Image via CrunchBase

If you are like many of us, accepting the invite to Google+ came with a mixture of excitement and dread. Getting into the beta testing stage of the network is certainly exciting and affords you some bragging rights, but do you really want to learn how to navigate through yet another social network. We all abandoned MySpace to learn how to navigate Facebook, and many have added Twitter into that mix as well. Do we really need to start over yet again? Well, Google+ does look like it is gonna be huge, but don’t worry. We have put together some great tips to help you get started.

Navigate Easier With Keyboard Shortcuts
While your scroll wheel or scroll bar will work just fine, Google+ has a great feature for those seeking a navigation shortcut. Want to scroll the screen upwards to get back to the top? Just press the “J” key. Wanna scroll down to show someone that really funny post you read this morning? Just press “K” to start moving downward until you find it. Nothing extravagant, but it turns out to be surprisingly convenient.

Keep Your Wit Your Own by Disabling Reshare
Don’t you hate it when you come up with the wittiest thing you have ever heard and someone else posts it like they came up with it? Well, you may not be able to keep someone from typing out your posts word for word, but if you go into your privacy settings, you can keep them from resharing it. While you are there, you can also elect to view your profile as someone in one of your circles or a stranger would, just to be sure you aren’t sharing anything you didn’t mean to.

Organize Your Circles Now
Google+ is still in the beta stages, which means that things are still fairly quiet. Now is a great time to explore the features and learn how to do everything, but it is also a great time to learn how the circles feature really works and to start sorting and organizing. It’s going to be a lot harder to sort through and make sure you aren’t sharing with anyone you don’t want to share with if you wait until you have 250 friends to discover different circles.

Learn the Mute Feature- Then Love It
We all have those Facebook friends that we really don’t want to block entirely but who have a tendency from time to time to post political rants or other musings that just hit a nerve. What can you do? Well, if you are on Google+, all you need to do is click the arrow in the upper right of the post and click “Mute this Post”. It will only get rid of the one post and your friend will never know, but better still, you will never see the post again.
Enjoy these great and helpful tips and enjoy the productivity that is certain to be lost now that you have Google+!!

Google+ really has a lot to offer for a social network that is still technically beta. The features already on the site are fully usable, and surprisingly, there are already great apps available for both the iPhone and the Android. Both apps are pretty solid, although the iPhone app did have some conflicts when Apple released the latest software update, and it shows a real effort on Google’s part to have the network absolutely ready upon public release so that it could gain as large a market share as possible right out of the gate.

Google+ also has a few innate features that help to set it apart from other social networks. The circles feature makes separating contacts into specific groups and sharing only with the groups you want second nature, which is great, and the network also makes it surprisingly easy to hide just the posts you don’t want to see without the need to block the poster. Also notably absent, at least for now, are the notorious character limits that tend to make it difficult for more descriptive individuals to get a good rant into a single post.

More Features Are On the Way
Google+ is already shaping up to offer the best features of Facebook and Twitter by the time it is fully live and public, and there have already been more features announced. Google recently stated that there will definitely be a Games feature implemented into the social network, much to the delight of Facebook game players worried that Plus might actually serve to kill their beloved network. No word yet on whether this means that we are doomed to yet another round of blocking farm and mafia invites from everyone we know, but given the way they have seamlessly improved all of the other current complaints from Facebook users, we think Google just may have a better solution for this as well.

The Bottom Line
Google+ really seems to be working hard to give users an experience that is at once familiar and yet entirely new. In a sense, it is as though they have taken Facebook and removed the most loathed features while adding those that users have been begging for. Yet, in another sense, it is something completely new and something that is decidedly and characteristically Google.
What’s your thoughts on Google+?

Photo by Bruce Clay, Inc

Adding a LinkedIn button, oftentimes referred to as an icon, to a webpage is an easy way to encourage your visitors to share your page with their friends and family. The button essentially allows them to add you to their favorites on whatever service applies. The popular social networking service LinkedIn, which is primarily aimed at professional users, has a button feature that you can use to network your company or personal website and your profile on this networking service.

Using It

Image via Wikipedia

Using a social networking button is actually quite easy. The way you find it on the LinkedIn system is by going to your profile. Under your profile, you will find an option to edit your public profile settings on the upper right-hand side of the screen. After you click on this, you will see a button that reads, “promote your profile with customized buttons”. Clicking on this button allows you to choose from a selection of social networking icons that you can include on your webpage. You can also include them in your e-mails, if you wish. After you select an appropriate design, you simply copy the code and paste it into whatever webpage or other service you wish to use it on.

Social networking has become one of the most important ways that businesses connect with potential clients. By harnessing the power of social networking and putting it to use on your blog, website or other Internet presence, you can make sure that all of your various web presences are networked together, which helps you to drive traffic to each of the sites that apply. It’s important to have all the social networking icons on all your webpages!

Considerations

Because LinkedIn is used by professionals more than it is used by individuals that want to share personal information, it is more sensible to open up your profile so that everybody can see it. When you use one of the social networking icons, you have to make certain that you have your profile set to public so that people can actually see your profile when they click on the icon. Clicking on the icon brings them to your profile, at which point they can choose to follow you or take whatever other action they wish. Hopefully, they will use this feature to share your profile with their friends.

Depending upon what service you are using, there may be different procedures for including the code for a LinkedIn Icon. If you’re using a WordPress blog, for instance, you may have this functionality built into your template already and not need to use the LinkedIn feature itself. The same applies if you’re using the Blogger service, where you have to enter the code as a new gadget.

This can be a powerful social networking tool, but be certain that you use it in the appropriate places. Most of the time, people will prefer to use their Facebook icons for personal sites and to use their LinkedIn profile as a way to network with other professionals, which makes it more appropriate to put these buttons on sites that are designed for business more than anything else.

Do you have LinkedIn on your webpages?

If you are new to the idea of social media marketing then it’s important to start with a refresher course on the most important websites making names for themselves and how you, as a business owner or perhaps even a social media manager, can use these online tools to your advantage.

Firstly, do not copy and paste your profile information and status updates to every major website. You must create a strategy in which you use each social media website for a unique and relevant purpose. It’s better to not use a website at all than it is to create duplicate social media pages. Why is this? Because (a) search engines typically penalize web pages that feature duplicate content and (b) you’re communicating with the same audience saying the same thing.

Successful social media managers suggest that you strategize and decide upon a special purpose for each website that you decide to incorporate into your campaign. Let’s consider the four most important websites and effective ways to use them for business.

Face Book/Fan Page: Face Book allows business owners to create either a personal or business page. If the owner chooses to incorporate a personal page into business, he or she will be allowed more options than using a strictly business profile. At this point, the owner can create a fan page or business page and serve as an administrator of the page. He or she will then have the ability to add friends and perform standard Face Book features that are not available with a business page. Face Book can be used for business in the way of advertising new products, services or discounts, as well as sharing multimedia images. Face Book is also ideal for networking, as users can view friends of friends.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a professional website helping people to expand their network of friends and acquaintances. Unlike Face Book and MySpace, LinkedIn promotes a business first attitude. Features here include people finders, job listings and questions and answers. LinkedIn can be used to increase your visibility, connect with more companies and users, enhance your search rankings (since LinkedIn is web searchable) and perform company reference checks. Some people love LinkedIn because it allows them to “stalk” interviewers and potential employers, or potential employees on the management side. LinkedIn also uses keywords to its advantage, making networking much easier even for newcomers.

Twitter: Twitter limits all of your links and statements to 140 words. Twitter is ideal for sharing status updates, connecting with important people, answering questions, providing insight into the daily experience, and searching for relevant keywords to your business. There are also many valuable web tools like Who Should I Follow and Summize, which give you further advantages in searching.

MySpace: MySpace operates similarly to Face Book but with many more options in the way of formatting the page, creating a unique theme and lending you more web space. MySpace is popular among younger users and is the preferred social media site for web-savvy merchants and entertainers who want to focus more on visual spectacle.

Blogging: WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr and SquareSpace are among the most popular blog sites online. Practically every popular social media site has limitations on how long posts can be, thereby giving the advantage to blog sites when it comes to full features and long commentaries. However, full-length blogs are among the most effective tools you can use for establishing professional credibility and targeting new leads with keywords.

All of these popular websites are being used to promote businesses and encourage interaction with the large online community. Have you signed up and filled out your profiles? More importantly, have you devised a short-term and long-term strategy as to your goals and objectives in each particular social media site? This attention to detail could spell the difference between success and an embarrassing waste of time ala PeopleofWalMart.com. Keep your social media page positive, welcoming and above all else, interesting!

“You have heard about social media, but you may not be familiar with how the idea works and what websites are the most valuable to pursue. Learn about the top social media sites and how you can use them for business.”

Photo by pro1pr

Admit it. You have a Facebook account you’re just dying to get back to right? I don’t blame you. Where else can the common man get the exposure he needs without having to deal with criticism from ‘concerned’ friends and family members? However, not everyone has the time and leisure to sit back and add friends all day long, but wouldn’t you like to? Knowing how to maximize your Facebook time can help you create a vast network of friends who will be available to you almost any time you wish to parlay.

The good news is that you can do just that by applying some simple techniques that can teach you how to maximize your Facebook time:

Photo by topgold

Let’s face it. Facebook has become a vital part of our everyday lives no matter how much we try to quit ourselves of the habit. It has brought the world together within a social system the likes of which can easily dwarf even a small nation! This was all the incentive the corporate world needed to take full advantage of this pseudo global village though.

Create a PROFESSIONAL Profile

First thing’s first-you have to create a profile that defines everything that is uniquely YOU. This includes entering your PROPER name, email address, fax number, postal code and cell number (if you want to) so that interested users can know who to contact. Try not to apply a nickname if you can help it. Few people have the patience and humor to tolerate funny guys when it comes to spending their hard earned money.

Build a Network

Facebook is all about networking after all. Your job is to add friends and relatives so that your own grows substantially. Why? That’s because your Facebook marketing success depends on how big your social network is and how well you are able to maintain it. The next step will be to start some events on your account and post it on your news feed. If they’re successful enough you can get more friend requests than you know what to do with!

Another good way to do that is to post every update you make in your marketing website as well as the links to any affiliate products. Try not to post advertisements on your Facebook page. Remember, this is a social gathering, not a pure marketing tactic. This will aid you in gaining your customer’s trust in a more amicable environment which can make them comfortable enough to give your business a try.

Connect With Like-Minded Individuals

Another good way to gain popularity is to connect with users that share your interests. This will definitely help you get the referrals you need to make yourself known to others in their own networks. People will be more willing to communicate if they know that you have their best interests at heart after all.

Use the Facebook Advertising Program

This is a pay per click program where you can invest your money in advertising your products/services effectively. However, the only drawback is the strict policies this social networking site pushes regarding the content you decide to put up on their site. Typically affiliate programs are not allowed to be put up in their advertising program so you may have very limited options. To avoid being ousted from the site, make sure that you go through the terms of service and policies regarding their advertising models.

Photo by pshab

The social media network Twitter has taken online communities by storm hasn’t it? You can’t go anywhere without hearing at least snippets of this social media website’s influence on both the general public and business tycoons as well. It’s not just a great way to meet and greet with the locals though. Studies have shown that a large number of small business owners and large ones are Tweeting away so as to promote their trade.

Why? That’s because Twitter can be used by almost anyone to connect with all kinds of people from all walks of life in a single social network that millions have used just as effectively. This makes it quite a powerful marketing tool but you still have to be careful how you’re using it. Knowing how to network on Twitter effectively does not mean you should jump ahead as soon as you get the chance to.

Don’t rush your debut on this social scene for one thing. You might commit a faux pas the likes of which can seriously damage any chances you have to increase your popularity.

Of course there are only so many friends you can make. If you want to build an effective network, you have to pitch your ideas to your followers in such a way that they don’t realize you’re trying to market to them. A good way to do this is to focus on the chit chat in general by avoiding any business lingo from entering into the conversation. You have to make them think that you have their best interests at heart rather than you’re there to make money off of them.

Sharing interesting videos or music on your Twitter account is also a good way to reel in your niche enthusiasts. If you find something in the news or on YouTube you especially liked, then you can share the link on your account page. If you reeled in those followers using your target market, then chances are they will like it.

Photo by Marc_Smith

Image via WikipediaGuest Post from James Adams

Guest Post from James Adams

As Facebook continues to grow and more people move toward social media marketing, it’s likely that your profile page has gotten pretty cluttered. Even if you’re looking to use your Facebook page for business purposes, you may still be receiving notifications of every award one of your friends wins in Farmville or Mafia Wars. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to clean up your Facebook profile. It may sound like a tedious task, but it’s well worth your time to get your Facebook looking fresh and professional once again. Here are six tips for cleaning up your Facebook profile to get you started.

1. Go Through Your Friends List
You’ve probably heard of the popular new verb “unfriend.” To unfriend someone is to delete them from your Facebook friends list, forever banishing their status updates from your news feed. Though it might sound a little harsh, in reality it’s a very practical way to keep your Facebook page under control. When you have hundreds or even thousands of friends, you can’t really expect to dig through the mass of updates to find the really valuable information. Grooming your friends list allows you to stay in touch with people you actually care about and who can provide you value.

2. Delete Inappropriate Photos and Information
While you’re cleaning up your Facebook profile is a great time to take a look at how you’re presenting yourself to the world. This is particularly important if you’re looking for a job or keeping in touch with colleagues on Facebook. Go through your photos and your profile information and consider how the content makes you appear. If there are any pictures you wouldn’t want your boss to see, that’s probably a good sign that you shouldn’t have them on Facebook. Remember that many employers conduct online searches of job candidates before making hiring decisions, so those pictures from a crazy party could come back to haunt you.

3. Create Lists
Facebook allows you to create separate friend lists so that you can control exactly who has access to your information. You can create multiple lists for friends, family members, co-workers or casual acquaintances so that you can monitor which information is available. This is a great way to keep your profile in check, especially if you can’t bear to part with some of your photo memories. Friend lists also help you to keep your private information private, so that you can post information like your phone number to close friends without making it accessible to your old high school classmates.

4. Change Your Privacy Settings
Even if you’ve created segmented lists for all of your different friend groups, it’s still a good idea to go through and check out privacy settings. Facebook’s default setting makes your profile public, though many people prefer to have their profiles public only to those who they have accepted friend requests from. Go into your account settings and figure out who you want to have access to your profile, as well as what type of information you would like to be visible to the public.

5. Update Notification Settings
While you’re changing your privacy settings, take the opportunity to go through and change your notification settings as well. This will allow you to control when Facebook sends you an email or a notification, so that you won’t have to receive messages every time someone writes on your wall or sends you an application request. You can also change settings for individual applications. For example, you can choose to hide all requests from game applications or gift notices.

6. Clean Up Your Wall
It’s important to go through and clean up your wall while you’re working to make your Facebook more presentable. After you’ve done so much other work to groom your friends list, delete information and change notification settings, you should be receiving fewer wall posts in the future. Going through and deleting recent clutter on your wall can create a more professional appearance and make it easier for you to find the information you’re interested in. This is also a good opportunity to respond to messages and get up to date with your contacts.

Investing time into cleaning up your Facebook profile is a great way to enhance your social media experience. You’ll be able to find relevant information more easily and stay in touch with people, while maintaining a professional appearance. With a bit of regular maintenance on your lists and friends, you can keep your profile fresh.

Today’s article has been compiled by James Adams who writes and is a reviewer on CartridgeSave, offering the best ink cartridges in Great Britain.

Like many other features, Facebook offers yet another way to market your business. Previously you would send invitations to your contact list through your personal profile. Now the fan page makes it easy. It gives you an opportunity to upload 5,000 contacts using your address book.

This allows fan page administrators to invite customers or any other web contacts to join your respective pages on Facebook. With the provision of two latest features, you can bring your email contacts to join your page. All this became possible after the launch of “tell your Fans” feature.

All you or your admin need to do is import your email contacts to find out which ones haven’t already like your page.  After sorting out the ones who haven’t liked your page, you can send them an invitation. It’s simple yet an effective means to increase your fan base.

Tell Your Fans

The story begins with locating the option of ‘tell your fans’. You will find it just under the page admin dashboard right after clicking marketing. This wonderful feature is available to all fans irrespective of their number.

Uploading contact file

Now importing your contacts, first upload the contact file. You will find some required instructions depending on your particular email service. Instructions are well formulated for your ease and feasibility that makes the process effortless. Once your document is aptly formatted for this tool, you can proceed with exporting the contact list and then upload it back in this tool.

Choose Contacts

After you have successfully imported all your contacts, you will find a display of contacts that are not currently your fans. This distinction makes it easy for you to proceed. The reason why some of your email contacts aren’t your fans is perhaps because they are not on facebook yet. You can either select all recommended ones or manually hand pick the ones you wish to select.

Invitation

After going through the selection procedure, this feature generates a preview. Just go through this invitation preview before sending it to your selected contacts. From those who are already on facebook they will receive this invitation which has your page as a recommended page.

When your contact is not on Facebook, then he/she will simply receive an invitation requesting them to join facebook through your brand. This particular invitation will be received through email. The person in question first has to join facebook after which he can join your fan page.

Conversely, this new tool allows you to start your page from scratch and take your business to great heights. The common apprehension in most businesses regarding making a move to facebook will be wiped out when they are able to make use of their existing e-mail resources. This is a great way to connect and grow your audience.

photo credit: Generationbass.com