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As you jump into Social Networking and Social Media I am sure you will see that there are hundreds of tools that you can use to manage your activity and there are several new tools surfacing every day.

I have tried several of these tools and use a handful on a daily basis.  I have however found a few that I would consider my favorite tools.  HootSuite is one of my favorites.

HootSuite is a web based tool that I have been using for several months to mange my twitter account and the accounts that I mange for others.  Here are a handful of reasons of why I originally selected HootSuite as a client to use:

• You can manage multiple accounts:
  HootSuite allows you to manage multiple Twitter Accounts from the dashboard.  You are able to add multiple accounts and even set them up with their own tab so that they are easily organized.  This is very helpful for those of us that have multiple Twitter accounts or mange accounts for others.

• HootSuite allows you to authorize multiple editors:
  This is a great feature.  HootSuite allows you to add people to your HootSuite account so that they can help manage your Twitter account, without you having to provide direct userid and password access to your Twitter Account.  This feature makes it really easy to set-up a business Twitter account and share the duties with others in your office.

• HootSuite allows you to schedule tweets:   (one of my favorite features)
  HootSuite allows you to set up your tweets to be tweeted at a scheduled time.  This is a great feature and it really helps you manage your time on Twitter.  This allows you to schedule a block of time during the day where you find great content to tweet and then you can set it up in HootSuite to be sent at a pre-scheduled time.

• HootSuite Offers Link Tracking: HootSuite has a built in tool to shorten links  ”ow.ly”, but in addition to just shortening your links you can also track who clicks on your links.  This is a great tool and it allows you to see what tweets are the most interesting and valuable

• Keyword Searches:
  HootSuite is great for monitoring keywords.  You can add a search to a tab and this will allow you to monitor tweets in real time on the keywords that you have selected.

• Nice Dashboard Interface:
  HootSuite has a nice dashboard that is set up with tabs.  You can select which tabs you show and also have groups of tabs.  I have one group of tabs for one profile that contains my home feed, my @replies, my dm’s and then the keywords I am watching as well as my scheduled tweets.

• Management of those you follow:
  HootSuite may not handle the follower management the best, however it is easy to select someone and either follow or un-follow them from HootSuite.

The features above are the main things that attracted me to start using HootSuite, however recently HootSuite has added several new features that are fabulous.

HootSuite now supports Twitter Lists as well as the ability to  update other Social Networks from HootSuite.  HootSuite has added support for Facebook, LinkedIn and Facebook Pages.

I am still testing out the new features for LinkedIn and Facebook, however from what I have seen so far I am really impressed.  I can now schedule posts to the Facebook Fan Pages I manage – this is a great time saver!

I will report back more later on my results of using HootSuite for Facebook and LinkedIn.

I would encourage you however to check out HootSuite and then stop back by and post your thoughts and results.

Here is a great video tutorial of HootSuite from HootSuite

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Recently I have had the opportunity to meet with individuals that are just getting started with marketing their business online.  In working with this group one question that has been surfacing lately is what does my basic set of tools look like for getting started using Social Media and Online Marketing in my business?

I have told them that there are literally thousands of tools that they could use, however that doesn’t mean that they should use all of these and in fact many of them will not be effective for what they want to accomplish.

That being said here is what I usually suggest as a basic Social Media and Online Marketing Basic Tool Box:

A Company Website – This would be the static site that provides information on your products and services, hours of operation, location, etc.  This would also be where you sell products or services from if that is a component of your business

A Blog – A blog is becoming one of the top items that a business should have in the basic Social Media and Online Marketing tool box.  This is where you discuss your thoughts on topics related to your business and topics that are of interest to your target market.  This is your place to post content and to share and in some cases interact with your target market.

Tracking Tools – Once you have your website and blog set-up it is important that you know where your traffic comes from.  There are several tools that you can use out there that will provide you with that information.  One of those tools is from Google, Google Analytics.  Take the time to make sure you have this in place so you can analyze where your traffic is coming from and how people are finding you.

E-Mail Marketing – In order to build the relationship with your target market you need to begin collecting their information.  You can do this by offering a newsletter or a free report from your website and blog.  Your visitors will choose to opt in to your list.  This will allow you to stay in front of them from time to time via email.

Twitter – Twitter is a must have for all businesses.  This is where you begin to connect with others interested in your market and interact.  Twitter can also be used to listen to your target market’s needs and wants as well as use as a customer service outlet.  Twitter is also a great tool to use to drive people back to your blog.

Facebook – Facebook is another place to connect with your target market.  I would suggest you have a Facebook Fan Page where you can connect and learn more about your target market.  Interact with your friends and do things like wish them Happy Birthday and share information they can use.

LinkedIn – LinkedIn is a great tool to use to connect with those that may need your product or service on the professional level.  This is one tool that should be in every consultant’s tool box.  You can join and participate in groups with others that are your target market.  LinkedIn is great for many businesses; however I would have to say that it may not be the best tool for businesses that deal directly with consumers (such as restaurants, retail stores, etc).

As I stated there are thousands of tools that can be used for Social Networking and Online Marketing, this is just a bare minimum to start out with in your tool box.

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I have talked to many people who want to jump online and start using Facebook but are afraid to do so because they want to keep some privacy around their life.  In a lot of cases I have encountered someone who has been using Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends and then all of a sudden they receive a friend request from their employer or a client.  This often throws them for a loop because to a point people do want to keep their personal and business lives separate – even though in today’s world they are quickly merging.

It is possible however to use Facebook for staying in touch with both your family and friends as well as your employer, co-workers and clients and keeping the level of privacy that you desire.  Lucky for us Facebook users, the team at Facebook saw this as a potential issue and created some privacy features that allow you to choose who sees what information.

The feature that is being covered today is Friend Lists

Friend Lists

One of the top ways to separate what information you share with who on Facebook is to use Friend Lists.  This feature in Facebook allows you to privately group your friends into lists.  This helps for organization as well so that you can look at a particular list and only see the status of those on that list.

You can add people to multiple lists if they belong in more than one.  I have several lists and I use them in various ways.  Here are just a few ways that I use my lists:

Family – this is where all of my family members reside and if I have something that is family related I select this list as the list that can see it

Photos – This is the list that I allow access to my photos.  For me since I use Facebook for both personal and business reasons I don’t want everyone seeing photos of my kiddos.

Buddies – These are my close friends that I do things with on a regular basis

Co-Workers –  This is where I list those that I work with on a daily basis

Real Estate – This contains others that share a passion of Real Estate

Marketing – This group contains those that I get and share marketing info with

One way to use these lists for privacy is to select which list or lists you want to see what you post and share on Facebook.  If you are posting a status update and you only want certain groups to see this then you tell Facebook that.

Here is what you will see when you are updating your status:

If you click on the arrow by the lock then you will have the option to select who you want to see your post.  To select a particular last you will need to select the customize option and pick the lists that you want to see it.

Here are some additional resources for information on Friend Lists from Facebook:

Facebook Help Center: Friends: Friends List and Limited Profile

Organizing Your Connections on the New Friends Page

HOW TO: Create Friend Lists on Facebook (via Mashable)

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As you begin using Social Networking and Social Media tools to market your business and connect to your customers and prospects you need to include a FaceBook Fan page into this mix.

A Facebook Fan Page will allow you to engage your target market on Facebook and reach out to them to share more information on your business as well as connect with them.

Here are several reasons that you need to create a FaceBook Fan Page and begin connecting with your target market via this tool:

• Facebook Fan Pages are free – Facebook allows you to create and maintain a fan page for free

• Search Engine Optimization or Link Love – Google and the other search engines like Bing love Facebook because it is one of the top visited sites.  Having a fan page will allow you to obtain another link in the search engines back to your business

• Instant Mailing List – You can communicate with all of your fans with one message, it provides you with an instant mailing list

• You can have an unlimited number of fans – Facebook doesn’t limit the number of fans you have

• Community – a Fan page allows you to build a community with your fans and engage them.  Often fans will contribute content and provide information so that you can determine their needs and provide them.

• Exposure – A fan page will allow for more exposure for your business

• Viral Marketing – Fan pages are a viral tool because often people will share and invite others to become a fan

• Increase influence – a fan page will allow you to share information and in doing so will increase your influence and help build your credibility

• Natural Promotion – by having a fan page and sharing information you are able to promote your business naturally without truly advertising

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Over the last few days I have seen several friends and colleagues of a large company that I do some work for face new challenges in life due to being laid off.  I am very sad to see many of them go.

Many of these individuals have had some advance knowledge that this was in the works and they could be impacted.  This knowledge and the availability of tools such as Facebook and LinkedIn had a large impact on actions that were taken pre-layoff.

Over the last couple of months several employees at this company reached out to others that they worked directly with and those that they knew from association to become “connected”.  Several of these connections occurred on LinkedIn where a person can become connected to other business and career minded individuals.  Many of these connections also resulted in a mutual exchange of recommendations (which can be very helpful when looking for new employment).

There were also several connections made between colleagues on Facebook, however these were of a different nature than those on LinkedIn.  The Facebook connections are more of a fun connection on the personal side than the business and possible job search nature that was created on the Linked side.

In years past when someone was impacted by a reduction in force or a layoff usually you patted them on the back and wished them luck and maybe exchanged phone numbers and possibly an email address.  This is no longer the case.

In Today’s changing world where we have tools and avenues to reach out and connect with others saying good bye after someone is impacted by a lay off is not the same.  In most cases you say good bye in terms of your every day working relationship, however you can and should be connected in other ways so that you can continue to be “linked” and hopefully support one another.

The access we have to each other and each other’s networks in today’s world can really make an impact on how we approach things.  We really are no longer a lone wolf in a lot of cases if we are willing to reach out and connect with others.

If you are one of my friends or colleagues that were impacted I am very sorry to lose that relationship I had with you, however I do not consider it as a good-bye, just a change in our connection.  Please be sure to reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or even Facebook. I would like to remain connected with you in some manner and hopefully play a role in your search for new employment opportunities – please reach out and feel free to access my network if it will help you.

- Stefanie

P.S.  Here are some additional links that reference using Social Networks for job and career tools

• Social Networking Mistakes that Can Break Your Career
• Brazen Careerist – A Career Management Tool
• Social Network Basics For Job Hunters
• How to Turn Social Networking into a Job Offer

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• 8 Ways to Network Effectively Online (socialwebschool.com)

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Are you listening to the conversation …..?????

That is a great question to ask yourself if you are involved in Social Networking and using Social Media to connect with others and possibly market your brand.

Social Networking with Social Media tools is not about advertising or blatantly blasting information about your product or service – it is about being social and participating in the conversation.

In order to participate in the conversation you must listen in on the conversation.

When you begin to listen in on the conversation there are really two conversations you should be listening to.  The first conversation or conversations that you need to listen to are what your friends and contacts are saying.   The second conversation or conversations you need to listen to are what is being said about you or your brand.

Listening to your friends and contacts

The goal of listening to your friends and contacts is to build a relationship with them.  Learn who they are and what they are interested in and what they need.  The goal is not to preach information about your product or service.  The goal is build a relationship with them.

Here are some pointers to keep in mind when you are listening to your friends and contacts;

Listen to what they are talking about and if you can offer any support, tips or compliments.  If you enjoy an article that they link to or post be sure to tell them.  Listen and then join the conversation.  If you see that they are looking for a resource or information and you have a suggestion for them be sure to share it.  The goal of these conversations is just that have a conversation, listen and share information, connect and learn more about these contacts.

Listening to what is being said about your or your brand

The goals are slightly different when you are listening to the conversation to hear what is being said about you or your brand.  When you have this listening hat on you are monitoring what is being said in terms of both positive and negative comments.

If you hear someone complain about you or your brand then you should be prepared to address the concerns and make the situation right.  In some cases you won’t be able to make the situation right and will have to implement damage control.  It is important to listen though, because if you are not then you would not hear the conversation or the problem or issue.

It is just as important to listen for positive comments about you or your brand.  You can capitalize on these by thanking the poster and reinforcing the positive comments.  Listening and hearing this conversation will help you reinforce you and your brand.

Tools to Listen with

There are several ways that you can listen in on the conversations you should be hearing.

One of the easiest ways to listen to the conversations of your friends and contacts is to just pay attention.  Be sure to browse the statuses of your friends on Facebook and make comments that fall in line with a complement, resource, etc or even just posting a note when it is their birthday.  This strategy works well on Twitter as well, read the Tweets of those you follow and comment when you can as well as if you see something that would benefit them be sure to share it.

When it comes to listening or monitoring for your brand it is a little more complex than just browsing the statuses of your friends, but it is something that you can easily manage.  Below are some tools that you can use to listen with:

www.Search.twitter.com – this is a tool that allows you to search for conversations on Twitter that contain certain key words or text.  It is a quick way to scan some of the latest conversations

www.google.com/alerts – Google Alerts is a great way to monitor what is being said.  You can set this tool up to send you an email every time a particular keyword is mentioned in content that Google picks up

http://technorati.com/ – This is a blog search engine and a great way to search blogs for any mentions of you or your brand

http://twendz.waggeneredstrom.com/ – Twendz is a Twitter monitoring tool.  It allows you to see posts in real time and offers to provide some user sentiment of the tweet

http://blogpulse.com/ — This is a good trend discovery system for blogs.  It analyzes and reports daily activity in the blogosphere.

http://blogsearch.google.com/ – Google blog search is Google’s tool for searching blogs directly

http://www.google.com/insights/search – Helps you get an idea of how everyone is searching for a term

http://howsociable.com/ – A tool to measure brand visibility metrics

http://www.samepoint.com/ – This is a conversation search engine that lets you see what other people are talking about.

There are several more tools that can be used to search and listen in on the conversations that are taking place on Social Networking sites and with the use of other Social Media tools.  Many more of these tools will be covered in future posts.

For now though the take away is that in order to participate in Social Networking and use Social Media tools you must listen – listen and learn what others are talking about and learn who they are and how you can help them.

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