In an international survey of social network users, InSites Consulting found that social network users trust brands' social sites for information about the brand itself, second to peer information. Is this astonishing? In the article, I also think about how nonprofits can utilize this information for their brands.

How do you explain social media to the public, no matter what their level of understanding? This was the issue we faced crafting an "overview" of social media. From this experience, I offer five basic ideas that you have to utilize in order to convey the concept of social media effectively.

Have you ever received a request to connect with someone on a social network, but you have no idea who this person is? Or why he or she wants to connect? In this post, I suggest the best practices for trying to connect with someone you don't know on Linkedin, and why.