I’ll be the first to admit I went into Facebook kicking and screaming.  Six months later I’m hanging out in cyberspace with 1700 of my “closest friends” .  Now I’m wrestling with the issue of:  To Tweet or Not To Tweet!  In the last year our world has completely changed.  Our definition of communication has changed.  Our networks have become totally global and we google, tweet, blog and friend people we don’t know all while “lol”ling.  

So, the challenge becomes, are you going to get involved in this new world of communication or sit on the sidelines and watch it pass you by?  I can’t top Scott Bourne’s incredible Guest Blog last month on the benefits of Twitter.  He’s a master and is now approaching 24,000 people following him.   However, I can give you some things to think about when you’re considering new ways to reach clients for children and family portraiture, brides for your wedding business, potential commercial clients or simply staying in touch with your peers.

Here are the stats:

Facebook has 200 million useers, with MySpace at 150 million, followed by Linkedin at 35million and Twitter now at 6-10 million.   All of this is SBG (Skip’s Best Guess) after digging through articles in Google.  Feel free to challenge me, discredit me and ban me from the Accounting Hall of Fame, because I can’t be off that much and no matter how you cut it, it’s a whole bunch of people involved in social media!

Your network and your power to reach thousands of people is now accessible with the click of your mouse, your i-phone or your Blackberry.   As you get involved you’ll learn the world has become an incredibly small place.  You’ll also learn that as your networks build it’s difficult to slow down and not become obsessive!  Better yet, read Dane Sanders’ book, “Fast Track Photographer” or attend one of his seminars.   Then repeat after me, “I am NOT my email!” “I am NOT my Tweets!”  “I am NOT my facebook page!”…I know you’re photographers, but get the picture?