10 Ways to Build and Focus on Passionate Content
I was reading a post by Jay Baer titled the 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media (Great title huh?) and one of the fourteen points hit me pretty hard.
“Social media is fueled by passion, and too many companies try to take elements of their company that aren’t passion-worthy, and attempt to build a social media program around it.”
How do you go about defining passion-worthy elements within your company? What does it mean to have passion filled content to share across the expanse of the Internet and the tools afforded through social media?
I don’t know if companies knowingly choose elements that “aren’t passion-worthy”… maybe they have no idea? They have been rooted for years in this centralized brand strategy… rooted in the belief that they (in the ivory towers) understand what makes their product or service passionate.
How do you go about creating passionate content or choosing “passion-worthy” elements within your company?
10 Ways to Build and Focus on Passionate Content
1. Tell the story of founding the company or your first week at the company. What sites and sounds did you experience? What made you love what you did that first 72 hours?
2. Tell the story of a client. Who is your best client? Who makes the world go round for your company? We all have them. Tell THEIR sorry… now THAT is passionate content.
3. Better yet.. get your client to tell the story for you! Ask your best client to write a guest post. They are the passionate user.
4. Include your own opinions and arguments about popular trends. Great writing moves people and inspires them.
5. Ask your employees what makes them passionate. Does it have to do with the overall company product or service? Heavens no! Your employees are as much of the brand as your overpriced logo on the side of your overpriced building.
6. Remember… your customers and employees are the most important part of your passion worthy content. Let them tell the story for you.
7. Great user/customer experience creates passion-worthy content. What does it feel like when an individual walks into your store? What is the experience when someone clicks through your website?
8. Check out the 4 cornerstones to creating great content from Rand (SEOmoz).
9. Keep tabs on your blog content creation guidelines. How are you creating your blog content? How are you systematically telling your story?
10. Leave no question behind your motives. Create transparent content that elicits a response. If you have multiple writers in your company… be very sure you have a system and policy in place to allow them to write authentically.
Introducing the Twitter Business Center
A little late… but you always save the best for later…. right? 
Twitter is paying attention to what its social media users want. Like fellow social media sites Twitter is working on a new business feature. This feature is to be called “Twitter Business Center,” and will gradually make its way to the public. So far only a couple accounts have access to the feature while Twitter refines and polishes it. The business feature will allow businesses to customize its profile, verify it with a badge, select extra preferences, and add extra contributors so that other people can tweet from one account.
A cool feature is the verification badge. As soon as set up it is verified and the verification badge will show up on the profile (in the past Twitter was selective in allowing accounts to be verified). Another interesting feature will allow businesses to direct message between followers and non followers. For instance, I can DM a company about bad customer service and they can respond without having to follow me back first. It will also be beneficial to have more contributors allowed on the site to keep the profile up-to-date and less overwhelming.
This feature is still in the works with many questions surrounding its cost, tools and debut. For now, to all you lucky businesses that are it testing out, make the best of it!
More posts about the Twitter Business Center:
The Next Web > Twitter Gets Serious, Adds Twitter Business Center
Mashable > Twitter to Launch Business Center
Small Biz Trend > Get Ready Here Comes Twitter’s Business Center
Is Twitter Just a Big Popularity Contest?
When looking at your Twitter account how many of your followers/following do you really know? Sure, we follow people because they follow us and vice a versa…but why? What makes people choose to follow you? If you look at many “popular” (not celebrities) users do you notice any trends? Maybe they have great content, interesting jobs or informative blogs….but how often do you honestly take the time to read the tweets of the people your following. It seems as though people look at numbers rather then content. When deciding whether or not to follow someone do you look at how many followers they have or what they are tweeting?
I’m guilty of following people based on numbers. If they have so many followers then they must be important…right?
This question came to mind when thinking about high school and how being popular is so important. Is Twitter the modern day popularity contest? In high school, your looking for your niche and a group of friends (followers) who fit in with that niche. Twitter embodies this same ideal. You set up your account and then hope to find some relevancy. Some users are more “popular” than you so in your efforts to be like them you become a follower…
Once again let’s take this back to your high school days….were you a follower or a leader? Don’t worry about fitting into someone else’s niche. Instead define/redefine your own. Gain friends (followers) the old fashioned way by being nice and being your own person.
What do you think?
Should we have a Twitter prom among our followers to determine who the King and Queen are? (Just kidding) My point is that Twitter isn’t high school. So don’t take it personal when you lose followers. Don’t take it personal when people won’t follow you back. Maybe your content isn’t relevant to them. You want to have followers who share your interests and who will actually read what your posting. Don’t just be a number among many be someone to follow. Likewise, follow the people who matter to you. We all should be more content driven rather then defining relevancy through the amount of “friends” someone has.
8 Ways to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
If you haven’t created a LinkedIn profile then you should get on it. There are 50 million users on LinkedIn who may looking for what you are doing or have the answers to your questions. LinkedIn is a free, powerful social media site that can connect you to many people and open doors for many opportunities. Like every social media site time management is key but to fully optimize your experience here are some useful tips.
Lewis Howes (co-author of “LinkedWorking”) has some great insight on how to optimize your profile on LinkedIn. We’ve all heard of SEO? If not, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which allows for a greater presence on the internent to increase traffic to your website. In order to ensure that your profile is in the top ranking when being searched on LinkedIn do the following:
1. Define what/who you are in one or two keywords (e.x. business coach)
2. Take that keyword(s) and place them strategically in 5 places on your profile:Headline, Current and Past Work Experiences, Summary and Specialties
3. Within minutes (of doing this) you can SEO your profile. Seriously, try it!
Other ways to ensure greater success on LinkedIn is through groups, conversations and connections. LinkedIn provides opportunities for all of these thing to happen as long as you know how to add the most value to your profile.
1. Create groups. Groups equal contacts which create a frenzy of networking opportunities.
2. Ask questions.
3. Focus on one aspect. If have found your LinkedIn niche then focus on that and do it well. For instance, if you are good at connecting with the members of a group (you created) then interact with them, send messages, start discussions, ask questions etc…
4. Be consistent. Follow through with what you have set out to do. Whether that’s making connections or creating a group.
5. Add Value. Link up your blog, twitter, website whatever gives insight into who are you as a professional.
LinkedIn is easy to use so the more you give the more you will receive. It always feels better to give anyway.
Get started… Get going… Get searched… Do whatever…
Just do it the best way possible.
Leaping Headfirst into Social Media
I recently read a post Going Overboard With Social Media by Brad Ruggles. Throughout the blog I kept trying to form my own opinion on whether or not I agreed or disagree. Instead I found that reluctantly fall in between with no strong yes or no. I can’t say that people or businesses should always use social media but I can’t say they shouldn’t ever either.
headfirst
I do agree that you should look before you leap, don’t merely assume it’s right for you because “everyone” else is doing it. Yes, our culture is obsessed with social media. Our culture loves surrounding itself with new technologies, instant gratifications, easy communication, and fast money. All of these attributes social media boasts upon. My greatest concern for businesses is that people try and do too much at one time. If social media is the way you want to go then have a plan and tread lightly. You don’t wake up one day and run the Boston marathon without training. Same concept applies here. Come up with a strategy, plan your time accordingly and don’t expect instant results (you wouldn’t expect to run 26 miles after a day of training). Social media is evolving and introducing new features all the time. Take it in slowly and choose what will work best for you.
The only major disagreement I had with the post was the advice of not doing it at all. Now, I do think that people just jumping in without any knowledge about social media are just confusing themselves. However, everyone should look into how social media can be utilized. Sometimes you have to try before you just opt-out. Especially, with the phenomenon that social media has become. It may be best to try it first then decide to put your efforts elsewhere. Not doing it at all always leaves the curious “what if” but do realize that’s really not for everyone.
And remember that the best thing you could do with social media is to integrate it in your overall marketing strategy.
Is Avataritis Killing Your Brand?
Leigh Caraccioli considers herself a hybrid, a social-write-tographer spending most of her time doing brand, portrait and wedding photography for her company fleur de leigh photography as well as social media consulting. She is passionate that her lifestyle photojournalism tells an authentic story for her clients and their brand. Leigh also blogs regularly, helps companies geo-target social networks and speaks on social media. Website: http://atfleurdeleigh.com/ Main blog: http://blog.atfleurdeleigh.com/.
Let’s face it. The first brand message you offer up in social media comes from that little square icon that represents you in cyberspace, your avatar. Whether you know it or not, everyone who sees your image forms an impression of you and/or your personal brand instantly. What do your brand images say about you? Are you one of the millions afflicted with…Avataritis? Take this yes or no test to find out:
Do you have half of your ex-girlfriend’s arm around your neck in your cropped down image? Was your image snapped on a smart phone by your overserved BFF at last week’s big kegger? Does you photo scream 1995? You use the boilerplate Twitter birdy or Facebook silhouette. Is there a greyish, orangeish, yellowish swishy backdrop and a contrived smile on your face? Is it just your eyeball? Do you looked even a little bit wasted? Is your image actually not you but instead an image of your fluffy dog, porche carrera or new born babe? Are you masquerading as a celebrity or Homer Simpson?
If you answered yes to any of the above you’re not alone. Say it with me… “Oh Crap!! I have Avataritis!” Prognosis: your social media picture is crap. Worry not. There is a remedy.
Know your brand.
Take a critical minute to define your personal brand. This exercise it very important and is the first step to curing Avataritis if you have it. Many people find that their personal and professional selves have morphed into one, myself included, so only one brand is represented. You may represent your professional self differently and therefore may need to make two lists. Describe yourself in three words. You avatar should say those three words about you. If it doesn’t, scrap it and start anew with your three personal brand words in mind. While the majority of these avatars work and are impactful, can you see a few examples of the afflicted?
Be clear
. When creating your new avatar, opt for simple. Crisp, close-ups, black and white or vibrant color work very well. Don’t worry if the top of your head is cropped off. (Bonus: maybe this is a way to fix a poofy hair day or thinning top.) There are no points awarded for being within the bulls-eye in the small square. Don’t be afraid to crop in closely. I prepare client’s avatars to 250 px by 250. Many avatars include company logos bolstering company reach and brand cohesion. Others are graced with causes the person promotes like 12 for 12K, a charity near and dear to my heart. Be careful not to overdo your logos/causes/political stances on your logo. Create a blog if you have that much to say.
Quick change. Don’t be afraid to change it up every now and then. New avatars can generate some much needed buzz if your social media experience feels a little stale.
Heck, @armano has a revolving door of cool avatars which represents his highly relevant brand well.
Hire a photographer
Your message is worth it really. Brand Photography is growing but it’s still not a common term. Unlike portraits, brand images carry an intentional message about the subject that helps you understand it more clearly. A thousand words are not needed, but an immediate good impression is critical. I help individuals and businesses properly represent their brand in images clearly and succinctly knowing that with the speed of social networking their avatar has to grab someone tightly less than 10 seconds.
Savvy people are investing in professional photography for social media brand impact. So now that you know how to recognize Avataritis, don’t let it kill your brand. Remember that when choosing to follow or friend you, your audience has a fleeting few seconds to size you up.
Make yourself clear, brand aligned and marketable and do the same for your avatar photo.
10 Ways for a NonProfit to Use Foursquare
10.Create a venue for the Nonprofit. Most likely, you already have a profile set up on Foursquare so create a venue for the nonprofit and check-in!
9. Link to Twitter. If you link your foursquare profile with your Twitter account (nonprofit organization not personal) it will then be your username. e.g. www.foursquare.com/user/yournonprofit
8.Add tips about the nonprofit. “Tips” are exactly what they mean. Yep, you got it. Write tips on why this nonprofit rocks, this will also allow you to link in the organizations’ website. Writing tips for a nonprofit venue has the same appeal of writing a tip for your favorite restaurant.
7. To Do lists. Another familiar concept you already know is a “To Do” list. Just add the nonprofit on your “To Do” list via Foursquare. Other users can add your “To Do” lists on to theirs and word of the nonprofit will spread.
6.Gain Insight. By using Foursquare non profit’s can key into what their audiences care about, what they do and how to interact better with the people who support its cause.
5. Where in the World? Foursquare can literally be used worldwide. This means campaigns can be supported whether down the street or overseas.
4. Thank you. Badges, Mayor and points allow you to see who are most active with the non profit. The people with the most points receive badges or become mayors of locations. You may not be able to give them discounts or specials but you can definitely say “thank you”. It helps the nonprofit build relationships by recognizing its strong supporters.
3.Listen. Along with saying, “Thank You” to your loyal Foursquare supporters. Listen to them by reading what tips have been written, if your on their “To Do” lists and how often people are actually checking in. By paying attention to these details your nonprofit can gauge why, how and what makes your non profit stand out. Listening goes a long way in a culture of noise.
2. Keeping Your Nonprofit Relevant. Foursquare has an analytics feature that allows businesses to track trends, usage, demographic, total checkins, if information was shared via Facebook and Twitter. So when planning campaigns, fundraisers or just raising awareness this feature can help determine where to start. Keep your nonprofit relevant by knowing who cares and supports its cause and taking action based on where its most popular.
1.Team up. Restaurants and non profits have been getting along for years. Now team up in a non traditional way. For example, When people check-in to the restaurant let them know that a 15% of the meal will go to the cause. This is a vague example but you get the idea. Set a goal and team up with a restaurant to create awareness, increase donations or interact with supporters. This will also provide another opportunity for your nonprofit to say, “Thank you.”
5 Ways to Use Twitter to Develop Personally and Professionally
Today’s guest post is by Dana Nelson. Dana Owns @Danmnelson where she helps connect people to build community.
1. Monitor
Monitor your name, brand, company, competitors and industry. Watch for your favorite trade topics. Follow interesting people and thought leaders within your company and industry.
Watch for topics about which you are passionate, such as your favorite charities, hobbies, sports teams, actors or role models.
2. Listen
Listen to people, whether it is your 80 year old neighbor or Cisco’s CTO. That tweet came from a PERSON. Would you ignore your neighbor if she were there in person? Would you disregard the advice of @Padmasree if she were sitting across your desk?
Over time, when you listen to people, you get to know and help them, and they you. THIS builds trust and relationship.
3. Engage
Talk to them – That tweet came from a real person.
Don’t be afraid to tweet people. As a newbie, I tweeted @zappos . He tweeted back! I about fell on the floor! Research showed that he not only answers his tweets, but ALL Zappoes employees must answer the phones and take customer service calls. (He gets it!)
Comment on a picture, disagree politely, ask a question, but ENGAGE PEOPLE!
@sradick said, “I can teach you how to tweet. I can’t teach you basic communication skills.” Twitter is no different than any other conversation. Keep that in mind as you interact.
4. Support
Share your knowledge. Many people say they can’t blog, because they don’t have much to say. These people talk for hours IF asked about the right topic. Most people are passionate about, skilled or expert in something and could advise on that topic if asked. This is Twitter. Share your expertise in a tweet.
Reach out. These are REAL people. Emotionally support those in your Twitter circle, as you would co-workers sitting next to you. Show you care.
5. Prospect
Get a job. Tweet to show prospective employers who you are. Show your subject matter expertise. Show your caring compassion, and your teamwork. Show your passion and engagement. (Employers will look anyway, so make it good!)
Find employees with Twitter. See how often and on what topics prospects are tweeting, check their twitpics and with whom they tweet regularly. A tweeting brand advocate can be a valuable asset. (Once hired, they will hopefully become your brand advocate.) HELP someone else. If you know someone is looking for a job, RT it! If you know someone seeking a new employee RT it! Both sides will be grateful.
Build the community! Is there a local event that supports one of your causes or involves the whole community? Tweet about it! Is a charity new to twitter? #FF them. People will be grateful. If you do these things, prospects will find YOU! By supporting and engaging the people in your Twitterville community, you will have plenty of business and personal “prospects.”
How to Deal with the Changes on Facebook
Are we in for more then we bargained for when it comes to Facebook? The social network site orginally intended for college students has evolved to become a way of connecting with anyone and everyone. Its wonderful to connect with new and old friends but are we being taken advantage of? Facebook has launched some new features that should have us all a little concerned. These new features, however impressive, are bordering the line of excessive and invasive.
For one, there is now a way to “like” a website without actually logging in to your Facebook account. This feature will let any website you visit display a simple “like” button that be posted on your Facebook wall to show all your Facebook friends that you liked that story. Then in turn will show you in the same box how many of your friends also liked that story. Now, this doesn’t necessarily seem so bad. Right? You decide. Do you think it’s odd that sites will be able to do this with out you having to log in with a user name and password? You also don’t even have to click any Facebook Connect buttons in order for this to happen. Literally, all that is required is that you have signed in to Facebook at some point in time before visiting the site.
Another feature to question is instant personalization. This feature allows sites to show you personalized content based on the details of your profile on Facebook. Okay, again not so bad, yet. These sites will be able to read and interpret your profile without asking for your permission. The scariest part about this nicely named feature is that you opt-in by default. This means that if you DON’T want to have your profile read and have services customized for you without your permission, you have to specifically turn this off.
How can you avoid these new features? Well, there is the obvious, which consquently is very hard to do, delete your account. You can deactivate your account by going to your settings and clicking down at the bottom “deactivate.” Here’s where they get you. By deactivating your account you are simply hiding it. Facebook explains all of this on its help pages. If you want to actually delete your account, there is information on the help page as well. Facebook makes it awfully difficult to leave.
For all you who don’t want to cancel your account. There are some things you can do to prevent these features from affecting you.
Turn off instant personlization by going to your privacy settings, applications and websites then click instant personalization and edit this setting. Doing this will prevent Facebook from sharing your information to sites to customize content based on your profile.
So, far there are only three sites who are able to utilize the instant personalization.These sites are Pandora, Yelp and Doc.com. If you want to make sure that these applications are blocked so that no information is to be shared by either you or you friends (who can share your information with sites) then you have to individually block each and every one of those applications. For now just those three sites.
Finally, don’t click the “like” button or any word resembling this word on websites. This will enable sites to send updates to your news feed or share information to your friends.
Lesson learned here is to explore your privacy settings and understand what Facebook is “allowed” to do based on its terms. Be in control of your information.
Information regarding this article and other helpful ways to control your account click on this link:http://gigaom.com/2010/04/22/your-moms-guide-to-those-facebook-changes-and-how-to-block-them/
Why Small Businesses Fail at Social Media
What is the most important step in implementing a social media strategy for your business? The first step? The second step?
Listening and then responding.
What most businesses fail to realize (those who start using social media without a plan or any type of integration) is that the social media sphere would rather be listened to first and communicated with… second.
The consumer is now in control of the conversation. We are in control of how we respond, interact, and praise/degrade every brand underneath the sun.
Businesses who jump into the conversation and broadcast a message but fail to interact are failing miserably at the art of communication within social media. It is important to realize the potential of what David Armano calls micro-interactions where you the brand are responding only after you have listened to what your customers are communicating.
Remember to always listen before speaking… respond when necessary and add a little flavor into the mix. Get to know the people you are interacting with.. only then will you realize the full potential of viral growth through social media.