Getting involved with Social Media is like boiling a frog. If you put a live frog in boiling water, he will jump out. If you put him in cold water and heat slowly, he will never notice, and you get frog legs for dinner.
For the novice, I usually suggest starting slowly. Read before you write, comment first, then try to create. To be actively engaged in the Web 2.0 world, without being overloaded a reasonable goal is :1 or more blogs, an RSS feed reader, one microblogging identities and accounts on business networking, social networking and aggregators. For a broader perspective on this check out the following posts:
- There is no social media overload - Louis Grey
- Justin korn – How to make sense of it
- Kyle Lacy and the 4 Touch Point Model
As a matter of fact, considering adding these folks to your “RSS Feed Reader” and check them out on a regtular basis.
I feel like I’ve read that frog quote before? In any case, I’ve learned a lot since I wrote that article and like you mentioned, it is important to take it slow and dip into the rapids slowly. It’s a fun ride once you are wet, but taking your time and finding your place is key.