YouTube – 10 Step Custom Facebook Fan Page Widget.

Very often you hear about how people are using “free” social media tools to create their “brand”, to promote their wears or to connect with constituencies.

But there are costs… time, hosting and what I have found to be the biggest… SUPPORT.

Me? I’m a hack, I’m a self-taught computer geek who went to college to be a primary school teacher and fell into technology when web design was a way to do something creative.  I am always looking for help.  I’ve used Twitter, attended conferences and have never been afraid to ask a question, no matter how small or stupid I may think it is.

But what I really need, what helps me the most is when I can see something being done. Watching someone do it or seeing a video really helps me, which is why I love YouTube and all the other services and people out there who take their time to put together these little tutorial, like the one above.  It is this aspect of social media that I find the most intriguing and one of its greatest assets. Not only are people out there using these tools for their own purposes, they are using them to help others do the same.

There are some great web sites out there too that focus on social media in specific areas. edsocialmedia.com is a great example of how school and non-profits can use social media to help them in areas of educations, admissions, development and communications.  They bring together people in each of these areas of school life and have them tell their stories, their successes and failures and allow you to learn from them.

Social media, open source and free software all have a great allure for people, companies and schools… a way do reach people for little cost. It has always been what to do when I get stuck? How do I get help? Can I really rely on the community to get what I need? In most case this is yes and when it’s not can you afford $60 for a phone call for a little help (something I recently did)?

Thanks to all of you that are out there helping everyone and be so…. social!