Chris Brogan and then I saw Spence Smith started posting Follow Fridays to their blog rather than Twitter. Well now, how is that for a WELL DUH!
What is Follow Friday?
Not a Tweeter? Wonder what Follow Friday is? The idea is to think of interesting people you already follow and recommend them to others. Check out the history of Follow Friday on Mashable.
Mary, so kind. Big huge heart. No longer addicted to Starbucks
Tweet Suggestion: Send her a Happy Birthday wish, today is her special day!
@Laura_Elizabeth
This is the one and only Laura. I’m lucky enough to work with her and to call her friend. She is crafty, a blogger and an all around swell kindof gal that everyone should know.
Tweet Suggestion:Tweet her a meh. Yes, just the word meh. (do it! please?)
Nicole is another co-worker of mine and my partner in crime. She is a n00b to the twitter world, a blog lurke and is NOT a fan of chocolate cake (but makes a mean one, go figure!)
Tweet Suggestion: Tweet her a line from the movie Step Brothers. Then tell her that her step brother told you to do it.
Let your users Tweet right from your website. Just 1-line of code and you’ll give your users a Twitter update box.
Check out the TWEET HERE widget on my sidebar —>
(that’s Twoxit)
The TwoxitTwitter Widget / Twitter Tool allows anyone to place a twitter update box on their website / blog for their visitors to update twitter from. This could be a great benefit to you as you will be encouraging your website / blog visitors to update their twitter profile, possibly about your website / blog! Simply copy the code for a form below and paste into your blog / website source code – Done!
David Letterman dishes on the top 10 signs you spend TOO much time on Twitter:
10. You miss son’s soccer game waiting for Lady Gaga to post what she had for lunch
9. You answer the phone: "Twello?"
8. You’ve spent millions developing iPhone waterproofing technology so you can tweet in the shower.
7. You haven’t touched your CB radio in months.
6. You ask yourself, "What would Jesus tweet?"
5. You sleep-tweet.
4. No number 4 — Writer on Twitter.
3. You stopped paying attention to this list after the first 140 characters.
2. Even Ashton Kutcher thinks you Tweet too much.
1. Walking in on the Landscaper "retweeting" your wife.
PS: In Twitter news – Twitter acquired the iPhone app Tweetie (I HEART TWEETIE!). Tweeie will be renamed to Twitter for iPhone and the price will be dropped from $2.99 to FREE!
You are apart of my every day. Some days, more so than email! While for the most part I LOVE YOU, there area few things I wish you would change. I think of you as a virtual friend, and after reading this from Seth Godin, I thought I’d egg you on and demand the best from you:
Real world friends are hard to find and hard to change.
But virtual friends?
If your online friends aren’t egging you on…
If your online friends don’t spread the word about the work you’re doing…
If your online friends aren’t respectfully challenging your deeply held beliefs…
If your online friends don’t demand the best from you…
While typically I use Tweetie or Hootsuite – some improvements to the Twitter.com interface would not frustrate me when I come to visit.
So Twitter, here are my recommended updates:
Show Me How Many People Mention Me Since My Last Login
On my right nav in Twitter – show me how many people have mentioned me since my last login. This will help so that I make sure to respond to all those who mention me.
Mass Deleting of Direct Messages
Okay, so yes I know that if I had just started deleting these when I receive a direct message – this problem wouldn’t exist. But it does, so help me fix it. There is not a way thru your interface to delete direct messages in bulk. This annoys me.
On a happy note – I did find a work around by using a Firefox Bookmarklet called DM Wacker. This will delete your Twitter direct messages in bulk.
Listing All My Friends to Send a Direct Message
I only see a short list of those I follow (and that follow me back) listed on the direct message screen. While yes, I know I can type d <twitter handle> in the prompt, I have a HUGE fear of sending something private to the world.
Tweet Archive by Dates
There really isn’t an effective way to search tweets by a particular date. Often I’ll read a tweet and then remember it days later. Trying to fish for it is a joke. By organizing tweets in a way to search archival posts, you would greatly simplify the process of searching and eliminate my frustrations of "now where is that link."
Notification at Login
Each time I login, if there was mention of new direct messages or mentions at the top – it would allow another way to keep on top of the latest from people who are tweeting you directly.
While I know Twitter emails you your direct messages – my emails always seem to land in spam.
So Twitter, I still love you. I say these things with a caring heart. You are doing a great job so far, but there is more to improve on.
Your Virtual Friend,
Digital Mom
P.S. What updates to Twitter would you like to see improved?
A new Twitter friend @sara417 posed the following question to me tonight:
What can kidless friends of new moms do to be most helpful?
Good question!
My knee jerk reaction is: don’t judge your friends parenting skills until you have kids of your own. Poor Sara probebly thinks – wow she is rude, but I totally hope it didn’t come off that way!
I say this because honestly I was SO guilty of this pre-kids. My husband and I knew we wanted kids and went thru many infertile years yearning for kids, watching our friends have them and then JUDGING our friend’s and family’s parenting skills. And then we had kids.
I can now say that I have a 20 second (5 seconds went out with the first one) when a binky drops to the ground.
The idea of some germs strengthening the immune system – now sounds like a good idea!
Breast feeding, as much as I was an advocate for it with the first kid. When I couldn’t produce milk – and was working I suddenly realized formula wasn’t evil.
Pre-washing baby clothes isn’t as easy as just pulling off tags.
In all seriousness though – here are a few things that kidless friends can do to help new moms (because, let’s face it – new moms need all the help they can get – whether it’s their first or their fifth!)
A phone call or even a simple email to say "I’M THINKING OF YOU!"
As busy as people are now adays, just the outreach to a new mom, who is dealing with an on-slaught of newness can make her day.
A meal is nice – a gift certificate can be NICER!
While a home cooked meal is always great, immediately after a baby – it also means having to schedule times to meet people and the feeling of needing to be prepped for friends coming over just adds an extra rain cloud to the storm. So if you aren’t extremely close to the friend, an idea to purchase a gift certificate to a fast food place or restaurant that does take out would help tremendously. With #2, we lived on take-out and fast food for the first month as we adjusted.
Nothing says SURPRISE! like a random gift on the doorstep
Again I have to stress the stress of a new mommy. Your schedule is off. You have a new little thing living in your house, who, how or what is going on. Sleep is something you don’t remember. Life just is a bit crazy for those first few weeks. A little surprise, nothing expensive but something thoughtful on the doorstep will always bring a smile to someone’s face. Think simple, even toilet paper (don’t wrap the house!), a card on the door, a box of cookies, a cupcake, flowers – it’s really the thought that counts not how much you spend.
Give Mommy a BREAK!
One of the best gifts I received last time was a pedicure gift certificate. I recall enjoying the 30 minutes to myself a week or so after my last kid arrived. Call up the husband to see if you can schedule an hour out with the new mom and take her to get pampered. If the husband can’t be left alone – give mommy a break by watching the baby for an hour.
FRIENDS till the end.
I know it’s hard when friends start having kids and you are kidless. I remember when my friends started having kids and we were still kidless – feelling as if my friends and I had nothing in common. They had their child to talk about – and well, me talking about my beloved puppies just didn’t compare. Try to find connections with other things beyond the kiddos. Believe me – she will appreciate you as a friend without kids. Friends with kids, we tend to play silly games – whether it’s keeping up with the latest development of what my kid vs. what your kid does, or who has the latest and greatest baby gear (ugh, I hated this, hope I don’t sink to that level again!). Friends without kids are worth their weight in gold. My kidless friends give me that reality check of the world minus my new appendages.
Thanks for asking Sara! Hope these help!
MOMS: What advice do you have on how your kidless friends can do to be most helpful?
It’s that time of year for us digital geeks – where we all embark on the great city of Austin, Texas to enjoy the festivities of SXSW Interactive (SXSWi). While I have to pass this year (wah!), I know the Twitter world we keep me a-buzzed to all of the happenings. One of the MANY things I heart about SXSWi, is the “first to know feeling” as you learn the latest and greatest before it hits the mainstream.
A few years ago, I recall the rage of this thing called Twitter. It was all the buzz. This year, rumors are circulating about the new-new thing being the location-based apps.
"What are these location-based apps you speak of?" you ask…
Whrrl (which isn’t mentioned but has recently added this element into their circle)
Three years ago, Twitter famously was the talk of the conference (it won the web award that year). While sure, it didn’t explode into mainstream popularity until sometime later, the writing was on the wall for the early-adopters who started using it there or shortly thereafter. Two years ago, it was arguably Twitter again that was the must-use service throughout the conference as it continued to mature. But last year saw some new entries rise. Both Foursquare and Gowalla launched at the conference, with Foursquare gaining much of the momentum coming out of the conference (as some of us predicted). And this year, I suspect it will be largely an extension of that, with location services in general being the talk of the show.
Goodbye business cards -- hello Poken! Poken is your ‘social business card.’
I received this nifty device in my welcome box from Blissdom(thanks @alliworthington, @barbarajones & ConAgra Foods!) (And the Blissdom welcome box is a while other post waiting to happen -- too fun!)
While this little thing appears to be a thumb drive ( it works as a thumb drive as well -a 2 gigger!) -- it has this cute little white hand on it with 4 fingers. The idea is that you can exchange information, like you would on a business card, but via this device.
Here’s how it works.
Pop the Poken into your USB drive
Click on Start_Poken.html
Create your social media card on the site you are redirected to
Now when you meet someone with a Poken, tap your Poken hand with their Poken hand (high4!) and your data is sync’d
Rather than lugging around business cards and what have you -- you’ll have the digital profile of the people you meet! It also timestamps when you met them. The social media cards (profiles) that you exchange can include a wide variety of information on the person (whatever they load), including a photo. Here’s a snapshot of mine:
The Good:
This device is priced right. You can pick one up for around $19.95! Not too shabby -- definately greener, cheaper and easier to manage then business cards!
The Bad:
In order to exchange information -- the other person has to have a Poken.
BUT when a nifty event (like BLISSDOM -- shout out!) gives these out (courtesy of Conagra Foods -- another shout out!) -- everyone will be able to connect! I can think of multiple instances this device would come in handy, especially in the event business in which I work.
Long story short -- looking forward to trying this puppy out next week at the Blissdom event. Will recap after I "high4" with other digital girlys!
poken is your ‘social business card.’ it’s an easy way to share your contact details and online social networks in the real world. just hold two poken palms together -- high4! -- and you’re connected.
Tweets, blogs and Facebook are to be applauded for the success of the Red Cross’ successful fundraising campaign for Haiti. The most recent number I could find is that the Red Cross has raised over $22,000,000 by having donors donate $10 by texting HAITI to 90999. The simplicity of spreading the word and of actually donating is triggering thousands to react and give.
Here is a list of other non-profits jumping in on the mobile giving campaign for Haiti:
American Red Cross: Text the word “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10
Yéle Foundation (founded by Wyclef Jean): Text the word “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5; Text the word “Yele10” or “YeleTen” to 501501 to donate $10.
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund: Text the word “QUAKE” to 20222 to donate $10.
Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund: Text the word “Haiti” to 20222 to donate $10.
Salvation Army: Text the word “Haiti” to 52000 to donate $10.
UNICEF: Text the word “Hope10” or “UNICEF” to 20222 to donate $10.
National Religious Broadcasters (NRB): Text the word “Haiti” to 40579 to donate $10.
Save the Children Federation: Text the word “Save” or “Safe” to 20222 to donate $10.
World Vision: Text the word “Give” or “World” to 20222 to donate $10.
International Medical Corps: Text the word “Haiti” to 85944 to donate $10.
International Rescue Committee: Text the word “Haiti” to 25383 to donate $5.
Oxfam America: Text the word “Oxfam” to 25383 to donate $10.
Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere: Text the word “PP” to 25383 to donate $10.
Americares: Text the word “Americares” to 25383 to donate $10.
Habitat for Humanity: Text the word “Habitat” to 25383 to donate $10.
MTV telethon: Text the word “Give” to 25383 to donate $10.
American Jewish World Service: Text the word “AJWS” to 25383 to donate $10.
Absolutely BRILLIANT!
Last year I was involved in a fund raiser for Hoops of Hope. The team at the office spent a day utilizing our online profiles tweeting and posting to Facebook to raise money to help build an Africa school. In the 24 hours we were tweeting, over $4,000 was raised. We only had a handful of us tweeting (5 or so), but it worked – and we exceeded our goal of $1,000.
If you are involved with a non-profit and are not harnessing the power of social media – get in the game. It’s not too late, there is money to raise and the best, cheapest way to go viral is by utilizing the power of social media.
Rev Run, inspire me? Who would of thunk that the Run DMC front man would be someone I’d care to hear from. I started following him on Twitter several months ago, and have to say he his 140 characters have changed the course of my day many times. Follow him on Twitter and be inspired. @revrunwisdom
Do you run a small business? How are you connected to social media?
I think there are 2 different mind sets when it comes to small businesses. There are those who want to grow and become a larger business, and those who are content. But thinking about that – isn’t that how most people are?
Both of my parents run small businesses. Both are NOT connected to social media – nor care to. While this saddens me, I have to realize – they do not want to grow. So much opportunity with minimal costs, but being content is more of their style rather than evolving with the times.
While I don’t mean to cast a “if you are not connected to social media, you will not grow” statement on all small businesses. I do cast the statement: “Small businesses do not know what they are missing by not utilizing social media platforms.”
Social media is a diverse, minimal costing marketing effort. While it requires love and a little bit of knowledge of how to leverage it, the rewards can be remarkable for growing ones customer base and customer service.
Here is a great example of how a once small business, Sprinkles Cupcakes has utilized social media to grow their base.
Reporting from San Francisco– Charles Nelson, president of Sprinkles Cupcakes, the Beverly Hills baker to the stars, doesn’t have a Facebook profile. Nelson, who works seven days a week, has no time for chatting online with Facebook friends.
But Nelson is logged on to Facebook all the time. That’s because more than 70,000 people have declared themselves fans of Sprinkles’ Facebook page, which has its own “vanity URL” at www.facebook.com /sprinkles.
Each day on the website, Sprinkles announces a secret word, such as “ganache,” or “bunny,” or “tropical,” or “love,” and the first 25 or 50 people to show up at any of its five stores and whisper that word get a free cupcake.
“On Facebook, we can ask our customers what’s the next location they want,” Nelson said. “What do they think of our next flavor? It’s an amazing way to communicate with our fans.”
Facebook is not just for friends anymore. The free social networking site — blocked in many workplaces as a potential time-waster — is increasingly becoming an inexpensive marketing tool for small businesses.
Sprinkles is among a growing number of mom-and-pop businesses taking advantage of a relatively new program on Facebook, one that allows them to claim their name, become visible even to folks who aren’t on the site, and stay in close contact with their customers. The business, in effect, can act like any other person on Facebook, posting status updates and seeing what its fans are doing.
How can your small business utilize social media? The opportunities are endless. I’ll be going thru several techniques in the next few weeks on getting started on several different social media platforms.
