Social Media Is Easy!

What is User Generated Content User generated content is content generated by you as the Facebook user. That means that anything that you publish on Facebook or Twitter (or any social media site) is user generated content. Checking and Referencing User Generated Content User generated content should always be checked before release. Acknowledge other sources if the content that you are releasing is not originally your own. This applies across all social networks. 5 Tips for Creating User Generated Content Always credit the source of the information. Use Pictures and Videos to make content engaging and exciting. Use original photographs or ask permission from he photographer for use of photos. Check for spelling, punctuation and grammar before you press 'tweet' or 'post'. Use #hashtags to create campaigns based on your keywords that will be found and shared. Ensure that your content is within the social media terms and conditions and is not ...

What is Facebook Graph Search? Facebook graph search is now in beta stages, and will soon be rolled out for public use. Graph search will allow you to find very specific information about your friends on facebook based on profiles and interactions. For example, it will allow you to search for 'friends who have been to New York' or 'friends who like Italian food and live in Manchester' for example.  This image shows the example of a Facebook graph search for photos before 1980.   How will Facebook Graph Search effect the way that Business market their brand through Facebook? This will also have many positive effects on Facebook use for business. Of course, it will enable businesses that have a Facebook page to be more easily searchable, leading to a quality fan base. There is also talk already on Graph Search Optimisation - GSO as opposed to SEO!  To find out more about Facebook Graph Search, click here .

We have been testing out Ozoshare, the 'green' alternative social network, and think it's going to become the sexiest ethical social media platform for 2013. Ozoshare - The new and alternative Social Media Working a little bit like a green Facebook, Ozoshare offers good functionality and is specifically aimed at the eco-friendly social media user.  If you are interested in environmental and ethical issues, then Ozoshare could be the new social media platform for you. How do you use Ozoshare? On Ozoshare, you can share status as 'recycle' and approve the status of others. You can add photos and join 'Pow-Wows', which work in a similar way to Facebook groups.  Ozoshare is not for everyone. Of course, you have to be green and ethically minded. Ozoshare for Social Media Marketing and Business If you run an ethical business, you should definitely consider using Ozoshare. You can share images of ethical products and links to your website with green ...

Delicious is a great way to bookmark and share your favourite web links. Today, it launched it's new site design. Delicious is easy to use, and helps to get traffic to your sites and blogs. First, you will need to set up an account. Simply go to www.delicious.com and follow the instructions to set up. The easiest way is to log in with Facebook or Twitter. Once you have an account, you can follow people and add links. You also have a personal inbox for messaging. When you add a website link into Delicious, you can tag it to make it more searchable for other people. To add a link, simply click 'Add Link' in the down arrow menu in the top right hand corner. Tags are extremely important as they make the site that you add more searchable. When you add a link to delicious, make sure that you add as many tags as you can think of, bearing in mind that people will search for topics under different names and headings. Do you use Delicious? Do you use it for...

Advantages of Twitter Marketing Using Twitter is like sending a text message to the world! It offers the facility to ‘tweet’ a generic message to everyone following, @mention – send a direct tweet to someone, and to send a direct message. Twitter can be great for sharing links and asking people’s opinion on topics and products. You can make your tweet more searchable by using the #hashtag as a social bookmark. For example, using #socialmedia would mean that anyone searching for #socialmedia would be likely to stumble upon this tweet. Twitter marketing is also great for research and finding new connections. If you use the search bar, you can find people interested in similar things to you by searching for tweets on a particular topic. You can get a pretty good reach if you have a lot of followers who retweet you. Don't be afraid to ask for the RT (retweet), but don't ask too often - this might be seen as cheeky!  By sharing useful, unique and relevant content, you will find ...

What are Google+ Communities? Early this month, Google+ rolled out Google communities, to allow people to join discussion groups about their personal interests. Google + communities can be created as private or public, depending on who you want to join, and they work in a similar way to Facebook groups. Google +, however, offers the facility to virtually 'hang out' with people in your community. This means that you can have a video conference with them on your screen.  For example, if you love Greenday and join the Greenday Community , you can Google 'hangout' with other members of the community to discuss their new releases! Three key ways to use Google+ Communities 1. Gather people together -  It could be for for your family, your local club or people around the world who share your interests.  Google+ communities allows you together people together in an online group.   2. Have rich and focussed conversations - You can post photos and videos ...

Getting started with twitter!! Tweeting - As well as tweeting comments you can also tweet a picture, you can use photo sites like Instagram to upload or can upload straight form your mobile phone. You can also put links to a website you like or an article, allowing you to share things with your followers.   You can also retweet somebody elses tweet or they can retweet something you have said. This allows a tweet to reach further networks and therefore more people see it. Hashtag – When you tweet something you can hashtag a keyword to categorise your tweet and make it accessible to those who are interested in your tweet topic. Tagging – You can also tag someone in your tweet by using the @ symbol and then writing their tweeter name. Allowing the person you have tweeted to directly receive your tweet. Trending – When you here some one refer to something trending, this means a popular topic of twitter, often because of an event, for example #christmas wi...

How to get a Twitter account To get a Twitter all you need to do it go to Twitter.com you will be asked to enter your name, an email address a password and user name and then simply click create an account. You will receive an email from Twitter and then you are away. Profile - Like other social media accounts you can edit your profile, there is a cog icon it that top right hand corner of the page, which is your settings. If you click that and then click Profile you can add a picture, your location, links to websites you have and write a bio about yourself. Design – You can also change the design of your profile by again clicking the cog icon in the top right hand corner of the page but them clicking design. This will allow you to pick a theme which it the background of your twitter page, you can upload your own picture or customize an existing theme template. Then you are ready to get tweeting !! If you need help using twitter check out our blog on how...

What is Twitter? Twitter is a social networking site that allows you to connect with friends, colleges and businesses by micro blogging.  Unlike a blog twitter allows you to write comments known as a tweet. This can be a general tweet that anyone who is following you can see or you can tweet another twitter user personally. A tweet can be about anything, you can comment about what you are doing today or maybe voice a political opinion or connect with friends to make plans for a social event. What is Twitter used for in business? Twitter can be the perfect tool for business as it allows you to connect to your clients on a regular basis. It allows all parties to stay up to date with one another and promotes a closer working relationship. It can be used to contact your clients to get answers quickly for a query rather than using phone or email.   Twitter can also be used as a promotional or marketing tool as it allows you to g...

A Business Facebook Case Study: Kigali Crafts How do you achieve success as a business through social media sites such as Facebook ? This article will investigate how Kigali Crafts , an online fair trade business, has used their Facebook account to increase exposure and improve sales. 1. Facebook Status Updates relating to current issues and posts that are interactive Kigali Crafts status updates are not pushy, but offer useful information and engaging posts relevant to their prospective customerss interests. For example, their ethical customers are interested in Africa, ethical consumerism and international development. Kigali Crafts shares relevant news and asks questions about these issues. Product promotion is usually around 10%, and a maximum of 20%. That means that 'sales' posts are only around 1 in 5. 2. Images and Videos Kigali Crafts frequently shares images and You Tube videos . This includes photos of producers and the office, as well as product p...