By tweeting, tagging and recommending - women around the world are finally beginning to stand up as powerhouse users of social networking sites. The social media phenomenon is thriving amongst women due to the female willingness to build and cultivate online relationships. Savvy women are reaping the benefits of using social networking in their businesses, and enjoying the positives it brings to their personal lives. (Pictures include organisers Kristin Rohan, Catriona Pollard & Nancy Georges plus attendees) 
                                                                          
SheSpeaks' 2009 Social Media Study found that 86% of women are now using popular social networks, with 72% of these woman logging on to their account at least once a day. With such impressive numbers of women now belonging to online communities, the next logical step for many in these communities was to connect physically - enter Social Media Women groups. 
 
"Female social media involvement has been growing steadily for the past few years. The 'mum' bloggers really created these communities. Social Media is extraordinarily powerful, just being online is powerful - but actually meeting people is when real friendship and business connections happen. We're looking to build online and physical friendships," one of Social Media Women's organisers Catriona Pollard told www.connectedaustralia.com. 

Catriona, who owns CP Communications, is one women pioneering the use of Social Media in the Australian public relations industry and breaking new ground in demonstrating its efficacy to corporations.

Social Media Women is a group that was launched on International Women's Day and physically meets on the second Tuesday of the month. During the rest of the month the women continue to connect with each other on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs and the Social Media Women website.
 
"Our first meeting saw over 40 women attend on only a weeks notice, with 70 actually registering with the group. We had women attend who had no social networking experience, and some who run their own social media companies," Catriona explained.
 
Regardless of their experience, these women understand the power of social networking. One woman shared an incredibly inspirational story about how Twitter literally saved her life by allowing her to connect with people who she found better understood her.
 
"The group is about giving women a voice in social media. Even just by creating the group we've given women a voice. It's meant to be a venue for collaboration, inspriation and support. The group isn't just about tactics, we want to step back and look at the bigger picture - which is how social networking can change your everyday life," Catriona said.
 
For years women have taken a back seat to men in the social media world. The Social Media Women's group is intended also to be a Lobby Group for women, to give them the confidence to stand alongside men and call themselves 'social media experts.'

Catriona believes that women may come up against some initial resistance from male social media experts, but hopes that the whole community will get involved and support these groups.
 
Catriona and the other group organisers are hoping to reverse some current negative trends in the use of social networking. Currently, 25% of women are more likey to follow a man on twitter rather than a woman, and men have 15% more followers than women do.
We'll have to stay tuned for the positive results in the months to come!
 
Social Media Women meets in Sydney on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Keen social networkers can register @ www.socialmediawomen.eventbrite.com