Twitter retweets are something I covet. There I've said it...
They're a great way to get your information out to a whole new set of people that might be interested. There's also that rather contented feeling of having said something that people value enough to share with their followers!
Some of the most interesting feeds I follow consist almost entirely of retweets. Where there is an effort made to select relevant and good quality information, I'm happy to carry on following and letting someone else winnow through the mass of information on the internet to find me something interesting to read.
However, some folks are retweeting anything and everything in their feed. When someone repeatedly starts retweeting the autotweets from their feed (see my previous blog) then you know you're only seconds away from an unfollow - or at least I am.
Then there's that really annoying habit of retweeting any and all follow friday mentions.
Or the one where a person retweets the fact that someone retweeted them.
How about the people that just can't keep their mouse off the Twitter retweet button?
Sending out some good quality retweets is vital when using twitter for business. They help us show what we find interesting and important both as a business and as a person. Retweets demonstrate our values, our expertise, our humour and much more. Your reputation as a business on Twitter will be greatly enhanced if you actively consider the content of retweets as part of your overall strategy.
So, next time you're reading your feed - think about what you choose to retweet. Keep those retweets real!
Edit: Since I first wrote this blog Twitter has introduced a feature whereby you can turn off retweets from specific accounts. It's useful to keep your feed manageable. It's also worth trying to be the sort of person that doesn't get their retweets muted!
Monday, 7 March 2011
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
TMI - too much information!
Sometimes, when we're on a site we find something so interesting we share it using Twitter or Facebook or our other platform of choice. This is great and what social media thrives on. (As well as pictures of cats and discussions about coffee and wine!)
However, some folks are less selective. They have every application, website and forum option that can echo to Twitter switched on. Here are my top 3 pet peeves
YouTube
I uploaded/liked/subscribed/commented on... sometimes all four in quick succession. Not only that, if the person is on a browsing session, or updating session, this can be repeated endlessly over several hours. (I've unfollowed them by then!)
Don't get me wrong. I like YouTube. I canwaste spend hours on it. If I like a specific video or channel I may well like/subscribe etc, but I only share the really good stuff with my followers and friends.
Spotify
Again, I enjoy using Spotify. If I'm looking for a specific song and someone sends me the link, that's brilliant. What I don't like is reams and reams of tweets every time someone hits the play button, often for hours on end.
Geolocation
Whether your poison is Gowalla or FourSquare, just be reasonable on the poor folks that have to read your stuff! If you're somewhere really cool, or there's an advantage to you broadcasting the information then please go for it. If you're in the local railway station every night and morning it can get very, very boring!
So, which ones do you love/hate? What have I missed out... Quora maybe?
However, some folks are less selective. They have every application, website and forum option that can echo to Twitter switched on. Here are my top 3 pet peeves
YouTube
I uploaded/liked/subscribed/commented on... sometimes all four in quick succession. Not only that, if the person is on a browsing session, or updating session, this can be repeated endlessly over several hours. (I've unfollowed them by then!)
Don't get me wrong. I like YouTube. I can
Spotify
Again, I enjoy using Spotify. If I'm looking for a specific song and someone sends me the link, that's brilliant. What I don't like is reams and reams of tweets every time someone hits the play button, often for hours on end.
Geolocation
Whether your poison is Gowalla or FourSquare, just be reasonable on the poor folks that have to read your stuff! If you're somewhere really cool, or there's an advantage to you broadcasting the information then please go for it. If you're in the local railway station every night and morning it can get very, very boring!
So, which ones do you love/hate? What have I missed out... Quora maybe?
Monday, 13 December 2010
The secret ingredient to social media success.
Are you on Twitter because you feel you ought to be because you're in business?
Do you have a Facebook page for your business because "everyone else does"?
If you're a business, what do you 'do' social media for?
I expect you're thinking of things like:
Search engine optimisation
Generating leads
Greater visibility
Customer service
Customer retention
'Click funnel' to your website
Old fashioned not to do it
It's cheaper than other forms of marketing & PR
Do you endlessly chase metrics for success and attempt to nail down RoI? (Good for you if you do!)
Does all this hard nosed business stuff ensure that you'll succeed in your social media ventures? Well, actually - no!
So what's my secret ingredient for social media success? Enjoy it!
Social media is exactly that, social. Get out there and mingle. If you're enjoying talking to people and interacting with them the rest of the business stuff (which is still important) flows much more smoothly.
Do you have a Facebook page for your business because "everyone else does"?
If you're a business, what do you 'do' social media for?
I expect you're thinking of things like:
Search engine optimisation
Generating leads
Greater visibility
Customer service
Customer retention
'Click funnel' to your website
Old fashioned not to do it
It's cheaper than other forms of marketing & PR
Do you endlessly chase metrics for success and attempt to nail down RoI? (Good for you if you do!)
Does all this hard nosed business stuff ensure that you'll succeed in your social media ventures? Well, actually - no!
So what's my secret ingredient for social media success? Enjoy it!
Social media is exactly that, social. Get out there and mingle. If you're enjoying talking to people and interacting with them the rest of the business stuff (which is still important) flows much more smoothly.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Too much of a good thing?
Is there such a thing as too much social media?
I'm not talking about the incessant spamming of some Twitter feeds nor the relentless updates from some people on LinkedIn. Nor am I talking about the automated updated variety where the same thing is splattered across hundreds of sites. I'm talking about how many types of social media people can use properly (in my opinion) at any one time.
If you're a techie/geeky/nerdy type like me, then juggling 6 or more points of presence online is relatively easy and fun.
However, many people are aware that their business needs social media but have been led to believe that they need to do everything - all at once - to "get RoI on their SEO". Excuse me while I go and hit my head on a brick wall for a while...
... that's better!
Social media is not solely about trying to trick Google into thinking that you're interesting!
Every person will have a skillset that can be best used in a specific area of social media. Chatty types will love Twitter and some people are natural bloggers, go with what you enjoy to get you started.
One thing, done well, will produce far better results than 6 things that are started and then abandoned. Dip your toe in the pool and then dive in - the water's lovely!
I'm not talking about the incessant spamming of some Twitter feeds nor the relentless updates from some people on LinkedIn. Nor am I talking about the automated updated variety where the same thing is splattered across hundreds of sites. I'm talking about how many types of social media people can use properly (in my opinion) at any one time.
If you're a techie/geeky/nerdy type like me, then juggling 6 or more points of presence online is relatively easy and fun.
However, many people are aware that their business needs social media but have been led to believe that they need to do everything - all at once - to "get RoI on their SEO". Excuse me while I go and hit my head on a brick wall for a while...
... that's better!
Social media is not solely about trying to trick Google into thinking that you're interesting!
Every person will have a skillset that can be best used in a specific area of social media. Chatty types will love Twitter and some people are natural bloggers, go with what you enjoy to get you started.
One thing, done well, will produce far better results than 6 things that are started and then abandoned. Dip your toe in the pool and then dive in - the water's lovely!
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Is your business ready for Generation Y?
There's some debate as to when "Generation Y" came into being. My personal preference is to cite the start of the 1990s. Whatever the academic niceties of the exact timing, the characteristics of this generation cannot be ignored by business.
Imagine a world where the Internet has always existed. Phones have always been mobile. CDs are cumbersome. You have always been able to shop online. Your first port of call for information is always a search engine, not a book. You don't buy a newspaper, you read your news online. If you don't like what's on TV, you find something you do want to watch on the Internet. If you want a takeaway, you order it online and someone delivers it to your door.
On demand, online, 24/7... Welcome the world of Generation Y.
These young people are now in the workplace and at University. They're an influential lot too. How many parents/grandparents have joined Facebook so they can keep in touch with Generation Y? How many employers are facing a rising pressure to accept social media to be as much a part of work life as the ubiquitous watercooler?
Now, consider your business from their viewpoint:
Can you be found - easily - online?
If the answer is "no" then Generation Y won't come looking for you. There will somebody else there to pick up the business.
Is your virtual presence polished?
Does your shop/website work flawlessly?
Do you make it easy for people to conduct business online with you?
Do you engage with your customers in several ways online?
"No" to any of these will mean that Generation Y will scroll passed you to someone that does business the way that they want. You'll also have to keep an eye out for the online fallout - Generation Y share their opinions freely!
A step change in consumer behaviour is a rare occurrence. Make sure you don't get left behind.
Imagine a world where the Internet has always existed. Phones have always been mobile. CDs are cumbersome. You have always been able to shop online. Your first port of call for information is always a search engine, not a book. You don't buy a newspaper, you read your news online. If you don't like what's on TV, you find something you do want to watch on the Internet. If you want a takeaway, you order it online and someone delivers it to your door.
On demand, online, 24/7... Welcome the world of Generation Y.
These young people are now in the workplace and at University. They're an influential lot too. How many parents/grandparents have joined Facebook so they can keep in touch with Generation Y? How many employers are facing a rising pressure to accept social media to be as much a part of work life as the ubiquitous watercooler?
Now, consider your business from their viewpoint:
Can you be found - easily - online?
If the answer is "no" then Generation Y won't come looking for you. There will somebody else there to pick up the business.
Is your virtual presence polished?
Does your shop/website work flawlessly?
Do you make it easy for people to conduct business online with you?
Do you engage with your customers in several ways online?
"No" to any of these will mean that Generation Y will scroll passed you to someone that does business the way that they want. You'll also have to keep an eye out for the online fallout - Generation Y share their opinions freely!
A step change in consumer behaviour is a rare occurrence. Make sure you don't get left behind.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Manners matter
I'm increasingly puzzled by the behaviour of some businesses that use social media. Why is it that when they enter the online world they leave their manners and customer care on the virtual doorstep?
To get the most out of any form of social media you need to interact. A string of announcements on a Twitter feed may tick a box that says "we do social media" but it's a missed opportunity of gigantic proportions.
I've had a number of businesses come to me lately because they want a Facebook page. When I start to ask questions about how often they want to update it, what their brand guidelines are, what level of access they want to give their "likers", and so on, they are horrified.
"We just want a Facebook page" they say "we don't want to have to do anything to it!"
That's like having a dedicated customer care telephone number and then not bothering to answer it. (Well, ok, some companies seem to do that too!)
Most businesses will plough resources into answering the telephone, emails, letters and web site requests. Why then are they so averse to talking to their customers using social media?
It's all fine and dandy to have customer care slogans slapped all over your marketing literature and on your website, but if you don't have the good manners to take that ethos seriously and carry it across into the virtual world then you'll lose customers.
The clue is in the title - Social Media
To get the most out of any form of social media you need to interact. A string of announcements on a Twitter feed may tick a box that says "we do social media" but it's a missed opportunity of gigantic proportions.
I've had a number of businesses come to me lately because they want a Facebook page. When I start to ask questions about how often they want to update it, what their brand guidelines are, what level of access they want to give their "likers", and so on, they are horrified.
"We just want a Facebook page" they say "we don't want to have to do anything to it!"
That's like having a dedicated customer care telephone number and then not bothering to answer it. (Well, ok, some companies seem to do that too!)
Most businesses will plough resources into answering the telephone, emails, letters and web site requests. Why then are they so averse to talking to their customers using social media?
It's all fine and dandy to have customer care slogans slapped all over your marketing literature and on your website, but if you don't have the good manners to take that ethos seriously and carry it across into the virtual world then you'll lose customers.
The clue is in the title - Social Media
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
GIGO is back in town (not that it ever left)
Garbage In, Garbage Out.
Did anyone else have that hammered into their heads while learning to program?
If you mess up what you put in to a system, it doesn't matter how good that system is, the output is simply not as good as it could be.
I've come to believe that social media works on a similar principle. The quality of the content that you become associated with reflects on you and, if you are a business, on your company too.
Plugging a generic business feed into your Twitter account and leaving it to autotweet gives an impression to others of how you interact and work as an individual - or as a company. If that's the impression you wish to give, then there isn't a problem. However, most businesses cite the desire for interactivity and feedback to raise brand awareness when talking about their social media strategy.
Are you just filling your social media presence with "stuff" for the sake of being able to say that your company is "on Twitter" or "using Facebook"? If so, then you're missing a huge business opportunity.
If you use automated feeds to fill up your social media presence, take a long hard look at the content. If you're unsure about it, then imagine it as a series of adverts or leaflets going out to customers. Do you really want this stuff representing you to your contacts and clients? If the answer is no, start being more selective in what you choose to use.
Good quality content for your social media presence is vital.
Does it take more time? Probably. Is it worth it? Definitely!
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that social media works on GOGI: Garbage Out, Garbage In.
Did anyone else have that hammered into their heads while learning to program?
If you mess up what you put in to a system, it doesn't matter how good that system is, the output is simply not as good as it could be.
I've come to believe that social media works on a similar principle. The quality of the content that you become associated with reflects on you and, if you are a business, on your company too.
Plugging a generic business feed into your Twitter account and leaving it to autotweet gives an impression to others of how you interact and work as an individual - or as a company. If that's the impression you wish to give, then there isn't a problem. However, most businesses cite the desire for interactivity and feedback to raise brand awareness when talking about their social media strategy.
Are you just filling your social media presence with "stuff" for the sake of being able to say that your company is "on Twitter" or "using Facebook"? If so, then you're missing a huge business opportunity.
If you use automated feeds to fill up your social media presence, take a long hard look at the content. If you're unsure about it, then imagine it as a series of adverts or leaflets going out to customers. Do you really want this stuff representing you to your contacts and clients? If the answer is no, start being more selective in what you choose to use.
Good quality content for your social media presence is vital.
Does it take more time? Probably. Is it worth it? Definitely!
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that social media works on GOGI: Garbage Out, Garbage In.
