2008 was a fun and interesting here. Here’s to an even better one in 2009. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours. Be safe and remember the things that matter most. Don’t take them for granted.

All the best,

Deon

photo credit: Pear Biter

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. Sorry about that. I’ve been, shall we say, going through a bit of some self discovery. It’s been a pretty fun and interesting month to say the least. The past 30 days have really brought me closer to a passion of mine — helping others succeed in their business (and, ultimately, their lives).

That said, there might be some changes coming to the site soon. But, rest assured, I’m still going to be talking about steaks, McRib sandwiches, and business like there’s no tomorrow. And now that that’s (consecutive “thats” have always bothered me) out of the way…

This past weekend was a good one in my book. I witnessed our archrivals, Alabama, fall at the hands of Florida in the SEC Championship game. I had a great conversation in the back of a nightclub with two women who wanted to start their own businesses (talk about random!). And, I also unexpectedly served as a guest panelist on a local talk show about business building tips. A great weekend if there ever was one.

And, it were the last two events (the nightclub conversation and radio talk show) that motivated me to write this post. As I started to reflect on the past few days, I realized that it’s hard for a lot of people to take those necessary first steps when starting a business. Now, I recognize the fact that my background is in Internet marketing but, the principles are pretty much the same all across the board.

If you want results; if you want to start your own business, you have to take action. (Random thought: That spinach I just ate might have been bad… my stomach hates me right now). Unfortunately, taking action for an offline business owner means spending money that he or she probably doesn’t have. Or, at least, that’s what we’re led to believe.

photo credit: Lisa Brewster

Case in point, one of the women I was talking to told me how she wanted to start her own business. We’ll say it was a catering company for the sake of her anonymity. After asking a few questions, Sarah (not her real name) informed me that she had no way of building the necessary client base to get started. She had no referrals and no industry contacts. And while that may have been true in terms of reality, it was false in terms of possibility.

I learned a long time ago that resources (or lack thereof) are NEVER the problem. The real problem is not being resourceful enough. Maybe I should say that again. Lack of resources are never the problem. Lack of resourcefulness is.

Simply put, there’s no excuse for not taking those first steps in your business building process — not when they’re tens — if not, hundreds — of people who a budding entrepreneur could access, network, and partner with.

If Sarah wanted to start a catering company with low capital, she could easily contact existing business owners who offer complimentary — not competitive — services. Sarah could ask herself, “who often deals and interact with caterers?” or “what businesses use catering services?” There are two that immediately come to mind: wedding/event planners and rental/special events facility owners.

Those people are constantly communicating with others who need the services of caterers, whether it be for weddings, corporate functions, political galas, reunions, rehearsal dinners, baby showers, and the list goes on.

That, right there, is a very healthy list of possible clients for a catering business. All Sarah would have to do is step a little bit out of her comfort zone, contact those business owners, and negotiate a revenue sharing agreement with them. For access to their networks, they’ll get a percentage of the revenue she generates if someone decides to use her catering company. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

There’s nothing wrong with taking shortcuts, as long as they’re ethical and produce the desired results. As entrepreneurs, we have to learn to think outside of the box… to recognize opportunities that others miss. If you’re just starting out, having trouble building your client list, or don’t have access to a lot of capital then train yourself to look for ethical shortcuts. Remember, a lack of resources is NOT the problem.

Coming from Birmingham - ground zero of the Civil Rights Movement - this election has surreal and historic implications for me. But, regardless, of political affiliation, race, gender, or economic background, make sure you get out and vote. Make History!

Today, I’ve already driven over 100 miles to my polling place, had my car door hit by a baffled senior citizen, and heard my aunt recount a hilarious story about an overzealous voter throwing the Black Power Fist in Wal-Mart. I’m sure there’s more laughing and head-shaking to come.

If you have any political stories to share, let’s hear ‘em. I can only imagine what you all have been seeing and hearing out there. Until then, enjoy the day and make sure your voice is heard.

I’m Deon Gordon, and I approve this message.

Original photo by: brycej

Twitter has already become an integral part of many of our online experiences. It’s used throughout the week on CNN by anchors such as Don Lemon (@donlemoncnn) and Rick Sanchez (@ricksanchezcnn) to communicate and interact with viewers. If that’s not a stamp of approval, I don’t know what is. And, as the volume of users rise, so does the number of third party sites, tools, and services that all serve to make Twitter more dynamic, meaningful, and useful.

A lot of them, such as Ping.fm and Tweetdeck, are probably familiar to most of us. Others, like TwitHire and Twubble, not so much. Sifting through it all can be a challenge. So, to help make things easier, I’ve searched the Web, combed through the blogosphere, and rummaged through my del.icio.us bookmarks to sort and list some of the best Twitter sites and services the Net has to offer. This is by no means a definitive list, but I think it’ll serve us bloggers, Internet marketers, entrepreneurs, and social media junkies well.

I’m sure there are some good, and probably a few essential, services that I forgot to mention. If you know of one I missed, perhaps one you’re using, please let us know in the comments section. Domo arigato.

Oh, and follow me here: @deontee

Contact Management

1. TweetBeep - Google Alerts meets Twitter. Great service that notifies you whenever your name (or any other word you specify) is mentioned. Use it to catch @replies that might have been missed, for reputation management, or customer support (you’d be surprised how many people vent their frustrations on Twitter).
2. GroupTweet - Great tool to use if you want to send public tweets simultaneously but only to a select group of people. For instance: sending notifications to your web development team or special updates to members of your family.
3. DoesFollow? - Find out if who if the person you’re following is following you back.
4. FriendOrFollow - Gives you breakdown of a) those you follow who do the same, and b) a list of those you don’t follow but follow you.
5. Twubble - Want to find more Twitter peeps to follow? Twubble is a sweet site that searches through your “friend graph” to get an idea of your current social network. It then returns a visual list of those who you might consider following based on that information.
6. Tweet2Tweet - Allows you to view a conversation in a much easier fashion.
   

   Twitter for Bloggers

7. Twitter Tools - This plugin allows you to “pull in” your tweets to your blog. It can also updates Twitter whenever you make a new blog post. (note: you might have to scroll below the fold to find the plugin on the site)
8. Twitter for Wordpress - Simple plugin that also “pulls in” your tweets using a sidebar widget. Very easy to use; in fact, this is what I’m currently using on www.deontee.com.
   

   Search and Directories

9. Twitter Search (formerly Summize) - Hands down, one of the best tool for finding Twitter conversations and conducting niche/keyword research.
10. Twitscoop - Real-time current events for Twitter. Use it to research the latest trends and to find out what’s the hottest buzz… Also has a nifty tag cloud feature that’s quite useful.
11. Twellow - A great Twitter directory… Fantastic way to connect with others in you niche and industry. Also links to other social networking profiles such as Facebook and LinkedIn. P.S. Don’t forget to add your profile as well.
12. Just Tweet It - Another cool directory. This one allows you to be notified of new additions to your particular niche/industry category. Great for connecting with like-minded individuals.
13. Twitterholic - Showcases the top 100 Twitter users. Test out your reverse engineering skills by following with these Twitter rockstars and find out what they’re doing to gain followers and increase their visibility.
    

    Time Savers, To-Do’s, and Productivity

14. Tweet Later - An essential service for many Twitter users. This site is all about automation. With Tweet Later, you can automatically 1) send ‘thank you’ and welcome messages to new followers, 2) “return-follow” your new followers and 3) schedule tweets to be delivered at a specified time in the future.
15. Remember the Milk - The popular task management service now has Twitter integration to let you manage and create tasks right from Twitter. Notification and task reminders can also be setup to be delivered.
16. TwitterCal - If Google is your calendar of choice, take a look at this site which lets you add entries just by sending tweets.
17. iTwitter - An application that integrates with your iGoogle homepage.
    

    Desktop Software/Clients

18. Tweetdeck - An absolutely fantastic Twitter client. This Adobe Air application integrates with your desktop and gives you a enormously wide range of features and controls to extend and enhance your Twitter experience. You can sort your tweets into replies, groups, keywords, topic, etc. Other features include multiple columns, overnight updates while you sleep (or bar hop), and tweet filters.
19. Twhirl - Another great Twitter client. Features include the ability to cross post (to sites like Jaiku and Pownce), a built-in URL shortener, and the ability to connect to other services such as Seesmic and Friend Feed.
    

    Status Updaters

20. Ping.fm - Update Twitter and a plethora of social networking sites such as Myspace, Facebook, and Pownce at the same time… Wonderful time saver!
21. Hellotxt - Another good status updater for your social networking.
    

    Creative Uses, Interactivity

22. TwitPic - Easily post your photos and share them on Twitter.
23. TwitSay - Record a 10 second voice message and share it with your Twitter peeps. Use it as a quick and creative way to engage your followers, especially when you can’t text or don’t have access to a computer.
24. Twitter Keys - Have you ever seen icons and shapes in someone’s tweets? You might’ve even sent some yourself. Well, this cool site provides you with a bookmarklet that you can drag to your bookmarks toolbar. Click it to reveal a nifty, little popup with plenty of characters and icons you can use to spice up your tweets and make them stand out.
25. TwittyTunes - If you’re using the FoxyTunes plugin for Firefox, you can use TwittyTunes to easily tweet about the song you’re jamming to online. You can also share the sites you’re viewing, and videos you’re watching.
26. TwitHire - A free job listing board. Employers can promote their employment opportunities to social savvy job seekers… One of the most unique uses of Twitter I’ve seen.
27. Straw Poll - Need to get feedback? Create a poll and solicit responses just by tweeting… Cool interface, too!
    

    URL Shorteners

28. Snip URL - As I’m sure you know, Twitter doesn’t lend itself well to the long-winded. With only 140 characters at your disposal, shortening long website addresses is a must. Snip URL is one of the best in the game, in my opinion. You can create an account, easily share your links, and even view unique clicks (something many similar sites don’t offer).
29. TinyURL - One of the most popular URL shorteners around. Also has a bookmarklet you can drag to your bookmarks toolbar… Allows you to create shortened URLs with a single click.
30. is.gd - With only four letters (and a dot), is.gd is great for URL shortening.
    

    Account Management and Notifiers

31. TweetTake - Backup your followers, favorites, or just your entire Twitter account. Why? Remember the Twitter crash of Black Thursday (back in July 2008 when scores of users lost followers overnight)? I rest my case.
32. Twitterless - Service that sends you a DM (direct message) when you lose a follower.
33. Qwitter - Another services that sends you a notification when someone stops following you. This one sends you an email instead of a DM. Caveat: I think the jury is still out on these services. There might be legitimate reasons someone stops following you (e.g. they’re “following” you more on Pownce or Facebook). Or, there might not be a reason at all. However, this service might be good to use if you’ve been losing followers and want to find out why. Perhaps, you’re adding more noise than value. Maybe you tweet entirely too much. Regardless, use at your own discretion. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend confronting the person who un-followed you. Use this tool for research, not battle. (Make love, not war.)
    

    Stats, Metrics, and Tracking

34. TweetBurner - Another essential service to add to your Twitter toolbox. This service lets you track the links that you share on Twitter… Also acts as a URL shortener.
35. Grader for Twitter - A tool that grades your relative reach and influence on Twitter. It also suggests a few people you should follow based on your profile.
36. Twitter Counter - Simple to use site (just plug in your Twitter name) and get stats that span a week. Use it to chart your progress in acquiring followers. Also offer a chicklet counter that can be added to your website or blog.
37. TweetStats - Add this stats tool to the essentials pile. This site offers detailed stats of your tweets, who you sent them to the most and when you usually sent them… Very nice breakdown of data.
38. twInfluence - Great tool for measuring the reach of your account and your entire network… Measures metrics like your “velocity” and “social capital.”
39. Hashtags - A service that lets you tag your posts as a way to group and organize them with others.
40. TwitterTise - Brand advertising meets Twitter… Track your links and measure their effectiveness.
    

    Mobile

41. Twittelator - Twitter for your iPhone… Comes with a massive and very impressive feature list.
42. TwitterBerry - Crackberry users rejoice! The latest version boasts new features and a larger cache.
    

    Honorable Mentions

43. Twitter Digest - A site that helps you read your Twitter updates in a more manageable fashion. You can view the tweets in a “digest” format in either a Web page or RSS feed.
44. Twittad - Monetize your Twitter account by selling your background space. The idea is interesting, but I’m not sure how much it’ll catch on (or even if it should). Regardless, it’s definitely something worth checking out.
45. TwitterIM - IM junkies can send tweets using their Windows Live chat client.
46. CurseBird - A hilarious site that culls the profanity laced tweets together and displays them in a real-time feed. Great for a quick laugh — especially when a sports team is playing. Ah, the things that piss people off.
47. Twitturly - Think Digg meets Twitter. Twitturly is a site that acts as a real-time link tracker. A great way to find out what’s the latest buzz on Twitter. As of now, a lot of the entries appear to be links pointing to the same few topics, but as Twitter grows, I believe the usefulness of Twitturly will too. Regardless, there are still some gems to be found. A site worth checking out, in my opinion.

–

Blog Jams [Listening To: Common, "I Used to Love H.E.R."]

photo credit: filtran

I was having a conversation with a friend via Facebook and he jokingly remarked that I was beginning to appear everywhere on his account: his friend feed, his side advertisements, everywhere! He ended by asking if he should expect to see my face in popups next.

The conversation with my friend was lighthearted but it got it me thinking: How could I continue to leverage the viral nature of Facebook and other social media sites, without getting swamped with the numerous time-consuming tasks often related to them? Below are a couple of tips that help me do just that.

1.  Work smarter, not harder (aggregate and propagate)

Social networking can take up a lot of your time. For every website you join, you’re essentially adding another inbox to your already-bloated list of email accounts. Just trying to keep up with all of the different conversations can be a challenge in itself.

The key to not getting bogged down is working smarter, not harder. How do we go about doing this in social media (without hiring a VA)? By using services that aggregate (pull in) and propagate (push out) information.

Aggregators

Aggregators are services that basically pull in actions and info from multiple sources and organizes it in one central location. Whether your friend adds a favorite photo on Flickr, changes their status on Facebook, or retweets a great post on Twitter, you’ll know about it — without having to check each site individually.

Popular social aggregators include:

FriendFeed - http://www.friendfeed.com

SocialThing - http://www.socialthing.com

And I should note that Facebook’s News Feed serves a similar purpose. If you’re a heavy Facebook user, you should definitely take advantage of it. You can even filter the feed according to your friend groups (e.g. to keep up with your clients)

Propagators

Propagators are simply websites that “push” out information instead of pull it in. Many of these services allow you to update your social network statuses and micro-blogs without having to login to each one individually. Talk about a time-saver! Below are a few of the more popular propagators available now:

Ping.fm - http://ping.fm

hellotxt - http://hellotxt.com

2. Keep your finger on the pulse and your ear to the streets

It’s important to know what’s being said about you, your niche, and your brand. But you don’t want to go searching for these relevant conversations one by one. That’s time consuming and a poor use of resources. Regardless, it’s still critically important to monitor these things because information spreads fast in today’s interconnected online world. Reputation Management 101 should include a serious effort on your part to keep an eye on your public image and your brand.

That said, there are a few services you should be using to keep track of these events so you can mitigate the situation by responding immediately and with a remedy. Not to mention, it also fulfills one of the original goals stated earlier in this post: to appear “everywhere” without doing the back breaking work that would ordinarily be required to monitor these discussions.

Use these services below to aid in your customer service and reputation management efforts:

Google Alerts - http://www.google.com/alerts

Get Satisfaction - http://getsatisfaction.com

Setup Google Alerts to notify you whenever an article, blog post, et cetera is made that mentions something relevant like your name or company. If you find something positive, leave a nice comment in response. If you find something negative, quickly act to correct the situation

The other site, Get Satisfaction, is a service that allows business owners, help desk staff, service reps, and so on, to interact with people who have posted complaints online.

Their Overheard service “eavesdrops” across the Net and updates with relevant conversations about your product/service. Here’s Comcast’s Overheard section showing a list of Twitter updates about the company: http://getsatisfaction.com/comcast/overheard.

Here’s a quote that I recently came across from someone who had an issue with the feed sharing service, Toluu:

I got my invite and went to log in. Whenever I can, I use my OpenID because I’m tired of entering passwords in Passpack. However, OpenID failed. I have a low threshold for fails of that variety, so I Tweeted that it was a bad first impression. Within about two seconds, I had a response from @calebelston asking me what issue I had, could I describe it, etc. Best part is that I sent him the info, as well as the issues I was having importing my complete OPML file to Toluu, and then forgot about it. You know how it gets when you are trying 85 apps at a time. Then I get an email from him: Hey, we’ve been working on this issue. Would you be willing to try it again and see if it works? I was floored that he remembered to come back and contact me.

As you can see, incorporating these tools and tips we just discussed into your marketing efforts and customer service strategy could pay huge dividends. Are there any other websites and/or services that you highly recommend too?

Leave a comment below and let us know how you’re using them.

—————

UPDATE: Special thanks to Shinil for pointing out Tweetbeep as another tool that you can use to track what’s being said about you and/or your brand on Twitter. Think of it as Google Alerts for Twitter. Thanks again to Shinil for pointing this out. Check him out at http://www.shinils.com.

UPDATE: Thanks to Dali Burgado for mentioning Tweetlater (http://www.tweetlater.com). This is a valuable resource for Twitter users. Its two prominent features are its ability to send automatic follow-up messages to new followers (which is great for making connections and building your community) and scheduled tweets that go out at a time you designate. Thanks again, Dali. Visit Dali’s Success Factor blog at http://daliburgado.com when you get a chance (”now” is a good time )

UPDATE: Iceman Baldy commented about using MyBlogLog and its great, low-maintenance, community building features (I’m all about low-maintenance!). Thanks for the comment, Iceman Baldy. Check him out at his blog: http://www.icemanbaldy.com.

photo credit: kevindooley

Trying to build “real” relationships and connections with people you “meet” online can appear quite challenging at times. You want to connect with others - perhaps, that potential JV partner or a mentor who you’ve been following for quite some time. But, how do you go about doing it? How do you stand out from the others who are trying to do the same thing as you? Obviously, you don’t want to appear needy, pushy, lame, or spammy in your “relationship marketing” efforts. That said, what should one do?

First, let me say this: social networking is nothing more than an online representation of our offline worlds. A lot the things you would do offline to break the ice and network are the same activities we should be doing online as well. That said, here are 5 tips and ideas that will help you get the ball rolling.

1. Reference something that is recent and relevant

Let’s not beat around the bush. People like to hear about themselves. Referencing something that is recent and relevant to your intended contact is a phenomenal icebreaker. Has your “target” received any press (interviews, newspaper mentions, etc)? Did they write a popular blog post?

What about any other noteworthy achievements? All of these are great things to mention. Referencing them will help you to avoid those awkward “what do I talk about?” moments and will allow the conversation to progress naturally. Plus, it makes one helluva impression.

2. Offer your time, services, or support

One of the best ways to make someone stand up and take notice is to give of yourself. Find out what your intended contact is currently involved in. Perhaps, they’re looking for a custom blog theme… If you have web design skills, offer to help with some or all of the design. Maybe they’re considering starting a charity. If social entrepreneurship is one of your strong suits, ask if there’s anything you could do to help them get it off the ground. It’s all about the Law of Reciprocity!

3. Follow up after the initial contact

When your intended target accepts your friend request (decides to “follow” you, etc.), take the time to follow up by sending them a quick thank you note. But do NOT spam. This is not the time to pitch your ideas and pub your latest, greatest opportunity. The focus MUST be on building the relationship first. Otherwise, you run the risk of looking like an ametuer spammer and a professional tool.

Now, once you leave the “thank you” message, take it a step further by standing out from the others who, too, left notes saying thanks. But how?

4. Follow up in a memorable way

These days, almost everyone is leaving some kind of “thank you” note in one form or another. Although others may not be doing it improperly (too much self promotion, spammy, etc.), yours can easily get lost in the mix. To avoid this, incorporate some unique follow up ideas and techniques by taking a brief survey of what others are doing; then, do something contrary to that.

For example, Facebook allows users to record a video directly into wall posts. Instead of sending a thank you message, consider recording one instead. You can also record greetings for birthdays and other holiday occasions. Remember, it’s about being unique and memorable.

5. Make contact on more than one site.

With the bevy of social networking sites available, you can bank on the fact that a lot of people will have more than one profile under their belt. Don’t restrict your efforts to one sole website. A lot of times, “social savvy” people will use one or two sites as their online “hub” while using their other profiles much less frequently. If you send a message to someone’s Myspace, it might take weeks for you to get a reply if he/she uses Facebook as their online hub.

That said, it’s a good idea to spread out your efforts. But, before you do this, exercise some restraint. You don’t want to appear as if your spamming — or worse — stalking the person you intend to connect with. If you’ve already sent that person a message, consider leaving a valuable comment on their blog instead of sending them another message on a different network. This idea is a great way to “keep your name in front of them” while not appearing pushy or overaggressive.

Takeaway points…

To make a personal, memorable connection in an online world:

1. Reference something that is recent and relevant to that person. Cite a newspaper or magazine article and mention some positive points about it.

2. Invoke the Law of Reciprocation by offering to do something for them. Offer your help or expertise in an area where you and/or your knowledge would bring value.

3. Always follow up after the initial contact, and…

4. Follow up in a memorable and unique way. Stand out from what others are doing. If everyone is sending text greetings, send audio instead. If everyone is sending audio greetings, record a video. Stand out!

5. Remember, there are tons of social networking sites out there. Not to mention, blogs, podcasts, and so on. There are plenty of places to connect. Spread your efforts and look for the unconventinonal ways to get your name in front of your intended contact.

That’s it from me. What are you doing to build meaningful and lasting connections in — what many call — an impersonal online world?

—-

UPDATE: I want to give Larry Benet, who is appropriately known as “The Connector,” a special shout out to say thanks for stopping by the blog. Larry left some pretty kickass suggestions and tips for anyone who wants to take their online connecting efforts further. Here’s the direct link to Larry’s post below.

Also, check out Larry’s site and find out more about him. Mr. Benet has this connecting/relationship building thing down to a science. Visit his site now and find out how he met Larry King for the first time — and, in less than 90 seconds — had an invitation to sit down and eat breakfast with him.

On the web at: http://www.larrybenet.com

P.S. Check out this interview Larry Benet did with my good friend, Alejandro Reyes of Successfool.com. Trust me, that interview was one for the ages.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/653179

photo credit: flik

If you’re reading this blog post, there’s a good chance that you have an account on Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, or any of the other scores of social networking sites out there. And the fact remains that a lot of them are down right addicting.

If you’re a high school kid or someone with a lot of free time, it really doesn’t matter if those sites become your new crack.

However, for those of us - business owners, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, corporate professionals, etc. - who use those social technologies for business, spending countless hours in front of the computer might not be the most effective use of time.

But what do you do if you’re connected to a lot of people who choose to communicate with you using these social networking sites? Surely, you wouldn’t want to ignore them.

Doing so would mean abandoning chances to build meaningful relationships and profitable business ventures.

That’s clearly not an option. So, what do we do?

We use tools and techniques that will help us maintain a healthy balance between using these social sites and taking care of the things that matter. I’ve listed three tips (along with some free tools) that will help you accomplish this.

1. Develop a system to help you follow-up effectively and efficiently

There are two things we can do here: 1) respond to updates and notifications immediately or 2) designate two (maybe three) specific times in the day to respond.

I can’t say which method you should use without knowing your current situation, but they both have their benefits. Personally, I prefer to employ the first method. For instance, as soon as I receive a Facebook message, I will send a reply to the sender.

Not only does this prevent “message pile-ups,” but it also shows a certain amount of dedication on your part. That goes a long way in developing relationships with those you want to connect with. The second method is generally more suited for those with busy family schedules and already-crowded days.

If you work at a company, you might not be able to communicate with someone immediately. In this case, setting a time before work, one during your lunch break, and another in the evening might be the ideal solution for you.

2. Use toolbars and 3rd party clients

I swear by these things. There was a point in time where I constantly found myself wandering around aimlessly on Facebook. I wasn’t getting “real” work done and my time on the site was beginning to equate into a massive waste.

I decide to limit my time on the site and incorporate time-saving methods such as installing the Facebook toolbar on my Firefox browser. The toolbar updates immediately whenever someone makes a friend request, sends a message, pokes me, etc.

Now, I only have to go on the site when there is relevant activity. Here is the link to Facebook’s official toolbar for Firefox:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3794

For Twitter, I use a third-party client called Tweetdeck.

Using a client helps by keeping you abreast of changes and status updates via notifications on your screen and/or Internet browser.

It’s a great way to stay connected without having to constantly check on the main site which could turn into a big time wasting activity.

Here is the link to Tweetdeck (which I use) and Twirl (another wildly popular Twitter client):

Tweetdeck: http://www.tweetdeck.com/

Twirl: http://www.twhirl.org/

3. Enable email and mobile notifications.

This tip works great for Facebook users. Just adjust your settings to send updates and notifications to your mobile phone and email address. Receiving texts on your cell phone helps keep you connected even when you’re not in front of a computer.

I’ve carried on many conversations just by using my cell phone. And when, I’m checking my email account, I can see updates arrive instantly. Plus, another bonus is that I can search through my Facebook messages using Gmail.

It’s a much more effective way to find what I’m looking for as opposed to using Facebook’s woefully inadequate Message Search tool.

So, to recap: develop a follow-up/response system that fits your schedule; use third-party clients and toolbars to increase your productivity; and use your mobile phone and email account to stay connected when you’re away from the house or just away from your favorite social networking site.

Think I missed anything? What are you doing as a business owner to stop social networking from taking up too much of your life?

0:00 - 2:40 “No, my name is not Beyonce.”
2:40 - 3:10 “Thanks for all the support”
3:10 - 5:45 “Business Shoutouts to Successfool and Monikah Ogando”
5:45 - 6:30 “Get off the Internets (haha)”
6:30 - 7:00 “Auburn football and trash talking. Boo LSWHO!”
7:00 - 8:00 “Leave a comment before I drive off the road”

Where do I lay my jacket.

Do I tip the person at the door?

Where in the heck do I stand?

We’ve all been in situations where we’ve asked ourselves those kind of questions. Heck, I still get confused at some casual dining restaurants over tipping and whether or not it’s appropriate to do so.

Well, that same uneasy and uncertain feeling can sometimes extend to our online social gatherings too.

I’ve talked to enough business owners and entrepreneurs to know that properly interacting on these social networks like Facebook is something that a lot of people have to learn on their own.

Basically, the plan is to  “feel our way around” until we get it right.

That strategy might be okay if you’re just using Facebook for personal reasons only. However, for the active professional or solopreneur, that isn’t the best approach to take.

You, as a business owner, are now putting your brand and your reputation on the line.

And remember, social networks are viral by nature. Inadvertently send out one spammy message and your good name could be damaged in a matter of minutes.

With all that in mind, I decided to do a “laid back” video (VERY laid back) talking about some of the DOs and DON’Ts of using Facebook for business. Enjoy the short clip and let me know what you think.

Once you’re finished, tell me some of your DOs and DON’Ts regarding Facebook by adding them in the comments section below.