What actress Mariel Hemmingway said …

• On Twitter she tries to share the parts of her life that fits her business persona (health and wellness)
• Twitter is about being yourself. Intimate way to connect with public.

Other bits of wisdowm …

• Richard Rushfiled (@richardrushfield) of Gawker says that celebs can now comment thru social media; so traditional media chases those streams.
• Marketer Neal Rohrbach (@nrohrbach) says nothing worse than Twitter spam. Build trust with your audience first.
• Linen service operator @unitedlinen says Twitter lets 73-year-old business hear what its clients need. Example: Added hand sanitizer to its product line.
• Small business consultant Kim Fenolio (@kfenolio) says you never know what results Twitter will deliver for small business
• Filmmaker Siok Siok (@sioksiok) is making her ‘twittamentary.com’ with content suggestions for her Twitter followers.
• USC prof Andrew Lih (@fuzheado) says major earthquake gave Twitter big popularity push in China. Twitter is now blocked there by government.

As for real-time photos on Twitter …

• What is an inappropriate photo and how to filter for those images? No easy answers found yet!
• TweetPhoto’s Rodney Rumford @rumford says photo tweets say far more than 140-character text messages.

What’s next?

• Marketer Robert Scoble (@scobelizer) likes tweetmeme.com to track popular tweets #140conf
• Mark Milian @mmilian hates email and wonders if Google Wave will cure his stuffed email inbox!

And a highlight, for me, was …

Cancer survivor Drew Olanoff (@drew) mocking the odd nature of social media where few people talk. He told the crowd of a hot iPhone app: THE PHONE! (”instant audio link”) … And urged people to call a loved one!

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[ Social media tips by email? CLICK HERE! ]

Post from: Lansner on Real Estate

Remember email, the once hot-new-thing in communications and marketing? Charles Harris of Coast 2 Coast Experts in Irvine — who’s done marketing for the likes of the Anaheim Ducks and Experian — had a few thoughts …

A client’s email marketing campaigns had problems. Specifically, the client was not happy with the open rates – better known as, “how many people who actually received the email and took the time to open it.” They were turning to us for help in “fixing the problem”.

This is a pretty common occurrence for businesses and organizations today. More leaders know they need to take the plunge with online marketing, search and social media. However, they do not yet have all the skills to manage the process. In any medium you must first listen before you run. By having a small open rate, the clients message was not being heard. Consider these tips:

1. Listen, really, listen to what your current customers needs are.
2. Also, listen to what is being said in the online marketplace. What are the trends, issues and opportunities?
3. Master the technology you are using and make it work for you. Don’t start using something because it is the flavor of the month
4. Measure, measure, measure. The days are over that you produce work and hope for the best. Benchmark your efforts and track all impact. From driving visitors to your web site to orders or engagement. You need to benchmark and measure a campaign’s effectiveness.
5. Experiment. Try new ways to improve your results. We are in an age when everyone is learning. I have not seen a definitive book about “How To …” for everything online. Tweak this — and move that — in order to find your best chances for success.

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LinkedIn is a huge database of 50+ million professionals which includes an executive from every Fortune 500 company and has a demographic with an average household income of $100,000+. But are you maximizing your presence there?  Here are 5 simple strategies to build your LinkedIn pipeline:

1. Be Found: LinkedIn is as much about finding others as it is about being found. Make sure that your professional profile is completely filled out with the keywords in which you want to be found. Since you never know where your next lead will come from, so make sure you allow your former classmates and colleagues as well as new potential clients to find you.
2. Troll Answer Boards: This is where businesspeople with real problems are looking for solutions. Yes, spam and unrelated questions are on these Answers boards, so follow the categories most applicable to your industry to filter out the noise. Consider subscribing to the RSS Feed as well.
3. Join Groups Where Your Customers Are: These are communities where there are Discussions, News and Jobs posting. But it is also a chance for you to start participating in discussions and developing relationships. Do it.
4. Advertise Your Events For Free: Similar to Facebook Events, LinkedIn also has an Events application. It is one of the few viral marketing things that are possible on LinkedIn. An “Event” can be anything, so even if you don’t have an event planned, why not be creative, sign up for a free Go2Meeting account, and try hosting a webinar on whatever subject matter your are expert in? Sharing your expertise in social media is one of the most important investments you can make.
5. Profile Your Company: Does your company have a Company Profile? The LinkedIn Companies database has unique functionality that the free version of Hoovers doesn’t have, so make sure you register your company and be found. It’s free and even a sole proprietorship can have a profile, so long as you have an email address with a registered domain.

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[ Social media tips by email? CLICK HERE! ]

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Puzzled by Twitter’s deep and instantaneous pool of information? sOCial sunday

With the addition of Twitter Lists this week, it made me think about some of the other tools people use to make their Twitter experience more organized and enjoyable. A few of the tools in mine include HootSuite, TwitterGrader, TwitPic, and AllTop … although there are many, many more.

So what’s in your toolbox? Share them in the comments below.

Top 10 Articles of the Week — Mined exclusively from Twitterville

• 12 Awesome social media Halloween pumpkin carvings http://bit.ly/2eU3FM via @10000Words
• I know you’re wondering, “What are the top 100 lists on Twitter?” There you go: http://bit.ly/1CMF02 via @leeodden
• Don’t Feed The Trolls http://ow.ly/x0nW via @unmarketing
• Use Client Comments in Your Content Marketing http://bit.ly/jd7vs via @vincelove
• How brands can use Twitter lists via @dan360man http://bit.ly/3vols
• Best Twitter overnight success story ever? @FakeAPStylebook: 33,000 followers, listed 1,467 times. Days on Twitter: 10 via @mediabistro
• Top 10 Ways Freelance Writing is Like Working Out http://bit.ly/1K1YFX via @debng
• 10 Essential Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter http://bit.ly/1dt5CL via @mashable
• How low can you go? Newspaper circulation continues to drop http://bit.ly/4qqSUH via @journalistics
• Study: Educating Your Customers About the Web Could Make Them Smarter http://hub.tm/?BCfoz via @hubspot

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1. Inconsistent brand identities: The ease in which companies can set up social media properties has led to multiple brand identities on multiple sites. This problem is even worse for large companies with many different departments if those departments don’t communicate with each other. This confuses the end user and makes it harder for them to get the information they are looking for rather than making it easier. It also fragments your company’s audience.
2. Failing to engage: Many times the fans/customers of certain brands will self-congregate online — independent of the company — yet many companies do not engage or reach out to them. By simply responding to a Tweet with a “Thank you”, replying to a Facebook wall post, or commenting on a blog, companies can build their image, engage their customers, and learn more about what their customers want.
3. Confusing selling with engaging: A recent study by Citibank indicated that 76% small business owners felt that they were not getting business leads from social media sites. This isn’t because the leads aren’t out there, it is because the companies dare trying to force traditional marketing and sales into the world of social media rather than taking the time to listen and learn what their customers want.
4. Campaignitis: Traditional marketing is rooted in the idea of “campaigns” that have a set budget, a set beginning, and a set end. Social media is an ongoing process that never ends. You can use campaigns within your social media program, but they are just a small part of the bigger picture.
5. Failing to appreciate fans: Many times companies will look at their existing fan base that have self-congregated and ask “how can we get more fans” instead of reaching out to those they already have. One of the best ways to “get more fans” isn’t to force yourself on them. If your company treats the fans it already has well, it will result in those fans bringing in more.
6. Blatant SEO begging: People using social media are not stupid. Most are early adopters who are ahead of the curve. So when an organization launches a campaign for its members to create videos, or submit photos, all using the organization as a tag or keyword, those members know they are being used to create search engine optimization for the organization. Can have a big backlash if members take offense.
7. Attempting to control the conversation: Companies hate losing control of what is being said about them for fear of negative things being said. What these companies don’t realize is those negative things are already being said, just without them being involved. Give up control and respond accordingly to the conversations taking place.
8. Giving up before you can succeed: Some firms try social media in small amounts, then claim no return-on-investment. This is before they’ve researched their audience and devised a strategy to meet realistic business goals.

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[ MORE: LINKEDIN | MARKETING | JON | REAL ESTATE ]

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At the recent BlogWorld in Vegas, your sOCial sunday blogger Jon Lansner ran into old pal (in social media years) Dan Honigman (@dan360man), creator of the popular @coloneltribune Twitter persona for the Chicago Tribune who now is getting paid by some ad agency.

Dan’s a big fan of “lifestreaming,” which is, well, we’re not sure. But it’s some social media craze, popularized by the posterus.com Web site.

Thanks to the good people from the Utah Valley University (Go Wolverines!) — who were supplying podcasting tips and technology at BlogWorld — we could corner Honigman for an interview. In the first edition of the Kevin Sablan Show (minus @ksablan; it’s a long story), you can hear the scoop on what “lifestreaming” may actually be.

• CLICK HERE to hear the interview!

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Puzzled by Twitter’s deep and instantaneous pool of information? sOCial sunday

The 80/20 rule –we’ve all heard it. Where 80 percent of your results come from 20 percent of your efforts. It’s a simple formula, yet many find it hard to weed out the time wasters and focus solely on tasks which yield results. With Twitter especially, the results can be varied. Examples include, building and caring for new relationships, listening, gathering market research, engaging in conversations, following members of the media or news as it happens, or growing your influence with followers who adore you.

I love this saying, “Dig the well before you’re thirsty.” It’s the same with Twitter and the other social platforms. Field of Dreams style, build it and they will come. Set specific intentions, and you’ll accomplish them. Be mindful of what you’re doing and where you’re spending your time. When it’s no longer fun, take a break, turn the computer off and get out and enjoy life.

Top 10 Articles of the Week — Mined exclusively from Twittertown

• University Makes Twitter a Required Class for JRN Students http://bit.ly/3xrWJI via @mashable
• Charmin brings blogging to the bathroom http://bit.ly/1Qvcqs (iMedia) via @leeodden
• How social media can ACTUALLY work http://bit.ly/4zLmzg via @businessweek
• 35 Creative Twitter User Profile Designs http://bit.ly/1Qs1CM via @unbeige
• Why Content is No Longer King (And Who’s Taking His Place) http://bit.ly/2AGQP4 via @copyblogger
• What do you agree/disagree with on the “25 things I wish I’d known when I started blogging” list? http://bit.ly/40vHpn via @mediabistro
• 10 steps for starting a business blog http://bit.ly/D1nmJ via @prsarahevans
• Twitter’s Most Engaging Celebrities [Stats] http://bit.ly/2LASWl via @tweetmeme
• Is Burnout Inevitable in the Creative Industries? http://ow.ly/vciD via @ConversationAge
• Putting the Public in Public Media http://bit.ly/1W0xw8 via @rww

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• Technology TV personality Leo Laporte thinks new media will soon be on par with mainstream media.
• … he also says says podcasts are too hard to access, that’s why podcasting is stuck as a genre. “It must be easier to listen to,” he says.
• Aggregation of content in information overloaded is growth function. Marketer Brian Solis says: “Every day, there are 2 billion pieces of digital content created.”
• Radio personality/Chapman U. professor Hugh Hewitt says social media is talk radio with all the callers waiting to be heard being able to talk!
• NYU professor Jay Rosen says newsrooms aren’t the only place where people care about factual story-telling
• … and he says social media is like the scene in the movie ‘Network’ where a TV anchor tells his audience to shout out their windows, “I’m mad as hell …”
• CNN’s Don Lemon says mainstream media vs. new media debate is often counterproductive for the audience.
• … and he says that it is harder today to be influential due to growing supply of information networks and services.
• Technorati’s Richard Jalichandra: In social media, content is the conversation.

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[ Social media tips by email? CLICK HERE! ]

Post from: Lansner on Real Estate

Tweeting from an event often serves, after the fact, as great bullet point reminders of thought-provoking gems dispersed by the speakers or audience. Here’s my synopsis of wisdom I learned at BlogWorld Expo in Las Vegas last week, gleaned from primarily my on tweets, on “The State of the Blogosphere” from blogging tracker Technorati’s Richard Jalichandra …

• 75% of Web users read blogs.
• 28% of bloggers (outside of traditional journalism) are professionals vs. hobbyists. And 17% of the pros say it’s their primary income.
• 33% of folks who are blogging less now cut back to micro-blog, such as using Twitter.
• 6% of pro bloggers say their family life has suffered due to the work!
• 64% of folks who are blogging less now do so due to family issues.
• Note: The buzz of the Good and bad of social media” panel was “People have to realize that bloggers/tweeters have other lives; they’re not 24/7 news services.”
• 68% more blogs have advertising ‘tags’ vs. a year ago!
• 10% of professional bloggers blog 40 hours a week. Top-ranked blogs post 100 times more often than average blog.
• Blog comments build community; that drives traffic to the site. (Adds Chicago marketer Dan Honigman: “People will go to a site multiple times/day for conversation; not necessarily for the content.”)

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Puzzled by Twitter’s deep and instantaneous pool of information? sOCial sunday

With Halloween coming up, you’ll see ghosts all over the place. Although they are harder to spot on Twitter, you better believe they’re there!

“Ghost Tweeters” are paid to tweet as someone else. While every bone in my body cringes at this, it’s done more often than we’d like to think.

The beauty of social networks — especially Twitter — are the unexpected, fun tweople you’ll meet. I encourage you to find creative ways to keep your stream going without ghosts … either crowd source your account at your workplace (i.e. multiple people assist as in the case with The Register’s @OCreggie), or disclose who’s behind the account and how you’re using it.

I know you’re busy, we all are. Tweets take seconds to post and I know you can do better than pretending to be something or someone you’re not. Don’t ghost for it, go for it!

Top 10 Articles of the Week — Mined exclusively from Tweepland

• How trouble taught me 4 ways to write better headlines http://bit.ly/1Y66sn via @coyblogger
• Uncovering Steve Jobs’ Presentation Secrets http://ow.ly/u56K
• Want More Results? Make Your Content Likable and Linkable http://ow.ly/uvqd via @journalistics
• A Secret for Contending with Colleagues http://ow.ly/uvmP via BusinessWeek
• Does your social class determine your online social network? http://ow.ly/ui9P via CNN
• HOW TO: Use Social Media in Your PR Pitch Plan http://ow.ly/u4oc via @mashable
• FTC: “Bloggers of the world, relax - the Federal Trade Commission is not out to get you” http://is.gd/4ljLq via @leeodden
• Some state retirees rake in pensions and paychecks http://ow.ly/uvNc via @LAtimes
• Why Bloggers & Citizen Journalists Deserve A Shield Law http://bit.ly/4bwlby via @pbsmediashift
• In Business, Early Birds Twitter Most Effectively http://ow.ly/u5di

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Post from: Lansner on Real Estate

According to those real estate agents polled …

• 46% said they use some social networking Web site to stay on top of industry trends.

Most popular social media tool among those California Realtors?

• LinkedIn (34%)
• YouTube (13%)
• MySpace (12%)
• Twitter (10%)
• Facebook (4%)

And … California Realtors are using technology out of the office …

• 45% of respondents said they used a laptop or tablet computer in the field vs. 33% last year.
• 59% did so access email
• 56% did so to conduct listing presentations.

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Puzzled by Twitter? sOCial sunday

Self-sabotage on social media, I see it all the time. When are folks going to get past the confusion, negative self-talk and overall pessimism? It’s time to move forward. It’s time to free up space in your life so that you can be more creative, and produce better results.

Try an experiment this week: deliberately choose to work on the tasks that will yield the most outrageous results. Break free from your routine. In every tweet, Facebook post, YouTube video or LinkedIn update be energized. Be that person that others enjoy following. Be that person who’s interesting. Be that person who is you.

Top 10 Articles of the Week: Mined exclusively from the Twitterverse

• Why Don’t You Leave Me Alone? A Facebook Song http://bit.ly/VnTlP via @unmarketing
• AP and News Corp: Facebook, YouTube, Google Are Exploiting Us http://bit.ly/j9bH6 via @mashable
• Look At Me: Effectively Pitching Bloggers http://bit.ly/6ZpQO via @rww
• Tips for fighting procrastination http://bit.ly/X6bBZ via @WritersDigest
• The Complete Guide to Video Blogging http://bit.ly/WBz0L via @mashable
• Is PR Dead? http://hub.tm/?DGTAV via @hubspot
• FTC Responds to Blogger Fears: “That $11,000 Fine is Not True” http://bit.ly/5j27F via @PaulTTran
• Find out how much $$$ your time-wasting online costs the world economy http://bit.ly/WLpkU via @HuffPostTech
• Escaping Mediocrity: Expect the Unexpected: http://bit.ly/6FilA via  @sarahrobinson
• Kill Your Good Ideas http://bit.ly/ZcLGZ via @copyblogger

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