Fall Guest Post Series: Social Networking

I really just have to say thank you again for all of your amazing, and supportive comments. My surgery recap was hard to write, and I love how so many of you are reaching out in comments, tweets, and e-mails to make sure I’m doing OK. Many of you have commented about how great Jeff is being, and all I have to say to that is that you’re right, he is great, and he’s mine!

I feel a little bit better every day, and when I have the results from the biopsy, you’ll be the first to know.. well, after I tell Jeff, and my family, that is.

Today, my mother is driving two and a half hours to visit me and she’s bringing eggplant lasagna. (I love post-surgery food). Since I’ll be away from my computer for most of the day, I think that it’s the perfect time for Katy’s guest post on social networking.

Katy has provided me with a lot of support over the past couple days, and I plan to give her a huge hug when I meet her (I will meet her at some point- that’s a promise). A lot of you know Katy as the mastermind behind the #fitblog chats on Tuesday nights (@kwidrick). I knew before she even sent me her guest post, that she’d be the perfect person to discuss social networking and blogging. I know you guys will agree.

How Social Networking Can Make You a Better Blogger

Sometimes, the hardest part of healthy living is knowing who you can turn to for both the successes and the failures. Our friends and family can be the most supportive people in the world, but they don’t always know how to replace butter with applesauce in a cookie recipe, or provide the definition of a negative split. Am I right?

Enter: social networking –  a concept that allows people from all over the world to connect, offer resources and support and find friendships. Let’s break it down with a few definitions:

Social*: pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations: a social club. (*source: dictionary.com)

Networking: a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest: Working mothers in the community use networking to help themselves manage successfully.

From a practical sense, social networking is just the idea that you promote your work or the work of others (blog posts, articles, videos, etc.), ask questions, make statements, share opinions, etc. to MANY rather than just to ONE.

So how can it make you healthier and happier to join others on blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other online homes?

1. We’re better together.
   • Why get one opinion when you can get hundreds? You’ll feel more secure about your decision and have a community to fall back on. Take that applesauce example – there are plenty of ways to make cookie recipes more healthy. When you reach out to your networks, you’ll get more options, more reviews and more choice. That means you’re (what what?) more likely to follow through!
   • Get inspired by: the #fitblog Twitter list; Healthy Living Blogs; Fitbloggers Guide
2. Get access to experts, thought leaders, big names and brands.
   • Social networking levels the playing field. If you’re a huge fan of a person or a brand, and you connect with them online, you are likely to get personal and timely responses.
   • Get inspired by: Happy Herbivore on Facebook; Chalene Johnson; Nasoya on Twitter; Sears Fit Club
3. Continue and expand in-person connections:
   • How many times have you met someone at a special event, a party or a conference and wished that you could continue your conversation? Or stuck their name and number in your address book for future use? Social networking allows you to turn “someday” into “today.”
4. Discover local resources:
   • I find that the best connections I make through social networking are with people or brands that I have access to in my area. I love getting coupons or finding out about sales from nearby health food stores, or horning in on health and fitness events organized in my city.
   • Get inspired by: “Find Friends” option on Facebook; Foursquare; Yelp!
5. Butt-kicking and motivation:
   • Forget coupons and classes – sometimes, the thing you need most is someone to tell you to get your butt to the gym, or talk you out of eating that greasy cheeseburger at midnight. With social networking, someone is always listening!

Having said all that –  I’d love to connect with you! Come hang out at my blog, http://KatyWidrick.com, where you’ll find links to friend request me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, email me your thoughts and more. Happy networking!

Thanks, Katy!

Guys, I’d like your input on the Fall Guest Post Series? Love it? Hate it? I want to know! If you love it, I’d like to continue featuring guest posts through 2011.

Also, you can find all of the posts from the Fall Guest Post Series by clicking the Guest Post tab above. I plan to make a separate page for this in the future.