No one can remember the long urls given out during conference calls and on webinars. However, finding a way to convey the online location of great advice, services and your products is a necessity. So, what can you do to simplify the process and make it short and sweet?

Quick Tip:

Learn about and use link shorting services. Get clear on best practices, how they boost your brand, and how they protect you online.

Here is a little about Twitter’s: (for this I have created a short link called http://bit.ly/twittershortlinks) or the full article here===>>http://support.twitter.com/articles/109623-about-twitter-s-link-service-http-t-co

A few other link shorteners:

1) Here is my favorite: BIT.LY (great for tracking stats)
2) Here is a great new social good service just launching: BRE.AD
3) Here is one of the first to get it started: TINYURL

What else would you add? Add to the comment section below.

© 2011, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

Note: While a presence is important, even more critical is engaging and developing a pipeline that pumps fuel in your engine while the boat is docked.

During a training session I led with a group of travel agents, we explored ways to leverage social media boost their business. 30 ideas emerged that I wanted to capture on paper in a two-part post.  Feel free to add to the list.

PART 1 (1-15)

1. Forget about publicizing your agency and focus on giving people an experience every time they interact with you.
2. Share travel tips.
   Everyone wants advice and reminders, so be the first to put them out there.  Be the go to travel resource for your community.
3. Check out competitor sites.
   You may find your target audience hanging on their every word.
4. Highlight the scoop in hot destination spots.
   This may be a great opportunity to shape consumer opinions if mainstream news has obscured the beauty of a great place to visit.
5. Blog about it.
   Online blogs are not as regulated at print media.  You have the opportunity to shape consumer opinion, so be sure to sound your voice!
6. Video.
   Start carrying your flip-cam when you do site inspections – we want to see what you see.
7. Reviews.
   Include live interviews with your connections at the airlines, resorts, and the like.
8. Client testimonials.
   Encourage your clients to post videos while they are on their vacations – great way for someone else to publicize your brand and expertise.
9. Post industry news and deals.
   i.e. If the airlines are running a web only deal, why not tell your peeps about it?  So what if they don’t buy it from you, they will thank you and remember you had their best interest at heart.  The next time they need a family vacation planned, they’ll be ringing your phone.
10. Digital brochures.
    Chances are your clients may not get into your brick and mortar offices as often as you would like, so you’ve got to lengthen your reach.  Digital downloads or online brochures are the way to go. Post the links or send the latest brochure in your newsletter.  Point to the page where the deals are inside!
11. Destination and point of origin news.
12. Weather updates.
    If it’s the middle of February, why not entice your audience with the tanning weather forecast of the Dominican Republic?
13. #Hashtags
    If your clients are booked for a great vacation, create a hashtag that they can follow and use while on vacation.  This could be a great opportunity for them to have an experience with you and “their” friends and family while away.  You may also be a virtual tour guide for them!
14. Articles.
    If you want to be found online in searches, then you’ll have to create tags for your posts.  If you are using the Notes feature in Facebook, or are a blogger, be sure to use tags that will cause your topic to bubble up when searched.   Think in terms of keywords.
15. Extend mainstream media placement to your social networks.
    i.e. If you are an Account Exec at The Columbus Dispatch, and you want to demonstrate the extent of your “reach” then you’ll want to publicize the placements in upcoming print articles within your social networks.  Your clients will be loyal raving fans.

If you liked these tips, and want more, be sure to subscribe to this blog for instant notification of subsequent posts.

Oh, by all means, if you have questions or want to add to this list, add it to the comments section below.

P.S. Last night attendees of the session left with a copy of my book for only half the price.  I wanted to extend the same deal to readers of this post!  Yup, you got it, purchase the book from this post and you’ll get it at 50% off!

© 2011, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

So you’ve got a blog, you are regular and have consistency, you also have an authentic voice and a passion for what you are blogging about-great!  So let’s talk about syndication and leveraging Facebook now.  Read more on the Beyond Social 101 Blog here.

Also, be sure to subscribe to this blog so you can be updated when the full discussion on DATV is released!  We’ll post the interview with Monica McGee – All Things Marketing Show and Debba Haupert – Girlfriendology.com (community builder and social media maven).

Subscribe to Talk Social Networking by Email.

Backstage at All Things Marketing

© 2011, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

I use the term strategy because if you are strategic about your voice, philosophy and ability to forecast trends, and you leverage a blogging platform to do it, you might have an opportunity to attract your target audience, raving fans and conversation generating skeptics -yes every blog needs them!

Interestingly, when blogging became popular, the largest demographics was, yes, you guessed it — teens. There is a shift happening right now, and that is among Generation X and boomers. According to Pew Internet Statistics:

Yet while blogging is less common for internet users under 34, it has increased in popularity among most older generations. Blogging among members of Gen X increased from 10% in December 2008 to 16% in May 2010, and 11% of Younger and Older Boomers currently blog as well. The result is a slight increase in blogging for adults overall, from 11% in late 2008 to 14% in 2010.

via http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Generations-2010/Trends/Blogging.aspx

As more adults flock to the internet, social networks, and their mobile devices for news updates this gives the expert – i.e. YOU, an opportunity to create, participate, and edit the news and debates in your industry. According to Pew 67% of internet users ages 65-73 now get news online.

If the vast majority of internet users are getting credible, and not so credible information from the web, why would you NOT want to be there and lead the pack? The question is no longer “should I”, but “when should I”? And the answer is “yesterday, last week, last year”. Need I say more?

So, whether you decide to post via a micro-blog, Facebook notes, video blog, or a traditional blog, remember that your reach will increase exponentially as you integrate various forms of content between various social networks.

Learn more from a month of blogging topics, with the Digital 411 radio show personality: Dr. Erika Pryor. Here are a few segments that featured blogging and listen on talktainmentradio.com.

Meet Dr. Erika Pryor

I eat, sleep, live and breathe Communication, Social and Traditional Media. Much of my life is characterized by these exciting areas. As an added bonus, I have a deep rooted passion for the way people work with and negotiate communication and media to benefit themselves personally and professionally. Also, I consider myself a “natural born cheerleader.” I take a lot joy and pleasure in helping others feel empowered to reach their goals and do their “passion” work.

I’ve got the Digital 411, means, I spend a lot of time reading, researching, and studying social media, virtual marketing, and the integration of traditional marketing and PR with virtual/internet marketing and PR. Many of my ideas and what I learn are here and featured on my internet radio show, Digital 411.

I appreciate the support of her show for the my blogging conference:  Beyond Social 101 – Blah Blah Blogging Bootcamp and her hosting me on her program to discuss ways to avoid blog abandonment.

So, what do you think?  When is the “right” time to start blogging?  Add a comment below.

© 2011, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

Hootsuite.com is one such tool.  The beauty of the tool:  never needing to give away your password, while allowing others to have access to your networks.  When associates leave or you hire a new firm, your account access remains in tact.

Here’s the skinny on what you can do with it:

Lots of great features, but for now, I want to highlight two in the video below:

• Adding team members
• Adding a Facebook page
• Seaching a hastag and adding it as a stream
• I also want to show how to post and track that, so I’ll schedule a post, but come back tomorrow for tracking and stats…

Watch this little video for a how-to…(more to come later):

So, why not get started with adding all of your streams today.  Schedule a few posts in advance, such as:

• Great article you found
• Greetings to new community members
• Reminders about upcoming events
• Promotion of another community member
• RT’s and favorited posts

Save the real time interaction for when you have time, and are focused on the community.

Check back for more community management tricks and tools.

Do you have a favorite tool that I should check out or a favorite feature for Hootsuite?  Share it in the comments section below…

© 2011, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

We’ll demo the technology together in the audience.  The slides are just talking points are posted below.

Both 2010 and the 2011 presentation:

2010

Virtual Partner, Tiffany Odutoye Discusses Mobile Technology in the Meeting and Events World

2011

© 2011, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

So, you might be wondering:

Why is it that when I look at Facebook posts, I can only see a few “most recent” and not all of my friend’s posts since I looked last time?

Here’s a quick review of how to find them:

First, go to “Home” tab.

In the center – you’ll see: “Top New” | “Most Recent” – Next to “most recent” is a little arrow.

Click it and a drop down list appears. When it does, select “Status Updates”

OR the name of a list you created! You’ll see the status updates sorted either way.

Have you found other little things that have changed?  Post them in the comments section.

© 2011, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

• Non profits
• Savvy Entrepreneurs

As a part of Pam’s brand strategy, over the past two years, she has successfully hosted a radio program that features social media’s impact on business, the show today:  Going big in 2011!  We discussed the big shifts for small business owners leveraging social media.

My top two trend predictions:

1. We’re going to see smaller, more powerful communities
2. Customer relationship development and management

Listen in to the discussion here: http://tobtr.com/s/1466978

Oh, of course, we discussed the launch of the premier social media conference in the Mid-West Beyond Social 101 – Blah Blah Blogging Bootcamp for Business, where Pam will be presenting on the hot topic of Social Media and PR.

While there are many flocking to social media, the web continues to shift, and the number one thing we all need to focus on is relevancy. As you listen to the interview, consider what makes Social Media relevant even in 2011.

So, what’s your prediction for 2011? Comment below or post it on my page.

A warm thanks to Pam for having me as the first guest of the new year.  To learn more about Pam, visit her at:  http://www.pamperrypr.com/.

© 2011, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

Scenario (pulled from Reddit, with a few tweaks):

You are frustrated because you run a service business and now you require your associates to keep the Facebook Page updated.  You want all associates logged on, locked in, and engaged!  You want to set the system so that whatever they post or write in there automatically gets posted to the Facebook fan page, which has loads of fans but is so easily neglected.

Is this simple?

My Solution:

Totally understand the frustration.

First, I agree with the other recommendations about using Tweetdeck.  But ultimately, it’s time to consider what your business really needs.  Perhaps it’s time to consider a solution like what Awareness Social Marketing Software provides.  Check it out here.

However, here are list of other options:

1. I would also add they can can us ping.fm.  They just have to have access as a page admin, then they can add it to their status updates.

2. Hootsuite.com would be my first choice because you retain control of the account.  When an associate leaves or quits, you do NOT have to change your passwords.  Just remove them as “managers” from within hootsuite.  The beauty here, is as the account owner, you can “see” who posted what.  Yes, their icon is visible to you on posts and updates.  Manage both status updates and engagement for your facebook page. You can have as many people as you want to have access to your account in Hootsuite.  Just add them as a “manager”.

3. Leverage the Page Admin feature inside Facebook Page settings.  Here’s why this can be helpful:

• You retain control of the page, never having to give out the password!
• They can update the status of your fan page and just put who they are “Posted by Jonny @ Front Desk” OR “JP – Front Desk”…

4. Why not consider having them update their status from their own page, and “tag” the fan page in their post.  Lots more visibility created by allowing the associates individual communities to have visibility to the fan page.

5. You might also consider, depending on how many associates you have, adding different applications to the page and assigning one posting service per associate. Most apps only allow one instance of the app on your page (FBML is an exception to this rule). So in theory:

• Front desk manager:  Selective Twitter – assign to their Twitter profile.  When then add #fb at the end of a post, it will automatically update Facebook Fan Page.  That way, the associate controls which posts hit the fan page (again, tightly consider your company’s policies for associates using social media).
• Night clerk:  Ping
• Staff 1:  Tweetdeck
• Staff 2:  etc. etc.

Only challenge foreseeable with any of these options:  you must have a corporate policy for conduct so that your brand is not potentially embarrassed later.

Lastly, and I make this comment, because I see it often…and I know you probably know this:

Really hope this helps.  If you have found other solutions, please share them!

Toodles!

Tiffany-O

© 2010, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.

When I first began leveraging social media for clients the shift from traditional marketing metrics to social was quick, but challenging for my clients. I created tools that I would use on my computer to generate reports and measure opinion insights.

It wasn’t too long before a few smart people decided to create the great tools we have today, such as:

• SWIX
• Attensity
• Radian6
• SocialMention

… and the list continues (we’ll address them in another post)…

One thing was for sure, Nate and I have always agreed that metrics would determine who would still be standing as a Social Business Strategist.  Now, looking back, we should have taken our ideas to a developer – well, perhaps we haven’t missed the boat by too long…

This year, Nate and I had another opportunity to kick around some ideas about ROI, which we’ve done ever since we first met. That concept is defined differently depending on who you are speaking to and what you want to measure: i.e. influence or investment (hard dollars and cents).

What matters most? And, how do you make the dollars-and-cents connection?

Listen in our conversation on this podcast segment for Smart-Savvy Entrepreneurs.

a little about Nate:

Nate Riggs is a business communication strategist, an agency-experienced marketer and a social media content engineer.  Over the past 10 years, he has developed a passion and expertise for how humans utilize technology and the social web to build relationships.

Throughout his career, Nate has held a variety if roles leading marketing, sales and business development efforts in interactive and traditional marketing agencies, retail design firms, and internet technology start-ups.
Read more…

© 2010, TiffanyO.. All rights reserved.