Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category
Why 26?
For the past few years I’ve been writing articles about social media and developed a personal style, 26 Tips: An A-Z Guide, that has become my signature post on Social Media Examiner.
Last week while at Social Media Marketing World, #SMMW13, a woman introduced me to her colleague as Social Media Examiner’s “26 person.” The woman graciously shook my hand and immediately inquired, “Why 26?” Hmm, good question!
I’ve been writing these posts for so long that I had to stop and think a moment.
I realize this: blogging, like other types of writing, needs to have an organizing principle. Something that helps the writer structure the material in a meaningful way. Helps determine what to include and what to omit. What the writer wants to introduce, reinforce and help the reader take-away specific messages. And, a way to catch the reader’s attention from the get-go.
The way “26 Tips”works is that I come up with a topic for the article, one that I believe (and hope too to some degree) will be of relevance to a marketing audience, interested in learning more about various aspects of social media. (Some posts have been titled a variation e.g., 26 ways, elements– but the structure is always the same)
Then I make a list of words, from A-Z, that help categorize the tips I want to explore in the article. Some letters are tricker than others, e.g. X, Z, and that becomes part of the extra challenge, too.
I have to make a number of choices a long the way. For instance, in my last article, 26 Ways to Use Visuals in Your Social Media Marketing, the letter “V” would have been a perfect opportunity to discuss video but instead I chose, Visual Content Types, so that I could include comics and memes.
The 26 Tips articles have been well received and are one of my favorite articles to write. I’ve come to see over the years that in an increasingly crowded social media content space it’s an added benefit to create and stay with a signature post. That is, if it continues to speak to readers.
Do you have a signature article type? Or, a particular preference for one over another? Share your comments in the space below.
photo credit: Leo Reynolds via photopin cc
Visuals and Social Media Marketing
Perhaps you’ve been told pictures are worth a thousand words. And, how visuals are favored on social networking platforms. At times you may feel at a loss for how to use them or the myriad of ways they can be incorporated into your social media marketing efforts.
Today, I have a new article on Social Media Examiner, 26 Ways to Use Visuals in Your Social Media Marketing. You can read the full post there.
If you’ve found your way to my blog as a result of the article, welcome and thanks for stopping by. You may want to check out my portfolio. Feel free to drop me a line in the comments below or via the contact form.
Social Media Marketing: An A-Z Guide
I have a new article published today on Social Media Examiner (SME), 26 Tips for Getting Started with Social Media Marketing, an A-Z Guide. You can read the full post on SME.
I started the 26 Tips Series on SME back in October of 2010, as a curated content post where I incorporate materials from many writers in the field. While researching and writing, there’s always a great amount of discovery and surprises along the way.
I for one, learn a lot while working on the articles, which in my opinion, is one of the added benefits of writing!
If you’re new here and visiting my blog as a result of seeing the article on Social Media Examiner, welcome and thanks for stopping by.
Season’s Greetings
I love the week between Christmas and New Year’s–when the usual routines cease for awhile and some days you may even wake-up not exactly sure what day of the week it is.
It’s an especially good time to spend with family and friends, and to remember too, what we’re most grateful for.
Among many, many other things, I am grateful for having the opportunity to write articles and personal essays and to have the means of expression via this blog and other sites.
Wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Looking Back on Social Media’s Highlights 2012
In every passing year, the rapid proliferation of social media, never ceases to amaze me. 2012, was certainly no different.
I enjoy writing every article I write but in particular, I’ve grown a particular fondness for the highlights of the year post and predictions for the coming year.
I love the quiet moments of reflection. The recognition of the development of social media and for that matter, the whole Internet. The birds-eye-view of history in the making.
My new article, 4 Social Media Highlights of 2012 is on GigCoin’s blog, where I invite you to read a few of the things that most stood out:
- Crowdfunding and crowdsourcing reached new heights
- Social Media became more mobile
- The brand’s social media experience moved beyond FaceBook and Twitter
- Infographics became a more adopted and valued way to communicate marketing messages
I invite you to join in the conversation on GigCoin’s blog and Facebook page.
Memorable
When I first started writing personal essays a number of years ago I never dreamed I’d have enough courage and confidence to send any of them out to publications. Through the encouragement of my writers group, I’ve taken this risk now several times. And was really pleased when my essay, The Loyal Order, was published on Hippocampus Magazine in October. Today, I learned that it won most memorable for October 2012…and needless, to say I’m touched and very honored.
Published Essay on Hippocampus Magazine
Pleased to let you know that a personal essay I wrote entitled, “The Loyal Order,” was published on Hippocampus Magazine. You can read it here.
Posts and Other Summer Musings
The summer has been good so far! I’ve been busy blogging, connecting with new and familiar folks as sources for some of my posts, and when not working enjoying the long hours of sunlight and hot (sometimes muggy) New England days.
Probably most noticeable for me this summer is that I’ve been doing a lot of summer reading–both fiction and non-fiction. And for the most part, enjoying most of the books I’ve read. And even plowing through to the end of the ones that may not exactly hold my interest.
Two new posts which I’ve had the pleasure to write and contribute to this past week was one that was published on Social Media Examiner, 22 Top Blog Tools Loved by the Pros :
and the other, Innovation + Creativity = Great Experiences for Businesses on Instagram, published on GigCoin.
Hope your summer is going well! And that you’re enjoying some good down time, too, hopefully peeling yourself away from being online. A goal which to be perfectly honest, I’m still working on–but I am a little better!
26 Tips, Again
Today, I have a new 26 Tips, A-Z Guide on Social Media Examiner. This one focuses on the management of social media communities. As with all of the posts in my 26 Tips series, I thoroughly enjoyed the research, content curation and challenge of coming up with A-Z topics.
If you’ve found your way here from Social Media Examiner, welcome! And, thanks for stopping by.
Monitoring Social Media
This week I explored the topic of social media monitoring for an article for Social Lens Research’s new blog, The Lens.
I was very happy to discover the work of Zach Hofer-Shall from Forrester Research who observes, “It’s 2012, and we’re still passively–without purpose–collecting social media.”
Zach points out that we’re now at the point where all this listening and data collection needs to bring greater intelligence to organizations if it’s going to amount to anything.
You can read the full article on The Lens.
