by Gretchen Glasscock

In many ways, today’s web is all about moving beyond our own websites, getting out of our own skins and connecting with others. At the same time, you are connecting on Facebook and tweeting out your 140 characters on Twitter, you also will be checking Twitter or  geolocation apps like Foursquare, Gowalla, Brightkite, and Loopt to see where your friends are and what they’re up to. You will be frequenting sites like Yelp to check the reviews that folks in your ‘hood are giving to local restaurant and services.  It will be a connected world and, to stay in the loop, you have to do your part.  You have to be churning out tweets like the rest of us.

By now, those who work on the web, or are dependent on the Web for their business, understand twittering is no idle pastime. For some of us, it is an essential business activity. And probably for most of us, it should be.

All of us who are web savvy know we should be twittering and building our social media profile, 24/7. We should be working our  Facebook connections, polishing our LinkedIn profile, or writing our blog and building our following on a continuous basis. Unfortunately, we can’t.  There are only 24 hours in a day and we can’t be working all of them.  Even if we could, we couldn’t use all those hours to enhance our social media standing.  Here’s the bare minimum of social media we should be constantly expanding and enhancing:

• Twitter – for real-time news, trend spotting, shout outs, communication, and learning via TweetDeck and search.twitter.com
• Facebook – for keeping up with old friends, meeting many new ones, knowing what’s going on and trending and learning more about your favorite brands ( who knew Coca Cola was so creative & how about that Starbucks?)
• LinkedIn – the number one resource for executives on a talent hunt, so a good place to network. Bait for the big fish. Your LinkedIn Profile should be as fresh and up to date as fresh squeezed orange juice. And packed with Vitamin C.
• WordPress – to deploy attractive websites loaded with plug ins and widgets to enable them to do heavy lifting on their own, with occasional but diligent monitoring and supervision

So , what to do?

Given the enormous commitment of time and energy it takes to maintain an interesting and robust website or blog , I’ll take all the sophisticated, tech-savvy help I can get. I’m a big believer in automating as many tasks as possible on a website. That’s what plugins and widgets are for: to free you up for the big thoughts, the hot trends, the strategic processes.  And for me, that’s where Twitterfeed comes in.

When you start with Twitter I think you have to learn the pace , the quick tempo, trending topics and how to retweet, ie. pass on someone else’s interesting tweet, perhaps adding your own thought to it. Long ago, I used to wonder what was up with Twitter. But, once I got into Twitter, I found it addictive for several reasons. #1: Thought leaders in the Internet space were constantly telling me what they were thinking and what was the newest and the coolest. And #2.  I didn’t need a ton of bricks to fall on my head to see what an incredibly powerful marketing tool Twitter could be.

Once I got started, I realized the need for constantly updated information.  I also realized one could automate this process, using my blog to feed my twitter account. You just go to Twitterfeed, set up an account, then paste your blog’s feed URL into the text box provided to set up a new feed.  You can also set up feeds for thought leaders in your field.

I keep a keen eye out for those “widgets” or “gadgets” as Google calls them, those tiny pieces of automated code that you can install on your page to work tirelessly behind the scenes. If you create and install a Twitter widget on your home page, you will constantly have a stream of fresh and updated content to draw users to your site.

But even if you tweet ceaselessly, which you can now do by following the steps above, it is still important to find time to post to your own website or blog and to develop the right mix between blogging and tweeting.

I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t put out a blog ( or in my case, several blogs), manage several websites, keep up with the social media and work with clients if I didn’t have lots of help from fast, efficient online tools and services which speed up the process and make it more effective.  One of my favorite services is Zemanta which is co-pilot of my blog, offering relevant links, suggesting keywords, providing related articles, in case I want to poke around the blogosphere a bit, and, usually, providing a pretty good graphic I can append to give a little pop to the story.

Adam Singer of  TheFutureBuzz.com reminds us “ you’re essentially contributing to someone else’s network on Twitter” rather than building your own website or blog following.  And , on your blog, “Old articles are valuable and still read years later, given infinite life by the engines.  Old Tweets live in archive purgatory where a majority will never be seen again.”

So do both:  Twitter, Facebook, social media and your own Blog, which you are building for yourself and for the future.  Just find the right balance.  And all the tools you can find to help you along the way.

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Has this happened to you?  It happens all the time.  Web developers move on to new opportunities and desert their old clients quite frequently.

There are a number of ways to deal with this, but forethought is probably the best.

Understand that you will want to update your website.

Often when people build their first website they think of it as a one-shot job.  They don’t look ahead enough to realize that one day they are going to want to change information on the site.

You will want to change the information, and sooner than you think.  You’ll want to add new information.  You’ll want to remove obsolete information.  And, you will think of new features that you want to add after the site has been up for a little while.

So, what do you do?  There are a few options.

Get Back in Touch with the Web Designer

This often works, however it probably won’t work forever.  Web developers and designers do tend to drop off the face of the earth for a number of reasons.  They might have moved on to new opportunities.  They might only be interested in generating new, large jobs and not interested in little maintenance jobs.  They could simply be too busy to respond.

There are other problems with this approach.   You’re going to pay top dollar for these changes.  Web Developers make their money on new business and maintenance contracts.  They don’t depend on, nor want, little jobs where they just update a paragraph here or there.  To discourage this, they charge their highest prices for these types of changes.

In addition to paying top dollar, you’re also probably going to wait a while for these changes to happen.  You will be on the back burner.  You might want the change made right away, but your web designer is probably busy with projects which came in prior to your request.  He or she has an obligation to those clients as well, and must prioritize his or her work according to the greater commitment.

Maintenance Contracts

Web Developers and Designers usually offer some sort of maintenance package in which they charge a monthly fee which insures that they will perform updates when needed.  The fee usually isn’t very high, but it is often extra money that the client doesn’t want to spend.

Think about what you will want.  If you want changes made in a timely manner and you want to rest assured that your web designer is available, a maintenance contract is the way to go.   It’s very possible that the monthly fee will work out to be about what you would have paid for piece-meal updates.

Learn to Update it Yourself

If you’re used to software this might be a way to go.  There are a number of web packages out there that can enable you to update the pages.

There is a learning curve and if you don’t have time to do this, this will be a royal pain in the neck.  You will have to learn to update the page and upload it to you server.

If you aren’t comfortable around software then this is not an option for you.

Have a Content Management System Built into Your Website.

This actually makes the most sense.  Content management systems empower you to make necessary updates easily.   WordPress  as  a Content Management System –  a state-of-the-art publishing platform which is  feature rich, continuously updated, with thousands of man hours in development time and a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability.  Think about using this and you will be able to update it yourself.  SeeHow To Build An Attractive, User-Friendly Website Any Non-Techie Can Update And Maintain
Now I Know what I SHOULD have done, but what do I do now?

If your web developer fell off the face the earth you need to find a new one. GGWebGroup. We will help you get past this little pothole in the road. We will also convert your website to use a content management system, if you like. Just call us at (210) 369-8203 or email gretchen@ggwebgroup.com

If you’re thinking of launching your first website….. or updating the one you have… one of the first questions you’ll have to confront is what should my website contain?

Think about your message

Websites are communication tools.   One of the primary services they perform is to introduce you to the world.   Think about what you want to say in that introducton.   Also, think about how you want to say it (text, images, animaton – there are many ways to get your point across).

Consider what your Clients or Customers need

Websites are also information tools for your existing client base.  Think about what information or services you can provide to your clients through your website which will make them return again and again.

Your clients’ and customers’ needs could be as simple as a good contact page, and FAQ page or directions to your place of business.   Then again, you might find that an on-line store, reservaton system or onlne document archive is necessary to satisfy your client/ customer base.

Make a Wishlist

Now that you’ve decided what you want on your site make a list of all the components you wish to see.    Prioritize that list.   This list is the beginniing of your website.

Determine your Budget

Now comes the hard part.  You need to figure out how much you can spend or want to spend.   A small website (4 or 5 pages) will cost at least  $800 if you use a web design company and the cost is usually much higher ($1800 to and up).   The longer your wish list, the more you will have to pay.   That’s just the way is.   If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a website, you will have to toss out some of the things on your wishlist.

If you really want flash, user interactivity or content management you should expect to pay more.  Just keep that in mind.

Want some help?

If you want to visit by phone or email, just to get some feedback on what you might consider or general guidelines or what is the difference between Joomla and jello… call us at (210) 369-820, or email us at gretchen@ggwebgroup.com .  We’ll be glad to give you some battle scarred advice from many years of experience.

TwtBizCard Says

Web

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I owe this to @charbrown from Twitter.  Still trying to learn and make my use of TweetDeck more effective. Charles said to group your favorite Tweeters…. ones who were consistently interesting and you might want to retweet….in one group or column on TweetDeck.  That allows you to clear out some of the noise and focus, for the most part, on only quality Tweets.

Problem was I didn’t know exactly how to do that.  @charbrown to the rescue!  Here’s what he direct messaged me, with admirable brevity:

“At the top of the screen you should see several buttons.  the 6th one from the right has a couple of heads, click that ….

continued) … and it will open up a window you can name your new group, it will also allow you to add selected followers

charles brown / charbrown”

Thanks, Charles.  It’s even easier than that, since a list of people you are following pops up and all you have to do is check their name and save.  Now you’ve also just saved yourself a lot of time sorting through tweets and made your whole Twitter experience more effective.  Thanks again, Charles

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As competition heats up in this tough economy, one way to beat your online competitors is to go local. Even hyper-local.

Fortunately Twitter has the tools to let you do that.  Of course, you are using Twitter to build your brand and develop your relationships with other Tweeple, so you don’t want to overdo it.  But, if you have a product or service to sell, it’s helpful to remind your neighbors what it is.  For example, if you’re selling fresh baked bread, other Twitterers in your ‘hood are not likely to be getting that from Seattle or Chicago, unless they live there. So, your first step is to identify local Twitter users so you can reach out to them

Identifying Local Twitter Users

If you’re interested in local twitterers and happenings, 50 Useful Twitter Tools for Writers and Researchers lists these tools which will help connect you with nearby potential customers and you keep up to date with the local scene:

1. Nearby Tweets: Check out Nearby Tweets to seek out local Twitter users.
2. Atlas: Use Atlas to see tweets on a map.
3. GeoFollow: Using the GeoFollow directory, you’ll be able to find users in specific areas.
4. CityTweets: See real time Twitter activity for cities on CityTweets.
5. Twittervision: Check out Twittervision for real-time geographic tweets.
6. TwitterLocal: On TwitterLocal, you can find tweets in a designated location.
7. Localtweeps: Check out Localtweeps to find Twitter users near you.

These tools make it very simple to hone in on your nearest and possibly your best market.  Happy hunting!

Jon Morrow , Associate Editor of Copyblogger, who should know, shares with us this pearl of wisdom:

The Oldest Blogging Myth

“Content is king.”

Well, that is pretty discouraging to those of us who focus on producing or discovering great content.  But then Jon explains what, in our hearts, we already know.  In Why No One Links to Your Best Posts And What to Do About It , Jon points out that this is no longer even Web 2.0. It’s moved beyond that.  The era of social media has arrived and that means Friends: Facebook, FriendFeed, the Twitterati. If you want to be popular, you need to start getting hooked up with very popular friends/fellow bloggers.  Or , as he puts it:

“If you want links now, you need to be more than great. You need to be connected.

The Secret to Building a Popular Blog

Remember the saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know?”

Well, it’s kind of true. A mediocre writer that’s friends with every member of the Technorati 100 will become a popular blogger faster than a brilliant writer with no friends at all.

Why? Because bloggers link more often to their friends than anyone else. If you write a reasonably good piece of content that interests their audience, they’ll link to you, mainly because they like you.

The secret to building a popular blog isn’t just writing tons of brilliant content. It’s also having tons of well-connected friends.

How to Make Friends with Popular Bloggers

So… how are you supposed to make friends with all of these popular bloggers and get them to link to your best posts?

Traditional wisdom says you should link to their posts, hoping they’ll notice you and start reading your blog. Sometimes it works, but in my experience, you need to be a little more creative. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Write a guest post that gets lots of traffic and adoring comments
• Attend conferences that all of the “Who’s Who” of your niche go to and network your tail off
• Volunteer to “vote” for any posts that they’re pushing on social media sites like Digg, Del.icio.us and StumbleUpon
• Email them an irresistible question, hoping to spark a discussion
• Leave lots of truly memorable comments
• Interview them in either a post or a podcast, making sure to ask lots of intelligent questions
• Join their private membership program (like Teaching Sells) and make lots of smart posts in the forums

Give and Ye Shall Receive

We’re not talking about anything new here. Really, it comes down to one of the oldest principles of persuasion: reciprocity.

Contrary to what many people think, A-list bloggers aren’t islands, separate and self-sufficient. They deal with problems and annoyances, just as much as anyone else. If you can help alleviate them, they’ll thank and remember you for it.

The key is finding ways that you can be genuinely useful to them. Make yourself relevant and then use that opportunity to start building a relationship.

Give it a few months, and then start pointing them to your best and most relevant content. They’ll probably link to you anytime you do anything interesting, bringing you lots of readers. They’ll also introduce you to other popular bloggers, giving you a chance to do more favors and expand your network.

It’s hard work, but it’s worth it. If you put as much effort into building relationships as you do writing great content, you’ll have a popular blog in no time.

And better yet, you’ll have made friends with some of the most interesting people on the web. That’s a reward in and of itself.”

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David Spark (@dspark), a veteran tech journalist , founder of Spark Media Solutions, who blogs at The Spark Minute, has done a lot of research to see how people succeed at growing their social networks. He discovers the patterns and dishes the inside how to’s at 12 Inspiring Stories of Successful Social Networkers.  They are all interesting and helpful examples, but I particularly liked:

Seed Your Network

“For six months and with only 150 inactive members, the LinkToCharlotte LinkedIn group was languishing. LinkToCharlotte’s goal has always been to connect local businesses and people in the Charlotte, NC area. Founder Andrew Kaplan decided it was time to juice the membership of his group. In June 2008, he reached out to local influencers who could attract others to his local network.

Already having ties with professional sports teams, tourism, and political advisors, Kaplan sent out personal invites to their respective marketing departments to join the group. Quickly seeing the benefits of being part of Kaplan’s local industry network, they in turn sent invites from their lists to join his network as well. Today, LinkToCharlotte’s LinkedIn () group has grown to 2,000, plus it has expanded to include groups on the NING platform, Facebook (), and Twitter ().”

Take a look at how the LinkToCharlotte LinkedIn group , NING platform, Facebook (), and Twitter () all play off each other.  It’s a road map to creating and leveraging your social media assets.

Let me hear what you think if you’ve created or are creating something like this.

Just about no one on the Net is more of a guru than Guy Kawasaki of How to Change the World and very few are retweeted more.  Does he have a “secret sauce” for getting retweeted?  Well, yes, he says to write better shitake, but he also has some very specific advice and, once you read it, you’ll probably have a Eureka! moment like I did beause it all sounds so simple and self evident when Guy spells it out for you:

Forget imitation as the sincerest form of flattery—it’s as twentieth century as ripping off interfaces, songs, photos, and books. Today, the sincerest form of flattery is retweeting—the process of forwarding someone else’s tweet to your followers on Twitter. (I assume that you know about Twitter. If you don’t, take a minute and read this description at Answers.com.)

The reason that retweeting is so flattering is that every time people do it, they are putting their reputation on the line. If their followers don’t like the retweet, their reputation is reduced. So whenever someone retweets your tweet, they are expressing confidence that what you’ve tweeted is interesting and good. Thus, the best measure of someone’s quality as a Twitter user is not the number of followers but the amount of retweets.

Luckily, there are several sites that measure retweeting: Retweetist and Dan Zarrella’s Most Retweeted. (On both lists, ignore Garymccafrey because that’s a scheme to increase followers and nothing to do with quality retweeting.) These two lists provide a very good proxy for who’s worth following on Twitter. Do notice the Grand-Canyon size difference between these lists of people who are most retweeted and the people who have the most followers at TwitterCounter.

Hopefully I’ve convinced you that frequent retweets is a salient goal. The question becomes, “What do I need to do to get retweeted?” Allow me to digress. I was once asked at a blogging conference what my SEO strategy was (search engine optimization—that is, how to get Google to put your stuff higher in search results). I must have been “on” that day because I said, “Write good shiitake.” (Actually, I used a shorter word than “shiitake,” but I can’t post it here.) The answer to getting retweeted is just about the same: tweet good shiitake, and here’s how:

1. Answer the right question.. There are pockets of Twitter users who want to bond with small group of people and learn the answer to the original Twitter question: “What are you doing?” These are the the folks that enjoy tweets that say, “My cat just rolled over” and “The line at Starbucks is long.” The question you should answer if you want retweets is “What’s interesting?” for your group of followers. For example, the story that Taiwanese scientists bred glow-in-the-dark pigs is a lot more interesting than what your cat is doing and therefore a lot more likely to get retweeted.
2. Tweet about Twitter. Twitter users love to read about Twitter—anything about Twitter: how to use it better, lists of companies on Twitter, lists of CEOs on Twitter, what some analyst thinks of Twitter, what’s wrong with Twitter, list of Firefox plugins for Twitter, the top ten ugliest avatars—you name it. If you find a blog post or new item about Twitter, tweet it, and it will probably get retweeted.
3. Explain how to do something. Whether it’s roast a turkey, hot wire a car, take away an assailant’s gun, kiss a woman, polish silverware, or hack a road sign, the words “How to” and “The art of” are magical terms on Twitter and bound to get any tweet starting with them retweeted. This is because anything starting with these terms is likely to be educational. Power tip: use Lifehacks.alltop and GTD.alltop.
4. Break news. Ironically, you shouldn’t assume that everyone instantly knows that a plane landed in the Hudson just because you do. You could probably follow the Twitter newsbot of CNN (@cnnbrk), retweet its tweets, and get retweeted. Still, what’s the challenge in that? It would be better to find news from niche topics that you are passionate about whether is science (first frozen water found on Mars), fashion, psychology, pets, or politics. If in doubt, tweet it. Most tweets are noise, so yours will probably stand out.
5. Provide the bizarre. Sometimes it scares me, but tweets about bizarre stuff works. For example, could you resist reading and then retweeting a story about robbers who were caught after using women’s thong underwear to cover their faces? Believe it or not, stuff like this gets retweeted.
6. Provide links. There mere existence of a link in your tweet enhances its credibility. Essentially, it’s saying: “This isn’t something I made up or wish; I actually have a verifiable, outside source.” I realize that this is stretching the point, but links are pretty irresistible and get more so as you increase your credibility. The goal is that the link takes people to something that’s enlightening or entertaining, and they thank you by retweeting it. For example, the neuroscience of social conformity.

Finally, there are two tips from Dan Zarrella in “The Science of ReTweets” (this posting inspired me to write this in the first place). First, don’t hesitate to ask people to retweet your tweet. “Please” is a powerful word no matter who you are. Second, tweet from approximately 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Pacific time. My interpretation of Dan’s recommendation is that the West Coast is now up and at work and the East Coast is eating lunch at their desks so that they are checking Twitter.

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