If you're looking to take the plunge into social media and want to know what to do first, the answer is easy: listen.

It seems like so many people think the first step is to create a Twitter page or try to produce a viral video, but that's all wrong. The most powerful part about social media is that it allows you to listen in on THOUSANDS, if not MILLIONS of conversations about your brand, company, service or industry. Once you have a read on what people are saying, you'll be a lot better equipped to start that Twitter or Facebook page.