I’m noticing something lately, in the differences between social media usage in different geographies.

Marketing Sensei – Susan Hurrell – just got back from the annual LERN conference in Chicago, which she attended with Dan Belhassen. Some of the insights they gleaned from the conference have gotten me thinking about how we’re using the tools in our locales.

In the states, Foursquare is everywhere. There are deals publicized, people are being encouraged to add social media to their shopping habits. Here in Winnipeg? not so much.

Elsewhere, use of Facebook and Twitter is far different as well.

There are more tweetups, more use of Facebook pages, Deals and Places – and the list goes on.

One of the things we need to realize about Social Media as a tool, rather than as a phenomenon or a practice, is that we need to make our actions appropriate to our environment. Sure, there’s a certain amount of customization you can apply to your actions in public to suit the global public, but unless you work for the internet, your business is probably going to be localized at least a little.

Are you following everyone from your local business area on Twitter? Have you connected with your local Chambers of Commerce in their online presence (if they have one)? Have you recognized local social media-active people and businesses with Twitter lists, or a LinkedIn group? Are you regularly touching base with these people?

If not… How can you do this better, and support the growth of your community – the physical one – into a thriving, socially connected community online?

Image by paul dex.