Justin Bieber Is Not Newsworthy: Why Twitter Isn't Relevant Anymore

Justin Bieber has been in a lot of hot water lately, but is the Biebs really considered newsworthy? With everything else happening in this world, our crazy weather, etc., my vote is NO! This New York Times article agrees that Twitter isn't about the most important and relevant news anymore. Justin Bieber is definitely NOT considered relevant (big shocker):

"But by far, the most common refrain was something like this: “Why is this news??”

The simplest answer is that it wasn’t — at least not the most important news happening on that particular day. But Twitter isn’t really about the most important thing anymore — it stopped being about relevancy a long time ago. Twitter seems to have reached a turning point, a phase in which its contributors have stopped trying to make the service as useful as possible for the crowd, and are instead trying to distinguish themselves from one another. It’s less about drifting down the stream, absorbing what you can while you float, and more about trying to make the flashiest raft to float on, gathering fans and accolades as you go."

According to the article, Twitter really isn't about how many followers you have anymore:

"What does matter, however, is how many people notice you, either through retweets, favorites or the holy grail, a retweet by someone extremely well known, like a celebrity. That validation that your contribution is important, interesting or worthy is enough social proof to encourage repetition."

This article makes me wonder what's in store for Twitter's future, and social media in general. Will the "tweeting" novelty eventually wear off for the average social media user? Obviously, tweeting is still going strong. Celebrities are always getting in trouble for posting nasty tweets and "questionable" selfies on their Twitter. Is it all just a big publicity stunt these days, especially for celebs and those in the limelight?

Is Twitter really a popularity contest that feed people's inflated egos, and gives them personal validation through "likes"? My vote is a resounding yes. This applies to Facebook as well. Social media is a valuable marketing tool, in my opinion, but some people view and use social media as their own shallow beauty/popularity contest. And that gets old fast.

Do you use Twitter as a social media marketing platform? Do you think that Twitter has gone down the tubes? 

The Power of Social Media: How Facebook Helped Solve a Crime

I watched a local news segment on Saturday night about a local businesswoman in Sacramento, Calif. who sells hand crafted artisanal ice cream (Popcycle Creamery) and how her custom bike was stolen, despite it being locked up in a secure location. It was disheartening as the bicycle is used as part of her cart/business, and I felt so bad for her (since this is how she generates her income). One of my friends posted on Facebook to keep an eye out for her bike, and even though I don't live in Sacramento anymore I wanted to follow the story and show my support.

There's a happy ending to her story as her bike was recovered yesterday (luckily, with minimal damage and it's still in good shape to ride) - THANKS to the power of social media and local Sacramento law enforcement!

When you start to become frustrated with social media and think it's a waste of time, think again. Because of social media, a crime was solved and this woman can now return to selling her yummy ice cream.

This is from Popcycle Creamery's Facebook page:

"Good morning POP peeps! I just want to send a special thanks to CBS Sacramento and Sacramento Police Department for their vital roles in recovering my POPcycle!

On Sunday afternoon, 2 officers were in the Del Paso Heights neighborhood taking care of business and one of the officers spotted the POPcycle sitting abandoned in an alley. He recognized the bike from the news segment done on Saturday evening. The other officer recognized it from a Facebook post Cross Fit West Sac on Saturday. The power of social media - wowza!

The thief gave her a few bumps and bruises -- they took the pedals, the seat, the lights, cup holder -- but otherwise the POPcycle is in good shape and will be happy to get a little cosmetic make over on these few items. I am just so thankful that the bike itself was not damaged. She will be getting a good bath and should be rolling soon -- for now she is taking a little rest in a secure undisclosed location,

Although the experience of having it stolen was a bummer -- the amount of love, support and sharing of my story has far outweighed the sadness I felt upon discovering my girl was gone. THANK YOU! Keep on pedalin' - never give up!

p.s. for some reason the post won't let me tag CBS, Sac PD or Cross Fit West Sac - you all have ice cream on the house coming at you!" 

Google+: Will This Shiny New Social Media Wear Off?

Everyone has an opinion about Google+ so I thought I'd take a stab at it. I've used Google+ for over two weeks and am still learning about its bells and whistles. It feels more manageable than Facebook, and I like the Circles concept. Google has hit almost 5 million users, so obviously people are using it.

Ironically, Mark Zuckerberg is the #1 followed person on Google+. I guess he's making Google+ work in his social media favor. But that's not really saying much. It's also available as a Google+ iPhone app...get it while it's hot. Blackberry and Android users can also download the app as well.

What happens when the new social media shine wears off? Will we still, as social media users, swear by Google+ and forget about Facebook and other social networking sites? 

According to this PCMag article by Chloe Albanesius, Facebook and  LinkedIn still take the lead:

Facebook, meanwhile, recently confirmed that it now has 750 million users, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company didn't publicize the milestone because user numbers are not as important as they once were. LinkedIn is also now the second most-popular social-networking service as MySpace continues to decline, TechCrunch reported. 

What do you think of Google+? Will its shiny appeal fade and should Zuckerberg be worried? 

How to Spring Clean Your Social Media in 5 Easy Steps

Spring is right around the corner. I know for some of you it still feels months away based on the weather. I spent my weekend spring cleaning my desk and work area. It felt good to purge and organize, and good timing since taxes are right around the corner. 

As you say good bye to winter and prepare for brighter, warmer temps ahead, it's time to "spring clean" your social media. Check out these 5 easy social media maintenance tips. 

1. Update your social media profiles. Have you switched jobs? Just launched a new website? Make sure your profile information is correct and up-to-date. For more tips on how to jazz up your LinkedIn profile, check out Victoria Ipri's LinkedIn for the Clueless. 

2. Delete old social media and discussion forum accounts. Get rid of accounts that you never use. You don't have to participate in everything out there. If you are pressed for time, stick to the top three:  LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

3. Evaluate your LinkedIn groups and your participation. If you aren't active in all groups, consider opting out of them and stick with your most active groups. 

4. Add social media time to your daily calendar. If you have slacked off on on your blog and social media updates over the winter months, schedule time in your calendar for your social media marketing. Even if you only have 10 minutes to spare per day, it's better than not doing anything with your social media. Kick off spring on the right foot by making a commitment to your social media marketing. 

5. Evaluate your social media analytics and look at your ROI and traffic. Is Twitter a dud and you havent't a retweet in months? Maybe Twitter isn't the right platform for your company. Do you receive positive feedback on LinkedIn and more people read your business blog as a result? Think about putting more effort into the social media channels that bring you higher traffic and conversion rates.  Check out this handy list of social media monitoring tools. 

Along with cleaning out your desk and packing away the winter sweaters, remember to dust off your social media - and dive into a fresh, clean approach to your social media in the upcoming months. 

Why Non-Profits Need Social Media More Than Ever

As a former non-profit fundraiser, social media was just taking off when I left the non-profit world. Whether large or small, ALL non-profits should be utilizing social media to engage their donors, volunteers and to spread the word about their events, campaigns, etc.  

If you work for a non-profit and haven't jumped on board with social media, you are missing out on potential marketing/branding opportunities. Never before was it THIS easy to create deep, engaging relationships. 

If your CEO or Executive Director still dismisses the power of social media, pass along these tips - they lose out on major opportunities with each passing day they don't incorporate social media marketing strategies into their action plans.

1. Deeply engages your volunteers, donors and sponsors and aligns them with your cause - Social media allows you to share your volunteers' stories in real, authentic ways. Social media isn't about throwing your cause in everyone's cyber face. It's about telling personalized stories that capture people's attention and makes them truly want to invest in your cause. 

2. Allows non-profits to generate and share ideas efficiently which equals high ROI and low cost - Non-profits struggle with expenses (now more than ever), so it makes sense for non-profits to utilize social media to faciliate collaboration. Not only can non-profits collaborate locally/regionally, but social media allows them to spread their message quickly to global audiences. 

3. Promote events and campaigns to large groups of supporters - Facebook pages and Tweetups are great resources to use for events and campaigns. Why spend thousands on direct mailings when you can use social media? 

Non-profit charities such as the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross already have well-established campaigns on Facebook. They are good examples of non-profits who understand how to use social media effectively to spread their message.  

Whatever your cause, if you don't use social media to spread the "social" word, then you will be left behind with your fundraising and advocacy efforts....which could be a matter of keeping your doors open or closing them. 

How to Automate Social Media Accounts in 5 Easy Steps

In my last  post, I showed you how to plan your social media calendar and mentioned the importance of automating your social media accounts.

Social automation software saves you time so you don't have to log into multiple accounts on a daily basis. The software allows you to log into one software program to manage multiple social media accounts at once - it's that easy!

Here are 5 easy steps to get you started with your social media automation:

1. If you don't have Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts, sign up for them first and make sure to fill out your profiles accordingly (include company logos, your photo, etc.) Make sure to create a company Fan page in Facebook. 

2. Choose an easy-to-use automation software such as HootSuite, Postling or choose from this comprehensive list.  Research and reviews about the software before you download it. Check out CNET for more information about the best social automation software out there right now.

3. Choose a social automation software and download the software onto your computer. Make sure the software is a good fit for you and your company - understand how the software works before you download it. 

4. After downloading the software, set up your account and create your profile. Make sure you read through the Help Section so you understand how the technical aspects work. Social automation software is user friendly - if you can navigate through your social media accounts, you will be able to handle automation software. 

5. Be prepared to link your social media accounts' passwords to your automation software - you will need your passwords in order to sync your social media accounts to the automation software.

That's it! Now you don't have any excuses to use social media more efficiently. Social media automation saves you a lot of time and it's easy to log into one program where you can do everything at once - from writing blog posts to creating tweets. The software also allows you to read and reply to followers' comments and posts. 

Now it's time to take all the tips I shared in my series, How to Create Your 2011 Social Media Calendar, and create a winning, strategic social media calendar for 2011. 

Remember...

• Who is/are your target markets?
• What are key milestones/events coming up for your company/business?
• Keep track of your industry's latest trends and news.
• Create a master calendar spreadsheet for your social media updates and blog.
• Be consistent with your social media marketing - don't slack off with your calendar.

And...Use social media automation software and you'll add hours to your busy schedule!

 

 

 

 

How to Plan Social Media Updates

In my last post, I discussed how to plan your blog editorial calendar for the year. Now that you have your blog calendar nailed down, let's examine how to set up your social media updates. I know what you're thinking, "I don't have time to post my updates." Oh yes, you do! With these easy steps below, you don't have any excuses NOT to schedule your posts for the week (or even month, for that matter!)

Before you dive into setting up your updates, keep the following tips in mind for your accounts:

• If you create a custom background in Twitter or Facebook, make sure it looks professional and include  your picture and/or your company brand.
• Even master social media plans and goals can be changed. Evaluate your goals and objectives on a weekly basis. Has anything changed with your company? Do your social media accounts and/or profiles need to be updated as a result of these changes?
• Is your messaging consistent? What could you do better to improve your social media message? Use social media measurement tools to help you research and evaluate if your social media message is working for, not against, you. Here are some helpful apps/widgets.
• Are you tweeting or posting enough? Too little? Too much? Are you receiving positive feedback/comments as a result of your tweets/updates?
• Make sure you create (or update) your LinkedIn profile and include your photo. There are certain marketing strategies when it comes to LinkedIn. Check out Victoria Ipri's LinkedIn for the Clueless - she takes you step-by-step through LinkedIn and teaches you how to build dynamic, optimized profiles. 

How to plan your social media posts:

1. Use a similar calendar like I suggested in how to plan your blog editorial calendar. Include an additional spreadsheet page and name it: "Social Media Updates."

2. Follow the same steps as I outlined in my previous post. Make sure that your content is consistent and pay attention to your company's "milestone" events throughout the year. Highlight key messaging, events, timely industry news, etc. 

3. Automate your social media so you don't have to do all the work. Implement social media automation & project management tools such as HootSuite, TweetDeck or Postling. Check out this comprehensive list of social automation software. 

4. It is important to post/schedule social media updates on a daily basis (for Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook).  You can automate posts (make sure to include links to stories, websites, etc.) but make sure you don't turn into a "robotic" social media user. Don't just post and never respond to other users' posts. It's important to comment on a regular basis. Be interactive but don't be annoying either. Don't go off on too many random tangents - stay focused with your messages and don't tweet about your kids or dog 24,7 either. 

5. There are different opinions on the best times to post updates. Suggested high-traffic times are: 10 am to 12 pm and retweets between 4pm - 5 pm. These time frames are highly subjective, and may not work for every social media user. It really depends on your traffic and social media measurement. Maybe 8am to 10 am are better times for your target audience. That's why it's important to measure your social media and figure out what time frames are working or not working.

6. Pay attention to the latest news and trends throughout the day. Don't forget to retweet other newsworthy and timely posts, especially when it comes to global news. Remember that social media touches the world so think beyond just your town/city, state and country. 

7. Don't blast updates every two minutes. Spread out your posts every few hours and don't be preachy or annoying with your updates either. It's easy to waste your day on Facebook so remember to spread out your social media usage throughout the day.

8. If you are busy, schedule your social media management into your calendar and do it on a daily basis. Even if you only have ten minutes to spend on your social media each day, stick to that schedule and be consistent. Schedule that time in your calendar and set up alarms/reminders so you don't forget to work on your social media.

9. Don't reinvent the social media wheel. Sync your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts together. I will discuss further tips and tricks in my next blog installment - how to sync your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. It doesn't make sense to update each individual account - it's all about automation! 

10. This is my personal pet peeve. Remember your manners! Use Netiquette at all times with social media - if you don't want your mother or boss to read it, then don't post it! The point behind social networking is to lend a hand and to share your expertise in a helpful, supportive way. It's perfectly acceptable to express your opinion in group discussions, but remember to be tactful and respect other people's opinions, cultures and backgrounds. Social media is all about real, authentic connection so don't come across as fake or egotistical. You'll easily lose friends and followers that way! 

Since time is a huge factor when it comes to staying on top of social media, don't miss out on my next post, How to Automate Your Social Media Accounts in 5 Easy Steps

 

 

250 Million Members Later: Social Media Shows Big Picture for 2010

This past weekend I overhead a woman discuss with her friend how “ridiculous” Facebook was and how she would never use it in a million years. I just smiled to myself as I tapped away on my Blackberry, and thought about how many times I’ve heard similar comments from social media “non-believers."

It made me think about how this woman’s “never in a million years” attitude towards social media hinders people - especially business professionals - from achieving success. Social media quickly engages and connects people on a global scale, and markets your company’s brands in innovative and cost-effective ways.

Her comment made me wonder why people still fight the “social networking system” – an online networking system that is clearly working.  People who choose to bury their head in the sand, that’s their prerogative but statistics don’t lie - especially when staring you right between the cyber eye. You can’t dispute what happened with the big social media players this year:

• Look at Facebook’s history: In December 2004, there were one million active Facebook users.  In 2006, Facebook members jumped to 12 million. In the beginning of 2010, Facebook had 250 million users. In just five years, Facebook users grew 250 percent. Not too shabby, Mark Zuckerberg.

• The number of Twitter users increase by 300,000 people per day. Twitter gets more than 3 billion requests each day, generated by over 180 million unique visitors. Twitter users send more than 55 million tweets per day (640 tweets per second).

• Twitter has donated access to tweets to the Library of Congress for research and preservation. So if you market your business via Twitter, your tweets are literally a part of history in the making!

• 85 million LinkedIn members represent 200 countries and every continent. Executives from all Fortune500 companies are LinkedIn members. – that is a LOT of global professionals interacting with each other on a daily basis.

For the woman who touted Facebook as “ridiculous,” I suggest that she join social media-savvy Planet Earth.  Maybe if you spend 24,7 on your Facebook, that might be a bit ridiculous but there is nothing ridiculous about social media and where it’s headed in 2011.

 

 

 

 

How to Save Face on Facebook

I've been devouring articles and ebooks lately. I came across this comprehensive list of easy tricks and tips related to Facebook. Facebook constantly changes its rules and settings, but this is a general to do and don't list to get you started. 

My favorites are: 'share nicely' and 'walls aren't for sharing personal details' - my biggest peeves when it comes to Facebook. Check out this comprehensive list by Hazel Grace Dircksen, founder of the SocialBees group on Facebook and Biznik.

http://biznik.com/articles/the-socialbees-guide-to-saving-face-on-facebook

How do you save face on Facebook? Any tips that this list missed? Please share.