Opinions are like assholes...Everyone has one.

LinkedIn Discussion Groups allows users to meet people with likeminded interests and share thoughts/opinions about any and every topic. I, obviously, am in a ton of Social Media groups as I find it incredibly interesting to see what is being said or shared about current trends. I recently posted my first discussion opinion: (my response is in purple)

How Much is Too Much? How Much is Not Enough? How Often do you Tweet for Your Business?

My goal is to tweet 2-3 times per day for my company, Face Time Marketing. On my personal twitter account however, I find myself tweeting more. I think it's because I feel a bit less constrained by the conventions of business communication.

I follow several people that I would like to hear more from. I also have some that over-tweet for my taste. What do you think is the Magic Number?
And for that matter... follow us on Twitter @facetimePDX

I've just started a Twitter account for my company, FastLane Hires and I've found that it's best practice to have a simple strategy: 1/3 be something about your company, 1/3 about your industry and a 1/3 misc. Readers want to learn more than they want to be sold...marketing your name just comes along with the territory.

That said - I don't think there is one award winning formula...Just know your audience and treat them as if they were acquaintances from your personal account. Nobody wants a full-time advertisement in their face - that's why social media has become successful.

Best bet: Keep them engaged and keep a balance of the type of tweets you post.

http://twitter.com/fastlanehires
Read more about my thoughts on social media @ www.intheincrowd.blogspot.com

I dunno...Google it.

I thought Google was as common as getting dressed, brushing your teeth or being on Facebook. However, after several conversations with friends it has come to my attention that this is not the case. Most of us understand how to search use basic search criteria, but I say - take it a step further.

If you can't find the answer with a simple word search... ask Google your questions. Literatly.

Google (bloggers, ppl with similar stories and experts) have all had the same questions you have. There is no original thought. Once Google produces answers to your questions (links) - read a handful of the responses to find your conclusion...and Voila - your an expert.

Here are a couple examples of my past few questions fo Google:

1. What causes a child to have a night terror? (for a friend)

2. How do I embed a YouTube video on my blogspot account? (for my blog, obvious work in progess)

3. Where can I find FastLane Hires jobs? (shameless marketing)

Social Media Revolution

If you care about Social Media at all - this is one video you must see. It's totally worth the 4 min 22 seconds. Promise.

Really? Reeaally?

Want 25,000 Twitter followers within 90 days GUARANTEED!! Order NOW for 30% off - only $869.75!! -- http://usocial.net/twitter _ marketing/about 3 hours ago from API

Fight to Own Social Media Heats Up

Facebook Cornering Market on E-Friends

By Chadwick Matlin

Sunday, August 16, 2009

"Facebook just bought the rights to nearly everything you do online. And it cost them only $47.5 million....

...That leaves two mega-conglomerates that will compete to be the portal of everything we do on the Internet. Google has long tried to get into the social game, and Facebook surely wouldn't mind expanding into some of Google's territory. (Real-time search is the likely entry point.) It's as classic an American struggle as Pepsi vs. Coke. Two companies, one market. Regardless of which side you choose, I'm sure Facebook will be happy to air your thoughts on the matter. Even if you write them on Blogspot, Google's blogging network. After all, that's why Facebook bought FriendFeed. So it could own you."

This is TOTALLY worth taking the time to read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/15/AR2009081500040.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Share This!

I've never really used an online bookmark...that would be too easy. Instead, I've spent the last however many years constantly retracing my steps to find 'that one site'. No more - I quit! I've decided to jump on board with the rest of the in crowd.

"Share This" allows users to easily send interesting web pages to friends, manage your contacts, categorize sent archives and resend any saved articles at anytime via email, AIM, My Space and SMS.

Wish me luck!

(If you are interested: http://sharethis.com/)

My Million Dollar Idea

I have a friend who develops Facebook applications - We often sit around and brainstorm ideas for new, cool apps.

My best idea: What if there were Facebook kiosks, like the Kodak kiosks in CVS, where you could just log into your Facebook account and print pictures directly from your page!

I thought I'd just created a million dollar meal ticket...however, he informed me that my idea was already work in progress. Actually, every single crazy idea I tried to toss out was already work in progress. Blasted!!!!

What would be your 1 Million Dollar idea for a Facebook app?

Video Resume

Everyone made fun Aleksey Vayner's in 2006 when he showcased his video resume. While I do agree that his credentials are a little farfetched - his idea was ingenious. I believe that in due time, this could be the only way an HR person will see your resume among a high stack of applications.

In the meantime tho - Watch this video and take note of all the things you shouldn't do...ever. http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/comedy/watch/e1336748NgyMqyG

Aack!

For Anyone Besides Me Wondering What Was Up This Morning...

(CNN) -- Internet attacks shut down the social networking site Twitter for about two hours on Thursday morning and caused glitches in other sites like Facebook and LiveJournal, a blogging site.

Learn From Your Peers

I stumbled across a pretty cool blog known as Dosh Dosh - this guy has browsed over 380 social news sites to deliver a list of the top 50 general and niche social media communities.

I've spent sometime scrolling through this list and I think it's a great starting point for anyone wanting to explore new online avenues.

My Top Picks:

Hugg: Hugg is a social news site with a strong focus on environmental issues. Also includes other categories like politics, science, fashion and technology.

I am bored: Covers general topics with a strong focus on weird and offbeat news. You can submit a link which may be posted after the editors approve it.

Hypediss: Social news site with a focus on design, fashion, urban culture and art.

Find some fav's of your own: http://www.doshdosh.com/list-of-social-media-news-websites/

Would you turn down over 3 million dollars via Twitter?

Guess you aren't Paula.

"With sadness in my heart, I've decided not to return to IDOL. I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon" (Good-bye tweet)

What's Your Language?

Everyone has their own online language. I can easily make a distinction of who is who as a result of each persons online vocab and response rate. It only takes a few seconds to realize when you aren't chatting with the person you intended.

For example:

Katherine (my best friend): Always responds quick, always quick to bust out a joke, sends me random links, corrects my grammar and uses: hi, eh, heh and :)

Paul (my boyfriend): Uses an endearing hello, takes two hours to respond, uses brb/back, only says a few words and once in a while throws in some Spanish.

It's interesting to think about your online presence...Does your chat language translate into other online mediums? Does it reflect how you are perceived by those that don't know you well? What's your language and the message you are sending?

Just an FYI

If you are creating social media pages and need to keep your brand consistent - I highly recommend using Color Cop. It's a free color picker created for web designers and programmers, however incredibly simple to use. It even features a palette that will show colors to compliment your selected color. http://colorcop.net/