This is why most influencers these days recruit outside experts like Social10x who know precisely what they’re doing when it comes to engagement. Let’s take a look at why you should try out Social10x.

You’ll Make More Money with Social10x

If you’re serious about becoming an influencer and making money by being one, you’ll want some third party help with your engagement. Big brands these days tend to focus on influencers who have the most followers. If you want this many followers, you would have to sit around all day and engage with your community.

Because Social10x can do this for you, you can spend more time focusing on other parts of the business, including networking with larger brands who may be considering you for their next plug.

You’ll Grow Your Loyal Customer Base with Social10x

There’s something that makes Social10x stand out from the crowd, and that’s their high-quality followers. If you’re looking to build a loyal customer base that is going to stick around for the long haul, you’ll want someone like Social10x to do your engagement for you.  

With high-quality followers like these, you’ll be able to create a fanbase that is genuinely interested in what your page is all about. They’ll be with you through it all.

You’re Guaranteed Great Customer Service

Unfortunately, there are a lot of companies out there that put all their effort into their services and completely forget to include a reliable customer service department.

Without proper communication with the customer, it’s going to be hard for companies like this to build up their own customer base. When you experience an issue with their service or just have a question, you’re going to want to be able to talk to someone ASAP. Thankfully, Social10x has remembered to include this in their packages, and their support is great.

Social10x Utilizes Human Interaction and AI

When you’re building up a loyal community online, you’re going to want to do so using the latest technology. However, you don’t want to do this while completely disregarding human interaction.

Luckily, Social10x has found the perfect balance between their automated system and human interaction. This way, they find real, quality followers who like your content.

Social10x is Surprisingly Affordable

A common assumption about companies like Social10x is that they’re not affordable. With their services offering such success, how could you possibly spend money on them? The answer is, you can because their packages are surprisingly affordable.

Their Instagram package starts at just $6. We can’t think of anybody who can’t afford to spend $6 on their engagement.

Final Thoughts

You may feel like a fish out of water with all the competition that’s on Instagram these days. You’ve got an awesome page with outstanding content – but you can’t seem to get people’s attention.

This is where Social10x comes in. With their real engagement done around the clock for you, all you have to worry about is the other parts of your business – which are way more fun, anyway. Social10x will help you climb the Instagram ladder to influencer success in no time.

The post Social10x Review – How Social10x Can Make You an Influencer appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

For one, social media platforms leave us all open to cyberstalking, phishing scams, and information sharing – to name just a few common risks.

In this article, we’ll be discussing some prominent privacy concerns on social media as well as effective solutions that’ll keep you protected in the face of the growing threat.

What are the risks?

Cyberstalking

As early as the 1990s, people used to regularly have unlisted phone numbers. In those days, privacy prevailed.  

Now – given the power of social media – addresses, workplaces, family members, and your current location are all available to strangers at the click of a button. Your smartphone possesses geolocation data that’s readily available to any offender, and that’s if you’re not already voluntarily tagging your location.

What’s more, social media has become all but mandatory. According to Business News Daily, many employers view the absence of social media activity as a reason not to interview a candidate. This means most of us can’t mitigate risk by avoiding social media altogether. This leaves everybody vulnerable to security issues.

Unlike face-to-face stalking, 40 percent of cyberstalking victims are men. Statistics show that 1 in every 45 men experience some form of cyberstalking behavior, compared to 1 in every 12 women.

We’re all vulnerable to a wider range of threats than we used to be. A simple disagreement with the wrong person on Twitter could lead to a case of cyberstalking. Potential offenders can also be encountered in everyday life and aren’t limited to the digital sphere. There have been cyberstalking cases over a parking spot dispute. All that’s needed is your name in order for somebody to procure a wealth of your personal information.

Employment Issues

It’s one thing, for instance, to hire a marketer and filter candidates through various algorithms assessing social media influence, general conduct, and overall competence. If you were an advertising agency with a strong social media focus, this would make sense.

But regardless of their industry, 40% of companies now use social media to screen prospective candidates – even if the job has nothing to do with your online presence.

Unfortunately, many employers now scoff at a low social influence score, even if they’re impressed by your résumé.  While it seems unreasonable, this reality means that not only must you cultivate your online presence in order to succeed, you must exercise extreme caution in doing so.

Advertiser Profiling

Have you ever mentioned your passion for kayaking in a Facebook messenger private conversation—then suddenly your feed was littered with ads for outdoor adventure stores?

Social media platforms now have algorithms and tools that monitor your comments, conversations, and shares. This information is offered to paying companies who in turn use your keywords to target their advertising. The goal, of course, is for these businesses to find the most relevant audience for their campaigns.

What’s even more concerning is that your information isn’t just being bought and sold by advertisers. Recent investigations have found vast troves of breached personal data from Facebook being illegally sold on the “dark web” for little more than a few dollars.

7 Steps to Stay Protected on Social Media

• Password Security

According to Verizon’s DBIR, 81% of hacking cases are because of stolen or weak passwords.

Having one easy-to-remember password for all of your accounts makes life less complicated for you. Unfortunately, it also makes life less complicated for anyone seeking malicious access to your profile.

Follow these rules to ensure optimal password safety:

• Mix capital letters, numeral, letters, and punctuation (e.g. instead of ‘gator56’ use g4T0r56).
• Change your password every 3 months.
• Use a unique password for each account.
• Research safe and effective methods to create and remember your password.

         Be a Picky Friend

The Social Media Club reports 2-3% of Facebook accounts are fake. While that may seem small, that’s 60 million profiles in total. Their intentions include cyberbullying, cyberstalking, identity theft, and hacking.

If you don’t recognize someone who’s sent a friend request, decline it 100% of the time.

• Layer Your Security

Research shows that 80% of security breaches could be prevented with two-factor authentication.

In a nutshell, two-factor authentication is as simple as adding another verification layer beyond your password. It sends a code to your phone which is needed to complete your login.

Login verification is less intense and much more convenient. You won’t have 2 rounds of verification for every login, just when you’re logging in from an unknown device.

• Don’t Get Baited by Phishing Scams

Phishing schemes, which grew by 65% in 2018, utilize phony e-mails and malicious links.

The scammer sends the fake link pretending it has to do with a social media platform. After clicking through, you’ll be taken to what resembles a Facebook login page. If you enter your login credentials, the “phisher” will steal them and have access to your profile.

To avoid phishing scams, only open emails and click links from known legitimate sources.

• Reduce Third Party App Permissions

Apps that aren’t provided by default by your system – Apple, Android, or Blackberry – are considered third party and represent a potential security risk.

Third-party app stores are appealing because they have popular apps for much cheaper prices. But a slew of sensitive information can be extracted through third-party app stores because, unlike the major platforms, they don’t adhere to rigid privacy restrictions. Phone numbers, device information, email addresses, and social media passwords aren’t particularly safe when they’re in the hands of these unregulated companies.

Either avoid these apps altogether or revoke access to third-party apps you no longer use.

• Encrypt your traffic with a VPN

Thanks to changing regulations and a surge in security threats, the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) increased 165% worldwide in 2018.

VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and protect your personal information when connected to the internet through public hotspots like cafés or airports. If you’re having trouble picking, review websites like Top10VPN offer a range of guides to help you choose the safest provider.

• Social Media Privacy Settings

Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and every other social media platform have their own unique privacy settings.

It’s a confusing process for some, but a necessity if you want to beef up your social media security. Click here for detailed instructions on how to bolster each major platform’s respective privacy setting.

Conclusion

The digital age and the growth of social media are both positives overall. There’s an abundance of information at your fingertips which truly enriches your life. Plus, it’s easier than ever to stay connected with your family and friends.

On the flipside, social media can act as a powerful tool for those that have malicious intentions. With so much of our personal information readily available, it’s easy for these people to take advantage. Committing infractions like identity theft and cyberstalking on a large scale has never been easier.

In today’s climate, a social media presence is necessary to thrive. That being said, it’s important to take every precaution necessary to ensure your privacy remains intact.

The post Social Media Privacy: Seven Tips to Protect Your Profile appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Responsive web design has made it possible to create websites that can be used from any of such devices. It does not matter what type of website you have, it must be accessible from the multiple devices to increase your traffic. Today we are going to talk about how a good web design company can help you do more.

1. You Shouldn’t Only Consider Desktop Experience

Many web developers and even the best android app developers choose the computer to base their website on. When they later attempt o improvise it for the mobile interface, they face a lot of problems. Better is to make a website for small screen and then transforming it to a strong desktop version.

Making a website for the mobile environment and then upgrading it provides web developers the opportunity to spot any problems beforehand. It is easier to deal with the issues on small screen and then scale up the website for desktop version rather than scaling it down to fit the mobile platform.

2. Difficult Navigation is a Big No

The main feature of responsive web design is presenting a website navigation that is easy and compatible on all devices. Web developers sometime use traditional desktop style navigation that does not translate well for mobile versions. In some cases it causes the website to malfunction and even break down completely.

Approaching responsive web development from the mobile point of view enables developers to consider menu styles in its basic form. Then the navigation system could be scaled up to match the desktop version of the website.

3. Loading Speed and Optimization

Internet nowadays has become faster than ever with technologies like broadband, wifi and LTE. A website with heavy videos and images load up in a matter of seconds. But this is not the case with mobile and handheld devices. They operate on restricted bandwidth and the speed varies location wise.

It is necessary for web designers to optimize the website so that it loads fast and performs responsively on handheld devices. The tabs, images, headers and buttons should be light and quick to load. Google has also started using the page speed of a website to rank it. It goes without saying a faster loading website will be more successful in search engine rankings.

5. Using Separate URLs for Mobile Versions

The task of responsive web development is creating a website on a single platform that adopts in real time to support any device. Using different URLS for your mobile site defeats the whole purpose and ends up damaging your search engine rankings.

Using different URLs makes the search engines consider each one as a separate entity. This puts you in competition with yourself wrecking your ranking system. It will also be uncomfortable for users get redirected so many times jumping from link to link.

Responsive web designers should put equal importance on this aspect as it can be main communication channel used by people to update orders or view recommendations. Any organization is bound to fail if it cannot establish a proper email transaction with its customers.

The post The 4 Elements of a Good Web Design appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

However, what is less often mentioned is how they can promote good health in many ways, and can provide ways of ensuring that we keep to our exercise routines, have a healthy heart, and even get a good night’s sleep. These health perks go well beyond the easy hit of dopamine that users get from accumulating likes of social media, which the epidemic of smartphone addiction is largely attributed to.

With that in mind, this article explores some of the top ways in which our extensive use of smartphones can be a cause for good in our lives.

Heart rate monitor

Your smartphone gives you access to a heart rate monitor, which can be a handy tool when doing serious exercise. Your heart rate provides a clear indication of your overall health, so it’s important to check this regularly.

Of course, there are several apps out there which offer this, so it’s always a good idea to read the reviews or check out some review sites before downloading – particularly if it’s not a free app.

Track your moods

Our emotions can impact on our overall health. For example, laughter and happiness can release endorphins and reduce stress, leading to an improve state of mental wellbeing. Conversely, negative emotions over a prolonged period can place us under intense stress and lead to mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression.

Mood Tracker apps on your smartphone can measure your emotional output and monitor your mood, allowing you to pin down what causes your good or bad moods. This may allow you to create more of what makes you feel good, and less of what does the opposite.

Sleeping patterns

A good night’s sleep is crucial to good overall health. Poor or disturbed sleep can leave us feeling tired, stressed, and short tempered, whereas a healthy sleep pattern provides us with the optimum amount of rest required to carry out all our tasks in waking hours.

Your smartphone can track this, and can monitor your activity while you sleep. The apps which specialise in this can provide you with information such as what night you sleep best, how much noise you made, and how many times you became disturbed. This can help you to tailor your sleeping arrangements and remove anything that may be preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep.

Calorie counting

Sleeping well and getting enough exercise are important, as is watching what we eat. Calorie counting apps allow us to keep track of the amount of calories consumed with each meal, as well as the amount of salt, sugar and fat which are harmful to health if over-consumed.

Some apps can even provide meal ideas if you’re looking to deviate from your usual eating habits. This can be particularly useful if your app is telling you that you’re regularly overeating.

The post Top ways in which your smartphone can improve your health appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Implement consistent page branding

You absolutely must make sure that all of the profile images on your social accounts are as crisp and clear as they can possibly be. Fuzzy, stretched photos that don’t fit the page properly will lead potential clients to assume that this reflects the quality of your work and they will definitely go to one of your competitors. This is why you should think of your social media page as a first impression and ensure you are using consistent branding assets across all social media channels.  

Craft profile descriptions carefully

Make sure you understand the importance of the profile section of your account. You need to swiftly and precisely write an enticing bio on all of your accounts that accurately tell visitors to your page what to do. Some social platforms have larger character limits, meaning that your account’s description may be longer or more detailed. But in general, your descriptions should be similar across the board.

Use social media listening tools

It is important to use social media in order to keep up with what all of your competition is doing. This way you can become more in tune with your clients. One great way of doing this is creating Twitter lists or following relevant hashtags. You can create lists of competitors, accounts you draw inspiration from, or your most valued clients to see what they’re up to and what they’re currently interested in.

Share work samples

Show what you can do by sharing as much work as you can online. If you have spent months and months on a project and are proud of how it turned out, let your followers know! Use hasthags to make sure that you are sharing your work to as many people as possible and spread your work as far as you can.

Drive traffic by sharing original content

A fantastic way to get traffic to your website is to share original content that you are able to put a lot of time in to related to your business and index it on your website. With a blog that lives on your website, each article you publish is a page that’s indexed and is an opportunity for you to rank in search engines like Google. Other examples of original content include podcasts and webinars, which you can easily embed into your blog posts.

The post How to Utilise Social Media for Your Web Development Business appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Sharing Content That Is Authentic On LinkedIn

Being active on LinkedIn is a really good idea for law firms. However, being effective is not that easy. In most situations the problem is that the law firm simply shares material that is too promotional. You want to focus on the personal brand since this is what potential clients want to see. However, LinkedIn is mostly a network devoted to professionalism. Finding the mix between the two can be complicated for many.

A Focus On High-Quality Content

People consume social media content every single day. It is important to understand what they want to see. The problem with law firms is that the content they share is actually not at all high quality. The top content sources that are being highly valued by clients need to be identified. This is not something that often happens. The big trend is sharing just really high-quality content that is useful, as opposed to promotional material.

Combining Content Marketing With Social Media

Content marketing is quickly becoming the most important part of digital marketing and it is really easy to understand why. Developing and promoting high-quality content automatically improves how a brand is perceived. For the law firm, reputation stands out as one of the most important things that have to be considered during content promotion.

The law firms that are highly successful with social media campaigns now take advantage of a blog that was attached to their official site. Long gone are the days when a law website was simply built around presentations and looked really impersonal. Nowadays, law firms invest in really well-designed websites and in blog content. The blog content is normally connected with the practice areas and is then used as content marketing through social media.

A Shift Away From Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing means investments were huge in ads. In modern times, the money that is spent on ads is lower, although it still exists. Some people will tell you that social media marketing is dead but this is not actually the case. It is still really effective. The only difference between now and the past is that modern law firms also invest a part of their available promotion budget into content development and research. The goal is to learn what social media followers want to see and then deliver exactly that type of content.

The post The Latest Social Media Trends For Law Firms appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Have you ever dreamt of changing the world for the better only to let “reality” talk you out of such a crazy notion because it was just too big of a task?

I’ve wanted to change the world for quite some time now, maybe it’s the teacher in me. Changing lives and changing the world are part of my DNA. But, wanting is not the same as deciding why, how and in what way the “world changing” will take place.

I am sharing my story of action with you for two reasons:

1.  To assure you of your own abilities to influence change.
2. To demonstrate how to leverage social media for a higher purpose and calling.

I hope these ACTIONABLE STEPS IN SOCIAL MEDIA can inspire and motivate you to build you’re own passionate community through social media.

It is your world – change it!

Here’s how I have decided to change mine:

1.  Create a Statement of Intent

One of my favorite things to do is dream up all the ways I could make a difference in the world. Of course there are countless ways to do it, and it’s easy to get lost in the thoughts. The real trick is finding on small thing that can change the world that actually feels doable. Something that does not require heroics and can actually succeed.

The following questions helped me find my way:

• If_________ was different, the world would be a better place.
• People I know would be happier, more productive, more empowered , if….
• I know, if _______ happened, lives would improve.

• The Value of Social Media (marketingsimplyonline.com)
• Latinos Changing the World Through Twitter? (huffingtonpost.com)
• The Social Media Revolution (retechworld.wordpress.com)
• Are You Afraid to Use Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube) in Your Job Search? Just Stop It! (carolhbates.com)
• How Twitter Is Changing the World (austinsocialnetworking.com)

The post How I am Using Social Media to Change the World, and You Can Too! appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

In social media, success is not only attributed to what you do; it is dependent on who you are and why you do.  “Being’ and ‘doing’ are inseparable aspects of  your presence and influence. 

Who you are comes across more strongly than what you sell or say.  This means not only investing in social media, you must also to invest in yourself to grow and to be better.

You have the ability to teach, guide, influence, activate, catalyze, transform, elevate, and make deeper connections every time you enter this space, but only if you are willing to make your  TO BE list is as high of a priority as your TO DO List.

Here’s a start, as you consider the impact you want to make:

1. Be Real.  Putting out a honest and accurate sense of who/what you are is more than a nicety; it is a necessity for your social media success.  You will not be trusted, admired or valued, if you are not real.  Even if you are representing a company or brand; the people on the receiving end of everything you put out need to know you are real.  This kind of authenticity takes commitment and dedication.  Take time to really get to know what matters to you, hone your story, and share passion in everything you do. Give people a reason to want to know more!
2. Be Generous.  In social media(and in life) we are remembered for what we give and not what we get. So, if you’ve got it, share it and spread it around generously.  Hook your audience up with juicy articles, tips, and photos/videos that satisfy their needs.  What problems do your current and potential clients have to which you can offer solutions with no expectation of reciprocity?  There are a variety of ways that you can use social media to amplify your generosity and support your community in ways that exceed their expectations.
3. Be Prepared. A common mistake that individuals and business make is to target the social media market without a plan. Create a calendar of offerings and intentions. Have a plan for sharing content,blogging,listening,responding and engaging in both formal and informal ways.
4. Be a Master Learner.  Proficiency becomes our deficiency when we stop learning.  There are many people obsessed with achieving expertise in the market. The moment you proclaim yourself to be “expert”, “guru”, or “master of of your domain”, you lose. Make learning with and from others a priority. Use this knowledge and content to move you towards your objectives; and always remember to give thanks to your “teachers” in the process!
5. Be Selective.  There are literally thousands of tools, platforms, and apps. Selectivity is a necessity. Not every new shiny toy will bring you more success than the ones you are using currently. Have a Core Toolbox and add  to it slowly and cautiously. It can be devastating financially and tactically to spend too much time looking for the next best thing.
6. Be A Great Listener.  The key to your success is your ears not your mouth. Great learning and conversations stem from your ability to be a great listener.  Listening thoughtfully gives you a better sense of what people are saying and how they are feeling. In virtual spaces where there are no visual cues, good listening skills become a powerful asset. Listening also helps you map out your current social media footprint and measure your efforts over time.
7. Be A Question Asker.  I have been teaching and writing about the importance of asking great questions for a long time.  Great questions are the best way to have a meaningful conversation, the best way to rope in a mentor  AND the best way to look like a star performer.  Make it a priority to listen to people asking great questions. Be in charge of the questions you ask and keep a list of the best questions you hear.  Use this to create a question toolbox you use and can apply to every conversation and interaction you have.
8. Be Courageous.  For those unfamiliar with technology and new to social media, I understand jumping into the world of social media can be scary.  It’s a big step, especially if you’re accustomed to “old habits.” But now is not the time to be timid.  In today’s rapid fire economy, it is imperative that you be willing to accept, learn how to use, and implement social media and new technologies.  Your competitors certainly are.  Luckily you don’t have to take the jump in alone.  There are tons of ways to find individuals to learn from and be mentored by. As long as you  take the time to plan, practice, and then execute your TO BE list; success will follow.

Humanity’s misfortune is when we don’t realize the very gifts we have, or the impact we have the opportunity to make. We don’t serve the rest of the world or ourselves by playing small.

So what are you waiting for? Embrace the now and be willing to address what is holding you back.

To Be or Not To Be?  The choice is yours!

Related articles

• Listen… are you “social” in Social Media? (3dimensionallife.wordpress.com)
• 8 Steps to a Killer Social Media Newsroom for Inbound PR (hubspot.com)
• Social Media Trouble Spots (thx4playing.blogspot.com)
• Five Social Media Myths that Can Cripple Marketing (distributedmarketing.org)
• Social Media: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (webpagefx.com)

The post Social Media Success: To Be or Not To Be? appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Champion Tweeters think differently. They approach Twitter and their time in the Twitter community with a different behavior set, mindset and belief system. Their  Twitter Habitudes separate them from the pack.

If you seek to be more successful on Twitter, reach out to more people, get noticed, and make a bigger impact; you must be willing and ready to think and act like a Twitter Champion!

Here are 5 ways to get your Twitter Game on:

1.  Gear Up – Physically AND Mentally

You’ll need the right support and equipment for:

• Finding your Community and Customers
• Monitoring your Brand
• Managing your Tweetstream
• Identifying Other Inflencers

Even with the top of the line Twitter gear; your mental fortitude will determine your power and strength.

In the Twitterverse; faith is greater than fear; positivity greater than negativity; and inspiration will get you farther than intelligence. Passion is a must!

2.  Be Ready to Engage.

Twitter is a full contact sport. If you are not willing to reach out, listen, share and learn…stay home. Engagement is nonnegotiable.

A “victory” on Twitter is a passionate conversation; not a #140 character exchange of links or ideas. Tweeters don’t become influential just by making a Twitter account and tweeting away. They engage and have a strategic formula to sustain their engagement.

Don’t wait for people to come to you;  go to them. If you find people who connect and identify with what you share, half of your battle is won.

These tools will help you locate individuals, topics, trends and communities that you can engage with and learn from:

• Twitter Trends
• Twitter Topics
• Twitter Lists
• Twitter Chats/Hashtags
• Twitter Conversations

3.  Give it Your All

Champions do not do half way; they give 110 percent at every game and practice.

On Twitter, that means you have to share killer content – be it a resource, relevant link, amazing photo, great blog post, or inspiring quote. Don’t save the “good stuff” for a select few.  Share something which will make a difference for all.

You score big on Twitter when you can make your own or other’s quality content spread.

As you search for or create content, consider the following guidelines and questions:

• Is it original, new or never been shared before?
• Is it unique?
• Will my customers and community find value?
• Will it make someone’s day?
• Is it shareable – easy to view, post, view, access?
• Does it show I care?

4. Measure Only What Matters

Champions are in a constant state of reflection and practice. They understand what matters most and stive to continuously work harder, practice more and push themselves to get there.  With clear goals in mind, champions are meticulous and diligent about tracking, recording, and monitoring any data that will help them become stronger and wiser at what they do.

Once your goals are in place and your engagement formula is in full swing, you might consider the following tools to help you get and stay on track. Take your time, chose wisely, and remember…just becuase it can be measure; doesn’t make it matter.

Twitter Monitoring Tools:

• TwInfluence: Using this tool, marketers can track how many of their followers are actually listening to their messages. It helps to track the rate at which your campaign is growing among other metrics.
• Twitalyzer: This is another tool that analyzes your Twitter account popularity and how many times your messages are being referred to. This tool also lets you tie into Google analytics. Logging into Analytics account, you can track all the information about the traffic that is redirected from Twitter.
• TweetEffect: Using this tool, you can find how many people are responding and reacting to your posts. This helps you identify what is and what isn’t resonating with your followers.
• PeerIndex is another popular tool that you can use to measure your impact. Like Klout, the site gives you a PeerIndex score out of 100. A number above 40 means you’re in the top 10% of Twitter users, and a number above 90 means you’re in the 0.1% of Twitter influencers.
• Tweetlevel analyzes your influence on the Twitterati based on your popularity, engagement level and the level of trust with your followers. It not only gives you the statistics, but also gives you a detailed description and provides you with some tips to improve your ranking. Your score is rated against 100 and the higher the score, the greater your influence.
• Retweet Rank calculates the number of times a Twitter account has been retweeted, and a rank  is given to the user of the account. So, if you get a retweet rank of 100, it means you are the 100th most-retweeted person on Twitter.

Final Thoughts:

“Tt’s not whether you win or lose; its how you play the game”

If you don’t think you have what it takes to be a champion, think again!

Champions aren’t born. They are shaped and molded by their Habitudes. These five habits and mindsets of you and your team will determine your success in the Twitter space and across the web.

I believe you have what it takes to be a Twitter Champion, do you?

Related articles

• What Twitter Could Learn From Tumblr (stoweboyd.com)
• Klout (inoted.wordpress.com)
• 5 Rock Star Business Twitter Accounts (webpagefx.com)
• Take a Twitter Audit (chrisbrogan.com)

The post 5 Steps to Becoming a Twitter Champion appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Social technologies and Web 2.0 applications change us more than we realize. Internet access, connectivity, and social media have changed the landscape of  nearly everything we do.  In the blink of an eye, connections are formed, possibilities become realities, and new relationships are formed.

It’s become almost common that something created  or discovered at breakfast over a scan of a tweetstream can become a “can’t live without” tool by dinnertime.

It is important that in the midst of our daily digital lives, we take some time to realize how lucky we are. I look at my life in the last 24 hours, and none of it would have been possible even a decade ago.

Here’s what is astonishing to me:

I am actually creating this blog post while sitting in the back corner of  La Guardia International Airport.  It’s 8pm.  I love New York, but I am not supposed to be here right now. I am supposed to be home in Iowa where I am scheduled to give a virtual presentation to clients on the the East Coast.  (At least, that was the plan.)

Because of social media and a few strategic MacGyver moves , I found a quiet, “temporary office” right here on the backside of the terminal. (As long as I move  every 30 minutes or so when the elevator opens up with a new crew of passengers, it has served me.)

I am not going to miss work or this weeks deadlines because I am plugged in, hooked up, connected, and ready to stay productive.

Using my iPhone, iPad , and my MacBookPro, I am getting more work done here, than I would just about anywhere else in my house.  I have cleared through a pile of email, caught up on two days of reading, finished three  ebooks, and as luck would have it, I just got a text from my virtual travel app; Trip Advisor alerting me that “I GET TO” keep writing this blog post to you because I’m going to be here another two hours!

I’m accessing the Internet through through my USB card, so I can tweet, FB, and message my friends and family without worry of costs incurred. And, with a few clicks of a button this crazy story will go out to thousands of people who will be reading it from who knows where on who knows what.

Social media gives us the power to do magic things; things that could not have been done even five years ago. We are privileged beings. We have access to this amazing space, we can glean insight from the world’s greatest minds, and we can have life changing relationships with individuals who we may never have a chance to meet or work with face to face. If that is not worth a thank you every once in a while; I am not sure what is.

So, say WOW with me today! Let’s not let one another lose sight of the fact that we literally have the world at our fingertips. Give thanks to what we are capable of doing because of this thing we call Social Media.

Take just five minutes today and take stock of what social media has afforded you.

What are you most thankful for?

Do tell!

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The post Thank You, Social Media! appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Yet, there have been raised concerns over the fundamentals and quality of writing today. In the heart of the digital age, the concept of writing, especially to young adults, seems flat-out antiquated. Having grown up with laptops and iPads, many of them struggle to remember the last time they sat down with pen and paper; the last time “they wrote” in a traditional sense of the word.

This raises concern about the impact of social media on tradition and valued literacies, and I would love to get your take on this. As a social media advocate and educator, I commonly field questions like these from concerned teachers, parents, and community members:

• Does all this blogging, tweeting, and texting make us poor writers?
• What is good writing? Where are the models and mentors?
• Have we lost the simplicity and value of written correspondence?
• Does writing well even matter anymore?

If you read the popular press, you are led to believe that the digital landscape and more specifically social media is killing the way we write, killing language as we know it. I see things differently, and I suspect you do too.

The skills that make us better explainers, better persuaders, better story tellers, and better thinkers are all fundamentally influenced by writing. These are the skills that allow us to sell our ideas effectively, whether in giving a presentation to potential client, proposing a new project, or convincing customers of the benefit of our newly created product.

Good writing is more important than ever.

Sadly, most of our schools don’t teach the rules of writing according to the web and the world. We teach writing as a series of exercises that can be mastered and completed rather than an act of communication and self reflection. Even in the blogosphere, very little is offered to improve our writing skills. There’s a lot of talk about SEO, social media strategy, tactics that promise an increase in traffic and readership, but little is associated with the practice and process of writing well.

Only so much progress can be made with social media tactics and strategies. Your words, are your power; the stories you tell and how you tell them will define your place and space in the digital world.

I am encouraging you to give writing the time and attention it needs and make writing well a part of your social media strategy. What we must develop within our selves and our culture are the habits of writing, and the critical faculties necessary to improve upon our work. Writing well isn’t a matter of having the right content or product. Writing is something you live. In the lingo of the field, it’s a process.

I leave you with this video as both insight and inspiration; as a reminder of a time in your life when writing well mattered most. Enjoy and Happy Writing!

Related articles

• How To (Successfully) Break The First Rule Of Social Media (socialmediaexp.wpengine.com)
• Getting Social From the Inside Out (proactivereport.com)
• Measuring Social Media ROI (smallbusinessmavericks.com)
• 7 Simple Ways To Improve Your Social Media ROI (methodsavvy.com)

The post The Importance of Writing Well For Social Media Content appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Twitter chats can be invaluable to your social media success. There are literally dozens of scheduled chats that take place every week; chats on everything from strategy to design. There is something for everyone, and the benefits are immense.

In  just one chat session, you could:

• learn – expanding your knowledge, thinking, and influence
• connect or reconnect future clients or colleagues
• be found by new audiences
• display your expertise
• position your value in the marketplace
• have the opportunity to help someone
• become a better question-asker
• discover a passion or develop a new interest
• grow the reach of your network
• expose yourself to new points of view and perspectives
• make someone’s day
• HAVE FUN!!!!!

That being said, the #Twitter Chat con­ver­sa­tions can be quite over­whelm­ing; espe­cially at first. The Twit­ter plat­form is an inter­est­ing place to hold any con­ver­sa­tion because of it’s innate con­straints, it is built for speed and econ­omy. When I first started par­tic­i­pat­ing in #Twitter chats I com­pared the expe­ri­ence to being in an auditorium with passionate voices shout­ing out there opin­ions about a topic in warp speed. Now, I am able to sort the signals from the noise and hear indi­vid­u­als that I wish to engage with at a deeper levels.

Here are my tips for mak­ing Twitter Chats a more reward­ing expe­ri­ence for you and your organization:

1.  Pick a Client Pro­gram that works for you.

I per­son­ally use TweetChat and Chattagged. Oth­ers I know pre­fer Tweet­deck and Tweet­grid (here is a great tuto­r­ial) with columns set up to fol­low the hash­tag and cer­tain peo­ple. Use what­ever medium works for you, the impor­tant thing is that it refreshes fre­quently to keep up with the conversation. There are Lots of Chat Clients to choose from.

2.  Do Your Homework:

Preparation Matters. All chats are open, but jumping in cold turkey may not be the best plan. A little preparation goes a long way. Do a little research on the Twitter chat you’re joining before you show up. Some chats have rules for how users are supposed to participate; for example, you may need to send in questions ahead of time. You want to be aware of the rules beforehand so that you’re able to participate. You should also be familiar with whoever is hosting the chat and get an idea for what they’re most skilled in and what they’ll be bringing to the table.

3.  Honor the Hashtag:

Honoring the hashtag is the number one rule in a Twitter chats. It helps participants stay connected in the conversation. The hash symbol (“#”) helps keep the participants in the chat on track, but also makes it easy for anyone passionate about that topic to identify the chat, read the archives, and participate in future chats. The chat archives are invaluable after the chat and would not be possible without the commitment to the #hashtag from all participants.

4.  Actively and Strategically Participate:

• Find and Follow The Moderators: Pay atten­tion to the #hash­tag before the con­ver­sa­tion starts to learn who the mod­er­a­tors are. Fol­low the mod­er­a­tors by cre­at­ing a search for them. The mod­er­a­tors do a great job of keep­ing the con­ver­sa­tion mov­ing by ask­ing ques­tions. When they ask a ques­tion reply directly to them with an answer.
• Pick a Few People: Real­ize that you are not going to be able to inter­act with every­one in the “chat-torium.” Fol­low the con­ver­sa­tion an pick a few folks that you find par­tic­u­larly inter­est­ing and respond to them. If the per­son who sent the orig­i­nal tweet replies to your reply you have started a con­ver­sa­tion. Like­wise if some­one replies to one of your tweets, reply back to them to con­tinue the conversation.
• Share links conservatively: Links are great, but the speed is of the essence dur­ing the con­ver­sa­tion itself and links slow the con­ver­sa­tion down. If you take the time to find a link and post it you will miss some­thing, if you click on a link dur­ing the con­ver­sa­tion you are miss­ing some­thing. Save your links until after the con­ver­sa­tion is over.

5.  Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up:

After the chat ends, follow the users you enjoyed interacting with and learned from. This helps keep the conversation going and strengthens your ties with those contacts. You may also want to e-mail or send a message to the hosts of the chat to thank them for putting it together or let them know you found it valuable. Twitter chats are a great networking tool, so you should use them as such. The same way you’d follow up after an in-person networking event, you should follow up here as well.

During the chat, you may want to star or mark the tweets from people whom you want to connect with later. It is easy to forget with tweets coming at you in light speed.  After the chat, follow them, send an @username reply, or send them a polite (not spammy DM with no links). Also add them to a Twitter List of people you’ve interacted with or to a list by the main topic they tweet about.

So I ask once again, “Is Twitter Chat a part of your social media strategy?”

If not, how can I help it to be?

Related articles

• Twitterquette 101: Lesson Two (fortheloveofpr.com)
• The TweetChat (crossroadsconsultingllc.wordpress.com)
• Twitter chats (pineapplepressfl.wordpress.com)
• Top Tips and Inspiration from Twitter Chats – Litmus (litmus.com)
• Using Twitter as a Pulse, Not a Firehose (prbreakfastclub.com)

The post Are Twitter Chats Part Of Your Social Media Strategy? appeared first on Social Media Explorer.