So, what is “adding value” anyway?

Adding value is the core of social media. When, for example, a user asks a question on your blog or via Twitter, a constructive, useful answer (maybe with a link to a reference website or blog post) would be deemed as “adding value” to the discussion taking place.

So it’s about answering questions then?

Not entirely. Sharing your blog posts with friends (via Twitter, Friendfeed, Facebook etc) could also be considered adding value. You are sharing information with the cloud (the internet and stream of users you are connected to) and, by sharing this information, you are potentially providing a resource of information from which other users can benefit. Photographs via Flickr, reviews via your blog, comments and questions via Twitter, bookmarks via Delicious- these are all ways to contribute – and add value – to the constant, general conversation online.

So posting a bunch of links is adding value then?

This is where the “quality over quantity” mantra comes into play. One link to an invaluable resource is more beneficial than ten links to average resources. If you see something interesting online that you believe other people will find interesting, share it. If you have photographs of a trip you took up the coast last year, share them on Flickr. Some people may never have seen the coast, or might like to visit and are unsure where to go or what to do, and your photography and comments could help them to decide and to potentially have a better holiday experience.

The above examples are on a small scale. They can be expanded and developed to make use of social media to advertise a service, showcase a work portfolio, or notify users of updates to your web application or service. The possibilities are endless, provided the time and appropriate approach to social media is taken… and provided you are adding value.

How do you add value using social media? Has it helped you? Please share in the comments.

Part one of this series focuses on the popular micro-blogging platform, Twitter.

Twitter started out in March 2006 as a micro-blogging platform that allowed users to send short messages (a maximum of 140 characters) to other users and into the general “Twitterstream”, answering the question “What are you doing?” Users are able to follow each other’s updates through the Twitterstream (or feed). Various other facilities have now been integrated into Twitter, including a tagging facility, search option and the ability to update your Twitterstream from virtually anywhere, whether via mobile phone application, mobile website, desktop application or via the website.

Micro-blogging is a fast and effective way of advertising your brand or website, sharing interesting articles and blog posts, or discussing topics of interest. It is also invaluable for monitoring discussions about your brand or business and for responding to queries that may arise. A wide range of third-party websites have also been created through Twitter’s extensive application programming interface.

At first glance, this may all seem a bit pointless. And sending out short messages to users you may not even know in person might sound a bit ridiculous. At this point, I’d like to mention a quote by David on From-the-Couch from a few weeks ago that went something along the lines of “Social media starts inside, but it ends outside.”

If you aren’t using Twitter at the moment, I advise you get an account. Search for discussions or topics that interest you, and follow interact with users you find interesting.

What are your thoughts on Twitter? How has it helped you? Let us know!