Wikipedia is a virtual encyclopedia. Anyone can contribute or edit a page. If someone edits a page, the author is notified of the change. Human editors review the pages and remove any self-promotion or non-attributed material. Creating a Wikipedia page is much like doing a short research paper. First you start with a topic that is a legitimate encyclopedia-type entry. Then, you identify the sources you will use to document the information and write your content in a semi-outline form.

Adding content to a Wikipedia page is a little tricky. You need to use the code they provide to create bulleted or numbered lists, hyperlinks, insert photos, etc. It’s much like formatting in HTML code however the code is different. Photos also are tricky. You need to create a different account to submit photos. Once a photo is submitted correctly, you can add it to your page.

Once pages are created, you look for opportunities to cross-link from other Wikipedia pages.

Facebook may have started as a social networking site for college students, but it's gone mainstream now. The fastest growing user group is women 30+. It also has tremendous potential for businesses.

My advice is to set up a Facebook account and see what at the chatter is about. Then, set up a business profile page. The ideas for how to use this media will keep you awake at night!!!

For business profile samples see E-savvy Communications or St. Anthony's Medical Center pages.

Another aspect of social media is YouTube. This website started in 2005 and has become the "must-do" spot for video sharing with millions of videos posted and billions of viewers.

Businesses can set up their own branded YouTube channel. This has the advantage of some control over the videos YouTube suggests to viewers. However, like other social media, there is no guarantee that objectionable material won't be posted on your branded page.

If you'd like to see a sample, go to St. Anthony's Medical Center's channel.

I've had several clients ask recently about blogging: How to do it. When to do it.

Since blogging isn't something I've embraced, I decided to give it a try...get some experience and be a better resource for clients.

Your opinions are welcome!