This summer I decided to focus on learning more about community building, or social networking, sites.  Many nonprofits are using them to build relationships, spread the word, build the buzz and even raise money.  And if they're not using them now, they're thinking about it.

So I completed the LinkedIn profile I had began, somewhat half-heartedly, awhile back, created a MySpace and a Facebook profile. I "invited" some friends and sat back to see what came next.  It didn't take long.

The first thing that surprised me was that people "found me."  It seemed magical until I learned the tools for searching for and finding friends.  Soon the tools were giving me hints at how to find "friends."  A list of new members from the two universities where I received degrees from.  Friends of friends ("shared friends").  How to use your address book.

Then I got some emails from people I hadn't heard from in awhile. And a couple of 30-something nieces and nephews began to write and share family photos (which wasn't happening through regular emails).

The next surprising thing is--I'm having fun.  There's a key.  It's fun.  Hmmmm.  There may be something to this. 

 

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