Creative Juices...Twitter Strategy

As most of you know, my sisters and I have started a craft blog: "Keep the CREATIVE Juices Flowing," aka Creative Juices. I mentioned it a couple times in my month of posts in September and have posted links on my Facebook account. But if you SOMEHOW have missed the news, there it is. We have five sisters contributing on one blog featuring a whole lot of craft projects. It's a super fun project to do as sisters, and these girls have come up with some awesome stuff. I'm personally trying to get ahead by setting aside specific "craft time," so I actually have something to post come my turn every Wednesday. So far that hasn't worked out so well. Usually it's Tuesday night, I get home from the gym, think about what I need to do that evening, and suddenly remember I have very limited time to step up and get crafty!

Back to the point—we are all pretty busy ladies. But working together with very part-time schedules, I think we could really see impressive progress over time. I have been involved in some amazing online media projects and have been thoroughly impressed by the great power online media has. Seriously, I'm often flabbergasted by everything I learn and experience—especially the relationships you can make. It's an amazing opportunity for any business.

So I've taken the lead on expanding our blog through other types of social media, especially Facebook and Twitter for now. I've written about Twitter a bit in the past (I think most of those posts are linked in my "Featured Posts" sidebar.) But I want to combine the basics of getting started with some basics to start networking a business—and of course building relationships. So here is some of the information and tips I've put together for my beginning tweeting sisters as part of Creative Juices official social media marketing plan.

The first 3 steps are pretty simple. (They are also more thoroughly outlined in my post "Twitter Steps 1, 2, 3") I

Step 1: Create an account and fill in all the information. Have a picture, a clear set of information and a link to your Web site.

Step 2: Start following blogs you already read and profiles that interest you, especially those related to what you do.

Step 3: Retweet. A retweet is when you pass on something that you see in your feed. Basically you are saying that information is really cool/interesting and want YOUR followers to also see it. You will usually see this as a "RT" in front of the message, although some also show it as as (via @profile) at the end of the tweet. (Again, more examples are on my Twitter Steps post.)

OK so those are the basics. I've been using Twitter for a while, so I forget about some basic things that others might not know how to do. My sister asked me today how to reply to what someone says or to let them know that you say something about them. In the Twitter world, those are called "mentions."

To mention someone, all you do is put @profilename in your tweet. So if you want to say something mentioning me at my personal Twitter account, you'd say @skariann. Simple.

If you look under Home on your account, you'll see @yourname. Click on that. You'll see every time your account has been mentioned. You can also send private direct messages.

Alrighty...those are the basics of basics. I'll go more in depth as we move on. Twitter is an AMAZING tool and there are so many ways to use it. Just check some examples at my post, "Customizing Twitter for YOU."

To get started, I'm assigning every sister to find 10 new people to follow. (We are small and don't do this full time so we are starting small...and yes, 10 is small.) However, we don't want to start following a million people (well really just 40 for the 4 active sisters) who aren't going to want to follow us back. So we want to start building a relationship with them. Either reply to or RT something these people have tweeted. If we are interested in their content and want to start building a relationship with those accounts, this will be super easy and will help us expand our network.

Lastly, observe how others tweet. There are amazing examples and amazing tweeters out there. I have been downright speechless on the fabulous things I've experienced and relationships I've created via my Twitter usage. You can learn so much simply by observing. So it's an assignment now!

Go, Tweet, Go!

Follow Friday Shout Outs

Hello all, here it is: my first Follow Friday blog! *Non-tweeters, see brief explanation at end. (And I must admit I have to restrain inserting a hashtag (#) every time I type that :)) Before I refer you to some of my favorite fellow tweeters from this past week, I have to mention how much this popular activity humbles me every week. It’s so easy to think your thoughts and messages are being sent out into vast nothingness and that no one sees them, reads them, or cares. It’s easy to forget how these simple Twitter interactions can really affect so much and actually so many people. So a sincere thank you for all those who have recommended me—it means a lot.

Also, @Careerealism just posted a great article about thinking outside the Twitter box (Follow Friday) for recognizing great professionals. Give it a read if you get a chance.

My Follow Friday picks this week are some I’ve had memorable interactions with this past week or so. There are so many others to choose from, but alas there’s always next week.

First off—My inspiration for this post comes from @DrMollieMarti whose Follow Friday blog post last week really stood out to me as a great way to recognize great tweeters. She’s a performance psychologist, founder of BestLifeDesign.com, and author of “The 12 Factors of Business Success.”

Recently I’ve LOVED learning more about @workinggirl, aka Karen Burns. I’ve been following her tweets and two weeks ago won her Twitter contest for a FREE copy of her book, “The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl.” And I’m absolutely loving reading it.
(I’m hoping to finish soon, but my free time has gotten away from me recently.) Not only does she offer practical career advice (derived from personal experiences from 59 different jobs) but she’s created this amazingly cute, girly, witty and sassy brand surrounding the entire product. (I love the polka dots, pink, and little cartoons, as well as the fun atmosphere it all creates.)

I wanted to give a shout out to @JillianMika who stood out to me as I attempted to start some dialogue about various topics on Twitter. She's an industrial engineer currently looking for a job and is a great example of some creative methods to find a job. Check out her site!

Next up is @Schedulicity, who also Follow Friday-ed me (or #vivaviernes as she put it and describes in her own blog post). But even before I noticed my mention on her blog, she was standing out to me for the personal messages or thoughts she always includes in her comments, RTs, even RT thank you's. Visit the business site for online scheduling and email marketing info.

My last pick is actually not someone whose tweets I even see very much. But @Ramit is the author of "I will Teach You to Be Rich." I haven't gotten my hands on the actual book yet, but it is supposed to have lots of tips to avoid spending too much for everyday things, and as a result having more money leftover. I do subscribe to his blog and have most recently signed up for the e-mail list and received the first chapter of his book (which talks about optimizing credit cards and eliminating debt). Everything so far seems really interesting!

*Follow Friday is a popular trend occurring every Friday (surprise!) in the Twitter world. Tweeters recommend people they believe are worthwhile to follow. You can learn who your followers are following and possibly why you should follow them too. This creates a great way to recognize tweeters with similar interests, spread word about who you like, and help others increase their following numbers.

Customizing Twitter for YOU

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked in the past couple weeks how individual people in different fields should be using Twitter. OK, I probably could pinpoint it, but we'll just leave it as having come up frequently in several different conversations—and not by my doing by the way.

The main thing I've been saying is that you can use Twitter however you want to; there are no set rules and instructions. People simply come up with ideas, decide what they want to do and make things work out for them and how they decide to tweet. Yea, it's confusing I know. It's just hard to tell someone exactly why they should get on Twitter and how they could use the program. What I get out of Twitter might not be what you want to get out of Twitter. Since this is a relatively new phenomenon, people are experimenting a lot in a variety of ways. So, to help shed some light and provide some examples, I've gathered a few interesting and unique ways people and businesses are tweeting.

@waffletruck—Located in New York City, this company sells waffles throughout the streets from their truck. How they use Twitter? They tweet updates regularly to let customers know where they are located.

@reporterssource—This is a free service that links reporters and other members of the media with sources, businesses etc. Those interested in being a source (subject experts, professionals, etc.) can sign up and those looking for sources can submit a request. The program tweets requests and helps make connections happen.

@laundryroom—College students alert! Ever dragged your entire wardrobe to the laundry room just to find that no washers were available? Well, this program at Olin College (in Maine?) automatically sends out a tweet to residents when a washer or dryer is available. (I think it would be great if it tweeted you when your load was done too!!)

@Careerealism—Anyone with a twitter account can submit career-related questions which are then answered by various established and carefully selected career professionals. All in 140 characters or less. Nearly 200 questions have been submitted and answered so far. These include those about a religious person debating a promotion that requires working on Sundays; a job seeker having slept through an interview; using social media to find a job; and networking at a desired job. (Check out all of the questions submitted so far.)

@cookbook—This one is a little intense, but these tweets offer "tiny recipes" from all over the world. That's right, some have trouble tweeting with limited space, but this source offers entire recipes.

@SATwordoftheday—Forget the huge prep books and complicated study methods. Instead get a tweet a day (maybe specifically sent to your cell phone?) with a new vocabulary word to learn.

@twittercize—Every get bored of doing the same exercises? Following the motto "Get fit, one tweet at a time," these tweets offer one minute exercises delivered straight to your Twitter device of choice. You have all the instructions you need and maybe you'll love the exercises and fit them into your regular fitness routine!

@elemteachers—This tweeter lets elementary teachers share good ideas and effective resources. (In this same field, check out this list of elementary teacher tweeters AND this article about using Twitter to improve teacher/parent communication.)

These are just some examples I've found in the last couple weeks. There are a couple specific fields I've been asked about that I didn't address (local music group, dentists, techs in movie industry, etc.), so let me know what unique Twitter users you've found.

Also, what do you think about these examples? Are people ready to start using Twitter regularly in more arenas?

Twitter Steps 1, 2, 3

Hey guys, it's Twitter Tuesday (simply because of the alliteration), so I'm sharing the first three basic steps you need to start using Twitter successfully. I'm relentless on the fact that all of you will have a Twitter account at some point in the next several years, so you might as well start! *Hint hint. Come on, follow me: @skariann.

Step 1: Provide Information

After you create an account and user name, DO fill out your basic bio and add a picture. This gives you credibility as an actual real, living Twitterer. (Not some spammer!!) When people come to your account, they want to see that someone is actually behind it. As you gain Twitter momentum, this will be even more important. Also, write a couple tweets or updates so you can get the hang of the process AND so others see there is at least some activity on your profile. Get in the habit of updating your account regularly.

Step 2: Follow Others

Ah, the most basic of Twitter lingo. I follow you, you follow me, and we all have followers. Try comparing this to your Facebook friends. The people who follow you will automatically see your tweets. The people you follow are who will show up on your feed. So, search for people you know who are already twittering, invite others to join, and start finding Tweeters who interest you. There are tons of celebrities, musicians, professionals, comedians, local businesses, news sources, etc. etc. As you follow more people, you will start to see the variety of ways people use Twitter. And you'll start to see how YOU will want to use it.

Try to keep your ratio of followers and those you follow about equal. If you are following 900 people, but only 24 are following you, others are less likely to follow you. Why? You look like a spammer or someone whose tweets aren't valued.

But keep in mind: When you first start tweeting, it will be a little difficult to get follows back. But over time as you build your account and find your niche, that will be a lot easier.

Step 3: Retweet, Retweet, Retweet

A retweet is pretty much the highest honor in the Twitterverse. (Yes, one of the things I love about Twitter is the insider lingo.) A retweet is when you see a tweet that interests you, and you pass it on. So when people retweet your content (or vice versa), they are saying they pay attention and think your content is good. This sharing of tweets is how Twitter is so amazing at getting out information and spreading it FAST. So read the feeds of those you follow and retweet (RT) what really catches your eye.

How? Simply copy the text with the original tweeters username and place a RT in the front.

Example:
Original Tweet: Great blog post about steps 1, 2, 3 of Twitter
Retweet: RT @skariann Great post about steps 1, 2, 3 of Twitter

If you want to add more (and there's room: remember you only have 140 characters), comment with the RT.

Retweet: This helps a lot! RT @skariann Great post about steps 1, 2, 3 of Twitter

As you continue retweeting content, you will build credibility and presence on Twitter, which will lead to more followers.

Do you have any other questions or concerns about Twitter? Let me know, and I'll try to address them. I will also be posting about tips, programs, branding, significant Tweeters, and more in the future!

Tweet this article!

What You Probably Don't Know About Twitter

Twitter, Tweet, Tweeter, Retweet,

Twitter,

Twitter,

Twitter

It's been everywhere lately and though some might think it's a brand new product, Twitter has actually been around for about three years. But recently, Twitter has managed to "tweet" its way to the top of most social media markets. I admit I've only joined a few months ago, but I've had friends on it for about a year and am been telling myself to get signed up for a while. So, if you are thinking about it or at all curious, now is the time to join!

Twitter takes some getting used to, and most people don't really understand what it is or how to use it. I don't claim to be an expert, but I want to encourage anyone interested to join, so here's some information that's helped me.

And remember, don't get discouraged about using it. My first tweet, after about a month of being signed up, was: "skariann doesn't know if she has time to twitter..."

Nearly everyone's first impression about Twitter is somewhat egotistical—they think it's simply a tool to frequently update the world about what they are doing at any minute of the day. And most think "Who cares?"

While the "status update" type of posts are out there and do play a part in the Twitterverse, there is also so much more. Here are some of my favorite uses for Twitter:

Finding news information
Directing traffic to smaller sites/blogs
Personal Branding
Professional Branding
Networking (both professional and social)
Communicating with customers or target market
Discovering article or blog post ideas
Getting feedback
Connecting with authors of favorite blogs/articles
Learning from admired experts in various fields

There are so many ways anyone, in any field or for any purpose, can benefit from Twitter. But, the most important thing is to set up an account and start exploring the network. (Remember to follow me, @skariann, and send me a message—I'd love to see you there!)

To help you understand even more about how to get going with your Twitter account and how it can benefit you, here are some great related articles that I've found through my network of blogs and on Twitter:

Ten Easy Steps for Twitter Beginners by Darren Rowse, @ProBlogger, from TwiTip.

College Students: What are You Waiting For? Join Twitter ASAP by Heather D'Amico, @heatherdamico, on her blog.

Twittering, Not Frittering: Professional Development in 140 Characters by Suzie Boss, @suzieboss, on Edutopia.org.

Twitter: Connect, Tweet, and Network Yourself Successsful from the Online Beat.

I'm Twinterning This Summer!

I have been a horrible poster lately, but since my surgery I feel like I've been so behind, or simply doing horribly at the small, everyday things I do. So my blog, cleanliness of my room, gym attendance (although this was expected :P), eating habits and more have really been suffering lately. But I'm feeling almost back to normal (hopefully that will last) and hoping to get things lined up over this weekend—so by the beginning of next week I'll be going strong again.

I'm loving the personal motivation I always feel once a weekend rolls around!!

Sooo, there are several important blog posts I've started but haven't gotten around to further researching and finishing. But I've save those for next week.

Today, I'm really excited to share a little information about the "twinternship" or Twitter internship I'm doing this summer with none other than my favorite site—Careerealism.com

We are just getting started but, wow, I am so excited and think this is a great opportunity. For those who haven't followed my previous Careerealism-related posts (I swear I've been obsessed from Day 1.), one of the things that first attracted me to this source was the tag-line "Every job is temporary."

How awesome is that? It takes me back to December 2007 when I was just graduating and accepted an internship with the LDS Church magazines. Everyone asked, "Oh, will you be able to make a career out of that? Do they hire the interns right out of these?" Then, when I accepted my current position with this publishing company, again everybody asked, "So will you be making a career out of this?"

This question always confused me.

I earned my degree in journalism, with emphasis on design and editing. And since at least my freshmen year of college, I had been snatching up dozens of editing, writing and design jobs. When I was graduating, those new positions offered new opportunities for me to grow and learn and encounter new work environments. Did I know how long I'd stay in the positions? NO. But, they did and do involve the things I love to do professionally and, of course, help me grow as a professional and understand what kind of "company culture" I work best in.

Maybe I didn't explain my thoughts too clearly there (I'd suggest reading my Preparing For Your Second Job post for a little more insight), but I was simply confused why people kept defining my career with the length of time I'd stay with those companies.

Today, through a video conference/chat set up (through Ustream) with J.T. O’Donnell, Careerealism founder (@jtodonnell), we interns learned that we need to throw out everything we know about "careers."

I honestly didn't make the connection until halfway through this post about how well this insight connects with my previous qualms with what people expected for my career. But, in the Careerealism world, everything is about your "business of one." You are your own product and, because every job is temporary, the only "career" you have, is that of branding and promoting yourself.

Again this post has taken a different turn from what I expected, but with more to come, I want to share the two main objectives from the twinternship I'm participating in.

1. Learn how to use Twitter for business and marketing.

Today consumers of any kind don't want to face hard core sales pitches. Instead, they want to be informed and make their own decisions from the information presented. So, I'll be learning how to become a Twitter expert and about the endless opportunities it has to brand, connect and work with customers.

2. Learn how to build your personal brand—marketing your company of one.

J.T. O’Donnell shares that today (very different from 20 years ago) every person will have an average of 9 careers and 3 jobs within each career. And the average college graduate will have 10 jobs in the first 10 years of their career. Isn't that crazy? Online branding for your career is the way everything is going and is almost essential in snatching that amazing dream job.

Come on, how many of you have or known of someone being Googled or looked up on Facebook when being considered for a job? It's almost unavoidable, so it's very important to have a well-established presentation of yourself on this most accessible source—the Internet.

I'm stopping there, but again, I'm so excited for this opportunity and know I'll be saying more later!

Deciding on a user name

This past week I submitted my very own question to Careerealism’s T.A.P. (Twitter Advice Project). My question was kind of specific to me, but I did present it with a more general approach. The topic?

Your social media username.

I’m working on establishing my personal brand and want to be consistent with the user name I use for a variety of media contact sources (e-mail, Twitter, blog, LinkedIn, Google Profile, Facebook, etc.) The one I usually revert to, and through which I’ve used to establish several accounts over the last few years, is derived from my name but might not directly transfer. I don’t believe the user name I use is necessarily unprofessional (It’s no surfergirl1022 or ilovetosleep5.), but it’s also not always read as a straight firstname.lastname type. How do I know if it is acceptable? Should I make a switch now before building too big of a following?

Here are some of the T.A.P. responses:

@tmonhollon: 1st, ask this: What is your long-term purpose in social media? Getting a job? Building expertise? Starting a business?

@gradversity: I would keep it consistent and not worry about it. But if you are losing sleep over it, make the change.

@DebraWheatman: Establish personal brand with a professional email for easy reference. If it’s confusing, change it to avoid issues.

Now, a little additional information for you. Back when I was first registering as a student for college, I of course had to create a student id to use throughout my college career. After inserting my first and last name, the program generated a list of options. With the help of my sister Ruthie (right?), I decided on “skariann.” We thought, hey it’s from my name (“s” for “Salisbury,” plus my first name, although without an “e.”) and it’s fun to say (“scaryann” anyone?).

And that was the beginning. Now “skariann” marks my presence on Gmail, Blogger, Twitter, and Google Profile, among others. Over the years as I’ve applied for various jobs and internships, I’ve always used a separate e-mail address for professional correspondence—usually, karianne.salisbury. (My name is so long!) But these days everything is interconnected, and my professional correspondence and networking isn’t limited to e-mail. Everything I do, specifically online, is now part of my personal brand, and these various accounts will all play a role in establishing that.

So what do you think? Is “skariann” acceptable for me?

--
Careerealism first launched the T.A.P program in March and, with a diverse set of career experts participating, started offering direct, personalized career advice via Twitter.

There are a lot of different topics covered and lots of input for each question. You can find all of the previous questions and responses on the Careerealism site and Twitter, or you can submit a question of your own.

The one requirement? You must be a member of Twitter. (Don’t worry, I have a post in the works full of things you should know about Twitter.)