The Real People Behind Social Media

By Lyn Mettler

AS A SELF-DESCRIBED GEEK when it comes to social media, I love spending time on all range of sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, and more. But, of course, all this “socializing” is actually spent staring at a computer screen or my iPhone, not at a real live human being.

That’s where a new group to Charleston—Social Media Club—comes in. It puts all of us geeks and wannabe geeks in a room together where, yes, we actually have to talk face to face. And whaddayaknow? It’s amazingly gratifying. As a colleague, Ben Cash of Blue Key, Inc., noted to me, we can’t forget that amidst all the Twitter and Facebook talk, what’s really going on here is two humans communicating; it’s just different tools we’re using to accomplish that.

So what is Social Media Club? It’s actually an international organization whose aim is to share best practices, establish ethics and standards, and promote media literacy across the Web 2.0 realm. Membership is free, and there are currently 65 active chapters around the world.

Social Media Club Charleston was started by several local people (myself included) who wanted to connect those in the Charleston community who have an interest in social media. The other founders include Jeff Webster of Rawle Murdy, Heather Solos of the HomeEc101 blog, Jared Smith of the College of Charleston, Nick Tompkins of Patriots Point, and Chad Norman of Blackbaud. Want a taste of the impact that social media is having? Watch this video:

I find myself in pure heaven at Social Media Club get-togethers with the chance to dialogue with others way smarter than I am about how to best use these tools, what’s new coming down the pipeline, and what’s working for others. But by no means is this group meant for just techie types; we want anyone in the Charleston community with a desire to learn more about this always-evolving medium to join in the conversation, ask questions, and learn.

If you’d like to join us, we’re planning monthly get-togethers—some networking, some educational. You can stay in touch by—well, of course—joining us on social media! Join our Facebook group, follow us on Twitter, or read our blog (still a work in progress). Come one, come all, and who knows, maybe you’ll be able to put a face with a Twitter name! •

About Lyn Mettler
Lyn is a social media nerd and the president of Step Ahead Inc., a company which combines the best of traditional public relations with social media campaigns to maximize visibility for clients both online and off. Lyn is the social media featured blogger for TwitterMoms.com and also blogs regularly on her company Web site. Follow her on Twitter at @webprgirl.