Clumsy Direct Message Interface

How to twitter: #NewNewTwitter

Posted on: January 29, 2012

How to TwitterI’ve finally gotten the #newnewtwitter, and I really, really like it.

Except for what they’ve done to direct messages.

NewNewTwitter is slick and sexy and fast.  It has been simplified somewhat, although I do still have to look for some things after having it for a week or two.

But direct messages are a task.

They’re now located in the drop down menu with your profile info:

Direct Messages is in the Drop Down for your Profile

You click on the line, Direct Messages, and get a list of your messages:

Twitter Direct Messages List

And the next step is to choose the message you want to read and respond to:

Twitter Direct Message detail

And here, one would presume that after actioning the message, we’d go back to the list.  Wrong, DMs disappear, and you’re back at your profile, to choose Direct Messages from the drop down again:

Twitter Direct Message on the Drop Down Under Profile

I’ve made it my  purpose in life to tweet @twitter a couple of times a week and ask for a less clumsy interface.  Til then, I’ve come to really dread answering them.

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Early Reviews for tweet•ease, the book

Posted on: January 2, 2012

How to Twitter tweet-ease, the bookLaunching a book title on New Years Eve may not have been the best plan in the world, but I wanted to get it done and over before 2012!

Early Reviews from Twitter

Early reviews were encouraging, and I’m really happy to exploit them!


You can buy it here or get the first chapter for a tweet.

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How to Twitter: tweet•ease: to successfully woo the twitterati

Posted on: December 31, 2011

The Essential Guide to Shameless Success on Twitter

How to Twitter tweet-ease, the bookI’ll admit there were times when I thought I would never finish experimenting with Twitter and get this book written.  We’ve spent months researching all things Twitter and I tested, experimented and played with Twitter almost full time for a couple of months.

This is a collection of what I’ve found that works or doesn’t work.  What I like, and things I really don’t like.

48 pages of actionable, planned activity on Twitter to bring you followers, interaction, engagement, attention for your brand, your company or yourself.

Without buying followers or trading followers, I wooed the twitterati

I went from 2100 followers to 6800 followers in 67 days.  Here’s the proof:

how to tweet

Disclosure: I did test automated services for about 21 days, and I’ll tell you why I don’t recommend any.

You can see  that it keeps on working:

You can read the whole pitch at tweet•ease, the book.

Share it on Twitter or Facebook, and Chapter One is yours.

 

You have to log-in to Facebook, and be on the lookout for pop up blockers . . . if you are using one Facebook is a little tricky.

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Categories: Social Media
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How to Twitter: #newnewtwitter Changes

Posted on: December 19, 2011

How to Twitter#newnewtwitter

Since this isn’t their first design shakeup, the hashtag for the latest Twitter version is #newnewtwitter. When Twitter came out with #newtwitter I got it almost before I heard about it.  With #newnewtwitter, it has been a week, and I still don’t have it on the web. I’ve seen it flash on my account and disappear with a mouseclick.

@IamNessaRox has #newnewtwitter

And since she happens to be my daughter, and knows that I’m almost rabid about Twitter these days (in the final throes of publishing Tweet·ease, The Essential Guide to Shameless Self Promotion on Twitter).  She let me log on to her twitter account to see what was new and different, and when I searched for my profile, it is displayed in #newnewtwitter fashion!

Learning how to twitter on #newnewtwitter

The first thing I noticed was that my profile photo, which looked very crisp on #newtwitter, doesn’t look so good on #newnewtwitter. Note to self – update that!

All the functionality seems to be there, just rearranged in a more pleasing fashion.  The menu bar is stripped down to 3 items:

New New Twitter

They are found above your profile picture in the #newnewtwitter:

NewNewTwitter Home IconHome

takes you to the main screen with your incoming stream on the far right and your next tweet on the left under your name:

NewnewTwitter @connect@Connect

Your @Username Interactions are shown under @Connect in the same page style as Home:

#NewnewTwitter @Connect

NewNewTwitter Discover#Discover

Is described as ‘Stories’ and apparently is based on what you tweet or who you follow.  I haven’t seen a firm explanation, except that it seems designed to show you other people in the hope that you will follow them.  I foresee promoted accounts being in this list, as Twitter is making serious money advertising promoted accounts.

#newnewTwitter #Discover Stories

I’m mostly ambivalent about the changes – Everything I want to do is still there, but I do particularly like the pop up you get if you click on another user’s name, because they’ve added “Follows You” information:

#newNewTwitter PopUp Profile

Also interesting is the Branding that is said to be available free to everyone, although if you want to add a banner ad like the one Best Buys has it comes at a pretty penny:

#newnewTwitter ScreenShot 1

I can’t find any additonal controls for the branding.  Granted, I’ll be more motivated when I actually get my own #newnewtwitter, and don’t have to play with someone else’s!

Embed Tweet

They have taken note of how often tweets are used in other mediums, and have built an embed code into every status update. Very nicely done, Twitter, so much easier than doing the whole screenshot, resize, upload image.  When you embed the tweet, it works where you’ve put it. You can retweet, or follow from  that page.  Lovely addition! You get to a full status using the Details command inside your stream, and on the new status, you’ll see Embed Tweet.

NewnewTwitter Embed Tweet Instructions

Those are all the changes I’ve found from playing in someone else’s account . . . If I find more fun things when I get my own account, you can be sure I’ll write about it here!  And, I hope you’ll be on the lookout for Tweet-ease, The Essential Guide to Shameless Self Promotion on Twitter.

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How To Twitter and Why

Posted on: October 24, 2011

How to TwitterHow to Twitter and Why Everyone Should: 3 Great Reasons

I’ve been doing a lot of research about Twitter lately – Tweets, Tools, Tweeps, Twits – I’m not quite the ‘Social Media Scientist’ Dan Zarrella is, but I am researching methods for a Twitter book and am so pleased with my results, I didn’t want to save it all for the book. Beyond numbers of followers (we all want more) and writing gigs (I want more) there are the friendships that arise unexpectedly, seemingly from nowhere.

The point of social media is, well, social.  Something we tend to forget in our day to day frenzy to make the bucks.  Thousands of people in posts and articles, eBooks and hardcovers are telling us how to monetize Twitter (and Facebook, but this is not a Zuck piece). They will remind us somewhere in their copy that the point of social media is to be social, but their main point is whatever they are doing (or hawking) at the moment to make money.

Social Tweeps you won’t find anywhere else

In the last few months, I’ve met or encountered people through Twitter whose paths I would have never crossed without a tweet. Gifted, creative, interesting people that aren’t trying to sell me anything, that I’m not trying to sell anything to.  They are  just fun and witty and thoughtful, and I hope the ‘tweep’ relationship we have will endure if not become even more solid and refined.

John Paul Rice @norestrictionsJohn Paul Rice

@NoRestrictions Los Angeles, CA
President of No Restrictions Entertainment – a partnership with filmmaker Edgar Michael Bravo. We make social issue feature films. http://www.norestrictionsent.com

Apart from the obvious attraction of his twitter handle, @NoRestrictions, John Paul Rice makes films that have a voice.  A voice that should be heard.  We’ve talked about what he does, we’ve talked about what I do, and he gave me a private screening of one of his latest films. One Hour Fantasy Girl, which made me cringe, laugh, and almost cry – although not at the same time.

We’re not intimate, but we’re having fun. Twitter is the only thing that made that meeting possible. . . .

PS, I’m hoping for another premier invite when I get back to LA.

Michael Brandvold, @michaelsbMichael Brandvold

@michaelsb
Music marketing speaker and expert in online & social marketing, ecommerce, fan acquisition & retention. Founder of Michael Brandvold Marketing. Klout Star. http://www.michaelbrandvold.com

I read about Michael Brandvold in a Klout newsletter. (Note, he’s since added Klout Star to his bio.  I love it!)

For the uninformed, Michael has managed the online process for KISS, Greg Kihn, Motley Crüe, Rod Stewart, Madonna, Ozzy Osbourne, Madonna and Britney Spears. He recounts that he was doing social media work for those guys before any guru defined social media.

I fell in love with him when I read this quote  from George Bernard Shaw, “The secret to success is to offend the greatest number of people.”

We’ve done back and forth, he knows I’m an unabashed fan of his work, his history, himself.  He is bright, funny and FUN.  (No more blushing! You are the man!)

Bobby Dillard, @onevoicesmilingBobby Dillard

@onevoicesmiling 
Husband, father, listener, healthcare CEO, speaker, writer, musician, speech coach. Interests in developmental disabilities, behavior, and Toastmasters International
http://about.me/onevoicesmiling

Bobby Dillard is the guy you want to hang with at every event, every party, every family gathering.  He is friendly, funny, inspiring and inspirational.  I’m sure he creates a community whevere he goes!

We’ve just been ‘tweeting’ a little while, but I look forward to hearing from him, and smile even before I read his tweets.  He’s that kind of guy, and I’m glad I’ve gotten to know him in 140 characters or less!

How to Tweet

Spread your message, or your smile, in 140 characters.  Welcome the world, you’ll be surprised to find who’s really out there.

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Categories: Social Media, twitter
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Klout Score comes with perks

Posted on: October 4, 2011

Klout Score

Having Klout means perks

Aside from the obvious perks that are listed on the Klout website (and this is just a small sample) there are unannounced perks companies are willing to bestow after they check your Klout score.

Perks listed on the Klout website:

  • invino
    Influencers are invited to receive a $10 credit and Insider access to phenomenal wines at unmatched values, delivered right to your door by invino.
  • Spreecast
    Spreecast is the new social video platform that lets people broadcast together, creating shared experiences that inform and entertain. Key Influencers get to try it before anyone else!
  • AXE
    Klout has teamed up with Axe to bring you a free sample of Axe Hold and Touch hair gel.

Real World Perks you may happen upon

While you’re looking up perks you qualify for on the Klout.Com website, other people are checking your Klout Score – Checking into a Vegas hotel? They may look up your Klout Score during check in and upgrade your accommodations . . . Calling a company to ask a question, or complain about a product? They may check your Klout score before putting you on hold for ten minutes!  Real world perks.

According to DemocratandChronicle.com, Audi, Disney, Nike and Starbucks are among companies who regularly leverage their customer’s Klout score.

Think about it – You have five or ten thousand followers on twitter, or a Facebook page with thousands of fans. Does anyone want you to speak badly of them? No!

And, some of them will give you gifts in the form of perks, so you’ll talk them up.

Once again, Klout matters

Astonishingly, all that you do playing with social media adds up to tangible rewards from companies who want to use Your power in social media.

Having good Klout means getting those perks. Online and offline.

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HoverMe: Social Profiles

Posted on: October 4, 2011

Hover Me Social ProfilesHoverMe

HoverMe is an add-on for Twitter developed by Ed Orcutt.  If you hover over a twitter profile, HoverMe displays the other social networks the user belongs to.  The other networks are clickable, and you’re able to investigate much deeper than the twitter profile offers, which is typically just a website.

HoverMe, a web browser extension, pulls data from Querly, twitter’s WhoIs.  Querly and HoverMe currently work with twitter and Facebook so if you “HoverMe” you’ll find my Facebook profile, Facebook page, twitter profile, and my website.  It even displays eav share prices . . . which is a shame since I quit Empire Avenue months ago!

Quite a little traveling billboard for yourself!

Available for Chrome, Firefox and Internet explorer, look for the extension hvr.me and check it out!

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Tacky Twitter Tools: How Big is your e-penis

Posted on: July 16, 2011

1MM Twitter Applications

Twitter recently commented that they now have over 1,000,000 Twitter applications, and have put up a new Twitter Developer website to accommodate all those developers out there working feverishly to make new twitter applications.

I decided to investigate all of the twitter tools I could actually find, and that was 629. I didn’t do this research alone, I had to have help. And while 629 is a far cry from a million, it is a large number of tools to evaluate on your own to see if there are tools you could be using to grow your business.

We’re working on a review of the top 10 or 20, and a spreadsheet of all 629, so you can evaluate them for your business. In the midst of this really serious research for the best twitter tools, I came across the most tacky. I did a little video to demonstrate.

From my YouTube Channel:

Other, less tacky twitter tools are discussed in these posts:

Next up: the Top 5 WordPress Tools for Custom Facebook Pages

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Categories: twitter, Video

Entrepreneurs want Word of Mouth, Not Social Proof

Posted on: July 15, 2011

Word of Mouth Recommendations Stronger

I read today in an  article by Emily Maltby (WSJ) that entrepreneurs are more interested in word of mouth referrals than the social proof offered by Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Small-business insurer Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. hired Opinium Research LLP to conduct online interviews in May of 2011. They polled 304 U.S. business owners & managers of companies with less than 250 employees. The results were surprising to me:

  • 4% use social media as a marketing tool
  • 50% want word-of-mouth recommendations (this wasn’t surprising)
  • 28% have a company Facebook page
  • 18% have a company LinkedIn page or group
  • 8% have a company blog
  • 6% have a YouTube or video-streaming channel
  • 2% have a company Twitter feed

the companies who  are using social media are using it to increase brand awareness and generate sales

Ms. Maltby noted

The Hiscox study supports other research showing that the majority of owners haven’t found social media to be a vital part of their businesses.”

Other related small business posts: Is Google Place Page beneficial for local business promotion? and How to Set Your Facebook Landing Tab

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Categories: Social Media

How to embed a tweet into a wordpress post or a website

Posted on: July 14, 2011

How to TwitterYou’ve seen those emphatic twitter status posts all over the internet. How do you embed a tweet into your site?

RT @yoda The place where the force is. Tweet I will. Yessss. @IamNessaroxWed Jul 13 01:05:04 via webTraci Gregory
TraciGregory

Blackbird

Twitter released Blackbird, a tool to “quote” a Tweet by using the status identifier and some html (a lot of html actually) that you then place into a WordPress post or elsewhere.
Before it was take a screenshot, edit the image, upload . . . time consuming.

To Use the Blackbird tool

(I don’t care for it; a 8 tedious steps) They are:

  1. Copy the full URL of a tweet (http://twitter.com/TraciGregory/status/90949832008671230)
  2. Go to http://media.twitter.com/blackbird-pie/
  3. Click on the input text field
  4. Paste the URL
  5. Click on “Bake it”
  6. Click on the text area where the HTML code is created
  7. Select all text (press ctrl+a or cmd+a on a Mac)
  8. Copy (ctrl+c or cmd+c on a Mac)

Then paste the code wherever you want the status. The only thing I can say is it is better than a screenshot that you have to edit

Better is the Publitweet Bookmarklet, which you can use from your bookmarks

  1. Go to the URL of a tweet (http://twitter.com/#!/AlecBaldwin/status/91483756870909952)
  2. Click on the bookmarklet (which you’ve installed from the link above)
  3. Copy (press ctrl+c or cmd+c on a Mac)
  4. Paste it where ever you want it

Here’s what it looks like (it will adapt to your css, it won’t throw off your template):

@alejodorowsky ….my advice is to have the orgasm of the soul. Then, light two cigarettes and take your soul to the movies.Thu Jul 14 12:26:41 via Twitter for iPhoneAlec Baldwin
AlecBaldwin

Best is the Blackbird Plugin IF it will work with your webhost.

After you install the plugin, you get the status ID from twitter and embed the blackbird id in your post. Quick, one line input. But there are some problems with Twitter (Can’t explain why . . . haven’t figured it out )

To get the status ID number, click on the TIME on any tweet; you’ll get a page with just that tweet. Pick up the URL, or ID Number, or use the Blackbird Bookmarklet on that page.

I like that the bookmarklet changes the “2 mins ago” to the actual date the tweet was done.

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Categories: twitter, WordPress

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