Category Archives: Social Media Tools

Is Your Social Media Content Being Shared?

by
One of the most interesting questions people consistently ask is, “What kind of social media content do people share the most?” It’s a great question that a recent study attempts to answer. Experts across the social space weighed in, and most felt that pictures and links are shared the most.
 
This is what I was told when I joined Twitter and Facebook back in January of 2009. Pictures and links. But, while this might be the reality for those in the study, and for many others, I feel that it isn't that black and white overall. 
 
Below are the findings of a recent study. Interesting numbers to say the least.
Chart Courtesy of MarketingChart.com
I get my share of Likes for pictures, but I find that on Facebook when great pictures are combined with great quotes or great links, that content goes farther for me than just quotes, links or pictures by themselves. Visual social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram have certainly influenced this shift.
 
And on Twitter, my inspirational posts go much farther than anything. Why? There is not one factor that can probably explain this. However, I have switched up my quotes. I appreciate the timeless words of Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Anne Frank, Booker T. Washington and other historical luminaries, and I still share those quotes. But, I also look exhaustively on the Twitter feeds of ordinary people for their own words on life, love, and happiness. Don’t be afraid to test new content – slightly different from your usual, but still consistent with the spirit of what you like.
 
When you cultivate a quality following, and foster a sense of authenticity and consistency, you’ll see your content being shared more and more. Give it time, and keep engaging no matter what. Your content will find a captive audience.  

Social Media Needs a Super Bowl Ad

by

When Twitter ran its first television commercial in late spring, it was a moment many had been waiting for. Myself included. It was a great beginning, something to build on. But the company should think bigger. Much, much bigger.

As I reasoned three years ago, Twitter should develop a Super Bowl ad. No, not anything formula, like one with a celebrity endorser. What I am talking about is a television commercial with highlights of Twitter's undeniable impact, and complemented with CEO Jack Dorsey's voice. Think back to how compelling the 1999 "Crazy Ones" commercial was with Steve Job's now memorable narration.

Photo Courtesy of ncsasports.org

Are you with me now? This would be hot right? Yes indeed.

Now I do have an ulterior motive in pushing this. I believe that once one of the big Social Media Netoworks makes a Super Bowl ad buy, the rest will surely follow suit. And that would be an exciting development. Think about it: Pinterest and Instagram's emphasis on the importance with visual social media; Linkedin's impressive new additions, particularly its sleek new redesign; Tumblr and its 20 billion page views per month; Facebook's sudden emergence as a mobile powerhouse; and Google Plus, which has seen its numbers rebound dramatically.

With all of that mind, envisioning a commercial for each company would not be difficult. Social media influences so much of our lives: who we vote for, our healthcare decisions, what we purchase, etc. So why not share the social media message of community, culture, and innovation with a billion-plus Super Bowl viewership on 6 continents, and potentially gain hundreds of millions of new members in the process? 

Television is more social than ever before. And social good activists would be happy as well because such a move by these titans of tech would surely, albeit slightly, help close the global digital divide. Social media has been baking a cake for decades, from the first email in 1971 to the latest trends and industry shifts of the past year. It's time to put on the frosting and share the cake with parts of humanity, unwilling to take part, or unaware of the advances. People are visual, so, during the world's biggest annually televised event, tell a global story that will captivate, empower, and inspire. 

It makes complete sense. It's time to shine. Let's make this happen.

9 People Who Have Influenced My Social Media Style

by
Image Courtesy of Buzzom

This is cross-posted on the Smedio blog.

When I joined Twitter and Facebook in January 2009, I had no idea what I was doing. Zero. Zelch. Nada. I didn’t know how to build a following, the importance of third-party apps, and the various ways to drive hits for my then new blog. It took months – six months to be exact – before “tweeting” became a language I fully understood.

Nobody achieves success in social media without some assistance. I’m no different. I have learned from social media veterans who have helped to established the foundation upon which we all stand, and from the newbies who have emerged on the scene and built impressive reputations in a relatively short period. It has been one exciting thrill ride.

It is a full time effort staying on top of the trends, forecasts, and shifts, as well as major changes to major sites like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, GooglePlus, and Chime.in. Without the retweets, likes, +1’s, blog comments, and recommendations, I would not be where I am today. So let me single out 9 people (among so many) who have given me great perspective in five crucial areas:

Digital Listening – This is truly an art. And Glen Gilmore and Sung Lee do it exceedingly well. Twitter is perhaps one of the best “listening post” ever created, and understanding the chatter about relationships and events behind the scene takes skill. Gilmore, the advisor to my Twitter Powerhouses Series, is keenly aware of literally every major development and online discussion about disaster preparedness. Lee, whose recent venture I profiled in Huffington Post last Summer, is one of the leading voices regarding the online, Asian-American presence. Both men monitor hashtags, and make extraordinary use of Twitter lists.

Sharing Other Bloggers’ Content – One of the things I always advocate is sharing the content of other bloggers. No, not simply your friends, but, others outside of your immediate circle. Ann Tran and Amy Neumann are pros at it. To them, millions of bloggers around the world simply provide “millions of opportunities for fresh’ content”. Those who understand this, and do this, often thrive in the social space. Besides, it’s fantastic networking.

Connect and Engage – People always ask me why I recommend the names of people in a particular field or city to someone noticeably new to social media. Well, in late 2009, my first year on Twitter, director and artist Kim Sherrell included my name in a tweet, recommending me to some of her friends. It was the first time someone had done that for me outside of a Follow Friday context. It showed me just how creative I could be in bringing people together. Indeed, tweets are most effective when used to inspire, inform, empower…and connect great people.

Make Your Enthusiasm Consistent – I am continually inspired by bloggers Kelly Clay and Christel Quek, two geekettes who live and breathe all facets of social media. Their success is powered not just by the substance of their posts, but also by the boundless, infectious they express about their work. There isn’t one conversation I’ve had with them (not one) where they weren’t very excited about their next projects. Indeed, enthusiasm is great fuel for confidence.

Have a Sense of Humor – No matter how nice and non-controversial I have tried to be, there are people who challenge my ideas, and my reasons for profiling certain people. Always! So it pays to laugh at it sometimes. And who has a better sense of humor about being challenged in social media than Brett Petersel and Khayyam Wakil? They are so funny, so hilarious that they deserve a show in prime time TV. So when someone is questioning your retweet mojo (LOL!), call these guys up, and just laugh at it.

To be clear, these are not the only tips, just the ones that have worked for me. Social media is not just an activity; it is an investment of valuable time and resources. Surround yourself with people who not only support you and stay with you, but inform your thinking about ways to WOW your online presence.