Posted on 5 Comments on Facebook for Business – I don’t want to be your friend. By @TheFabulousOne

Facebook for Business – I don’t want to be your friend. By @TheFabulousOne

@TheFabulousOne on Twitter

When I saw this post on Amy’s profile, I had to ask permission to cross-post it here.  Often we just need to hear the fundamentals of social media to reinforce what is true.

I’m not an expert. I’m an enthusiast when it comes to Social Media and Facebook. For my personal brand, I prefer Twitter, but that’s another post altogether.

Nothing frustrates me more than getting a friend request from a business, group, band, restaurant…whatever. Why?

Because it is wrong.

I realize nobody reads Terms of Service when they sign up for ANYTHING. I only do about 50% of the time I sign up for something. But, if you are any of the above mentioned, you are violating those terms by making a regular account (where you have to add friends) and, basically, doing it wrong. Not only that, but you’re limiting yourself.

  1. A regular account can only have 5000 friends. If you have a business (or band, etc.), do you want to have LESS THAN 5000 customers/fans??? What business wants to put a limit on that? Read more Facebook for Business – I don’t want to be your friend. By @TheFabulousOne
Posted on 15 Comments on So, you think you’re funny huh? | A guest blogpost by Wendy Jean

So, you think you’re funny huh? | A guest blogpost by Wendy Jean

@mrspickle_ avatar

This is a guest post by Wendy Jean (aka @MrsPickle_) you can find her blog here:  Keeping Up With the Pickles.

I have a friend who is a social media maven by day and a comedian by night. This makes perfect sense to me, because a lot of what social media is – at least on Twitter – is comprised of one-liners. Who have perfected the one-liners? Comedians.

I think that’s why I love social media myself and after long resisting it, am now practically addicted to Twitter. Like never before, I can throw a “zinger” out there and often immediately get a reaction. It’s the perfect outlet for people who think they’re funny and who revel in sarcasm. People like me, and comedians.

When I first started tweeting it was my love of one-liners and my long-honed skill of talking to myself that got me through, because when I first began no one was listening. I had all but forced my way onto the social media committee at work and one day found myself responsible for the company’s Twitter account. I started tweeting on my personal account as sort of a stress reliever and to respond to tweets in a… shall we say… less than professional manner. Read more So, you think you’re funny huh? | A guest blogpost by Wendy Jean

Posted on No Comments on Email: It’s Not an Eighth Grade Paper

Email: It’s Not an Eighth Grade Paper

Email should never be confused with the five-paragraph essay they taught us in eighth grade.

Try using five lines (one sentence per line) with one of them being an action line “Please confirm receipt,” “Please let me know by August 24 at 7:00 p.m.”

 

Which is easier to read?

EmailFiveLines

Using the five-line method allows your reader to scan (read) the email, ascertain the meaning, and respond much more quickly. Because your message will be understood more easily, your response rate will increase.

Challenge:  Try it for a week.

Suggested Reading:

Posted on 5 Comments on Twitter in Less than Five Minutes (a day)

Twitter in Less than Five Minutes (a day)

guru logoOne of the reasons given frequently for not using Twitter is the lack of time.  I think you can maintain an account with a minimum of five minutes a day.  Like any skill, frequency, not duration, is the key to learning.

Try five minutes in the morning and when you feel comfortable add another five minutes after lunch or in the evening.  Of course, you can spend hours if you want, but it’s not required to maintain a social media pulse.

Watch my screencast here (best in fullscreen mode):

Posted on 7 Comments on Customize Public Settings on LinkedIn

Customize Public Settings on LinkedIn

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Why am I on LinkedIN?  Well, it seems either someone wanted help with how to use it or someone else was looking for a job and wanted a recommendation or I felt that I was socially compelled to accept the invite.  For whatever reasons I’ve maintained my profile all of these years, I’ve never taken it that seriously until a couple of months ago.

I used to describe, and for the record I think it is still accurate, LinkedIN as an organic resume.  That is, it is living and active, and I sought only to connect with people I actually know or worked with. During a conversation on Twitter with @PamAnnMarketing I was told that LinkedIn isn’t a resume, it’s a business card. I realized that I better get my custom URL.

Well, that was a huge chore and for all of the benefits of LinkedIN, it’s user interface could use a bit more work.  (Maybe now that they’re on NYSE, they will fix this.)

Kill Two Birds With One Stone.  Manage your public settings right in the same spot where you are given the option to customize your URL.  Now, if your intent is to use LinkedIN as a business card, then you should have a photo that is visible to the public.  I am in agreement with Sean Jackson at Copyblogger about the photo:

Don’t get clever with your picture

No one will recognize you if they can’t see your face. The best pictures have solid color backgrounds with your face taking up as much of the frame as possible. Sean Jackson | Copyblogger 

You can click and unclick some of the other options and massage your public profile to your own delight, but let’s get down to the URL. Read more Customize Public Settings on LinkedIn