Getting all Social

     Once upon a time..... okay, maybe it wasn't that long ago, being social meant your lucky shirt, or fave party frock, a group of friends, all in the same place and a night, a day, a weekend of fun. It didn't require a profile, a friend request or a tweet. Ahhh, good times. Life was so much simpler then.

     The WWW stepped in and changed all that. Then everyone HAD to have a cell phone. Now being social is media, networking. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Google +, LinkedIn, Reddit, StumbledUpon, Digg, Pinterest, Klout, RSS feeds and I'm sure there is a host of them I missed. Let's not forget the rise of the blog, that's why we're here after all. Living in the information/wireless/digital age.

     I've got my blog. I've got my Facebook page. I'm LinkedIn. I'm Google+ed. I have boards to Pin to. I just figured out how to schedule posts for the blog. I rarely update my Facebook status and only recently figured out, No I can't or don't know how to set up a separate Facebook page for it. LinkedIn keeps emailing me alerts about people I don't know and Google + although promising, requires yet more time to learn how it all goes together. I won't even start about Pin-ing. It can get a little overwhelming.

     I don't tweet, I don't own a cel phone. When I grow up and learn to take care of my toys OR they invent one that is surgically attached to my head, then I'll get yet another one.  Until recently I thought Twitter was a cell phone app. I must have known differently at some point but with Paris, Demi and Ashton flogging it in it's infancy, I took a pass and ignored it. Up until now.

     Why the change of heart?

      I'm exploring the blogsphere more. I can't tell you the number of times I either can't comment on or figure out how to follow a particular bit of the interweb. Blogger spoiled me. Everything I thought I wanted all tied up in one convenient, easy to follow package. Then people started adding 3rd party bits (Damn you IntenseDebate and your comment system that hates me) or linking to other places of interest where Blogger just won't let me follow. I bookmark everything, it's easy. I don't actually know how to use a reader program to follow along with a feed. Sad but true. My days of feeling even vaguely competent in cyberspace are over.

     Blogger is retiring GoogleFriendConnect. WTF. It was so easy to use. How will I bask in all of that bloggy love now? Why do I care who's following or if they're following.

    Your reasons may be different from mine but there is a real advantage to getting the word of my blog out there as widely as possible. I do family research. The more people my blog reaches, the better the chances of connecting with other relatives who have more pieces of the puzzle. And of course there is the basking. Who doesn't need a little more love?

     Where to turn? Ever Googled social media? Yeah, a bazillion hits. I'm still working on getting the social media buttons on my blog let alone figuring out how they all work. Am I alone in my quiet despair? I hope not. My solution, other than hours of reading about and testing all the different options. Why I'm turning to you. That's right all of you out there.

     February is social media month here in the Kitchen. Whether you're savvy or so far behind you think you're first like me, I want to hear about it. Comments are great, guest posts are even better. Email me if you'd like to participate. Maybe we can turn my flat line into a learning curve.

     Are you social?