Have you ever stopped to ponder what value you are creating for your followers on Twitter?
I’ve written numerous times about the benefits of Twitter to me - what I get out of it - but perhaps a more pertinent question for Twitter users to be asking is not what THEY get OUT of Twitter - but what THEY put INTO Twitter.
Don’t get me wrong - Twitter is a medium which can significantly benefit YOU and enhance your live in many ways - however when you talk to most successful Twitter users you find that they’ve discovered one thing:
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Tuesday, December 9, 2008
5 Ways I Benefit from Twitter
“Why do you use Twitter? How does Twitter Benefit You?”
I’ve been asked these questions so many times since starting TwiTip that I thought I’d write a post answering it. I hope that it’s helpful for those of you just starting out with Twitter (or considering getting involved).
Twitter has changed the way that I use the web and connect with others online in many ways. Those of you who’ve traveled with me on my Twitter journey since the beginning know that I started out very skeptical of the medium.
It always seemed like a waste of time - however once I started using it I immediately began to see its potential and some tangible benefits to me. Let me try to break some of them down:
Read Full Article
I’ve been asked these questions so many times since starting TwiTip that I thought I’d write a post answering it. I hope that it’s helpful for those of you just starting out with Twitter (or considering getting involved).
Twitter has changed the way that I use the web and connect with others online in many ways. Those of you who’ve traveled with me on my Twitter journey since the beginning know that I started out very skeptical of the medium.
It always seemed like a waste of time - however once I started using it I immediately began to see its potential and some tangible benefits to me. Let me try to break some of them down:
Read Full Article
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Free Custom Twitter Backgrounds
Here are some custom backgrounds you can use for Twitter.
I built these myself using GIMP.
Please credit or follow http://www.twitter.com/nationwideclass
To save, simply right mouse and give the image a name.
Then you can upload on Twitter using the design tool. Happy Tweets!
Sunburst
Sunburst highlight Twitter
Sunburst Extreme
I built these myself using GIMP.
Please credit or follow http://www.twitter.com/nationwideclass
To save, simply right mouse and give the image a name.
Then you can upload on Twitter using the design tool. Happy Tweets!
Sunburst
Sunburst highlight Twitter
Sunburst Extreme
Sunburst Extreme w/Curved Edge
Sunburst Extreme Wave
Sunburst Extreme Purple
Sunburst Extreme Gray
Sunburst Extreme Clouds
Sunburst Extreme Wave
Sunburst Extreme Purple
Sunburst Extreme Gray
Sunburst Extreme Clouds
Animated Avatars/Image on Twitter
Want to stick out in the crowd of avatars on Twitter?
Want to catch people's eye as they are scrolling down their tweets, or looking at other people's Followers? Then give an animated avatar a try!
The trick is, however, to find the line between eye-catching and annoyingly distracting. I've seen web cam video used as well as screen recordings. Slide show videos would work as well.
My first attempt was annoyingly distracting, and a Follower asked me to tone it down a bit - which I did. Some people will simply stop following, but that doesn't bother me. I love looking at other people's animations - it's like looking through a virtual window to their soul!
Read Full Article
Want to catch people's eye as they are scrolling down their tweets, or looking at other people's Followers? Then give an animated avatar a try!
The trick is, however, to find the line between eye-catching and annoyingly distracting. I've seen web cam video used as well as screen recordings. Slide show videos would work as well.
My first attempt was annoyingly distracting, and a Follower asked me to tone it down a bit - which I did. Some people will simply stop following, but that doesn't bother me. I love looking at other people's animations - it's like looking through a virtual window to their soul!
Read Full Article
What is Twitter?
Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service, that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.
Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. The sender can restrict delivery to those in his or her circle of friends (delivery to everyone being the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, SMS, RSS, email or through an application such as Tweetie, TwitterFon, Twitterrific, Feedalizr or Facebook.
For SMS, four gateway numbers are currently available: short codes for the United States, Canada, and India, as well as a United Kingdom-based number for international use. Several third parties offer posting and receiving updates via email. Twitter had by one measure over 3 million accounts and by another, well over 5 million visitors in September 2008 which was a fivefold increase in a month.
Follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/nationwideclass
Read Full Article
Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. The sender can restrict delivery to those in his or her circle of friends (delivery to everyone being the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, SMS, RSS, email or through an application such as Tweetie, TwitterFon, Twitterrific, Feedalizr or Facebook.
For SMS, four gateway numbers are currently available: short codes for the United States, Canada, and India, as well as a United Kingdom-based number for international use. Several third parties offer posting and receiving updates via email. Twitter had by one measure over 3 million accounts and by another, well over 5 million visitors in September 2008 which was a fivefold increase in a month.
Follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/nationwideclass
Read Full Article
What is Social Networking?
Social Networking - perhaps you've heard of it before, but are not quite sure what it means.
Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users to develop friendships and business relationships, too.
When it comes to online social networking, websites are commonly used. These websites are known as social sites. Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share a common interest such as hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.
The friends that you can make are just one of the many benefits to social networking online. Another one of those benefits includes diversity because the internet gives individuals from all around the world access to social networking sites. This means that although you are in the United States, you could develop an online friendship with someone in Denmark. Not only will you make new friends, but you just might learn a thing or two about new cultures or new languages and learning is always a good thing.
Read Full Article
Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users to develop friendships and business relationships, too.
When it comes to online social networking, websites are commonly used. These websites are known as social sites. Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share a common interest such as hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.
The friends that you can make are just one of the many benefits to social networking online. Another one of those benefits includes diversity because the internet gives individuals from all around the world access to social networking sites. This means that although you are in the United States, you could develop an online friendship with someone in Denmark. Not only will you make new friends, but you just might learn a thing or two about new cultures or new languages and learning is always a good thing.
Read Full Article
Staying Ahead of the Competition
Staying ahead of the competition can be an on-going struggle. While it is not healthy for a company to focus too much time and attention on the competition, it is important to stay abreast of what your competition is doing. When evaluating the competition, assess the industry giants and companies closest to your space. But be sure that you don’t exclude the small companies in your assessments. Sometimes a small competitor can have innovative ideas or marketing concepts, but may lack the capital to really benefit from the concept. This may present you with an opportunity.
When evaluating the competition pay attention to the following:
1. Pricing
Evaluate your competitor’s pricing scheme and price structure. What is the price point of your competitor’s products or services? Are your products better or inferior? Do the product differences justify any cost difference?
2. Meta Tags / Search Engine Optimization
Evaluate your competitor’s website. View the meta data of competing websites. Look at their Alexa ranking, and review who links to their website. Are there links you are missing that might be beneficial to your website?
3. Search Rankings
Perform generic searches in the major search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN) for critical phrases. Determine how the competition stacks up in the search listings. Do any of your competitors “own” important rankings. Consider your search engine strategy and how you can better compete in the search engines.
4. Specials / Marketing Campaigns
Access your competitor’s special offers and any marketing campaigns. Determine how they are defining themselves. Evaluate any niche marketing — perhaps they have located an untapped market that might be ripe for you as well.
5. Advertising
Where do your competitors spend their advertising dollars? Watch for trends — an increase in spending may mean that a competitor has seen a significant return on investment, and it may represent a channel that you should also consider advertising in.
6. Evaluate Links
Determine who is linking to your competitor’s websites. By using the special Google search feature “links: domainname.com” you can see the indexed web pages that link to a specific domain. Are you missing any important link opportunities?
7. Evaluate USP
Evaluate your competitors USP (Unique Selling Propositions). This will give you an idea of how a company sees themselves, and what they feel their strengths are. How does their unique selling proposition differ from yours. Are there areas within your company that need work so you can compete more effectively?
8. Industry Authority Assessments
How do industry authorities view the competition? Are they considered industry leaders, or is the space wide open with an undefined leader? Understanding how you stack up compared to your competitors will help you assess your strengths weaknesses, and define your business.
Knowing your competition is an important aspect to your business, but it should not be the sole factor that dictates your decisions. Educate yourself about your competitors so you can make informed decisions and compete effectively.
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com audio recording and editing software.
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