Given the ever-changing and updated face of social media, how marketers or even individuals can navigate these choppy waters and keep up with the buzz

Social media is always awake and in that sense, there is always something happening or trending or changing in its realm. Whether it be new features being added to LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter; or new rules and regulations for members and visitors; or just a brand new look and feel of a social media entity, the constant buzz and change are not easy to navigate for everyone amidst all the clutter and chaos of daily living and multiple responsibilities. So how does one who is logged in, stay afloat in these murky waters and manage to remain clued in to the eternal buzz?

Being on the forefront of social media changes isn’t rocket science. There are many simple yet effective steps that one can take to ensure that you are on top of the latest trends, that too using social media itself. And what might those effective tools be?

1. Read social media news websites: Social media news websites do a good job of analysing, summarising, commenting and updating all the updates and developments in the space. By scanning or following these sites on a weekly or monthly basis, one can stay in the loop regarding all the happenings in the social media world. Some of the sites that help in this regard are Mashable, The Next Web, TechCrunch, Social Media Examiner and so on.

2. Set up weekly summary newsletters: If you don’t find joy in surfing through new sites every day, the other alternative would be to set up a subscription for a technology summary newsletter so that the news comes to you in a format that is easier on the eye and, most importantly, is delivered directly to your inbox.

3. Subscribe to RSS feeds: RSS or really simple syndication is a technology that allows you to subscribe to and read various websites all in one place. Thus, when you come across blogs or news sites related to social media, simply subscribe to their RSS feed and you are clued in.

4. Use a social bookmarking site: Sometimes, you find a great article that you want to get back to later when you can spare the time required to read and understand it at leisure. Social bookmarking sites such as Del.ic.ious allow you to bookmark news that you find.

5. Create a stream on Twitter with popular hashtags: The best place to find out about the most recent developments in social media is on its various platforms itself. Start by creating a stream on Twitter with popular social media hashtags such as #socialmediamarketing.

6. Follow industry leaders/ influencers: The beauty of social media is that experts and industry leaders are often logged into the buzz, too. Whether there is a new announcement or takeaway regarding the industry, company or social media itself you will find there industry leaders/ influencers tweeting and discussing about it real time. By following them you too stay clued in.

7. Use Google alerts on terms and influencers: Once you have a list of popular hashtags or terms and influencers, you can set up a Google alert for some of them. That way you will get regular updates when they post, or are interviewed or quoted. This way you are kept abreast of even breaking news from the industry.

8. Join a LinkedIn group: While discussions on LinkedIn are extremely lively, most importantly, this professional media networking site will also help you connect with other enthusiasts in your field of interest and network with them, while allowing you to learn something along the way. Not all groups that you find are relevant at times, but they offer you opportunities to meet and understand interesting ideas that are taking shape in related industries.

9. Facebook groups can also be of help: Similar to LinkedIn, Facebook groups can also help connect you with people who are sharing news, experiences and even asking for help. The advantage being that at times, you can even connect in person with folks in your neighborhood through the more unofficial forum that Facebook is. Most cities have localised clubs or groups that you can join and thereby stay in the loop.

10. Attend conferences or monitor through Twitter: Participating in a social media conference is a great way to hear from the experts and also have your questions answered. The biggest advantage of social media is that even if it is not possible for all of us to physically attend these gatherings, you can definitely follow them. All social media conferences have a corresponding hashtag that you can follow during the actual event and through the live updates/ tweets from participants, you have access to the information being shared and discussed on the ground.

11. Don’t forget your email: As we get caught up in the social media frenzy, we tend to forget scanning our emails for any important updates and news. There may be newsletters and other summaries designed and created for you waiting in your inbox to be looked at, which could possibly tell you of some new development that has passed you by in a flash. So make sure you utilise those subscriptions by reading those emails sitting in your inbox.

12. Make new friends: Take a close look at your friends circle — are they open to new technologies; do they talk passionately about the latest features of Facebook or Pinterest? One of the best ways to stay updated is to follow/ befriend/ link to other smart people in your industry. Most of the updates and perspectives one gets are from people who discover great content online. By connecting and following or networking with industry and thought leaders, you are also constantly exposed and updated on social media’s trends and ideas.

13. Listen to Podcasts: Podcasts are digital audio or video episodes that you can download and view/ hear at leisure. New episodes come out regularly and they represent the latest trends in innovation.

14. Watch social media TV: Surfing YouTube is a fun and informative way to stay up-to-speed on social media. For reliable and constant content subscribe to a YouTube channel that is focused solely on social media.

15. Learn visually from Pinterest: Pinterest is a great place to find infographics and visual information on social media. Add to that, Pinterest has tweaked their smart feed algorithm to ensure that the content you see and receive are more relevant, and of top quality.

Navigating social media while also sticking to your routine responsibilities can at times seem like running on a fast treadmill. But the beauty of social media is that one can, with a few intelligent tweaks, make it work for you in a manner that enhances your experiences and leaves you smarter and on top of the game.