Little Red's Big Ideas

Chris Brogan's 50 Ideas for Using Twitter - Part Three: Sanity

All these social networking sites can create a bit of social anxiety.  So much too read, so many to follow --  so little time.  The following is the third in a series based on Chris Brogran's blog post, "50 Ideas for Using Twitter."  I purposely broke the entire original post into five sane sections, but you can read the entire article here.

Some Sanity For You

21. You don’t have to read every tweet.
22. You don’t have to reply to every @ tweet directed to you (try to reply to some, but don’t feel guilty).
23. Use direct messages for 1-to-1 conversations if you feel there’s no value to Twitter at large to hear the conversation ( got this from @pistachio).
24. Use services like Twitter Search to make sure you see if someone’s talking about you. Try to participate where it makes sense.
25. 3rd party clients like Tweetdeck and Twhirl make it a lot easier to manage Twitter.
26. If you tweet all day while your coworkers are busy, you’re going to hear about it.
27. If you’re representing clients and billing hours, and tweeting all the time, you might hear about it.
28. Learn quickly to use the URL shortening tools like TinyURL and all the variants. It helps tidy up your tweets.
29. If someone says you’re using twitter wrong, forget it. It’s an opt out society. They can unfollow if they don’t like how you use it.
30. Commenting on others’ tweets, and retweeting what others have posted is a great way to build community.

If you have other tips to cut down on the social anxiety created by social networking overload please share below.

Chris Brogan's Ideas for Using Twitter - Part Two: What to Tweet

Second in a series based on Chris Brogran's blog post, "50 Ideas for Using Twitter."  Read the entire article here.

Ideas About WHAT to Tweet

11. Instead of answering the question, “What are you doing?”, answer the question, “What has your attention?”
12. Have more than one twitterer at the company. People can quit. People take vacations. It’s nice to have a variety.
13. When promoting a blog post, ask a question or explain what’s coming next, instead of just dumping a link.
14. Ask questions. Twitter is GREAT for getting opinions.
15. Follow interesting people. If you find someone who tweets interesting things, see who she follows, and follow her.
16. Tweet about other people’s stuff. Again, doesn’t directly impact your business, but makes us feel like you’re not “that guy.”
17. When you DO talk about your stuff, make it useful. Give advice, blog posts, pictures, etc.
18. Share the human side of your company. If you’re bothering to tweet, it means you believe social media has value for human connections. Point us to pictures and other human things.
19. Don’t toot your own horn too much. (Man, I can’t believe I’m saying this. I do it all the time. – Side note: I’ve gotta stop tooting my own horn).
20. Or, if you do, try to balance it out by promoting the heck out of others, too.

Do you have ideas about what to Tweet?  Please share in the comment section below!

Second in a series based on Chris Brogran's blog post, "50 Ideas for Using Twitter."  Read the entire article here.

Ideas About WHAT to Tweet

11. Instead of answering the question, “What are you doing?”, answer the question, “What has your attention?”
12. Have more than one twitterer at the company. People can quit. People take vacations. It’s nice to have a variety.
13. When promoting a blog post, ask a question or explain what’s coming next, instead of just dumping a link.
14. Ask questions. Twitter is GREAT for getting opinions.
15. Follow interesting people. If you find someone who tweets interesting things, see who she follows, and follow her.
16. Tweet about other people’s stuff. Again, doesn’t directly impact your business, but makes us feel like you’re not “that guy.”
17. When you DO talk about your stuff, make it useful. Give advice, blog posts, pictures, etc.
18. Share the human side of your company. If you’re bothering to tweet, it means you believe social media has value for human connections. Point us to pictures and other human things.
19. Don’t toot your own horn too much. (Man, I can’t believe I’m saying this. I do it all the time. – Side note: I’ve gotta stop tooting my own horn).
20. Or, if you do, try to balance it out by promoting the heck out of others, too.

Do you have ideas about what to Tweet?  Please share in the comment section below!

Chris Brogan's Ideas for Using Twitter - Part One: First Steps

As more and more organizations, individuals and businesses jump on the increasingly crowded Twitter bandwagon, I feel compelled to share best Twitter practices from some of my favorite social networking experts on the web.  One of the best is Chris Brogan, President of New Marketing Labs, whose post "50 Ideas for Using Twitter for Business is a treasure trove of Twitter best.

Since the list of 50 may seem a little overwhelming I'm going to share Chris' ideas in easy to explore chunks.  For those who want to eat the whole elephant at once, feel free to jump directly to the original post at Chris' site. 

Either way, bookmark this post and making a commitment to check out one or two of these terrific Twitterers every day or every week.  Follow people who seem to be taking Twitter to a new level of marketing and adapt their ideas to promote your programs, events and activities.   

First Steps

1. Build an account and immediate start using Twitter Search to listen for your name, your competitor’s names, words that relate to your space. (Listening always comes first.)
2. Add a picture. ( Shel reminds us of this.) We want to see you.
3. Talk to people about THEIR interests, too. I know this doesn’t sell more widgets, but it shows us you’re human.
4. Point out interesting things in your space, not just about you.
5. Share links to neat things in your community. ( @wholefoods does this well).
6. Don’t get stuck in the apology loop. Be helpful instead. ( @jetblue gives travel tips.)
7. Be wary of always pimping your stuff. Your fans will love it. Others will tune out.
8. Promote your employees’ outside-of-work stories. ( @TheHomeDepot does it well.)
9. Throw in a few humans, like RichardAtDELL, LionelAtDELL, etc.
10. Talk about non-business, too, like @astrout and @jstorerj from Mzinga.

Tomorrow: What to Tweet

February Events - You'll Love These

February is more than hearts and love.  Back by popular demand, here's the list of noteworthy February happenings from Chase's Calendar of Events. 

February

• AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month
• American Heart Month
• Bake for Family Fun Month
• Bird Feeding Month, Natl
• Black History Month, Natl
• Boost Self-Esteem Month, Intl
• Cherry Month, Natl
• Children's Dental Health Month, Natl
• Expect Success Month, Intl
• February Is Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month
• Get To Know An Independent Real Estate Broker Month, Natl
• Learn Italian Month
• Library Lovers' Month
• Marfan Syndrome Awareness Month
• North Carolina Sweetpotato Month
• Parent Leadership Month, Natl
• Pet Dental Health Month, Natl
• Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month
• Relationship Wellness Month
• Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month
• Senior Independence Month, Natl
• Time Management Month, Natl
• Weddings Month, Natl
• Wise Health Care Consumer Month
• Youth Leadership Month

Goal Quotes - Part Four of Four

Well, I kept my end of the bargain and posted four sets of inspirational quotes about goals and goal-setting to help YOU stay motivated during this month of resolution-making, keeping and breaking.  I hope they helped you feel excited and inspired about reaching your goals.  If not, don't worry, there's always next year!

"Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better place?' It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is 'How can I make it better?' To that there is an answer." - Leo F. Buscaglia

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"The reason so few people are successful is no one has yet found a way for someone to sit down and slide uphill." - W. Clement Stone

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"NOTHING happens without desire - not in sports, not in business, not in LIFE." - Colin Dunbar

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"Life is like riding a bike. It is impossible to maintain your balance while standing still." - Linda Brakeall

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"A goal is not the same as a desire, and this is an important distinction to make. You can have a desire you don't intend to act on. But you can't have a goal you don't intend to act on." - Tom Morris

"Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours." - Dale Carnegie

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"The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream." - Harry Kemp

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"A life lived with integrity - even if it lacks the trappings of fame and fortune is a shinning star in whose light others may follow in the years to come." - Denis Waitley

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"Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them." - W. Clement Stone

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"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much." - Jim Rohn

 

Do you Zumba? You betcha they do in Wisconsin

Among the latest fitness trends Zumba and Boot-camp continue to spread in popularity -- even in the nation's heartland.  A story posted on Milwaukee's Public Radio Station WUMMhighlighted some of the hot activities attracting this year's fitness enthusiast.  Zumba (for those who don't know) is a type dance exercise, set mainly to Latin music, creating a lively, fast-paced workout.  According to the story:

"Zumba has been hot for a couple of years in Milwaukee, after sprouting up in larger cities. That's according to Julie Newman, owner of the Shape Up Shoppe. It’s a women's-only health club in Bay View.

"You know, when it's first a trend, the whole public joins in. If it's on Entertainment Tonight or if it's on Good Morning America, everybody tries it," Newman says.

Newman's been in the fitness business more than 30 years -- long enough to see fads come and go. One of the first was the aerobic dance classes of the 1980s when women wore tights and leg warmers. Newman says even today's hot trends will cool off."

Publicity Tip -- Send the following link http://www.wuwm.com/programs/news/view_news.php?articleid=5636 to the program director at your local public radio station suggesting that they do a similar story about the latest fitness trends in YOUR community.  Public radio stations are great at sharing. 

Money-making ideas for San Francisco city parks

I came across a post at the San Francisco Chronicle's blogwhich discussed some of the ways the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department might generate additional revenue for the cash-strapped agency.  The ideas proposed by the city staff are pretty typical as listed below: 

• out-of-towners extra fees,
• expanding league fees,
• implementing a "Golden Gate Park" preservation fee that might be added to the cost of museum tickets,
• selling the naming rights to Candlestick Park and
• charging for parking in some parks

However, if you read the growing number of comments that follow the blog post, you'll be treated to some "out-of-the-box" ideas from blog readers.  My favorite is from: MissionRosalind comments: "Here's a better idea: since somany people sleep in SF's parks, extend the hotel tax to all of Rec & Park's 'guests.'

 

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=55599#ixzz0dCCywMhb

Goal Quotes - Part Three of Four

The month is more than half over and you are making some strides towards those New Year's goals, right?  Well, whether you've discarded all hope at resolving your "issues" or are becoming a better person and professional each and every minute, I'm keeping my promise to share inspirational quotes to help with the cause.

"In achieving your goals, you may run into roadblocks. Don't let that stop you, go around, over, or under. If you are committed to your goal you will find a way." - Catherine Pulsifier

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"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." - Zig Zigler

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"You have to know what you want to get it." - Gertrude Stein

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"Your life is what your thoughts make it." - Marcus Aurelius

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"You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can decide how you're going to live now." - Joan Baez

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"You have to do what you love to do, not get stuck in that comfort zone of a regular job. Life is not a dress rehearsal. This is it." - Lucinda Basset

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"Look to the future, because that is where you'll spend the rest of your life." - George Burns

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"What you get by achieving your goals is as important as what you become by achieving your goals." - Henry David Thoreau

If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience." - Robert Fulghum

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"Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek." - Mario Andretti

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"Picture yourself vividly as winning and that alone will contribute immeasurably to success. Great living starts with a picture, held in your imagination, of what you would like to do or be." - Henry Emerson Fosdick

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"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care, and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom." Dwight D. Eisenhower

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"To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Poll Shows Park Use Up in Down Economy

 A recent national poll by the Trust for Public Lands suggests the economic downturn has spurred a sharp increase in families – especially those with young children – using public parks and playgrounds. From July 28 to 30, Harris Interactive asked 2,095 U.S. adults:

During this period of economic difficulty, have you and your family changed how much you make use of public parks and playgrounds?

For families with children younger than six, 38% of respondents said they now use public facilities more, 51% said they haven’t changed their usage, and 10% are using parks and playgrounds less.

Among all park users, 21% now use public recreation more, 72% haven’t changed their usage, and 7% are going less to parks and playgrounds. Also, 34% of the respondents said they didn’t use public facilities before and still don’t.

Goal Quotes - Part Two of Four

So how are you doing with those New Year's Resolutions?  It's not to late to make themk, you know.  Or, if you need to edit the ones you've already blown -- that's okay, too.  Here are the second set of inspirational quotes to help you stay on track to those better intentions.  Leave a comment at the end of this post to brag about how well you're doing keeping up with your New Year's goals.

 

"All successful people have a goal. No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to be or do." - Norman Vincent Peale

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"One of the amazing things we have been given as humans is the unquenchable desire to have dreams of a better life, and the ability to establish goals to live out those dreams." - Jim Rohn

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"If you try to figure out how you will get what you want you will limit yourself to what your ego or conditioned mind can do. The key to creating what you want is to turn your desire or your goal over to your subconscious which is connected to the Universal Mind or Universal Subconscious and let it bring the goal to you and you to your goal." - Dr. Robert Anthony

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"Instead of worrying about what people say of you, why not spend time trying to accomplish something they will admire." - Dale Carnegie

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"There are those who travel and those who are going somewhere. They are different and yet they are the same. The success has this over his rivals: He knows where he is going." - Mark Caine

"Life's ups and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals. Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want." - Martha Sinetar

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"Goals are not only absolutely necessary to motivate us. They are essential to really keep us alive." - Bill Copeland

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"The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach." - Benjamin Mays

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"To achieve happiness, we should make certain that we are never without an important goal." - Ralph Waldo Emereson

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"Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success." - Vincent van Gogh

"The most important thing about goals is having one." - Geoffry F. Abert

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"You can't reach your goals without occasionally taking some long shots." - Unknown