Today, Social Media is the buzz word. Businesses are just starting to wake up to the fundamental changes affecting how we communicate, but some of us (Blog Stars represent) have been into it for years.

My approach has been to get into a tool, learn as much as I can about it, and build something with it. Now the tools can talk to each other, and it’s more about what you can build with a unique combination of the tools than what you can do with any one of them.

Here are the social media tools that are part of my daily routine, and how I use them. I hope that you will leave a comment and let me know about your social media matrix. I am super passionate about this stuff, and I absolutely love comparing notes with other people about it.

My social media tools of choice are Wordpress, Disqus, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.

WORDPRESS

This doesn’t actually count as a social media tool but I included it here because it’s important to have a destination, an online home soil that you’re bringing people to back to. Social Media sites are where you meet people and let them know what you’re about, but your home soil is where you call the shots and they’re your guests.

My home soil is this website, and my Super Party site. It’s my focus, even though it’s not where I spend the most time in the day.

DISQUS

I have installed the Disqus comments system on my blog because it’s the bomb. I can keep track of all of my comments across the whole internet (increasingly valuable as Disqus becomes a standard), and I can pump my comments out to Twitter or Facebook. And because you can login using your Facebook or Twitter account, it encourages way more interaction than Wordpress‘ default comments system.

FACEBOOK

Facebook is the greatest relationship management tool mankind has yet produced. Last year I noticed a lot of people talking smack about it but recently it looks like people have started giving it props again.

Facebook is where everyone is so to dismiss it is a pretty silly mistake. I would much rather people interact with my content on my own site than on the Facebook post announcing it, but you’ve got to go to where the people are and meet them on their terms before you can get them to join your world. This won’t matter soon because eventually there will be a service that sticks comments wherever the content is, regardless of what site they posted the comment on.

Facebook, the wall, and who has commented (how often and to what) is an absolutely vital part of how I decide what’s working, what to pursue, and what to do more of. It’s my main way of keeping track of people and it really screws with me when I need to interact with someone who is not on it.

TWITTER

It’s funny how misunderstood Twitter is, even after all the hype surrounding it last year. It’s at the point where it’s a classic gag, the thing about how non-users say “Why would I want to know what someone had for lunch?”

Twitter is like a party going on in a big house. The people you follow are in the same room as you. You join conversations, you overhear stuff that piques your interest, you meet new people, and you gravitate to people you share interests with.

I love Twitter because it’s like hanging out with a bunch of people who love social media and the Internet as much as me. I work alone but when I leave Tweetdeck running, with pop-up notifications of tweets by people on my personal VIP list, it’s like I’m sharing an office with dozens of people who are a lot of fun to be around.

YOUTUBE

Even though I’ve been on Youtube since the first year, I was kind of indecisive about what I want to do with it until quite recently. Additionally, I was kind of shy about putting up new stuff on it for a while (for reasons that might one day make another article) and it’s only this year that I’ve started to really go for it. There are other sites where your video might look a little nicer, and I recommend those sites to clients if the priority is a lovely visual presentation. But for engagement, community, and sheer numbers, Youtube is the place to be.  I’m meeting new people on there all the time, and I’m really looking forward to the day that I’m in the partner program.  I keep a Flip Video camera in my pocket wherever I go these days, collecting material that doubles as daily vlog material and screen tests for my next few movies.  How long can I keep it up for, uploading a vlog every day??? Click the Video tab above to see my daily vlog.

HOW IT ALL FITS TOGETHER

Here’s a typical day in my social media life: First thing I look at is my email. Then I open Tweetdeck, check my @ replies, scan my “Don’t Wanna Miss” list, and reply to whatever is interesting. Then I’ll leave Tweetdeck open while I’m putting up that day’s blog post.  I’ll send the link to that post out to Twitter and post it on Facebook, and then get down to whatever that day’s business is while my daily vlog uploads to Youtube.  Facebook emails me when there’s activity on my wall, and I check my feed whenever I pop over there.  Sometimes I have to turn Tweetdeck and my Gmail notifier off if I get behind or really need to focus, but mostly I love hearing from everyone throughout the day.

I love social media, the new ways we communicate, and how customizable it’s getting with very fine control over what updates get sent to which sites. It’s all very exciting stuff, and the landscape changes constantly. The important thing is not which sites you use, that you’re a part of it in whatever way suits your level of interest.

What social media sites do you like best?

Tags: disqus, facebook, internet, me, opinion, social media, social networking, tweetdeck, twitter, YouTube