Archive for May, 2009

Social media is a fabulous tool, when it’s used right. But, because of the power and breadth of the social sphere, one mistake can be dangerous. First, lets define what I mean when I say ‘social media’. Social Media encompasses blogging, twitter, facebook, linkedin, technorati, digg, etc… basically, any tool that you can use to connect and share with other indivisuals on the web.

Here are a few of the simple mistakes in social media to avoid:

1. Thinking if you delete something, it can’t be found. If you delete a facebook comment, a blog comment, a tweet, anything that is done in the online sphere, it can be found. Make sure that you wouldn’t be embarrassed about what you said if someone else found it.
2. Tweeting about everything that you do. Be yourself, be honest, but don’t tell everyone, everything. It is important to be a real person, but remember your boundaries or people will stop listening (thanks to @littlesunflowers.com)
3. Picking a name and not understanding the culture of the networking platform (from @HappyHourBoston). Your social networks should be easy to connect, but if you use your real name in some and not in others, you are losing out on that connection, not to mention search engine optimization.
4. Talking just for the sake of talking (whether on a blog, facebook, linkedin, etc). Sometimes it is okay to be silent and just read other peoples thoughts. You don’t need to comment on every blog post or write about every thought you have. Silence still is golden on the web sometimes.
5. Digging and Stumbling the same thing every one else has or worse, everything you see. Make sure that whatever you are giving credit deserves the credit. Or, find something that hasn’t been given credit yet and help them to get the credit they deserve. Pro’s like Brogan, Copyblogger and Kawasaki are going to get stumbled and dugg by everyone. Why not find someone who is less known and help promote their work?
6. A blog admin commenting on his own posts repeatedly as different users. he used his own email 4 all = same gravatar = fail (from @tonfue)
7. People not getting to know you, but always sending you messages about their benefits/charities. (@tanyaahedo‘s thoughts) This is a big one of facebook, where if you are a member of certain groups, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get spammed. But it shouldn’t be that way! If people join your group, treat them right, don’t spam them daily or they won’t be there for long.
8. Some days? Logging on. (courtesy of @MikeNeumann)

Remember, social media is a tool, one with sharp edges. And although most of us think we could never make these mistakes (oh, no, not me!), they are worth being reminded of.

Social media: It’s completely safe until you use it wrong…

Have you fallen victim to these? Or have another one to mention?

1. Twouble with Twitterers: yeah, ok, so I may be this bad sometimes…

2. Redesigning the Stop sign – if a marketing team was in charge of designing a stop sign…definitely true for some of the large agencies.

3. Font Fight – for the Web Geek in all of us (first shown to me by Creative Whirlwind)

4. Hulu and Dennis Leary – bliggity blogs, facey spacey’s, tweety pages…yeah, I couldn’t help but laugh

5. Your printer is a brat – for all of us who have dealt with the evilness of a printer…

If you couldn’t tell, I love to write. Absolutely passionate about writing. And it’s something that I do very well (not to sound conceited…). But, great writing isn’t born overnight. It takes practice, effort, training and did I mention practice? All writers have resources that we use when we need to improve our writing, but some writers would prefer not to admit that. I have no problem admitting I use other websites for advice, and even more, I like sharing those websites with other writers. I Have shared some of my best writing posts that I have written on my writing tips page, but those are just a tiny piece of the world of writing tips out there. So, here are a few tips from other writers (some from published authors, some from others like me, who write for fun and work).

1. The Economists style guide – this is the guide that they give to each columnist for the economist. My favorite section is the common misspellings. Although almost everything has spell check, it is still good to learn to spell better.

2. 3 killer words – Copyblogger is not one of my favorite bloggers, however this post was well written and definitely one i look back at often

3. Writer’s Prompts – The writer’s digest put together a great list of writing prompts that allow you to just start writing which is one of the easiest ways to improve your writing.

4. Misused words & phrases – As often as I use some of these words/phrases, I often forget which means which. This is a great resource to make sure you are choosing the right one

5. Jack Kerouac – strange, eclectic, incredible. His 30 tips for writing.

6. Thinkexist.com – ever wanted to find the perfect quote for a post or a story, this is where to find it.

7.  Futureisfiction – One of my side projects is a novel that I am working on. This site really helps when I am struggling with ‘punishing’ a character that I love

8. Descriptive words - whenever I am at a loss for the right word, I can just turn to this list. It has words for all types of categories, and really helps break word block. Sometimes just one of these words can help me create an entire post.

Let me know what you think of the articles – or if there are any that you use to help improve your writing.

One of the most important parts of social media marketing and blogging is to start a conversation. You can write and write all day, but if no one poses questions or contributes to the conversation, it gets pretty boring pretty quick. Comments are what keep the blog going and what keep a writer motivated through those tough days. The problem is: How do you get those comments/questions? I have asked my readers to de-lurk in the past, and it has greatly increased the level of comments that I have been getting (thanks all to you guys!). It has made the last few months of writing even more enjoyable and successful. As a little reward, I am giving you a bit of freedom.

I am asking you: What do you want to know?

This may be a dangerous question to pose to an audience, but I feel like taking a risk. So, for today and today only, I am giving YOU (my fabulous reader) the chance to ask me ANY question you want. It can be about marketing, social media, work, life, my condo, favorite book, anything that you want. Really, anything you want to know!

Let’s get the questions started!

I love reading blogs, almost as much as I love writing them. Over the last few weeks, I have read some exceptionally great ones. Not a single one came from a social media expert or marketing guru, they all came from people just like you an me, those who are passionate about what they do and it shows in their writing. Here are my favorite 8 blog posts from the last few weeks.

1. The secret password to customer service – Kyle Reddoch, The Everyday Web Expert

2. One of the best ads of all time – David MacGregor – Thought Spurs

3. 10 easiest ways to improve SEO – Brian Parks – Parks Design

4. Do they know what you want – Kneale Mann – One Mann’s Opinion

5. Creativity Tips: Use blue – Creative Instigation

6. Keeping up with social media upkeep – Brad Marley

7. Nail Salon – Angry Julie Monday

8. The Road to Hope – Suzanne Broughton – Alive in Wonderland

Make sure to share your thoughts with the authors – help build the conversation!

We know how difficult it can be to get motivated at the end of a long day, after working for hours (whether work that pays you or physical labor on the house…). But, there are ways to keep yourself motivated.

1. Take a break from everything and enjoy browsing the Internet. Most people have lost their enjoyment with the Internet because they spend so much time using it for work. Try ignoring all business sites for a little while and take a look around at the ‘fun sites’. My favorite? Cake Wrecks

2. Watch TV. No, I promise, it won’t rot your brain. Currently, I am watching “so you think you can dance“. It is amazing the power and skill that these men and women have. I am blown away at the creativity and skill of these individuals. Not only does it show pure dedication, but it will inspire anyone to try something new.

3. Just start writing. That’s what I did tonight. I didn’t want to break my 7+ week trend of writing every week day. So, I sat down, and just started writing. This may not be the best post I’ll ever write, but it got me thinking, and will help my end goal. Therefore, beneficial! And, if I have introduced someone to a new website and tv show? Even better.

What gets you motivated?

…and now it’s time to get back to painting!

Look around at the people in your life – those who have nothing to do with creativity or your work. Those are the people that are going to give you your next great blog post or idea for an advertisement.

1. IRL friend. Or a friend who isn’t on twitter, linkedin, blogging, stumbleupon, etc. More than likely they are on Facebook, but if they aren’t, even better. This person lives in the real world, and only in the real world. They will know what’s going on in the news but not from tweets or status updates. They will know it because they spent time looking for a story and reading articles. Ask them how their experience is without social media. What do they think when they hear all the radio/tv stations asking you to “follow” them.

2. The generation older than you (or 2 generations above you if you can). Ask them to tell you a story about growing up, college life, working, or raising a family. Listen to how they talk, the words that they use and how they engage you into the story. It’s like what Abigail Chase said to Ben Gates in National Treasure, “People don’t really talk that way, you know”. But they should…

3. A family member or friend under the age of 13. I have talked a few times about bringing out your inner child, whether it is through crayons and a coloring book or letting yourself lose control. But, neither are the same as actually talking with a child. Ask them what they think about something going on in the news, or have them tell you about their day. The fervor with which they use to describe one thing or the other is always interesting. Secondly, the younger generation can often help us to be more free, and have more fun in everything that we do.

4. A teenager (13-19). Despite some of them having a surly outlook on life – many of them are still willing to talk and analyze what is going on in the world (or their lives, which usually is their world anyway). Ask them about the communities in their school, cliques, groups, whatever. The same dynamics exist throughout the rest of our lives, but those in their teenage years often have a clearer picture of what is actually happening. In addition, these are the people who will be the most involved with social media, the newest trends and what needs to be created. They are the future of twitter, linkedin, facebook, etc. Knowing what they think and need will help us to craft the tools and technologies before they need them.

The point of these people – whomever you choose to talk with – is to find out a new perspective on something. Or, to take a step away from your everyday and check out someone else’s world.

Who would you choose to talk with? Is there a type of person I am missing?

Have you ever reached your creative breaking point and wondered where to turn for help? The usual coffee/glass of wine/rock music/running/etc just isn’t cutting it? Try breaking out your favorite tools from when you were 6 (okay, my favorite tools still!): A coloring book and crayons.

I am serious! I even talked about how my 10 year old niece reminded me of how powerful coloring can be last Christmas! But, as we ‘adults’ seem to do too often, we forget that it’s okay to turn back into a child once in a while, let our hair down and turn up our creativity. Next time you are in a rut, try letting yourself have a little fun – color outside the lines – and give your inner child the chance to show you how creative you can really be.

When is the last time you gave yourself the okay to be silly? Have you ever tried the crayons/coloring book for creativity method?

Twitter.

It’s been talked about incessantly for the last year or two. Everyone who isn’t on it, wants to know what it is. Everyone on it knows how powerful it can be. But – why do you tweet? Anyone ever asked you that one? We do it by the minute, by the hour, by the day and by the event. We cover the important and the mundane. We talk, connect and listen. We started because someone recommended that we try it, we kept going for our own reason. It is that reason that I find so interesting. Many of us are extroverts, and a lot are introverts. Twitter can give us a sense of protection or a place to be exhibitionists. It is, at the heart, a social network. And whether we need a reason or not, we all have one somewhere. My reason?

I tweet because it improves my writing, connects me to other interesting people and provides an outlet for my creativity without being judged.

So, tell us, why do you tweet?