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Friends Don’t Let Friends Press “Retweet”

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Dear Twittersphere:

Yes, I do feel like my calling is to be a superhero. I presume people don’t know what they’re doing and feel compelled to educate.  That’s the end my disclaimer.

The Problem:

A few years ago, Twitter took what was an organic movement, the retweet (RT), and made a button.

Buttons don’t always make things easy, much to the dismay of Staples “That Was Easy” Marketing Plan.

Pressing a button does not constitute engagement.

I don’t know how to say this any other way.  Why would you expect people to respond to you if you behave this way?

I often see the question in a tweet: why aren’t people responding to me?

Now, until recently, you didn’t even “know” that someone pressed the Retweet Button unless you used a third party application like TweetDeck (now owned by Twitter) so it was even more pointless than it is now.

But I digress.

You may think I am overreacting.  However, I think I raise valid points.

Below are some of my comments with screenshots.  

Read. Apply. Rinse. Repeat.

Here is a screenshot of a recent “mock #FF shoutout” I used in order to demonstrate this bad habit without having to call out anyone in particular and hurt their feelings.

That said, let me make this clear:  It isn’t about your feelings.  

It’s about how to communicate with others. Social media is social. There are rules within any social context. Pay attention and shed the bad habits.

screenshot 1

Continue reading →

Featured

Is Your Blog Bogging Me Down?

guru logoI admit that my advice comes from my own pet peeves.  That’s my disclaimer; however, as a high user, I’d say that’s also a qualifier.

I know that not everyone wants help, yet I continue to stand atop my soap box in the hope that I may reach a few weary souls. That’s who I am.

Blog posts should be short.  We’re not writing our doctoral dissertation here people.  My guideline is about 300-500 words per post.  More than that and I find myself doing one of two things:

Either I “favorite” the post for later, agonize about how I haven’t read it, and end up deleting the email to myself or I simply bounce.

Given my tendency to opinion-ate, you can imagine what my husband has to listen to over the dinner table. It’s an exchange of sorts.  Automobiles for Facebook, Football for Twitter, etc.  But I am getting through. Continue reading →

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How to Link to Your Company Page on Your Facebook Profile

Have you ever wondered how to link your work in the about section of your profile to your company’s Facebook Page?

Here are the steps:

  1. Go to your profile (not page, profile).
  2. Click “About”
  3. Click “Edit” under “Work and Education”
  4. If your current job is listed delete it.  Otherwise skip to next step.
  5. Where it says “Where have you worked?” in the blank box start typing the name of your company.
  6. If it has a Facebook Page, it should be suggested.  (If not, you just type it in anyway.)
  7. Click on the suggested page.
  8. Fill out the job title, description, and dates.
  9. Click “Add Job” and you’re done.

Here is an image that shows the steps:

Click on it to enlarge:

add a page to your work

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Facebook Page Praise: The Cottage Restaurant

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Modelling is a powerful teacher and one of the best ways to learn.

One Facebook Page that I am particularly impressed with is a local gem: The Cottage Restaurant.

They have a rich history as their website describes:

The Cottage is a landmark home that has watched the ever-changing Laguna Beach surf for nearly a century and serving as a restaurant for 47 years.   The building, characterized by its sweeping oriental roof lines, was constructed in 1917 when the majority of Laguna Beach was “board and batten” beach cottages.

My husband and I have eaten there a couple times over the last few years and enjoy the charm, service, and quality of their menu.

Lately, however, we’ve taken notice of their Facebook Page.

Granted, my husband (affectionally called “The Mr.”) is influenced a bit by me, but he’s no techie. In fact, I often test websites, logo designs, and blog posts on him because he’s my go-to-average-Joe.

While driving the other day he said:

“Did you see the photo The Cottage posted?  I like them even more because they’re so good at social media.”

Yes.  He did say that.  Yes. He’s 75 years old.

It occurred to me that I felt the same.

And so here we are, recommending them to you as a good example of a Facebook Page.

I think anyone can follow their page and gain a feel of what makes a Facebook Page successful and fun.

More Facebook Page Praise Entries

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Mind Your Manners, Even on Facebook

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“Civility costs nothing and buys everything.”

Mary Worley Montagu

Every society has a culture. Cultures have rules, implied or explicit.  Social media is still a society and dare I say the rules that exist “in real life” also exist on the digital extensions of your communities.

It’s up to you to make Facebook (et al) what you want it to be.

When posting, ask yourself the following question:

“Am I part of the problem or part of the solution?”

I would recommend against using Facebook for the following types of posts:

  1. Venting about Family Drama:  We get it. Your aunt is asking you to clean her cat box and you’re sick and tired of it and why doesn’t your sister help clean out the cat box anyway?  Seriously?  There is such a thing as appropriateness of venue.  I’m sure your complaints are valid. My point is that Facebook is not the place for this bone-picking.
    •  If you need to vent may I suggest:
    1. Type out your rant in Word, print it, and rip it into a million shreds.  That can be very cathartic.
    2. Call or email your aunt and explain why you don’t want to clean her cat box and offer another solution.
  • Venting About a Coworker:  People steal staplers. It’s annoying. Repeated over time, it can drive you crazy. If you need to vent, may I suggest one of the aforementioned suggestions or starting a blog. (ah-hem, moving on…) Continue reading →
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    Have it on my desk by morning, in quadruplicate

    guru logoWhen I worked for a trucking company in 1991, I had to type freight bills on a typewriter on NCR paper (younger folks may have to Google those terms).  The bills were four to seven sheets thick because everybody and their mom got a copy.

    I’ve noticed a trend lately that has me concerned with the growing popularity of Social Media: Triplicate or Quadruplicate postings.

    This is the elephant in the room.  In my world, often the friends we want to support the most, although enthusiastic, are some of the greater offenders in this area.

    We hint, tweet out great articles, with no avail.  Passive aggressive tweeting, although cathartic, results in no behavioral change.

    Let me apologize now if you are offended by any of the following.  However, I feel compelled to speak my mind on this subject.

    I’m going to have to make a choice. There is no way I am going to follow you on Twitter, be your friend on Facebook, like your Page, connect with you on LinkedIN and follow your Company, put you in my G+ circle and +1 your Company page if all of your posts are identical.

    You may think I am overreacting.  However, I think I raise valid points. Continue reading →

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    What’s My Agenda Anyway?

    guru logoWhy did I start this account and give myself more work?

    Do I want to start a social media firm?  Um. No.

    But I am passionate about social media and the need, especially, for businesses to get on board.

    For ten years after I taught junior high and high school math, I tutored algebra, all because of word-of-mouth.  I was a great tutor because of my ability to tailor my teaching method to a person’s learning style and needs.  I retired for my sanity (yes, I have a full-time “regular” job) but then started doing the same thing with social media.

    I have a few friends that I’ve helped setup their social media accounts and a few ministries that I help along as well.  So why add to my already-heavy workload?

    I realize that I’d never want to be their social media person.

    I don’t want to be them.  I want them to realize that they have the capability and potential to be their own brand’s evangelist. That’s partly why I chose the name:  You, too can be a guru.  Anyone can do this and I’d rather tutor people, get them going, and let them ride their own social media bike.
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    Twitter Praise: @OCReggie

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    Modeling is a powerful teaching tool and is a fabulous way to “learn for free” in social media.  If you hold keen powers of observation coupled with an open mind, it is easy to see successful, stand-out accounts.

    One Twitter account that I have always appreciated is that which is operated by our local newspaper, The Orange County Register, located in Santa Ana, CA.

    In order to maintain transparency and authenticity, they have implemented a tweeting policy that is easily adaptable for any social media team. As stated in their bio:

    The Orange County Register’s main Twitter account. Photo & initials show who is posting: SB-Shannon MC-Michael RH-Roxanne DM-David SQ-Sonya KS-Kevin

    After each tweet, they identify the author with initials:

    @OCReggie’s team also created branded avatars that merge both the logo and the “face behind the tweets.”  Most of the time, they also change their twitter avatar to match who happens to be tweeting.

    I will say that I am a bit surprised they don’t adapt this same behavior to their Facebook Page, but it’s something to admire and adopt regardless.

    Follow @OCReggie on Twitter | Like their Facebook Page

    Like this?  Check out the Facebook Page Praise Series

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    Old School Marketing: “Gimme a Break.”

    I woke up this morning, okay afternoon, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why I remembered this.

    In 1989 I had a fabulous idea for KitKat, my favorite candy bar.

    I prepared an alternative logo for them (albeit the copy is in black and white) and wrote a letter explaining my serendipitous moment and the ensuing idea.

    I must have been so annoyed when I received their reply that I threw away the letter (wish I had it now).   What I remember was this:

    “We have our own marketing department.”

    In this post-modern, social world, that old-school marketing response would have never happened.

    Had I posted it on their Facebook Page today, I wonder what their reaction would have been.  What would your reaction be?

    Of course, thanks to Google, I found out that (at least by 2003) they did adopt the idea (temporarily in the US, permanently in the UK).