Following is a guest post from a dear friend and sometimes business partner, Sarah Robinson, who publishes The Maverick Mom.

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Up until late December 2008, social media was a term that was vague and very scary to me. I knew it had to do with blogs and Facebook and this thing called Twitter but I just couldn’t get my arms wrapped around it in any meaningful way or figure out how it was relevant to where I was trying to go with my business.

However, two colleagues who happen to be very good friends, Scott Stratten and Leesa Barnes, kept encouraging me to dip my toe in the social media stream. And since I was launching a new blog called The Maverick Mom, giving it a whirl seemed like a good idea.

So I jumped in. Tentatively at first because I had no idea what I was doing! But I found as I put myself out there, engaged in the conversations people were having and shared the resources that I thought might be helpful, that this whole new world of connections and conversation opened up.

Twitter Is Where It’s At

If I had to recommend just one social media tool (in addition to a blog of course) to kick up the social media game, it would be Twitter. If you are like I was at the beginning and just get plain overwhelmed when you look at twitter.com, I HIGHLY recommend using a twitter client like Seesmic desktop or Tweetdeck.

There are so many reasons I believe Twitter is so powerful

1. Instant, real-time conversations. The conversations often involve a request for help and instantly provided solutions; sometimes they share wisdom learned; sometimes they are just plain fun!
2. The quality of the population of Twitter. I don’t believe I’ve ever encountered a meeting place that attracts such smart, bright, funny, generous and supportive people in my life.
3. You get what you give. If you focus on being “interested” in others rather than straining to be “interesting” to others, the world of twitter will open for you like an oyster.

My Secret Weapon

Engage in the conversations people are already having! If, for example, John Haydon is spinning tunes and he plays a song you like, tell him so. If someone asks a question that you can help with, respond. And if you like something someone said, by all means tell them!

In the end, social media is all about developing relationships. Solid, honest, transparent relationships. And Twitter has given more of those than I ever though possible. Lucky me!