A few years ago Internet Marketing meant having a website. (Or, if you were particularly savvy, it meant having a link on someone else's website as well.)  Man – how times have changed.

Internet Marketing is no longer about broadcasting to millions of people in cyber space. Now, Internet Marketing is about engaging people in a conversation. The world wide web has become a place were people interact, make friends, share information and build a network. The internet has become more and more like the real world, only it is happening online.

So with that in mind, you need realise your website is no more than an online brochure. Yes, it’s full of information about who you are and what you do, but just like in the real world, there is more to marketing your organisation than printing a flyer and leaving it in a stand for the odd passer by.

You still need to put that brochure in a place where people will see it. You still need to go out and talk to people face to face. You still need to develop relationships. In essence – simply having a brochure (online or otherwise) just ain’t enough.

Enter Social Media (eg. Twitter, Facebook, Bebo, MySpace, LinkedIn…the list is endless). Social Media is the online equivalent of joining a networking group in the real world. It enables you to meet new people, share information and learn new skills. You can develop relationships with potential members, clients, sponsors and supporters. You can stay in the loop about issues that affect your organisation, by talking with people who are also affected. It’s amazing what you discover about others in this forum, and in return, it’s amazing what your ‘friends / followers’ learn about you.

Mist social media sites have a how-to guide, but unless you’re already involved with social media, it is sometimes hard to understand. With that in mind, here are some basic how-to’s to get you started on Twitter – the latest social media phenomenon.

1. Go to www.twitter.com and click the ‘Get Started’ button. Simply follow the instructions to ‘sign up’.

2. Add a photograph or a logo, so that people know your Twitter account is for real. People want to know the conversation is genuine.

3. Make sure you fill in the one line bio, so that people can instantly tell if they want to ‘follow’ your conversation. If you don’t fill in the bio, you’ll get ignored like a wallflower at a party.

4. Search for people you would like to have a conversation with (or you would like to eavesdrop on). Use key words that relate to your area of interest eg. autism, schools, social services, New Zealand. When you find people of interest click ‘follow’.

5. Write an update. To start with your updates may be simple things like ‘Learning to use Twitter. Any tips appreciated’. As you learn more, you will use your updates to have more meaningful conversations.

6. Search for Kerri Tilby and then follow me. You’ll be able to follow my conversations, and get some ideas for making the most of your own Twitter account.

Happy Networking.

This article was first published in Tonic Magazine and was reproduced with permission from Exult. For information about Tonic, the fresh thinking magazine for community groups, please visit www.exult.co.nz .