Practicing the P's of Social Media

If you're looking at the Social Media terrain like a lost country boy in downtown Manhattan, SusanGetgood at Marketing Roadmaps offers concise direction in engaging the Social Media landscape with The 4 P's of Social Media Engagement.

1. Prepare - find out what your customers are saying and what they care about by listening. I'll add a 1.5 here and say that after careful attention is paid, define your Purpose.
2. Participate - engage in the conversation. Be it by commenting on blogs or having a Twitter presence, get out from behind the counter and be part of the community.
3. Publish - Blogging, Podcasting, Slideshare, Instructables...something.
4. Pitch - As Susan says, preparation should always come before promotion.

Passion would probably be good additive here to fuel your trip. Being bland (aka trying to please everyone) will leave you on the side of the road flat.

Another great resource for beginning (or continuing) your Social Media journey is Chris Brogan's Social Media Starter Pack