
NOT a restroom break
NOT flossing the cat’s teeth
maybe landing a new client
maybe asking the right questions
maybe talking about what I love / do best

39. The 4 Steps to Finding Your Way
1. who am I?
2. what am I passionate about?
3. who do I want to listen?
4. what do I want to say?

40. There are plenty more ways
for you to discover

41. 25. Write a novel
several people on twitter alone, let alone all the
novel blogs out there

42. 26. Get exercise accountability
more convenient, but easier to ignore?

43. 27. Advertise special sales
Dell made $1 million on sales thru Twitter in 2008

44. 28. Share a tune to start the day
blip.fm, ilike, imeem, and dozens of others

45. 29. Create a flash mob
17,000 took over Liverpool Station (London) in a
Facebook-driven event (Feb 2009)

46. Whatever you do,
find your way.