2010: The year to be more interactive online

Interaction is vital in social media. You hear it all the time, and it's true. Many people who step into the world of social media feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start, though. Since the new year began, I've seen tons of blog posts and tweets about resolutions. It seems many people want to up their level of online interaction, which is great. Once you find your bearings in this space, it becomes second nature to interact. And honestly, it improves your experience.

If you're not already, here are a few ways to jump-start your online interactions:

• If you have a blog, an easy first step is to reply to those who comment on your posts. They took the time to read and comment, so why not take a minute to comment back? Plus, it's likely they raised a question or point that you'd like to respond to anyway. Some blogs have so many comments that it may be too time consuming to respond to everyone, but I have a feeling those people are already very interactive.

• Another easy way to interact online is to comment on other people's blogs. When I first started following blogs, I mainly just read them without commenting. I guess I was the "lurker." As time went on, however, I found myself adding my two cents to the mix. Many times a blog post is meant to start a discussion and the most interesting content is brought up in the comment section. If you find a post that especially interests you, don't be afraid to jump in.

• Twitter makes interaction so simple. Sharing interesting content and retweeting blog posts is great (it's one of the best ways to find new blogs to read), but interaction is the other part of Twitter. Send an @ reply and start a conversation with someone who raises an interesting question or to a follower who's looking for advice about buying a new power drill (if that's your specialty). You can also join a Twitter chat, like #journchat or #u30pro. You'll get to interact with a bunch of interesting people and gain some awesome insight.
  

In a realm where communication methods are endless, these are just a few ways to interact. You may be doing things completely differently, and that's okay. There's no right or wrong way to interact online.

That said, one thing to remember is that the online world is very similar to the offline world. Manners are still important. If someone does something nice for you, say thank you. If they went out of their way to help you, recognize this and be appreciative. Don't think that just because you're thousands of miles away from each other behind computer screens means that it's okay to act like a jerk. (This also goes for those of you who receive an e-mail that necessitates a reply and you ignore it. People notice.)

What are some of your favorite ways to interact online? Has your level of interaction improved your experience with Twitter, blogging, etc.?


*Image via wiredinstructor2.blogspot.com