Do you remember the first time you logged in to Facebook?

How about Twitter?

Every day countless people take their maiden voyage into the sea of social media. We all know that when it comes to the interwebs, there really is no toe dipping. You've got to dive right in!

So how can we be a lifeboat to those new to the social media scene?

• If you see someone "welcome" someone else on Twitter, check out their profile and ask them an open-ended question about it.  Get the conversation going.


• Now that the friend you've been begging to get on Facebook finally took the plunge, make sure you comment on their photos, encourage them to comment on yours, share your favorite app.  But please, please don't send them a Lil' Green Patch.


• Realize that everyone's comfort level is different...especially when it comes to privacy.  If one of your friends is new to Facebook, ask them permission before you start tagging them in those pictures of you all doing keg stands circa 1995.


• Ask your friends in your social media networks to help you make a friend that's just signed on to Twitter feel part of the crowd.  It's so overwhelming at first and a lot of people stop because they never get past the awkward stage.


• If you're showing a friend IRL how you use social networking, show them examples of other people using it that share similar interests with your friend.  They want to know that they can find other people than you (yes, sorry to say but true) to connect with online.

The key here is to not scare your less social media savvy friends away before they even get the hang of it.  Another important thing to keep in mind is knowing the reason behind their interest.  While social media is all about being social...the conversation...and the relationships.  Some people don't mix business and personal as much as the next guy.  In some cases, it's crucial to know what they're expectations and perspective are as you guide them.

Do you have any  stories and/or advice you can share about showing the social media new kids on the block the ropes?

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