Top 5 reasons not to Tweet

If you are an avid Twitter user, you may have found conversations with non Tweeters about this social media platform are greeted with rolled eyes. Most likely you have heard one or more of these Top 5 reasons why your friend/boss/colleague couldn't possibly be on Twitter.

5. Sounds like rubbish

Fair enough.

People are usually skeptical of the unknown.
Fear of not knowing how to tweet or using social media is what commonly drives this sentiment.
If people are mildly curious a simple demonstration can help overcome that fear. 
A common first tweet made by those who venture on to Twitter is "so I've set up Twitter - I have no idea what to do".

4. Isn't it for Young People?

The latest statistics (it's hard to keep up) indicate over 50% of Twitter users are aged over 35 years old. So what is your definition of old?
I think because Twitter is relatively new to the general population, people assume it is for teenagers. 
Early adopters of Twitter were aged over 35.
Teenagers and 20 somethings are quickly jumping on board in huge numbers and are the highest growth market. However there is no age limit to using and enjoying Twitter.

3. I'm already on Facebook, what's so good about Twitter?

Conversations on Facebook are usually confined to those in your immediate friend and family network. Interspersed with messages from businesses you may have indicated interest in (or not). Many people complain about receiving too much information about peoples lives on Facebook.
Twitter presents a much broader conversation, depending on who you follow, you can eavesdrop or participate as you wish on a range of topics often going on simultaneously. It can be as personal or professional as you wish.
Twitter is also fast. News updates and personal comments don't sit on your page languishing; waiting for people to 'like' them.

 

2. Isn't it just people talking about what they ate for lunch?

Honestly if that is the only thing people talked about on Twitter do you think that over 500million would stick around to read it?
The conversations on twitter are as diverse and interesting as you can imagine. You can follow politicians, chefs, business experts, mums, sports fanatics, artists, comedians. You choose what you are interested in and search for Twitter accounts run by those people or follow #hashtags for events covering those topics.
It's like curating your own magazine of special interests. It is information and entertainment rolled into one.
Top conversations over the past year include - The Olympics 2012, The USA election, Super storm Sandy and Justin Bieber (ok so don't follow the Beebs or his millions of fans if you don't want to read that)  
Joining twitter streams about television shows as they air can be very humorous or maybe you want to gripe about the new layout of The Age newspaper.
You might find that you are learning things of great interest and far more quickly than you would from traditional media such as newspapers or magazines.

 

1. I haven't got Time to Tweet.

This is the number one reason I hear for not having a Twitter account.

Even though Twitter never stops, it doesn't mean you have to be reading your stream all the time.
Choose times that best suit you.
Are you already checking your email and facebook on your mobile phone before you get out of bed? Chances are Twitter will take over as first port of call if you start an account.
As for the rest of the time - opportunities arise all through the day, waiting for a lift or a friend late to lunch; at the hairdressers; watching TV and commuting on public transport is a great time to go online. 
If you want to Tweet for your business, you may need to set a time each day to ensure you maintain your profile and engage with your community, but the amount of time can be as little as 15min.

Warning: Twitter can be a little addictive so you may find that time you didn't have, suddenly becomes available! 

image Guardian UK

Persistence in Business gets results in the Gym

This month I embarked on my return to the gym.

I used to love going to the gym, I was really motivated and would mix up my workouts either going to a small personal training gym or working out in the gym at my office. I'm no athlete, but I was relatively fit and strong.

 
15 months ago I injured my hand. This injury disrupted my routine, and if I'm totally honest I was actually slightly depressed.
I allowed my fear of injury and the interruption to take over as an excuse to not go back to my workouts. I was also saving money to take my daughter on a holiday to New York, so I chose not to spend the money on my health.


I was still doing some regular exercise in the form of walking and I still loved swimming, but not really pushing myself and training hard like I had previously done.

I told myself it was ok, I was doing enough. 
Well that was just an excuse. 
My fitness level plummeted and my weight increased.
I kept thinking of going to the gym but that was as far as I got. Thinking.

Anyway, you know those emails you get. The spam, that you rarely read from a business you once visited, bought from or inquired about. The emails that fill your mail box, yet you don't unsubscribe. 
In January I received yet another email from my old Personal training gym promoting a special deal for February membership.
 
Seems that those Email campaigns actually work!

So, for the last four weeks I have been training 3 times a week even doing some yoga and feeling MUCH better. Other days I've been swimming or on the treadmill at my work gym.
I've lost weight from my belly and my arms feel more toned. Just getting back to the routine of regular exercise that makes me sweat has been a real achievement. My goal is to get back to the fitness and shape I was before.
There is a long way to go, but I know I can get there.

Financially I have had to shuffle my budget, but it really is worth it. Besides, I'm saving money on having to buy new larger sized clothes!

Thanks to the marketing persistence of my Training gym and me for getting off my butt, I'm very happy to be back into the habit of exercising. 

 




 

Did you contribute to the LinkedIn marketing campaign?

In the world of Social Media and self promotion, LinkedIn have hit the jackpot!

Last week LinkedIn emailed 2 million account holders telling them they were in the top 1% of viewed profiles on the professional social media site.
The email was personally addressed to the recipient and featured a large copy of the persons profile picture in the middle of the page.

Within moments I saw people Re-Tweeting this and posting copies of this email on their Facebook wall. 

Like hunting through the 7/11 fridge to find the Coke can with your name on it, LinkedIn are using your ego to drive their marketing campaign!  
It seems to be working, I'm still seeing that LinkedIn email flaunted on other Social Media platforms.

Creator of www. - Tim Berners-Lee visits Melbourne

What do I know about computers or programming?

 Not much really – very little actually.

However, like 100s of millions of other regular people, I use the Internet and the World Wide Web on a daily basis.

Last night I was fortunate to listen the man who invented the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners Lee.

I loved the presentation and it certainly gave me a lot to think about and how we integrate online.

A few key points I noted down:

Openness – be all about sharing your knowledge – it’s the only way science can progress.

He talked about his friend Aaron Swartz  and the extreme control of cyber security.

Sir Tim, discussed the possibility of having another power to Audit those who create online security in order to balance the Cybercrime vs. Open Access debate.

He talked about everyone’s duty to improve the online environment. Contribute by collating good stuff.

Imagine the difference.

If you can imagine a better way, then do it, if you are not a coder – find someone to help you do it.

Sir Tim, discussed the trustworthiness of online information, how we need to create a link between journalists and content distributors.

In regard to Social Networking he warned about giving away all our information and content to a third party site. Remember you are building content for another enterprise by tagging pictures, posting links and sharing data on all social media platforms. Perhaps there will be a open network where we can keep control of our own content. 

He talked about  Open Street Map – a type of Wiki maps, not owned by Google but free for all to utilize, and commended Melbourne's online community for how thoroughly updated it was.

My friend Josh, asked what Sir Tim would do differently if he had the chance to recreate the http and url language of the web.

Tim obviously said the // would go… which resulted in much laughter, and that he would probably just use web:

But his main theory in creating this language was to help as many people to access it as possible by adapting the current language and formats in use. Allowing for more collaboration and sharing.

It was a pretty cool talk, a man of great technical knowledge, yet a true humanitarian.

Tim Burners-Lee was in Australia as part of a Linux conference in Canberra and the corresponding Tour Down under. 
Check out the hashtags #tbldownunder or #tbl on Twitter. 

An emotional farewell to a social media friend.

Last night I felt a huge lump in my throat and let out a big sob as I read a message from a Twitter friend telling me that @TinaVis had passed away.

Tina was someone I had never met 'in real life'.

Yet our conversations and the observations shared on Twitter and Instagram had been part of my world for over two years.  

I often thought of Tina as she struggled against the physical pain and frustration, the exhaustion and the sadness caused by the Cancer she had lived with for 5 years.

Last year she had a relapse and was obviously in so much pain. I sent her flowers to the hospital she had checked in at on Foursquare.  She was delightfully surprised, and I was glad I had been able to put smile on her face.

Tina shared photos of her green food and sunny Sydney days on Instagram. But it was mostly the photographs of Olivia, Tina’s 5 year old daughter that filled her stream. She is such a gorgeous little girl and undoubtedly the light of her mothers' life.

I read the Blog posts Tina wrote about living with Cancer (although she stopped writing in June 2012). I hoped for a miracle that Tina would survive this terrible disease.

I am grateful to the online platforms that allowed me a window into the world of Tina Vis.       Twitter, Instagram, Blogger, Foursquare they really do connect people.

Tina, I thank you for sharing your journey, harsh as it was, and for inspiring others to be positive and loving. Your love for your daughter and husband was beautiful.

                   I will miss you and our online chats, but at last you can rest. xx

What made January great!

FOOD
When I say food, I actually mean cake! 
This January I had promised to bake my sisters' wedding cake. Her wedding was to be a simple cocktail event, very low key, very relaxed and not a traditional white wedding. I enjoy baking cakes and am usually the provider of family desserts and cakes for birthdays. However I was a little anxious about a wedding cake for 70 people. 
Anyway, I suggested a cake design from a book by Edd Kimber, the bride & groom thought it would be perfect. I made a test version and it was delicious.

The real cake required me to upsize the recipe and cook it pretty much a day before the wedding, as it was sponge cake and would taste best fresh.

The result - me on the morning of the wedding, putting the cake together. Then adding the final touches at the restaurant to present a lovely and delicious, fun wedding cake. The wedding was heartfelt, romantic and joyous.
Congratulations Georgia & Paul. xx

 Other highlights:

• Miss Chu in Toorak Rd: asian food - fast n fabulous. Line up or "you ling, they bling'.
•  Stokehouse Cafe relaxed good service and family friendly.
• Also the cherries this year have been magnificient! 

 

DRINK
The divine mauve colour of this drink is what enticed me to try this sparkling French Lemonade. 'Rieme Grapefruit Limonade Artisanale'.
A little bit decadent (the bottle costs $7.95) but very tasty and refreshing. I love the old style bottle and the elegant label. Very bubbly and makes a solid pop when you unclip the stopper. It is fun and also makes a tasty mixer. Check out your local deli and treat yourself (also available at Thomas Dux).



Other highlights: Aperol and soda, light and refreshing. 



READ

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

What a thriller! 

Young love, New York lifestyle and bright engaging characters lure you into this brilliantly written story. Then things go a little off course. The chapters swing between the two key characters. Each chapter ending on a cliffhanger which had me turning the pages desperate to find out more. As they say, I simply could not put it down!

Other reading: Instead of watching the movie version of The Hobbit, I re-read this childhood favourite. Still as enchanting as ever. 

WATCH

If I had not been recommended this movie by my friend Stan, I doubt I would have considered Love is all you need.

I am so glad I did.

A beautiful story of romance and complicated lives. I cried and fell entirely for the wonderful imperfect characters both young and old. A delightful movie.

 

Also watched and recommend: Argo

ACTIVITIES

Swimming, as usual, my favourite year round activity is all the more enjoyable in the warmth of an Australian summer (or a necessity in the heatwaves we had). Brighton Baths, Prahran Pool and the clear ocean at Lorne did not disappoint.

Completing my second Pier to Pub ocean swim was a highlight.

  

These are just a few of things which made me smile this January. Do you have any highlighly recommended things you would like to share?

  

  

  

Picture This: 6 things about your Twitter Avatar

For many people Twitter is a fun social activity and so long as you are happy with your representation choose to be as creative, outrageous or inconsistent as you wish. 

However;  if you are trying to establish yourself as a brand or business profile on Twitter here are some tips about choosing your Avatar.

1. Don't be an egghead. 
Please, if you do nothing else ever with your Twitter account at least put up an image! 
If you are happily tweeting away with the default Twitter egg image as your avatar you must realize that
 a) people think you are an automated spammer, and
 b) no one really wants to talk to you.

2. One person = one image.
Unless the image is a photo of you with a really famous person, I am probably not going to know (nor care) about the other person pictured. 
Don't crowd your avatar with more than one person.

3. Fun, serious, cartoon, composite, artist impression. 

It doesn't really matter what image you choose as long as you feel it comfortably reflects who you are and the image you wish to present. 

 (Does anyone know who this person is on Shane Warnes twitter avatar?)




 4. Can I just talk about Boobs. 
Girls who feature obvious cleavage or just boobs on their twitter profile avatar - you know what you are doing, you are probably better than just your boobs. 


5. Business avatars this is where the fun starts.
There is a fine line between maintaining brand identity and creating a welcoming identity for people to engage with.
Of course high profile, established businesses have their logo as their avatar and people follow them and engage. 
However, if you are just a small business starting out, sometimes it is easier to find a personal identity that people can relate to as your image. Joes' cafe may have a cool logo design, but you will probably get more response from your twitter community if your image is of a friendly looking Joe.

A great example is the Lonely Planet twitter account which uses the company logo. However they have other regional accounts which feature personal images. Such as the Avatar below for Laura representing Lonely Planet UK.  

Logos represent your brand, however on Social Media and especially on Twitter the aim is for people to engage. You want people to trust your message and respond to you. Businesses that have no conversation on Twitter will find the platform of little use in developing business growth.



6. Changing your Twitter Avatar
Often we quickly scroll through our Twitter feed and especially if you follow a lot of people, the brief flick of a colour or image will stop us to read the tweets of those we recognise. Your Avatar image, in a way becomes your brand identity. If you change it too often, your brand is less sticky. 
If your avatar is a personal photograph and you feel you want to refresh your image, I highly recommend doing so, maybe once or twice a year, but not every 2nd day!
I have come across business Brands that changes their avatar on a regular basis, media companies such as magazines often features their front cover as their avatar. I guess that's a good idea, but it did confuse me for a while especially when I saw people I knew featured on the cover. 

Do you have any other tips? Feel free to share them in the comments section below.