“I can’t keep up!” is one of the most common laments I hear from communicators about the ever-changing world of digital communication. After a finishing a talk or workshop, someone inevitably asks, “How do you stay on top of all this stuff? I’m always behind!”

I’m able to stay on top of all this stuff because it’s what I do for a living. I’m entirely sympathetic to the working communicator who puts in 60-plus hours a week doing his or her job and has to make an effort to stay current on tools and trends in his copious spare time.

Some might shake their heads in dismay that communicators working full-time for a company or agency aren’t consuming all the blogs, tweets and other media they are. But it’s called a fish bowl for a reason; most people are outside of it.

Fortunately, there are ways to keep up that don’t require too much time and may even be fun. Here’s a rundown of some of my favorites; please add your own sources in the comments.

Social Media Breakfasts

You’re interested in social media. You’re not alone. In your community, there are a lot of people in the same boat you’re in. They are corporate communicators, small business people, authors, entrepreneurs, educators and freelancers. Recognizing that ordinary folks were interested in learning what they could, and networking with each other, LiveWorld’s Bryan Person started a monthly breakfast in Boston. It has since blossomed into a movement with breakfasts now held in 35-plus cities in North America. And if there’s not one in your city, it’s easy enough to start one. (I’m one of the four organizers of the breakfasts in the San Francisco East Bay. It’s just not that time-consuming.)

The concept is simple. Show up. Eat breakfast. Talk with others who share your interest. Hear a speaker. There are no dues, no membership, and usually no cost for the breakfast thanks to sponsors. A monthly breakfast can keep you in the loop.

Social Media Breakfasts

The Social Media Club

The Social Media Club defines its mission as “connecting media makers from around the world to advance media literacy, promote industry standards, encourage ethical behavior and share the lessons they have learned.” The Social Media Club, like Social Media Breakfasts, the Club has humble origins when a few people interested in social media—including Chris Heuer and Howard Greenstein—put the group together as a loose-knit federation of local chapters. Also like the Breakfasts, The Social Media Club has been largely free of bureaucracy, although there has been an effort to formalize the organizational structure.

Local chapters have opened up around the world. Because members don’t pay dues, for the most part, it’s easy to participate. Just find a local event and attend.

And if there’s no chapter in your area, you can start one.

The Social Media Club

This Week in Tech

Leo Laporte’s weekly panel discussion usually runs well over 90 minutes, but seems much shorter. It helps to be a gadget geek, but trends in new media are routinely covered; you’re not likely to miss much if you listen to (or watch) the weekly wrap-up of the week’s technology news. Leo, the host, is the only weekly participant, but he has a cast of regulars that includes PC Magazine columnist John C. Dvorak, GigaOm’s Om Malik, AllThingsD’s Kara Swisher, Tom Merritt, The Houston Chronicle’s Dwight Silverman, Revision 3’s Veronica Belmont, Patrick Norton and far too many more to list.

This Week in Tech

Mashable and ReadWriteWeb

There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of blogs that cover the latest and greatest in digital and social media, but none will keep you up to speed better than Mashable and ReadWriteWeb. Of course, calling these “blogs” is like calling a Maserati a “car.” Yes, they use blogging platforms, but they are full-blown media properties, modern-day online publications dedicated to keeping you informed about everything new, important and interesting in the world of digital media. Mashable, launched by Pete Cashmore, claims more than 40 million monthly page views and calls itself “the top source for news in social and digital media, technology and web culture.” ReadWriteWeb calls itself “one of the most popular technology blogs in the world, known for offering insightful analysis about each day’s Internet industry news.” It was co-founded and is co-edited by Richard MacManus and Marshall Kirkpatrick. Subscribe to the RSS feeds or the twitter accounts, or just drop by from time to time.

Mashable
ReadWriteWeb

For Immediate Release

I would be remiss if I didn’t point you to the podcast I produce weekly with my co-host (and colleague and friend) Neville Hobson. While we make no effort to cover everything that’s going on, we hear frequently from our listeners that we have become a prime source of information about organizational communications in the digital media era. Who are we to argue with our listeners? And we’d be honored if you’d become a listener! The show runs about an hour each week, along with interviews, book reviews and other audio (and very occasional video) content posted whenever we get it. Unlike the other resources listed above, FIR (as we’re known among our listeners) focuses on the application of social and digital media specifically to the PR and communications profession.

For Immediate Release

Add your favorite resources for staying current in the comments. I suspect your recommendations will turn into a better list than mine!