I get this question all the time. I've also been sharing with fellow Periscope users the need to educate their target audiences about the social tool that took off like a rocket. Simply put, so many people - even ones active on social media - either haven't heard of Twitter's live streaming network, or are confused about what it does. In a nutshell... Periscope allows you … [Read more...]
How to Trickle Instagram Posts to Twitter
Automation tools are great, but using them properly is key. If you post several images to Instagram at the same time, using a buffering tool is a way to trickle out the tweets over time. In this example, I use IFTTT (a great tool for conditionally posting content or sending data to and from a plethora of apps and services) and Buffer to spread Instagram announcements to … [Read more...]
Twitter’s New Direct Message Update – Train Customers the Right Way
It's always been a little tricky. After publicly reaching out to a company on Twitter, I'd often receive a request to follow the user so a rep could continue the conversation behind-the-scenes. Now, Twitter is allowing users to receive direct messages from people they don't follow. The company announced the update on Monday. Businesses and websites that rely on Twitter for … [Read more...]
Hijacking this Hashtag was Brilliant… And Totally Acceptable
We've all been there. We click a Twitter hashtag of interest, and are stuck siphoning through spam. That, or a company creates a hashtag that totally backfires. Which begs the question: When is it okay to hijack a hashtag? Before you say never, check this "hijack" out for the #HotDogDay (used heavily on July 23rd for National Hot Dog Day): Two thumbs up for this great way … [Read more...]
Allow Customers to DM You on Twitter to Potentially Avoid Damaging Tweets
By default, in order to send a direct message (DM) on Twitter, the tweeter must be following you. It's a handy setting that helps cut down on "silent" spam. But businesses—especially online store owners—should consider checking the option to allow anyone to send you a private tweet. While you may open up the account to some additional, unwarranted private messages, allowing … [Read more...]
Which Social Networks Should I Be Using?
There are thousands of sites and networks that make up the social media aspect of the Internet. Many have little to no activity, while others may cater to specific types of industry. Then there are the "big guys" everyone notices, like Facebook, Twitter and Google +. Determining which platform to use for business can be a daunting task. I've seen small, little-known brands … [Read more...]
10 Reasons I’m Not Retweeting You
The key to succeeding on Twitter is influencing people. Your influence can be gaged in many ways. Inspiring retweets is one. Sounds easy, right? Actually, garnering retweets can be a daunting task, and those who accomplish this goal have one thing in common: they tweet with retweeting in mind. Here's 10 reasons you're not being retweeted: You don't follow the 140 character … [Read more...]
How Much Will News Agencies Gain from the Bin Laden Raid Tweets?
Pakastani IT consultant Sohaib Athar unknowingly live tweeted about the US raid on Osama Bin Laden. In the hours that followed, Sohaib (pronounced Suhayb) fielded several media requests and was inundated with messages from social media users across the globe. The consultant, however, wasn't looking for fame or fortune (he actually owns a small coffee shop and tweeted that … [Read more...]
Follow Friday 5: Take a Break…
Each week I pick 5 key folk to follow on the web (and Twitter) based on a selected topic. You can learn a great deal about engaging your users from these food and drink related companies: Dunkin' Donuts (@dunkindonuts) From social media contests to interacting with customers via Q&A, Dunkin' Donuts shows you really can boost sales via social networking. Like them on … [Read more...]
Social Media is Just a Fad…
That's an argument I hear often, especially from small business owners. There are few, though, who actually believe this. The bulk of them use it as an excuse for not taking the time to find ways to engage people. There are two factors that can equate to success in the social world: luck and risk. Luck Don't believe in luck? You should. It's what makes online campaigns go … [Read more...]
Follow Friday 5: Social Media Gurus
Each week I pick 5 key folk to follow on the web (and Twitter) based on a selected topic. The rules and trends of social media are ever changing. It makes sense to follow people who stay on top of the latest happenings. Here are five of my favorite tweeters focused on our social world: Social Media Examiner (@smexaminer) makes it fun to learn. I love these guys because they … [Read more...]
The Interesting “Sizzling Fajita” Effect
On Monday, uber-consultant Chris Brogan—who often uses personal experiences to teach or engage his followers—challenged us to find a way to create a chain reaction for online purchases. In his concise, logical post, Brogan explains how an order of fajita's passing through a restaurant dining room triggers more orders (ooh, the sizzle; ooh, the smell—its enough to make me want … [Read more...]