#5in5 - Workflow tips for Social Networking Success - Five in Five series

Today's tips are really just common sense. When it comes right down to it, success usually relies on just executing what you know is right.

1. First thing in the morning, open your favorite browser.
2. Open separate tabs for the social media tools that you are committed to using faithfully
3. Set up a time on your calendar every day and book it as you would a meeting to update each one of the platforms (e.g. 8am - 815am Facebook, 815am - 830am LinkedIn, etc.)
4. Use your time to post/repost/retweet, to add a few new friends/connections. Honor the time commitment in your calendar so that you don't get "sucked" in. If you need more time for one component (e.g. writing a new blog or recording a video), then set aside a special amount of time or even a special day for that activity.
5. Perform at least one random act of social media kindness (write a recommendation, compliment someone else on something they have written).

Chicke Fitzgerald | founder | Solutionz Media

#5in5 Social Media Five in Five™ for newbies

For the uninitiated in Social Media (or Word of Mouth Media as we like to call it), all of the various platforms and tools can be overwhelming. You have accounts on LinkedIn and perhaps Plaxo and maybe even Facebook. But you do not yet have a strategy for how to make them work for you to further your reputation, your brand, your company or your career.

So for those that have not ventured out into the blogosphere or who do not yet Tweet your every thought, here is where to start. While this one may take more than 5 minutes, it will be worth the investment. Set yourself a time goal and schedule time into your calendar to get established with the right foundation.

1. YOUR LOOK - Find (or take) a photo of yourself that you like - I favor outside shots with foliage or flowers in the back with a natural pose. No mug shots or standing in front of a blank wall and please please don't crop a photo of you standing with someone else. Dress according to what you want to be doing. If you want to teach surfing, a photo with a suit and tie probably isn't appropriate.Use that photo for every site you are registered on so that you are "recognizable". It becomes a part of your brand.
2. YOUR MONIKER - Decide on a name that you will use throughout the social grid and try to stick with that as your username. I started in the early 90s on AOL as chickefitz as my screename and I use that as my name throughout the social grid for sites that don't allow me to use my full name. Consistency helps you remember and others will begin to recognize your moniker.
3. TAGLINE - Think about a 3-5 word phrase that describes who you are and what you do (not your title, but what you can accomplish for someone). I use "The Connector and Growth Coach" as my tagline.
4. YOUR PROFILE - Now this you may want to modify from site to site. But I recommend writing one profile description to use as a starting point.
5. YOUR CORE SITE(S) - You can't tackle the entire Social Grid in one day. Decide on one or two core sites that you will focus on initially to begin your social media journey. If you haven't touched your profile on your "core" sites recently, review them and make sure that they say what you want to say and will accomplish your goals.

Be kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to work on this and to lay a proper foundation for your journey. It can be fun. There is a lot to learn!

Stay tuned!

#5in5 DIGG Five in Five™

Today's Five in Five™ lays out five social media strategies that you can execute in five minutes using social bookmarking tool, DIGG.

1. Link your DIGG profile to your Facebook account, if you haven't already done so) by going into Profile, Settings, Facebook Connect.
   
2. Go into your PROFILE on DIGG (Profile, Settings, Customize Topics) and filter your favorite topics to make the home page results more relevant.
   
3. On your PROFILE page, click on FRIEND's ACTIVITY and DIGG one of the items (news, images or videos) posted by them.
   
4. On the HOME page of DIGG, click on POPULAR and find 3 stories that appeal to you and DIGG them
5. Sign up for the Best of DIGG (promoted on most every page of DIGG)

To learn more about DIGG basics and strategy,

#5in5 Twitter Five in Five™

Today's Word of Mouth Media Five in Five™ list is for Twitter™.

1. Look at the Twitter Trending Topics in the right margin on the Twitter page and follow someone that posted something interesting on a topic that intrigues you.
2. Retweet a post from a good friend
3. Search for your own name or company name in http://www.search.twitter.com and see what folks are saying. If no one is talking about you, check back in a week after using Twitter Five in Five™ and see if anything changes.
4. Thank someone that retweeted one of your posts
5. Using @ and the person's name, acknowledge several people that followed you recently

Word of Mouth Media™ launches Five in Five™

Participating in social media doesn't have to be time consuming.

There are some very simple things that you can do each day to further your social media strategy that will take less than 5 minutes.

Today Word of Mouth media launched "Five in Five™" or in Twitter parlance #5in5. The goal is to outline five social media strategies that can be done in just five minutes a day.

Whether you are trying to increase positive word of mouth activity about you or your company, getting on the social grid really boils down to regular activity (daily if possible) that:

• avoids the two bottom rungs of the Relationship Ladder, SPAM and NOISE and
  
• works toward relationship and engagement.
  

Understanding the importance of both relationship and engagement in social media is critical to being able to create the strategy that is right for you.

Join our Facebook Fan page and contribute your ideas for Five in Five.