The New Twitter

Ashley Haugen

Over the next several weeks, Twitter will be shedding some old feathers and taking on a new look. In a move they hope will coax users away from third party apps and back to the main site, the redesign encompasses Twitter.com and TweetDeck, as well as its mobile apps. Here is a look at what you can expect.

There are three new buttons at the top of the page: Home, @Connect and #Discover.

            •            Home: Your updated news feed. See information about @replies and retweets, as well as linkable content (videos and pictures) right in the feed.

            •            @Connect: Shows who has mentioned you and suggests some accounts you might want to follow.

            •            #Discover: Shows what's trending and points you to notable stories and videos. This feature is a great example of the more personalized Twitter. Discover will identify stories and trends based on your connections, location and language.

The redesign also has Tweets housed on the right side, and your profile box in the upper left hand corner. Not exactly sure why there was a need to do this, but I'm sure there was plenty of market research and design psychology involved.

Other notables:

            •            Brand Pages: Taking a note from Facebook and Google+, the new Twitter will allow brand pages for companies which will have a bigger header, more customizable options and extended taglines. The coolest feature here is that brands will be able to choose what tweet stays at the top of their timeline, thus highlighting their best content.

            •            Embedded Tweets: Now website developers and bloggers can embed tweets right into their website. This gives visitors the ability to reply, retweet and favorite without leaving the page.

You can get the new Twitter now by downloading the updated version for iPhone or Android here. Otherwise, it will be taking over the Twittersphere over the next few weeks. Here is a video from Twitter showing off the new features:

The New Twitter

What do you think? Will the redesign be a hit or have us all atwitter? 

Ashley Haugen is a Gustavus Adolphus College alumna. She has had Marketing experience working with such organizations as the LOFT Literary Center, the Gustavus Marketing Department and the OrdwayCenter for Performing Arts. She currently is a PR associate at Axiom Marketing Communications.

Five Steps to a Successful Twitter Chat

Brandi Palecheck

Are you looking for a unique, meaningful way to connect your target audience? Do you want to engage your customers in a dynamic discussion while at the same time demonstrate your knowledge and expertise? One very effective way to accomplish all of these objectives is to host a Twitter chat.

What are Twitter chats, you ask? Twitter chats are regularly scheduled discussions held on Twitter moderated by one or more people. These conversations often include a guest expert or industry thought-leader. Twitter users gather together on a specific day and time to answer questions and give opinions on specific topics of interest.

During a Twitter chat, participants follow and contribute to the conversation through the use of a distinct hashtag. Using a chat tool like Tweet Chat or a 3rd party Twitter application such as Tweet Deck, where tweeters can track the discussion, respond to questions shared by one of the moderators, and read comments posted by other chat participants.

But just how do you manage a discussion on Twitter and what is involved in hosting one? Here are five steps to help you organize and host your very own Twitter chat. 

Step 1: Planning

Decide on the hashtag to be used for the Twitter chat and perform a Twitter search to determine if it is available. Choose the topic, date, and time for the discussion. Then determine who will host and moderate the conversation as well as any special guests or subject experts who will contribute to the chat.

Step 2: Preparation

Create a set of guidelines and instructions for the chat that can be sent out as tweets just prior to the start of the discussion. Write up a list of questions to ask during the conversation. Gather a list of articles, quotes, and other resources to can be shared during the chat. Be sure to include content and information from your own website as well as other resources. Follow-up with moderators and guests to confirm their participation,share prepared materials, and address any questions they may have before the day of the chat.

Step 3: Promotion

Announce the Twitter chat on your blog. Share information about the chat in your email newsletter or send a special invitation to customers via email. Schedule it as an event on Facebook and invite the community on your Facebook page. If your business or organization has a group on LinkedIn, list details about the event and create discussion around the topic of the Twitter chat. And, of course, send out several tweets to promote the event to your Twitter followers.

Step 4: Participation

About 10 minutes prior to the chat, send out tweets explaining the format and rules for the discussion. Begin the chat by introducing your guest. Contribute your own responses to questions to start the conversation. Keep the discussion flowing from one question to the next, but allow plenty of time for participants to share their thoughts. It can sometimes take several minutes for responses to start coming in. While you are waiting for replies, you can fill the "dead air" by sharing some of the resources you gathered before the chat.

Step 5: Post

After the chat is finished don't forget to send a message to the moderators and guests thanking them for their participation. Then create an event summary post for your blog that includes the best responses tweeted during the discussion. Share the post on your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts so those who didn't get the chance to join the conversation will know what they missed.

Use the following questions to measure the success of a Twitter chat and evaluate your return on investment:

• How many new Twitter followers did you get during and after the chat?
• Did you get any new sign ups for your email list as a result of the Twitter discussion? What other calls to action got a response from participants?
• How long did the conversation last? How dynamic was the discussion?
• Who took part in the chat? How many unique Twitter users sent out messages?
• How many tweets were sent out with the hashtag for during the chat? How many retweets were sent?

After you have rounded up all the data, create a report for yourself (or your boss) to summarize the impact of the discussion to make improvements for your next Twitter chat.

So, there you have it. Did I miss anything? Do you have any other tips or tricks for hosting a successful Twitter chat?

Additional Resources

For those of you who would like to learn more about Twitter chats before hosting your own, I've gathered a few additional resources to help you join the conversation.

Tweeting With Your Twitter Community: How to Participate in a Twitter Chat

Chirping Up Your Tweeps: How to Participate in a Twitter Chat

Twitter Chats, The Ultimate How To Guide

What is a Twitter Chat and How to Make the Most of It

How to Participate in a Twitter Chat

Using Social Media for Recruitment

Ashley Haugen

The face of job recruiting has changed—and it’s not just a little Botox and brow work, either. While newspaper classifieds and employment websites used to be the go-to resources for recruiting, social media outlets have also become key players.

Traditional media can still prove to be a fruitful form of recruitment, however employers are increasingly turning to social media to find new hires. According to a recent research report by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 76% of companies said that they do use or are planning to use social media sites for recruiting. More than half of the employers responding said that social networking sites are an efficient way to recruit candidates. 

There are many benefits to using social media for recruitment. Messages sent over social media channels may be perceived as being more authentic or have a higher level of credibility and believability than traditional corporate mechanisms. Also, the relatively low cost of sending messages over social networks may allow your firm to increase the number of messages that it can afford to send. Together, these two factors may result in more effective messages that directly increase quality applications.

Candidate quality is also a benefit of social media recruitment. Those who frequently use social networks may be the highly desirable “early adopter.” These people are engaged and in-tune with the latest trends, are not afraid to learn new programs, and are more technically savvy (increasingly important in our digital world) than other candidates.

Another draw is the link-ability and sharing capabilities of social media sites. It’s super easy for friends to see a job opening post and share it with family and friends quickly. Additionally, presenting your job openings in a creative way allows companies to show more about their personalities as organizations, which in turn helps potential candidates get a feel for whether or not the culture is likely to be a good fit. 

A more honest conversation, company exposure, and attracting certain types of people are all possible when utilizing social media. However there are a few tips to know before jumping in and tweeting your heart out. First, it’s important to recognize and understand the three main social media outlets that are most conducive for recruitment. These sites include LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Secondly, it is important to understand the unique audience of these sites, and what to look for when evaluating candidates on social media sites.

The Main Sites of Social Media Recruitment

Twitter

The easiest way to recruit is to tweet jobs you have available.  That being said, it’s also easy for those tweets to fall through the cracks of the incessant Twitter-chatter. To make your job posting tweets standout you can use hashtags (#). Hashtags are a way to filter, search and find information on Twitter. For example, if you posted “Company X is #hiring! We’re looking for smart #interns,” then someone can search #hiring and #interns on twitter, and you’re company will show up in the results. 

When you find a potential candidate on Twitter, it’s important to evaluate their Twitter skills. Especially if recruiting for a social media-related position, it’s important that the candidate is familiar and utilizes the site effectively. Rather than reading their skill on a resume or cover letter, recruiting on Twitter allows you to see their real-world skill. You can evaluate their activity to see how often they tweet, if there is a good balance between following and followers, how big their network is, and their quality of tweets.

Facebook

If your company has a Facebook, make sure that it is up to date and relevant first. You can then post job openings for your fans to see on your company page. This is free and gives your fans an exclusive chance to apply. This is a good thing as your Facebook fans are most likely passionate about your company (otherwise why would they be your friend?). What better pool to choose from then a group of brand fanatics and agency supporters?

LinkedIn

You can post a job on LinkedIn, although there is a fee associated with this. I would recommend using your network activity box (also known as the status box) to broadcast you’re hiring. It’s free and simple. It works similar to a Facebook status update; “New opening for project manager.  Contact me for details.” When you find someone that peaks your interest, evaluate their LinkedIn profile. How complete is this persons profile? Does it look neglected or incomplete? Do they have recommendations from peers, managers and colleagues? Are they members of relevant groups? Do you have any connections with this person? You want an “expert” in the field, and this is an easy way to tell how engaged they are.

In conclusion, recruiters are increasingly reaping the benefits of utilizing social media sites to fill job openings. And it’s no wonder, when you can gain brand exposure, create buzz, source candidates and evaluate their potential and real-world applicability with social recruitment. 

Ashley Haugen is a Gustavus Adolphus College alumna. She has had Marketing experience working with such organizations as the LOFT Literary Center, the Gustavus Marketing Department and the Ordway Center for Performing Arts. She currently is a PR associate at Axiom Marketing Communications.
 

Mascots in Social Media

Ashley Haugen

Tony. The King. The Captain. The Gecko. They are all ferociously joining your ranks on social media sites. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when the M&M’s start tweeting. That’s right, I’m talking about brand mascots, and they have also jumped on the social media bandwagon.

Mascots have been used for years to increase brand awareness and create a more personal connection between consumer and business. Mostly relegated to meet and greets and traditional media, mascots haven’t had much exposure to status updates and 180 character limits. Until now.

With sites like Facebook and Twitter, brands now have a place to create a more personal and interactive relationship with consumers by using their mascot. The brand mascots that people have come to know and love are able to show off their unique personalities, while still promoting their company. Utilizing the mascot on social media allows companies to bridge the gap between professionalism and approachability.

Beth Mansfield, director of public relations for Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, (whose mascot is Happy Star) puts it nicely, “With social media you have to be engaging and have a one-on-one voice. It’s much easier to have that one voice be Happy Star instead of the marketing department of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. If we signed our Facebook posts ‘from the marketing department,’ that would be a little awkward.”

Some of the more recent social media mascot campaigns include ReuniteM Campaign with M&M’s, and Flo, the Progressive Insurance Girl. The ReuniteM campaign is offering consumers a chance to win prizes for finding the five M&M characters together. You just have to buy selected packages of M&M’s milk chocolate candies and look for all the five characters printed under the wrapper.. The grand prize is worth $100,000. The candy brand has about 2.2million fans on Facebook, where the “yellow” M&M posts updates.

Flo, the Progressive Insurance mascot, has also become increasingly social. She has her own Facebook page separate from Progressive Insurance. With over 3 million likes, her fan page allows people to see more of Flo’s character, while gaining exposure for Progressive.

I’m sure more and more brands will recognize the potential social media has for increasing mascot value, and in turn, increasing product value. It’s a great way to have consumers connect with the often original and entertaining mascots. Now if only I could Facebook chat the Aflac duck...

Ashley Haugen is a Gustavus Adolphus College alumna. She has had Marketing experience working with such organizations as the LOFT Literary Center, the Gustavus Marketing Department and the Ordway Center for Performing Arts.

Google+ Resources, How-To's, Tips and Tricks

Brandi Palechek

At the end of June, Google launched a beta version of its latest venture into the social media landscape, Google+. Judging from its record breaking growth and the sheer volume of articles, blog posts, Chrome extensions, specialty sites, and enhanced features that have emerged in the past few weeks alone, Google+ is definitely here to stay. Whether you are a network newbie or pro Plusser, I've gathered up a few resources, how-to's, tips, and tricks to help you get the most from your Google+ experience.

Getting Started

Have you received a Google+ invitation, but don't know where to start? This list of links will help you learn more about its unique features, show you how to set up your profile, as well as explain what makes Google+ so cool and help you understand what's got everyone so excited.

Your complete guide to Google+

CNET Associate Editor Sharon Vakin complies the best tips, guides, and tweaks to teach beginning users how to master Google+.

Google+ Tips & Tricks: 10 Hints for New Users

Amy-Mae Elliott from the social media and technology news hub Mashable shares 10 tips and tricks to help Google+ newbies go from novice to pro in no time.

What’s So Exciting About Google+ – An Overview

Author and social media maven, Mari Smith, shares her first impressions of Google+ and why she thinks the new social network will force Facebook to step up its game to stay competitive.

A guide to controlling privacy, info on Google+

Concerned about privacy? MSNBC's tech blog offers newbie (and pro!) Google+ users a step-by-step guide on how to set up privacy controls, including tips on how to access and update some of the social network's not-so-easy to find privacy settings.

What's new in Google+

Get Google+ help directly from Google with this blog that regularly updates users on the latest news and developments for the Google+ project.

Tips and Tricks

Already on Google+? Wondering how to make the most out of its profile features, circles, and hangouts? Check out this list of articles featuring resources, tips, and tricks for taking your Google+ experience to the next level.

31 Essential Google+ Resources

If you are loving Google+ so far and would like to to get more from your experience, check out this mega list of tools, reviews and tips from Mashable's Stephanie Buck.

How to Brand Yourself on Google Plus

Author and career expert, Heather Huhman shares a few simple and effective ways to use Google+ to build and enhance your personal brand.

It’s Not Who You Circle; It’s Who Circles You

One of the most unique and valuable Google+ features is Circles. In this blog post, business consultant and entrepreneur Chris Brogan discusses the true value of Circles and provides tips on how to get circled by the right people.

3 Ways To Use Google Plus In Your Content Marketing Efforts

While Google+ business profiles aren't available yet, B2B social media consultant Nate Riggs shares three ways content marketers can utilize the new social network in their everyday business practices starting today.

Google+ Hangouts: 4 Creative Ways People Are Using Group Video Chat

Learn how Google Plussers are making the most of its Hangouts feature by using it to connect with other users to teach cooking classes, host live concerts, and conduct business.

Additional Resources

Still want more? I've gathered up some additional articles that will teach even the most advanced users and Google Chrome fanatics a few new tricks.

40 Google+ tips and tricks for power users

Chrome fanatic will love this massive list of power-user pointers compiled by JR Raphael of the tech news and information hub ITworld.

The Mother of All Google+ Resource Lists

A gianormous list of resources for enhancing and improving your Google+ experience courtesy of The Next Web.

According to the latest round of rumors and Google's own official blog, Google+ business profiles are in development and will be rolled out in the coming weeks (Ford's beta business profile), games are on their way to the social network, and updates from users are starting to filter through to Google search as well as impact social search results.

While its numbers are no where near the hundreds of millions of accounts on Facebook, Google+ is clearly heating things up and creating some serious competition within the social media realm.

Have you created a Google+ profile? What are your thoughts and first impressions?

Do you have any helpful resources to share? What tips and tricks have you learned as you've explored the newest social network?

Please share your suggestions, tips, and your Google+ profile link in the comment section below.

At the end of June, Google launched a beta version of its latest venture into the social media landscape, Google+. Judging from its record breaking growth and the sheer volume of articles, blog posts, Chrome extensions, specialty sites, and enhanced features that have emerged in the past few weeks alone, Google+ is definitely here to stay. Whether you are a network newbie or pro Plusser, I've gathered up a few resources, how-to's, tips, and tricks to help you get the most from your Google+ experience.

Getting Started

Have you received a Google+ invitation, but don't know where to start? This list of links will help you learn more about its unique features, show you how to set up your profile, as well as explain what makes Google+ so cool and help you understand what's got everyone so excited.

Your complete guide to Google+

CNET Associate Editor Sharon Vakin complies the best tips, guides, and tweaks to teach beginning users how to master Google+.

Google+ Tips & Tricks: 10 Hints for New Users

Amy-Mae Elliott from the social media and technology news hub Mashable shares 10 tips and tricks to help Google+ newbies go from novice to pro in no time.

What’s So Exciting About Google+ – An Overview

Author and social media maven, Mari Smith, shares her first impressions of Google+ and why she thinks the new social network will force Facebook to step up its game to stay competitive.

A guide to controlling privacy, info on Google+

Concerned about privacy? MSNBC's tech blog offers newbie (and pro!) Google+ users a step-by-step guide on how to set up privacy controls, including tips on how to access and update some of the social network's not-so-easy to find privacy settings.

What's new in Google+

Get Google+ help directly from Google with this blog that regularly updates users on the latest news and developments for the Google+ project.

Tips and Tricks

Already on Google+? Wondering how to make the most out of its profile features, circles, and hangouts? Check out this list of articles featuring resources, tips, and tricks for taking your Google+ experience to the next level.

31 Essential Google+ Resources

If you are loving Google+ so far and would like to to get more from your experience, check out this mega list of tools, reviews and tips from Mashable's Stephanie Buck.

How to Brand Yourself on Google Plus

Author and career expert, Heather Huhman shares a few simple and effective ways to use Google+ to build and enhance your personal brand.

It’s Not Who You Circle; It’s Who Circles You

One of the most unique and valuable Google+ features is Circles. In this blog post, business consultant and entrepreneur Chris Brogan discusses the true value of Circles and provides tips on how to get circled by the right people.

3 Ways To Use Google Plus In Your Content Marketing Efforts

While Google+ business profiles aren't available yet, B2B social media consultant Nate Riggs shares three ways content marketers can utilize the new social network in their everyday business practices starting today.

Google+ Hangouts: 4 Creative Ways People Are Using Group Video Chat

Learn how Google Plussers are making the most of its Hangouts feature by using it to connect with other users to teach cooking classes, host live concerts, and conduct business.

Additional Resources

Still want more? I've gathered up some additional articles that will teach even the most advanced users and Google Chrome fanatics a few new tricks.

40 Google+ tips and tricks for power users

Chrome fanatic will love this massive list of power-user pointers compiled by JR Raphael of the tech news and information hub ITworld.

The Mother of All Google+ Resource Lists

A gianormous list of resources for enhancing and improving your Google+ experience courtesy of The Next Web.

According to the latest round of rumors and Google's own official blog, Google+ business profiles are in development and will be rolled out in the coming weeks (Ford's beta business profile), games are on their way to the social network, and updates from users are starting to filter through to Google search as well as impact social search results.

While its numbers are no where near the hundreds of millions of accounts on Facebook, Google+ is clearly heating things up and creating some serious competition within the social media realm.

Have you created a Google+ profile? What are your thoughts and first impressions?

Do you have any helpful resources to share? What tips and tricks have you learned as you've explored the newest social network?

Please share your suggestions, tips, and your Google+ profile link in the comment section below.

Brandi Palechek is an exceptionally creative, entrepreneurial marketing professional with 10+ years experience in an digital media marketing environment. As the the owner of her own digital marketing consulting firm, Brandi currently works with clients in the Publishing industry by helping authors and publishing companies to develop and enhance their digital marketing programs.

Utilizing the Brand Advocate

Ashley Haugen

Brand advocacy has become big business in the last few years. With the increasing infatuation with celebrity, the influence of social media, and the era of “consumer power,” brand advocates have risen to become a powerful ally to the marketer.

Brand advocates are people who talk favorably about a brand and create positive word-of-mouth messages to other people. They create buzz, give support, and maintain exposure for a product or service. They are people of influence and they are able to use many different outlets to voice their reviews, opinions and thoughts on a brand.

Below are some tips that I have highlighted for finding and attracting more brand advocates. I have also included some interesting statistics from a study done by BzzAgent and the University of Rhode Island College of Business Administration on brand advocates. The complete study is summarized in an ebook titled, "A Field Guide to Brand Advocates: Practical Insights for Marketers," which can be downloaded at http://u.bzz.com/FieldGuide.

1.  Finding people of influence.

First and foremost you need to decide who and what will be most influential for your brand and what is realistic. Getting Jennifer Aniston to tweet about your homemade lip balm is probably not the right goal. You can find people of influence on many different levels to interact with your brand. A popular and respected blogger or discussion moderator for example, are good choices. The key is to find a person with a lot of influence and reach within your target audience. Brian Bond, vice president of marketing for SwarmBuilderBond says “you want to find the people who have the largest reach and the biggest influence in groups and organizations that would use your product.” Your brand has a target audience, and your advocate should too.

2. Give them something to talk about.

If you can, give your advocates product samples, event passes, discounts, etc. Experience with the product will help advocates create a more personal and meaningful review, which in turn will be shared with others. In fact, advocates are 75% more likely than average web users to share a great experience about a product. They are also three times more likely to share product information with someone they don’t know.

3.  Chatty Cathy’s on social media

Advocates thrive on the social-media frontier. They are two-and-a-half times more likely than typical web users to use social networks to meet new people, four times more likely to use discussion boards and three times more likely to blog. They’re a pretty vocal bunch. 

4.  Use the everyday advocate

Regular, satisfied consumers often have the best and most convincing reviews of a product. Re-tweet their messages, feature their comments on your Facebook page, blog and website. The everyday advocate is highly accessible to you, and trust-worthy to your consumer.

Ashley Haugen is a Gustavus Adolphus College alumna. She has had Marketing experience working with such organizations as the LOFT Literary Center, the Gustavus Marketing Department and the Ordway Center for Performing Arts.