Category Archives: Twitter

Now that 645,750,000 million Twitter accounts have been set up, it’s a great time to distinguish yourself from the rank & file. Building an online presence — whatever the platform — is, in fact, under your control. People using the “Global Whiteboard,” i.e. the Internet, must keep in mind that “Whatever you post can and will be held against you.”

So if you want to grow your online reputation by prudent and intelligent use of Twitter’s microblogging technology, you do need to be deliberate: Plan a Tweeting Strategy that will help you build relationships, grow a community of followers, find answers to your own challenges, and become a Go-To Source for information.

What should you Tweet?

Here are ten ideas to help you stand out from the crowd and achieve your communication goals:

1. Be your own unique self: When you have a personal insight that you would like to share, your “microblog” on Twitter helps paint a picture of you as a caring, thinking individual.

e.g. “People are NOT merely numbers. When businesses fully understand this, their strategies and tools will adjust.”
e.g. “The future of advertising is evolving, so take a risk and try something new and different. If it doesn’t work, don’t lose the lesson.”

2. Be a curator: The most valuable information on Twitter for many Tweeple are the links alerting them to useful information. And some of that indispensable wisdom could be your own blog posts, photos, or videos. Of course, you will need to use a URL shortener like bit.ly [http://bit.ly/] or you will not have enough characters to write a context for the link.

e.g. Creating a video resume is only one of the fantastic tips for “Enhancing Your Online Presence Through Video”: http://bit.ly/di2Tmo
e.g. This weekend, it’s time to Tweak that LinkedIn profile: http://bit.ly/ad6Bjr [NOTE: Shameless plug for one of my own popular blog posts.]

3. Reward with Retweets: One of the best ways to build relationships on Twitter is to RT (ReTweet), i.e., expand the reach of someone else’s Tweet so that it can be read by your followers.

NOTE: It’s fun to see RT’s of your own Twitter updates. There’s even a scientific study that shows the most (and least) RT’d words and phrases: To earn your own RT’s, try to use any of these Top Ten Retweeted Words: (a) you, (b) Twitter, (c) please, (d) retweet, (e) post, (f) blog, (g) social, (h) free, (i) media, (j) help

4. Search & Reply: Search Twitter for a keyword or phrase in your line of work. Find a Tweet that resonates with you and REPLY, i.e. @twittername with a comment to them.

e.g. Search for “local marketing tips” — Find a Tweeter whose advice you like — Write a comment or tip of your own to that person.

VOILA, you have started a new, possibly productive relationship!

5. Use hashtags: The pound or number sign — # — signifies a particular topic that can be commented upon and easily found by anyone searching Twitter. These “tags” are either created on-the-spot by anyone OR they are regularly used to continue conversation/discussions.

If I am Tweeting at a conference like SocialBiz2010, I would add #SocialBiz2010 to all my Tweets, and other participants could keep track of my notes AND add their own.

Same goes for books. I’m reading Brian Solis Engage, so when I like a certain insight, I can Tweet something like this:

“Brandstreams are fortified content channels dedicated to reinforcing brand personality & value proposition across the Social Web.” #Engage

6. Get personal: People new to Twitter are turned off by such seemingly insignificant and frivolous references to restaurant visits and waiting in lines at airports. However, this type of banter does NOT make Twitter “stupid” as some newbies say.

Rather, Twitter offers a very, very easy way for people to let one another know they are “listening” and that they care. People do business with people, so the more human we are with one another, the easier it is to build trust.

Plus, you may read about that restaurant and want to know more about the food & service OR perhaps your Twitter pal is on his/her way to your city and you hadn’t even known it.

As email becomes less and less read (recent statistics say that 90% of email goes unread), Twitter Updates are great ways to send a note to someone simply to keep in touch. When you put the at sign — @ — in front of the name @yourbuddy, the friend can easily find these references in his/her Twitter stream.

7. Don’t forget DM’s: When your personal friend is following you, you can always send a DM, i.e. Direct Message, that only he/she can see. Common Twitter courtesy is NOT to RT DM’s. 🙂 That is, you shouldn’t share private Direct Messages with the rest of the Twitter world.

Given the simplicity of Twitter in comparison with email, DM’s are a great choice for arranging meeting times, sending a personal tip, or just saying HI to a friend.

8. Ask questions: Because Twitter is quickly becoming a popular search tool, you should consider asking for information you need — or would simply — like to know:

e.g. What’s your favorite new movie out now and why did you like it?
e.g. Has anyone else had trouble getting Foursquare to work right on their Droid?

You just may cultivate new friendships as you learn useful new information. People on the Social Web LOVE to help one another . . . and show their expertise.

9. Company promotions: FINALLY, we get to the more business-type uses for Twitter. Common Wisdom suggests that no more than 20% of your Tweets should be strictly business, or you will be considered a spammer.

You certainly Can and Should Tweet about special sales and even discounts for Twitter users:

e.g. Discount prices on adult and child tickets to such-and-such attraction in Orlando. Use coupon link [URL].
e.g. $249.99 for a 1 Year Membership to Fitness Club. Use coupon link [URL].

10. Company news: Why not add short blurbs about people and events as well:

e.g. @lizzywebmart is now offering discounts on website home page videos
e.g. Social Media University class schedule for September is now available. Click link [URL]

Fifty-five million Tweets a day: But how many of those will be worth reading and following through on? Plan and implement your own Tweeting Strategy — and your Tweets will be the OutStanding ones.

What other Twitter Strategy ideas have worked for you?

FURTHER READING:

Twitter does NOT have to be “stupid”

Twitter 101 – What should you Tweet, part ONE

What should you Tweet, part TWO

Twitter Basics “cheat sheet”

What to Tweet so your company becomes a Brand All Star

21 Tips for using Twitter and Facebook for business

Twitter

Tips to Becoming a Twitter Pro – Updated

April 2, 2015 Shari Weiss Leave a comment

Using Twitter is not difficult and could be a “No Brainer” for some of the 135,000 people signing up EVERY DAY. But getting started the right way takes some thought and strategic planning in advance.

Here are your first Pro Steps:

1. Your Twitter name: Authenticity is essential in the practice of journalism, so the name or “handle” you use to post your tweets should be as close to your own identity as possible. With 645,750,000 (March 25, 2015) Tweeple, getting your own exact name is unlikely, but you can add numbers, initials, or something creative to your actual name.

Keep in mind, however, that each Tweet must be limited to 140 characters AND that includes your name [preceded by the “@” sign]; therefore, shorter is better.

2. Your BIO: Credibility and trust can be more easily established when you describe clearly and concisely who you are and why your followers should believe you and want to hear more of what you have to say. When preparing this bio, you should think of the phrase “Personal Brand” and try to write something that you can consistently post throughout the web to establish exactly who you are.

FIVE TIPS
Include achievements and background relevant to your published work
Avoid overdoing previous works
Keep rewards to a minimum
Write in third person, AND,
Get Personal: Make a connection with your reader.

3. Your first tweets: Before even thinking about gathering a following, you should give serious thought to how to begin your Twitterstream, i.e., what you will say. After all, most people will only want to follow you if they believe you post valuable links and insights.

My own blog has several articles on what to tweet, and here is a link to What to Tweet to Stand out from the Masses. At the close of that post are other links for more what-to-tweet tips.

4. Whom to follow: You can find lists of experts on a host of categories, as well as lists of the oldest Twitter users, most followed Tweeters, etc. My own article Be choosy when selecting Tweeple to follow offers a few more suggestions including links to Twitter directories and a way to find individuals who share your interests by checking search.twitter.com.

PS Twitter has a feature called “Who to Follow” on the top menu board. If you click on the link, you will see a list of recommended tweeple based on whom you already follow, and more.

Social Media Common Wisdom: Take baby steps. Don’t try to do too much too soon. Have fun!

Here’s a “cheat sheet” with twitter jargon and other resources: http://sharisax.com/2009/12/03/twitter-basics-workshop-cheat-sheet/

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

19 Steps to Getting Found Online – from @hubspot founders

June 15, 2011 Shari Weiss 11 Comments

If you are looking for a true HOW TO book, then you’ll do well to get a copy of Inbound Marketing: Getting Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs by Brian Halligan & Dharmesh Shah. [This article was originally published in my blog How to do Social Media by the Book.]

We are indeed living in a revolution, and it’s no longer just the big companies with big budgets that attract attention and customers. We’re using the Web . . .

And here are 19 ways to get found there, according to the authors:

1. If you’ve somehow managed to resist signing up for Facebook, despite requests from your friends and family, go ahead and do it.

2. Create a Facebook Business Page.

3. Configure a sub-domain that redirects to your Facebook page (e.g., http://facebook.yourcompany.com) This will make it easy for you to communicate the URL of your page.

4. The next time you host a business event (conference, webinar, training session, etc.), use Facebook events to invite people and get RSVPs.

5. Look for your existing business contacts on Facebook. Invite them to connect with you.

6. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is 100 percent complete. Link your profile to your business web site and blog.

7. Create a LinkedIn user account and profile. And if you have one, make certain it is current.

8. Within the profile, add a link to your company’s web site. Change the default “web site” or “my blog” to the actual name of your company or blog.

9. Use the group search feature to find the biggest groups in your industry. Join these groups and start participating in the discussion.

10. If you don’t find the LinkedIn group you are looking for, create it.

11. Find the most relevant categories for your business and subscribe to the LinkedIn Answers RSS feed for them, so you can provide some answers.

12. Make sure to reserve your company name for a Twitter account.

13. Ensure that you complete your online Twitter profile including a brief bio, your location, and a link to your web site. Many people on Twitter are looking for interesting people to follow. Make sure they can find you.

14. Use tools like Twitter Search and the search feature on Twitter Grader (http://twitter.grader.com) to find influential Twitter users in your industry. Begin forging connections early.

15. Create an account for yourself on Digg. Come up with a catchy and memorable user name. Although, it is usually suggested to maintain consistent usernames, Digg does not like commercial-sounding names.

16. On Digg, subscribe to the RSS feed for whichever category is most relevant to you (likely the business/finance category). This way you can see popular articles.

17. When you see an article on Digg that you like and that’s relevant to your business, befriend the person who submitted it. If the article is very relevant, review some of the other users who have dug the article and befriend them as well.

18. Subscribe to the RSS feed of your friends’ submissions. This way you can track what they are submitting. Digg those articles from your friends that you like and comment on one article a day.

19. Create a StumbleUpon user account, download the toolbar, and follow the same suggestions made for using Digg.

FURTHER READING:

10 Mistakes Made by Social Media Newbies

Inbound Marketing Builds Authentic Relationships for Mutual Gain – includes review of book

Managing Your Online Presence

Twitter Basics

Do we need an Emily Post for Social Media Etiquette

Guest Post, Journalism, Twitter

Mother Nature Attacks, Social Media Assists!

March 12, 2011 Shari Weiss 17 Comments

Revolutions, earthquakes, and tsunamis: What do they have in common?

Answer: Social media

“What fascinated most Social Media analysts was the speed at which information traveled all over the world regarding the earthquake.”

Is it a coincidence , or simply the New Normal, that typically hot journalistic topics like violence and devastation are now being reported most effectively through Social Media rather than Traditional Media — at the same time that 33 Laney College students are actively participating in my online course Social Media for Journalists.

Our Facebook Group discussions are lively and revealing like the one evolving around the earthquake and tsunami in Japan that lead to this student’s coverage of the events and their reporting.

Mother Nature Attacks, Social Media Assists!

Guest Post by Champa Mulchandani

Mother Nature is seriously upset. And to show us the extent of her unhappiness, she decided to throw an earthquake at Japan. You know she means business when it’s an 8.9 magnitude earthquake which is soon followed by a massive tsunami. If the earthquake hit any other country in the world, this situation would have been a horrendous one.

However, because Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries whose architecture and infrastructure is designed with earthquakes in mind, the earthquake was unable to cause heaps of destruction.

But no matter how large a catastrophe, Social Media never fails to assist and connect. Phone lines may come crashing down, but Facebook and Twitter will be up and rollicking waiting to be used. And so it did. While reporting and giving viewers the most up to date news from north east Japan, they insisted on family and friends from around the world on utilizing all forms of Social Media to stay in touch with people in the earthquake hit Japan.

Japan hashtags trending

In the last 24 hours, the hash tags #Japan, #earthquake, #tsunami and #prayforjapan have been trending and how. CNN went on to display a number of tweets from all over the world where people explained their feelings towards the earthquake. While locals in Japan tweeted about how their homes swayed, how they were scared and how they were looking for family in parts of Japan where communication was down, people in Chile, were getting ready to be hit by the tsunami waves and thus, were expressing their fears. These chilling firsthand accounts not only gave the media an insight into how Social Media has not only become a source for news, but a diary even where users are able to convey their experiences.

But when it comes to Social Media assisting and informing people of the earthquake, it was Twitter all the way. Most avid Tweeters received news of the earthquake via Twitter. And then realizing that there was no way of communicating with people in Japan any other way but through Twitter, Facebook and Skype. But Twitter didn’t just come in handy for people abroad; local Japanese citizens flocked to Twitter for aid and information. Non-Japanese speakers residing in Japan were all over Twitter looking up alerts, altered train schedules and even places for shelter.

What fascinated most Social Media analysts was the speed at which information traveled all over the world regarding the earthquake. Tweeters, in and out of Japan, rapidly updated timelines; eyewitnesses used YouTube and uploaded videos by the minute of any visuals they had while Facebook pages were put up by the dozen asking for aid, funds and relief much before even the Red Cross could get on board to call on the world for help.

Google too, quickly gathered resources and launched their People Finder site for Japan as soon as the earthquake hit. And it seriously does rock – not as much as the earthquake though, thankfully. Presented with two options, to look or provide information, users can fill in necessary information regarding people they may be looking for. This information is added into a public registry which allows people to search for missing loved ones. Google clearly moved quickly with their site as it is not only available in English and Chinese, but in Japanese too.

Traditional media relies on social media

Ultimately, what Social Media did for the Japan earthquake was provide information so quickly that even news channels sought their help. This would explain why CNN promoted the use of Social Media and encouraged citizens of the world to hop on the Social Media bandwagon. What this ultimately tells us, as Social Media journalism students is simple: the power of Social Media cannot be underestimated and more importantly, besides connecting, it comes in handy during any or all catastrophes. We’ve seen how Social Media has created revolutions in the world. Today we witnessed Social Media come in a totally different dimension. It didn’t just allow people to stay in touch despite an earthquake and tsunami, but it also allowed us to stay informed.

Sadly, Social Media will not be able to save or protect citizens who are in harm’s way. Nor will be ever be able to predict and prevent earthquakes from occurring. But it certainly can assist when Mother Nature goes rather into frenzy with us.

In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with Japan. We’re sure they will come through it all stronger and more resilient.

Sharisax Is Out There, Twitter

Is the New Technology the END of Marketing? Just ask Owen

February 25, 2011 Shari Weiss 44 Comments

“In a world that is moving from PC-centric to a world completely mobile, it’s hard to keep up,” wrote Owen Greaves in a recent post. Owen is a Futurist, who loves making this paradigm shift less painful when it comes to media and commerce on the Internet.

While many people may say that the world’s problems come from a lack of education, Owen states that this is a Listening problem:

The listening problem comes from an insecurity in my humble opinion, business owners don’t want to look stupid, or be seen as if they don’t know what’s happening in their business and or around them.
I can only tell you this, it is impossible for any one person to know everything there is to know about everything, including your business.
If you are a business owner, try to listen more, grow bigger ears, and then turn your business into a platform that people will find useful. People always return to what is useful. And become a likeable, lovable brand.

Owen and I met online two years ago when I was just beginning my journey, and we was one of the the Experienced Ones. It was on the site Friendfeed, which had been highly touted [at the time] by Robert Scoble, who spoke to my marketing classes at San Francisco State.

I’d been trying out that platform when I stumbled upon Owen, who must have seen Robert comment on something I’d written. At the time, I didn’t really understand the significance of that.

So Owen and I became “friends” on Friendfeed. One day I asked a question, and Owen simply “liked” it. I posted back, “Why did you LIKE my question and not Answer it?” And here is the answer which should help a lot more newbies out there:

When someone “likes” what you have posted, then their entire network gets to see that post. You don’t even have to comment or answer, all you have to do is LIKE, i.e., the Power of Liking.

So . . . that was helpful.

So . . . I started to follow Owen more and more, especially on Twitter, which had just started to explode in 2009. Of course, I like lots of other Twitter newbies, at first thought Twitter was Stupid — Who wants to know where you went out to eat? Well, actually, after I got to know Owen online, then when I’d see him post something like dining out or speaking somewhere or attending a conference, I could “engage” with him, and let him know I was listening.

Owen has been a continued online supporter, and now he’s even joined the gallery on our Facebook group for the students in my online course Social Media for Journalists. I’ve wanted to interview Owen for ages, so Students, Subscribers, and New Readers:

Here’s Owen Greaves

1. Explain your “love” for Twitter . . . and can you give some advice to small business people on why they are missing out by not understanding and using Twitter.

Owen: I love Twitter!

Mostly Twitter fills the need for real-time responses, research, and website traffic.

Twitter acts as a broadcasting channel, but also as a place to do research. TNN = Twitter News Network,

I can search for any keyword in http://search.twitter.com and find results, I can finetune those results as well.

The biggest reason I love Twitter, relationships.

I have met more incredible people on Twitter than I have in my entire life shaking hands, and I have met a lot; I’m 53 years old so I’ve been around.

The best piece of advice I can give is this [and this holds true for all Social Media Networks]:

You can’t have a Social Media Presence and not be present.

You must be there, LIVE! I don’t automate my Social Network Updates.

2. What are the biggest mistakes that businesses make when they get started with social media?

Owen: The biggest mistake…hmmm….I think the bigger problem is before Social Media, they don’t understand the changes in the business landscape on a global basis.

That creates problems for businesses when they try to execute a Social Media Strategy. Most businesses don’t look beyond the transaction —

if you fly at 50,000 feet and look for patterns, you will see we are becoming very Mobile and very Social, that data needs to be studied on a business by business case, especially by what service or product a business offers. I know, I’m opening a can of worms here.

3. How did you get started in social media?

Owen: Social Media is not new, it’s just gone digital.

I’ve been online since the early ’80s so I have seen much change on this incredible thing called the Internet. I started taking Social Media seriously in 2007, about a year later than the early adopters. I used to run a BBS (Bulletin Board System)back in the ’80s and then I used to market a Newsletter back 1995.

4. What’s your definition of social media?

Owen: Social Media to me is simple really: I used to go around town in my business sphere of influence and have coffee or go out for a cold one; today I do the same thing online. The benefits are almost the same. The big difference is I can’t see your body language unless I use Skype or a Camera.

It’s much easier to connect people in Social Media than it is in real physical life; that’s the BIG plus, connecting people matters more today than ever.

In fact, having more connections will determine your influence, your following, and your ability to earn money in some circles. Read my Blog Post from Jan 4th called – 3 things 2011 will bring and you will get a snippet of what I’m hinting.

5. Can you list any of the grossly misunderstood paradigm shifts?

Owen: There are some 14 paradigm shifts I talk about on my Blog, but there are far too many to list actually. If you were to talk about Nanotechnology alone, there are many shifts there.

But let’s just look at some of the simple shifts in the future of business, primarily online.

1.) Web-native Business Model (Open & Free)
2.) Network to Networked
3.) Social & Mobile
4.) Open Platforms – FaceBook, Twitter, Linkedin
5.) Control to Trust – building relationships
6.) Egosystem to Ecosystem
7.) Walled Gardens to the Jungle
8.) Shift to the Cloud
9.) Friction to Engagement – Control to Collaboration
10.) GUI to NUI
11.) Yes / No – Maybe
12.) Linear to Fuzzy Logic
13.) Denial to Foresight

6. You like to inspire creativity. How does one person inspire creativity in others? Do you have a definition of creativity?

Owen: I love to make people think, if that’s creative then yes I like to inspire creativity.

My way of inspiring people is for them to take their eyes off of themselves and put it on others. What I mean by that is, it’s not about you, it’s about those around you. Look at your business, or look at your passion(s), and see how they line up with the needs of others.

I often recommend this in my workshops: take a drive through your community and look around, ask yourself one question….what’s missing? If your business or passion can fill what’s missing, you may have something you can research and possible launch.

My definition of creativity is more of a process: if I can get you to stop thinking about your own needs, get you thinking about others, help you find your passion, teach you how to participate in an Open & Free Business Model….that’s the Future of Business. I can’t put desire in someone, but I can inspire creativity on some level.

7. Do you have any tips that you would like to share on any of the following:

a – How to blog?
Owen: Just do it. I recommend running a Self-hosted WordPress Blog with Headway Themes. you have all the flexibility you could ever want without ever having to write a line of code.

There are many steps on how to blog. The 1st one is knowing the core of your business, if that’s what your blog is for, the rest will come through your day-to-day efforts, just write, or should I say share. As you know I run my own webhosting company so I have considerable experience helping people get set up.

b – What to Tweet
Owen: I Tweet about everything, I share links, I talk to people, talk about good stuff and bad, I Tweet my life, I Tweet my work, I Tweet my findings…Tweet it all, within reason of course. I don’t want to know how many pimples you have on your butt.

c – Questions to ask at a networking event
Owen: I would suggest asking yourself why you are attending the networking event, if you are there to sell….don’t go!

I go to networking events to meet new people, to find out what problems they are up against, I’m always listening more than I’m talking, unless I’m the guest of honor and it’s expected of me to chat my head off.

You need to be the best you can be, have a genuine love for people and make an effort to be interested in them. I love people, I love helping people, but that should be your normal mode of operation if you run a business.

8. In your version of the perfect Future, what would be the Top Five Features of that World

Owen: There never will be a perfect future, I know too much.

I have always said, I want have a nice quiet life, leave a legacy of helping others, and spend as much time as possible with my wife & kids. If I become popular or famous so to speak, I’ll leave that to the rest of the world to handle, it’s not my primary goal, but I’ll do my best to handle it if it happens.

Well, friends, What do you think? What did you learn? How will this help you? And don’t forget to read more at OwenGreaves.com

Journalism, Twitter

Adding columns to your TweetDeck Social Dashboard

February 8, 2011 Shari Weiss 4 Comments

The Beauty of TweetDeck for me is being able to see several different columns of Tweet topics, lists, and followers constantly on view. And here is how to “Do It”:

Three icons to right of TweetDeck logo on main tool bar

1) Yellow dialogue box: click to post update

2) Plus sign: ADD A COLUMN [read below]

3) Red pointer on white cylinder allows you to search for a Twitter profile
Four icons below the Tweet update posting area

4) Auto URL shortener – toggle On or OFF

5) Tweetshrink: this will abbreviate wherever possible

6) Translate Tweets: a pop up box to select language

7) Search for recent hashtags you tweeted

Using the ADD Column option

The Pop Up box displays six icons in the top left corner.

The first one on the left is for Twitter searches.

The other five boxes allow you to add your Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Buzz, and Foursquare update streams.

Re: Adding a Twitter column

a) In the white search box, list keywords or phrases you want to see mentioned in a Tweet.

b) You can check the list under “Shari’s Previous Searches” for examples.

c) To the left of my previous searches, you will see the list: Search; Groups/Lists; Core.

d) If you click on the “Groups/Lists” option, you can create a list of Tweeple that will all appear in your new column.

3) The “Core” gives you all the Default columns including these: TweetDeck Recommends, New Followers, and Scheduled Updates.

Questions on columns? . . . or other Tweetdeck features? Next post I’ll be looking at Settings [the wrench in upper right hand corner].

In case you missed it, here is How To Install Tweetdeck.

Journalism, Twitter

Organize your Tweeting with a “Social Dashboard”: TweetDeck installation tutorial: Feb 2011

February 6, 2011 Shari Weiss 15 Comments

Twitter is an amazing communication platform, but the Twitter.com interface is limiting — you can only see ONE twitterstream at a time. TweetDeck is the software application I use to customize my Twitter experience. It allows me to see several columns on the screen at one time:

all the people I follow
a select list of tweeple
a column of tweets that mention my twitter name
keywords that I want to continuously search for like “Twitter and Journalism”
and more

In addition, the photo, or gravatar, of the Tweeter is divided into four buttons: One to send a reply, one to retweet something, one to send a direct message and one that has multiple uses.

There are two other similar applications that people like, i.e., Hootsuite and Seesmic. You are more than welcome to check them out for yourself, but this lesson is strictly for TweetDeck.

1, Before installing TweetDeck, make certain you have a Twitter account. Then access TweetDeck.com.

2. The top most menu gives you options for where to download the software. This tutorial will take you through a download to your desktop [which also works for a laptop]. You may download to your phone and/or Ipad . . . and even to your Chrome Browser, but you are on your own for those downloads.

3. After you click on the word Desktop [on above screen], this screen will appear:

4. Click on the Download button on the middle right side of the screen.

5. Downloading may take several moments. You will be asked to Save the file, and you can either choose the default or save it to whatever file you choose. After saving, agree to the terms of use and then click on Run. The next screen Welcomes you to Tweetdeck:

6. Click on the top button that reads Sign in to TweetDeck. And you will see this screen:

7. Chances are you do NOT have a TweetDeck account, so you need to click on the line that reads: Don’t have a TweetDeck Account? This next screen will appear:

8. Here is where you actually get to Register your TweetDeck account. When you click on the Create account button, you may get everything you see below . . . or some of it:

9. This is where some of this week’s “play” comes in. Take some time and investigate Tweetdeck. If you have a question, please post it as a comment below. But do not worry or get too frustrated. The best way to learn TweetDeck is to experiment. Read the various sections on the screen you see above. Click on the various options on the top and bottom of the columns. Oh, yes, one thing it took me time to find was the “slide bar” on the bottom to move between columns if you have more than fit on one page view.

Let the fun begin!

Note: You can minimize TweetDeck and easily pull it up again to keep track of tweets and searches. There is an “annoying” little noise that sounds when new tweets come in. I turned mine off. You’ll have to check out the settings function [the wrench in the top right hand corner] and click on “Notifications” from the list you will see on the left. GOOD LUCK!

[Next post: How to Add Columns to TweetDeck]

Guest Post, Journalism, Sharisax Is Out There, Twitter

How NO INTERNET is Re-Defining the News

February 5, 2011 Shari Weiss 25 Comments

The beauty of our Social Media Revolution is that every one of us can become a publisher . . . and spread our opinions, insights, and wisdom.

Though we’ve only had two weeks of classwork for the online Social Media for Journalist course, several of the students have shown their passion, intelligence, and leadership in helping us all co-create the New Normal, i.e., the way to communicate, learn, interact, and act — Now, and in the Future.

One of the outstanding students has been Suzzanna Matthews, who grew up in Boston and studied English Lit at Goldsmith’s College in the UK and at Mills College in Oakland. She currently resides in Oakland and is studying Journalism and Social Media. Here are her thoughts on the explosive situation in the MidEast and the role of social media.

The Internet Shutdown in Egypt:

How the Definition of News is Changing

GUEST POST by Suzzanna Matthews

On January 27th, 2011 – after days of disruptions in internet service, most internet connections went down in Egypt. This shutdown targeted social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. This was an unprecedented event in history, a country in protest and a government shutdown of all major social media communications.

Why? Because, social media sites are viewed as dangerous. These sites were being used as a primary means of communication to rally people to protest. News of these protests was able to reach thousands of people at the stroke of a key.

If an entire country’s government has such a great fear of what social media can do. then you have to concur that it is indeed powerful.

SPEECH is powerful, and these social media platforms are important in letting people’s voices be heard uncensored.

In various articles I have read about the situation, journalists are reporting that there was and is misinformation being reported about the protests via Twitter and Facebook, but that there is also much more information available to them — and many more leads that they are able to follow up on because of Tweets and Posts. Particularly information coming out of locations that maybe unsafe for foreign journalist travel.

The social media platforms also allow us to read the news from Egyptians living in the midst of the turmoil and to get a sense of what is actually occurring without perhaps a government veil or ‘toned down’ diplomatic version of the events.You can see why it would behoove a government with waning power to halt these types of communications that they may view as damaging and, yes, dangerous.

Even with the shutdown, the people’s voices still found a way to be heard on the web with google’s Speak2Tweet. News of what is happening is being reported by the people — most are not trained journalists and many are just expressing their frustration.

Are the voices of Egyptian Tweeters and bloggers less newsworthy as they are not professional journalists?
Does the misinformation being reported via social networking sites outweigh the viable information?
There is no question that the way news is being related has changed, but as we move away from traditional forms of reporting, how do we need to re-think what ‘news’ actually is?

Twitter

Top Ten Twitter Terms: a conversation to get you Tweeting

February 4, 2011 Shari Weiss 53 Comments

follow me — Follow me on Twitter @sharisax

Sometimes more is more, but often LESS is more.

That’s one of the reasons Twitter is so powerful and popular, and it’s also the reason why this post will include only Ten Twitter vocabulary items.
You can find dozens of twitter words and definitions in the wiki Twictionary, and in my earlier article Twitter Basics — Workshop “Cheat Sheet” where I defined 12 common twitter jargon words. This post, however, is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the terms you really need to “work” Twitter and make Twitter “work” for you.

Here’s your “Annotated” Word Introduction to Twitter

1 – TWEET – The 140-character post on Twitter. It is also called a Microblog, i.e. a condensed and concise statement that often links to blog articles. Live Tweeting is practiced at events — both face-to-face and online — where participants contribute an ongoing report of the proceedings. You can even find Live Tweets at events like actual hospital surgeries.

2 – FOLLOW – You follow people to read their tweets — to keep up with the latest news, trends, entertainment, and happenings of friends, celebrities, and knowledgeable people. Unlike Facebook where you must be accepted — and where there is a limit to how many friends you can have — you can follow anyone you want to. See previous posts for tips on Whom to Follow.

However, you can block someone from seeing your tweets OR, of course, someone can block you. The difference is that you don’t request permission to follow someone. You just do it. And if you are not a scammer, a robot, or in some other way intrusive, you probably won’t be blocked.

3 – TWITTERSTREAM [or Stream of Tweets] – It you access Twitter via the actual site Twitter.com, then you will see a “stream” of posts from the people you follow. These would be the most recent statements they posted in reverse chronological order, i.e., the newest posts are up at the top. If you select PROFILE from the top menu, you will see your Twitterstream, i.e., what you have posted in reverse chronological order.

This stream of posts is what someone else would see if they searched Twitter for your handle [your Twitter name]. For example, click on twitter.com/sharisax and you will see my twitterstream. If you liked what you saw, then you would follow me by clicking the FOLLOW button below my photo [your photo is also called your avatar].

As stated in the previous post Tips to become a Twitter Pro BEFORE your first post, I suggested that you plan your Twitter strategy before you write your first post: know Why you are on Twitter and What Twitter image you hope to accomplish. Your Twitterstream will be How you accomplish that image, i.e., your “personal brand.”

4 – FOLLOWERS [those who read your Tweets] – Influence and/or popularity seems to be measured by how many followers one has. You can find out the 200 most followed Tweeple [a person who Tweets] on a site like Twitaholic.com: as of this writing, celebrity Kevin Smith has 1.7+million followers.

“So What?” That is a common question asked by journalists when any extraordinary statistic is thrown at them. If numbers are your sole objective, there are automatic, robotic means of accruing a slew of followers. My suggestion, however, is that you grow your follower list organically. That means the list of people who follow you develops naturally, i.e., people either follow you because they like reading what you Tweet OR, in many cases, they follow you back automatically when you follow them. [Hint: that is one typical way to gather followers.]

5 – DM or Direct Message – Once you follow someone and he or she follows you back, you may DM the person, e.g. D sharisax [by using a Capital “D” and a space and the person’s twitter handle]. This is NOT a Tweet to everyone, but a private text message to one person. Personally, I do not text very often on my cell phone, but I do DM lots of my Twitter friends — and these relationships have grown faster and deeper than others because of the ease of communication. Engagement and building relationships is what the Social Web is all about. More than a few technology/Internet pundits have predicted that Twitter will replace much, if not most, of email in the future. [Who likes to read all the previous messages and other extraneous verbiage on emails.]

6 – RT or ReTweet – This is the action of re-posting someone else’s Tweet with attribution, e.g. RT @sharisax Sometimes more is more, and sometimes less is more. [Use the “RT” and then a space and then the “@” sign in front of the person’s handle — all this in front of what they tweeted.] When someone RT’s what you have posted, you feel recognized and appreciated. Many people make it a practice of Thanking those who RT them. Of course, once you are so popular that 100’s of people RT you, then you might not have time for much else other than thanking people if you stick to this practice.

All that being said, the practice of RT-ing is one of the reasons that you don’t need to worry about missing much of the good stuff on Twitter. If it truly is “good stuff,” then it is surely likely to be RT’d.

7 – SEARCH.TWITTER.COM – Searching Twitter [now integrated on the Twitter interface] offers “real-time” results, i.e., What people are Tweeting at the moment you input your keywords . . . unless your the terms are obscure, i.e., no one but you is interested. This is one of the best methods for finding people to follow — by inputting topics of interest and finding like-minded people. Read their streams and then follow them if you like what they have to say. You might want to reply or retweet, so they will have an additional incentive to follow you back. And you might even find someone who becomes one of your face-to-face friends. [I have 🙂 ]

You can narrow your search through operators like these two examples [complete list]:

news 🙁 —– search contains word “news” and with a negative attitude
“happy hour” near:”san francisco” —– search contains exact phrase “happy hour” and was sent near “san francisco”

8 – Tweetdeck.com – This is the desktop application I use to more fully engage with my followers and topics I follow. I will post a complete article explaining how to download and use this valuable tool.

9 – Tweetchat.com – Twitter can be used for chatting real-time. The way it works is that everyone in the chat is using a certain keyword (called a hashtag) in all their tweets. The applications are then grabbing all the tweets with that hashtag (defined below) from Twitter and displaying them for the people who are part of the chat. Be careful though because your tweets are also going out to all the people who are following you.

10- My own previous “worksheet” for new Tweeters with these terms and more as well as a new site 109 Slang Terms for Tweeters

PS I just remembered URL shorteners like bit.ly. Most people use a site like bit.ly to reduce the number of characters in the URL. This site also has functionality to track your shortened URLs to report on how many times people click on them.

PPS How could I forget to define Hashtags? Tweeters use the number symbol # in front of a word [e.g., #journ65] to identify a topic that makes it easy for people to (a) search for and (b) contribute to the discussion — whether the discussion is happening real time or just “over” time. One example of a real time hashtag discussion would be live tweeting during a webinar. The hashtag could be as simple as the name of the moderator; George Kao happens to be one of my mentors, and when he holds one of his Q&A sessions, I would tweet using the @georgekao hashtag, so people can follow the discussion and add to it.

Which terms would you add to this list, and what would you say about them?

Journalism, Twitter

Twitter Week for Journalists: DAY ONE –What & Why

January 30, 2011 Shari Weiss 36 Comments

Whether it’s violent protests in Egypt, character assassination of the Chicago Bears’ Jay Cutler, surprising new talent discoveries, or natural disasters, the “NEWS” is reaching us faster — intersecting with us where we are.

At the forefront of this evolution/revolution is Twitter, the social media platform where simplicity is part of its brilliance. Twitter has changed the way we define news. Having to keep messages to under 140 characters, tweeters are breaking news and defining trends — getting out information to the world that in the past might never have been reported.

By the time many journalists can get in to cover a story, it has broken on Twitter, been discussed, and passed off as old news. Therefore, today’s print and broadcast reporters must provide analysis and perspective to add value to the conversation. They can use Twitter to do just that: Journalists have access to a real time people search engine that can tell them what millions of people are thinking about one single topic in any country around the world.

In mid-2010, Twitter had 100-200 million users (depending on the stat source). On a daily basis, they posted 26 million tweets and searched the site 600 million times. More than 300,000 new users were joining every day as well.

While a significant number of Old School journalists may still be treading water defending what they know and “want to be true,” a growing number of today’s and tomorrow’s journalists are building knowledge, networks, and influence as professional Tweeple. Here’s a link to ten of the most experienced Twitter users that every journalism student ought to follow.

Has Twitter changed your work life?

Below you can read how six online journalists describe the impact of Twitter on their careers and their evolving definitions of news:

I am journalist and I do read newspapers, watch news etc.. but I notice that more and more I get my “Breaking News” from Facebook/ Twitter… Sometimes you just don’t have time to turn on the TV or read an online newspaper. I predict that consumers will subscribe to news via services like this that operate only on Twitter, Facebook etc.. and that perhaps this services will be linked to the major news-services of the world.
Posted by Mayra Rocha-Fernandez

Working at a twice-weekly community newspaper, Twitter has helped us keep a more “daily” feel to our product. We’re able send out short bursts providing some info (game scores, council decisions, etc.) while at the same time leading followers to either our print or e-editions. Of course, at the same time, we’re competing with others (fans, parents, bloggers) who tweet such information.
Posted by Michael Gresham

I am a veteran political reporter covering Canada’s Parliament and the use of Twitter by MPs and cabinet minister has exploded over the past couple of years. We have even had MPs had to rise in the House of Commons to apologize for tweeting the proceedings of an in camera committee meeting or for commenting on another MPs weight.
For me, twitter has become a valuable source of tips about breaking news on Parliament Hill, another way to communicate with sources and a way to call attention to stories we report.
Posted by Elizabeth Thompson

I think you’re right, but I don’t see that as a good thing. As a lifelong NJ (National Union of Journalists) member, I believe that this drive toward social media, etc., is dangerous. Sometimes you need more than 140 characters to explain the important issues, but “people” are too busy to consider the larger picture or the background. No one has the time to listen or read the full story and what happens is that people beleive they know about a particular matter, when they haven’t got an idea about what’s going one. Thank you for your post.
Posted by Greg Smith

I use twitter and fb to promote my articles or when there’s breaking news that I see in the sports world, mostly with the Chicago Cubs. I use it to receive other breaking news, but it can really get out of hand. I have started to cull names from who I follow. There are some people who use it and it seems like nonsense to me. It is a valuable tool for taking and receiving info related to your business… at least it is for me. As for limiting things to 140 characters, I agree that’s not always enough, but that’s where you can link to longer articles. In our busy lives, sometimes we don’t have enough time to read everything in deptth, so 140 characters to let us know what’s going on is more helpful than being in the dark about an issue.
Posted by Miriam Romain

If used correctly social media is an important and valuable tool needed to reach the masses and those not attracted to news. It is not a fad and if used in the right effective way is not dangerous either. I teach journalists how to use social media “correctly” and once they realise the right way, it’s amazing how hooked they are. However, there are many, especially management who seem wary of it.
Posted by Emma Lingard

Join the conversation: How has Twitter changed your work life? What do you predict for the future of news and journalism?

[Correction: an earlier version posted 600 million Twitter users, but the source seems to have vastly overstated the case]

Blogging, Journalism, LinkedIn, Twitter

Which comes first: The Chicken or the Egg? The Medium or the Message?

January 24, 2011 Shari Weiss 119 Comments

Long ago, business was all about building a better mousetrap and force-feeding it into homes. Long ago, publishing was all about dollars and cents (don’t mistakenly read “sense”). Long ago, free speech was easily regulated — and not particularly “free.”

Today’s technology advances are creating a New Normal, and intelligent folks who want to work and prosper in these revolutionary times must accept and embrace the challenges and opportunities.

How does one do this? How does one keep up with — and even stay ahead of — change.

My online course Social Media for Journalists [beginning today, January 24] will offer a roadmap, i.e., GPS turn-by-turn instructions, to a variety of destinations from a selection of career paths to a better understanding of today’s world.

In preparation for the course, I posted a Discussion Topic on a number of LinkedIn groups where online journalists congregate. I asked them what topics, issues, and skills they would emphasize in a course teaching student journalists about social media. Below is a listing of their responses.

My students will be asked to choose one of the responses and write a comment below. I invite all my readers to do the same.

What online journalists say about social media and the future:

The way to revitalize the journalism “industry” is to use the new technology to build community, connections, and most important — solid relationships.
Publishing today is not just about offering something of value; you need to know what people really want and how they want to receive it.
Integration is key: we are losing separate distinctions between journalism, PR, marketing, and advertising.
Journalists are the storytellers and disseminators of news — they connect people to information, and social media is the newest means to accomplish this.
Media outlets are using Foursquare and other local apps to find people at the sites where news is breaking.
Cheap, high speed internet access and social networking has broken up the mass audience into social, economic, geographic, and business “niche” communities.
Search engines, blogs, and social networking have made everyone a publisher.
Twitter and Foursquare have become valuable tools for sourcing and feedback; the impact of instant public feedback in the writing/creative processes of the journalist.
Students will help create knowledge and process.
Journalism and the stuff that looks like it is less reliable and requires more consumer skepticism.
When access to social media both as a contributor and reader is so easy, what value can a journalist bring to the mix?
Posts on social media become news.
Stories can be updated throughout the day on social media sites.
Social media is not a one-way street; you must listen and engage, not just post.
One problem with social media is that it has convinced people that they have superior observation and analytical skills as well as original ideas.
Interacting with people on a one-to-one basis helps grow relationships, spread information, and gather new facts.
Missing from online blogging is the filter between the writer and the public — the copy editor or news editor.
Visual and audio media convey emotion in a way that print never could. In fact, when using multimedia, it may be extremely difficult to separate the emotional content from the informational content.
Traditional news values and techniques are valuable and should be studied. There are some things the internet should never change.
Ideally “old school” and “new school” news sources will challenge each other to do a better job. A competitive news environment benefits all.

Do any of these statements resonate with you? If so, please write a comment telling us which one and why.

Facebook, LinkedIn, Sharisax Is Out There, Twitter

Social Media Resolutions: a Checklist for Newbies

January 2, 2011 Shari Weiss 14 Comments

Many of my friends and business acquaintances are coming around to recognizing the inevitability of “The Social Network” as key to their future business success. Whether it’s the Facebook movie and Mark Zuckerberg as Time’s 2010 Man of the Year or the predictions of everything going mobile, the time to Get Connected is NOW.

So today’s First-of-the-New-Year post will list my recommendations for becoming part of the Social Nation.

Five 1st Steps to Join the Social Media Revolution

____ 1. LinkedIn: If you have not already joined LinkedIn, then do so ASAP.

LinkedIn is an amazing platform for finding prospective clients as well as information, jobs, suppliers, and partners. Before you can reap the rewards from this site, however, you MUST take some time to optimize your Profile for maximum “find-ability”: check relevant links below.

____ 2. Blogging: If you still feel uncomfortable with the word “blog,” then get over it.

Short for Web Log, a blog is the best example of how every individual and every company can now become a publisher with very little — or no — expense. (A) Writing a blog gives the author an opportunity to establish an online presence as the Go-To Source for an area of expertise, in addition to giving companies a platform for engaging with customers and other publics. (B) Reading blogs has become routine for business people seeking current facts and opinions on news and trends in their industries, as well a the newest “mass medium.”

____ 3. Facebook: If you are still worrying about privacy on the most popular web site on the globe, then you need to understand the business value of Facebook and how to engage with “friends” and “fans” to build and protect your online reputation.

Begin with the knowledge that scores of your prospective customers as well as possible new employees are chatting, gaming, posting, searching, and buying via Facebook. Keep in mind that although we hear about changes and hints of changes on an almost daily basis, getting started with a profile and experience interacting with Friends will prepare you to “roll with the punches” as Facebook continues to evolve into the Place To Be online.

____ 4. Twitter: If you still think Twitter is Stupid, think again.

It may be hard to remember how resistant business was to allowing employees to email in the mid ’90s — and that’s because many of us today depend on letters via computer rather than via post office and messages online where we can access at our leisure rather than phone calls which we either miss or are too busy to answer. Many prognosticators are telling us that email will be going away, or at least will become less useful as people discover the many applications of “microblogging.”

____ 5. YouTube: If you haven’t checked for a YouTube video to teach you how to do something you hadn’t known how to do, then DO It.

And consider buying a flip video or simply take a video with your cell phone and post it to YouTube. You will build your skills as you see how powerful videos are for spreading messages, establishing your expertise, and discovering almost everything you need to know — as well as entertaining you and your friends.

Sharing, not selling, is what the Social Nation is all about . . . and 2011 is a great time for you to start. Remember one important tip, and that is to Take Baby Steps. Start slowly, but start.

RELEVANT READING

Simple Answers to Six Basic Social Media Questions

Worksheet for filling out your LinkedIn profile

Maximize your LinkedIn profile

How to create your own success on LinkedIn

To Blog . . . or Not To Blog . . . that is a good First Question

Avoid these NINE Blogging Errors

Beginning Bloggers Workshop: what should you blog about?

Will a blog help you build your business and other typical blog questions

20 Facebook mistakes you shouldn’t make

How to do Facebook right . . . if you care about your Online Reputation

Twitter Basics workshop “cheat sheet” and other links