So in my last post I told you how you can upload multiple Twitter posts at one time using Tweetlater.com and how you can use Tweetdeck to keep track of what people are tweeting about you or about specific topics that interest you.
Well, now I've learned and applied some additional Twitter tools for you to know about.
One is Your Twitter Karma at http://dossy.org/twitter/karma. It doesn't load well in Internet Explorer, so be sure to use a different browser, like Firefox for example. What it does it allow you to see all your Twitter followers and see who you are following and who is following you back by category. Twitter itself makes you look up each individual person, which is a big pain once you have hundreds of followers. But with Your Twitter Karma you can sort in bulk. It's a great tool to help you quickly decide who you want to continue to follow.
Grader is another really interesting Twitter application. You'll find it at http://twitter.grader.com. Put in your user name and grader will give you a grade at how well you're using Twitter. That's fun to know, but what is really cool about Grader is it will show you who has the highest grades by subject. So if you're interested in photography, input "photography" and Grader's top 100 top photography users will pop up. Now you can choose to follow some of those folks to see what's considered state-of-the-art in that subject area. Maybe you'll even learn of some cool new photography experts you didn't know.
Lastly, once you've been on Twitter a while you'll want to think about customizing your background wallpaper. You can do it in Photoshop if you're a graphic arts whiz, or you can go to http://www.twitbacks.com. Twitter backgrounds must be an image, so you cannot load active clickable links, but you can still post your company's sales messages, logos, photos or other contact information. I just had a custom twitter background done by @isotopestudios.com and I must say I'm delighted with how it turned out. You can see it at @barbarawayman.
Happy Tweeting everyone!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
5 Tips To Name That Firm
"Build your reputation by helping other people build theirs."
--Anthony J. D'Angelo
If you were going to run a marathon, you wouldn't do it with a knapsack full of rocks on your back, right? Yet many businesses are saddled with names that are misleading, out of date, hard to pronounce or just plain bad. That makes their marketing extra difficult. If you've decided that a new name is needed for your business, here are five tips to help you find a great one.
1. Start with what's unique - Begin by making a list of the main traits you want to get across to people about your firm. Is it quality, edginess, experience, creativity? Think about what it is about you that your customers most value. When you list a range or words and word combinations, you'll want to gravitate toward those that reflect that particular quality.
2. Narrow down with a story - A story is a powerful way to help people connect your name to what you do. For example, when people ask me why my company is named Bluetree Media, I explain it's because a lot of what I do is help my clients stand out and get noticed, like a single blue tree in a forest of green. I can literally see the light bulb appear in their eyes when I say this. Think about what story can help tie the names you've chosen to your firm's unique quality.
3. Get reactions - Test out your top few names with a variety of audiences to see what they think. Do people make associations that tie back to your core brand identity? Do they find the name easy to say and spell? Listen for themes that crop up. If the themes connect to your desired positioning, you may have found a winner.
4. Check URL availability - A firm without an online presence is a firm with no presence these days. Nabbing a website that ends in dot com is critical to being perceived as legitimate. Visit webhosting services (I like www.GoDaddy.com) to see which of the names on your list are available for purchase.
5. Lock up all the URLs - Once you've selected your final name, don't just buy the .com URL, make sure you lock up .net, .org, .biz and .edu. Domain names usually cost less than $15 a year, and can help make sure everyone who is looking for you online can easily find you, not someone else.
© 2009 BlueTree Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
--Anthony J. D'Angelo
If you were going to run a marathon, you wouldn't do it with a knapsack full of rocks on your back, right? Yet many businesses are saddled with names that are misleading, out of date, hard to pronounce or just plain bad. That makes their marketing extra difficult. If you've decided that a new name is needed for your business, here are five tips to help you find a great one.
1. Start with what's unique - Begin by making a list of the main traits you want to get across to people about your firm. Is it quality, edginess, experience, creativity? Think about what it is about you that your customers most value. When you list a range or words and word combinations, you'll want to gravitate toward those that reflect that particular quality.
2. Narrow down with a story - A story is a powerful way to help people connect your name to what you do. For example, when people ask me why my company is named Bluetree Media, I explain it's because a lot of what I do is help my clients stand out and get noticed, like a single blue tree in a forest of green. I can literally see the light bulb appear in their eyes when I say this. Think about what story can help tie the names you've chosen to your firm's unique quality.
3. Get reactions - Test out your top few names with a variety of audiences to see what they think. Do people make associations that tie back to your core brand identity? Do they find the name easy to say and spell? Listen for themes that crop up. If the themes connect to your desired positioning, you may have found a winner.
4. Check URL availability - A firm without an online presence is a firm with no presence these days. Nabbing a website that ends in dot com is critical to being perceived as legitimate. Visit webhosting services (I like www.GoDaddy.com) to see which of the names on your list are available for purchase.
5. Lock up all the URLs - Once you've selected your final name, don't just buy the .com URL, make sure you lock up .net, .org, .biz and .edu. Domain names usually cost less than $15 a year, and can help make sure everyone who is looking for you online can easily find you, not someone else.
© 2009 BlueTree Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
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