Book Review: Things A Little Bird Told Me by Biz Stone

Things a Little Bird Told Me: Confessions of the Creative Mind

Author: Biz Stone

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Date: April 1, 2014

Length: 237 Pages



About The Author
Biz Stone was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1974. For the past decade, Stone has been developing large scale projects that facilitate the open exchange of information. He is the Co-founder of Twitter and advisor to several technology startups.

The Beginnings of Twitter
How did Biz Stone and his associates come up with the idea for Twitter?

Biz Stone shares many fascinating behind-the-scenes happenings that tell how Twitter started and how it grew to  become a world-wide platform for posting messages of 140 characters or less.

Mr. Stone started out as a blogger and graphic designer. He was the heart behind the Twitter team and used his skills to communicate with users and grow the business.

Biz Stone tells about how he was responsible for all the customer service communications when the Twitter servers went down. It was up to him to contact users and let them know that the problems were being addressed by the Twitter engineers.

He explains how Twitter made it's public debut at the South by Southwest Conference in 2007. Large TV monitors were set up in the halls and people could read the tweets as they moved from room to room.

Twitter fans will be captivated by the stories behind the little blue bird.

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed the candid and open style that Mr. Stone used in this book. He pretty much tells it all. There are no huge scandals or earth-shattering secrets, but you come away from this book feeling like you have known Biz for his entire life.

He tells about his childhood and how his family was "dirt poor" and were frequently down-sizing to more affordable homes. He tells about his high school years when he realized that he just didn't have time to do homework so he instigated a "no homework policy" and he convinced his teachers to just grade him on work he did in class.

I think the most impressive part of this story is end.  Mr. and Mrs. Stone have not let their financial success change them. They have given generous amounts of money to charities and continue to do so.

This is an inspirational book that will have readers tweeting for joy. Highly recommended!

My Rating: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review from NetGalley.

Book Review: The Social Executive by Dionne Kasian-Lew

The Social Executive: Winning In The Multi-Trillion Social Economy

Author: Dionne Kasian-Lew

Publisher: BookBaby

Date: February 1, 2013

Pages: 60



About The Author
A respected thought leader and international pioneer in social executive leadership, Dionne Kasian-Lew is the CEO of The Social Executive™.  Dionne is highly regarded as a speaker and has been active on the speaking circuit since 2009 including as a conference chair, panelist, keynote speaker and contributor to thought leadership roundtables.

A Call To Leaders
"Social" is a hybrid word that means connecting, online or offline.

Many executives know "social" will be meaningful, but they are not sure: when, what, how. Ms. Kasian-Lew believes executives need to be involved in the social mindset.

Social is not a fad.

Leaders set the vision and the strategy of the company.
Customers no longer trust companies to tell them about their products or services...they trust their peers.

Leaders are paid to make decisions. Social intelligence can provide rich data and strategic insights that inform that process.

This little gem is packed with research, resources and strategies. The book includes 12 case studies that illustrate how social media is used for business.

My Thoughts
This book explains exactly WHY your business needs social media. The time is NOW for leaders to start building their corporate and personal platforms. Executives need to learn how to engage on the basic platforms. Then they need to start raising digital and social expectations at the leadership level and across the business.

Ms. Kasian-Lew has done an excellent job presenting information that business executives need to know and understand. Change is not easy but an investment in social media will pay huge dividends in the future. This book gets right to the important points....there is no fluff here. Read the book and be prepared to step into the future.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a digital preview copy of this book from NetGalley.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Renegades Write The Rules by Amy Jo Martin

Renegades Write the Rules: How the Digital Royalty Use Social Media to Innovate

Author: Amy Jo Martin

Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Date: October 2, 2012







About The Author
Amy Jo Martin founded Digital Royalty in 2009 to help companies, celebrities, professional sports leagues, teams and athletes build, measure and monetize their digital universe.

The Renegades
Mary Jo Martin is an expert on the power of social media, the latest social media trends, how to build a personal brand using social media and on personal and business innovation.

Ms. Martin encourages her readers to get involved in social media by bucking previous assumptions and embracing their inner renegade.  She shows them how, step by step, with the eight essential Renegade Rules:

Rule 1: Be the Media Rule
Rule 2: Show Some Skin
Rule 3: Unmask Your Motives
Rule 4: Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Rule 5: Ask Forgiveness Rather Than Permission
Rule 6: Consensus Is the True Authority
Rule 7: There's a New ROI in Town
Rule 8: The Act of Good Can Be Scaled

The author shares fascinating stories about how she went to work as the Director of Digital Media and Research for the NBA Phoenix Suns and helped Shaquille O'Neal develop a strategy for his Twitter presence. She has helped  many other sports celebrities build a strong fan base on Twitter and Facebook.

My Thoughts
This is an entertaining and informative book about developing social media influence. Sports fans will love the stories that she tells about working with some of the biggest names in professional sports.

Ms. Martin shares core values in this book that are essential in building trust via social media. She believes that both sides of the relationship must be equal with ongoing value exchange and reciprocation. She is a social rocket scientist because she believes magic happens when we combine numbers/statistics with an emotional connection. She advises us to strive to become expert listeners in both the physical and virtual worlds. Renegades have to earn trust and respect.

I believe this book offers a high degree of value and should be added to your reading list if you are a student of social media and branding strategies. This book offers practical insights and advice that can be used to build your presence on any social media platform. You don't have to be a celebrity or sports star to benefit from the information in this book.
Ms. Martin is launching an online Digital Royalty University that will instruct users on her methods of using social media. This is a great way to continue learning after you finish reading the book...the first lesson is free!

Three cheers for #TeamRenegade!

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review from the publisher.

I would love for you to FOLLOW this blog. You may use either the Google Friend Connect or the Networked Blog widget to show your support and encouragement. 

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below. 

Guest Blog Post: Christopher Smith On Social Media Marketing Part 2

I would like to welcome guest blogger Christopher Smith back to JanetteFuller.Com. Mr. Smith is a Social Media Marketing Specialist and an Online Auction Coach.
Yesterday our guest blogger shared some excellent advice for using Facebook and LinkedIn.
Today Mr. Smith will show us how we can use YouTube and Twitter to build our brand and our business.



YouTube

YouTube is the world’s largest online video community. You can literally find a rare commercial from the 1980’s to seeing what the latest bad choice by a current pop-culture celebrity was. YouTube is a great place to promote items.  Depending upon which article you consider, many experts say that as much as 60% of online sales will be derived from video. If you are not camera shy, you can promote anything that you would like. There are even ways to make videos that don’t require you being on camera. Facebook and LinkedIn require some level of connection in order for people to see your photos, comments, suggestions, etc.  On YouTube, anyone can subscribe to you. Anyone can see what you are up to. I have enjoyed some success using YouTube. Once you record a few videos, you begin to get relaxed and are able to be yourself. The more genuine you are in your videos, the more likely you will get customers.  This would be a perfect place to upload your vacation video and then explain how you would like to share with others how you were able to go on your vacation. 

Twitter

Twitter is almost always mentioned in the top five of all social media websites.  I’ve found that people either love or hate Twitter. The people that hate it don’t see the value in having only 140 characters to say what you need to say. They don’t grasp all of the weird ways people communicate with their @’s and #’s.  The people that love Twitter are almost addicted to seeing what others have to say. They love that you only have 140 characters to get out what is essential.  They love that you can personally connect with celebrities and hear what is on their mind. If you are lucky, you may even get a reply from a famous person (or at least a celebrity in your area of expertise). On Twitter, you can share your YouTube vacation video. You can reach out to anyone who wants to #workfromhome and then connect with them on Facebook or LinkedIn. You can send a Tweet with a direct link for people to check out what you are doing. 

Where Should You Start? 

If you are looking to build a social media following, you shouldn’t read every “how to” blog, book or eBook. You should simply get started. I would recommend joining one social media platform and begin to understand the strengths and weaknesses of that social media. Once you have developed a following, look at opening another account on a different social media website. You will quickly discover if a social media platform isn’t for you. Establish your primary goal for using social media and let that be your driving force. 

About Christopher Smith 

Christopher Smith is a Social Media Specialist and Online Auction Coach / Mentor. Between his Twitter accounts, eBay accounts, LinkedIn account, professional / personal Facebook pages and YouTube Channel, he reaches thousands of people each day.

http://linkedin.com/in/chrissmithblog

http://facebook.com/chrissmithblog

http://twitter.com/chrissmithblog

http://www.youtube.com/chrissmithblog

Please CLICK HERE to read Part 1 of this guest post by Christopher Smith.

I want to thank Chris Smith for sharing his thoughts on social media marketing.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Read Their Mind

Are you a mind reader?

Are you able to determine what the marketplace wants and needs?

Are you listening to people and helping them find answers and solutions?


"Read Their Mind; How To Hear What the Marketplace Wants and Build a Huge Business", by Sandi Krakowski, will show you how to follow your passion and build a strong, stable online business.

About The Author
Sandi Krakowski is a Serial Entrepreneur with 11 successful companies under her belt and a "Back To Basics Step By Step Business" expert who currently serves more than 170,000 clients in over 136 countries.

CopyWriter With Pink Hair
Sandi Krakowski began her Internet marketing career as a copywriter. She is known for the bright pink streak she wears in her hair.

Her marketing/consulting/coaching business has grown from her success in multiple Internet businesses. Ms. Krakowski shares many of the business principles and practices that she uses in this book.

Here are some of her key points;

• Determine your WHY. The author explains your WHY in the following way..."Whenever IT happens, IT pisses you off." You will work to find other people who have the same frustrations that you have and work with them to find a solution.
• Listen, Ask, Listen. Ms. Krakowski suggests that you do "listening research" to determine what the marketplace wants and needs. You must be sincerely interested in helping people and being the change. The author offers helpful advice in asking questions and using surveys to test your market. You will know what people want because they will tell you.
• It's Not About You. Your goal should not be to write copy that converts. You goal should be to find out what people are struggling with and figure out how you can help. The author believes it is important to speak and write at a level that people will easily accept. She uses the Flesch-Kincaid Formula to determine the reading grade level of her text. She has found that copy with a reading level of 7th grade or lower will convert more readers. Speaking to people where they're at is huge.

My Thoughts
Sandi Krakowski has built her business around the power of words. The words that are heard are just as important as the words that are spoken. This book provides practical tips and advice that you can use to improve your Internet business. The author writes a weekly newsletter and has thousands of subscribers. This book will give you a fresh outlook on how you communicate with people on your lists (email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

If you are not able to purchase the book at this time, I highly recommend the author's newsletter and Facebook page.

A Woman of Faith
Sandi Krakowski is not "religious" but she has a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She writes about her faith frequently in this book and gives God all the glory for her success.  I like the way the author was able to blend her personal beliefs and convictions with her business. She believes that she is fulfilling her God-given purpose by helping others.

FYI ~ I received a complimentary digital copy of this book during a pre-launch promotion on Facebook.

Do you conduct "listening research"? Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: The New Relationship Marketing

Today is the launch of "The New Relationship Marketing; How to Build a Large, Loyal Profitable Network Using the Social Web" by Mari Smith.

Relationships are the "new currency." Mari Smith explains that business professionals can become masters at relationship marketing in two primary areas: (1) the technical skill needed to utilize the vast array of social tools and (2) the soft skills needed to effectively build solid relationships through these social tools.

"The new relationship marketing means genuinely caring about all other human beings on the planet and building solid, win-win relationships." (Mari Smith)

About The Author
Mari Smith has a strong ten-year background in the world of relationships and Internet technology, making social media her ideal arena. Through her consulting and training business, Mari helps independent professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners to accelerate their business profits using an integrated social marketing strategy, with particular focus on Facebook and Twitter.

Relationships First, Business Second
Mari Smith has been called the "Pied Piper of the Internet World." She calls herself a "Relationship Marketing Specialist." Ms. Smith understands the changes that social media has created in the marketing world. She is an excellent teacher and is committed to sharing the information that she has learned during her successful relationship marketing career.

"We're being called to higher standards of authenticity, integrity, and transparency, and we are compelled to truly care about the world and all the people in it. The power has shifted from corporations to consumers, from dictators to citizens." (Mari Smith)

Mari Smith shares her own story in this book. She tells how she was a painfully shy child who hated to read aloud in front of the class. She tells how she began to gain confidence when she became active in a local Toastmasters Club. She has been fascinated with computers and technology since she was a teenager. With the right education and experience, she has conquered her shyness and has developed a real love for speaking and communicating with people.

Mari Smith shares "eight rules for effective electronic communication." She quotes the following line from the movie "The Social Network", "The Internet is not in pencil; it's in ink." She advises readers to avoid talking too much about yourself and your products without first adding value. She warns readers to "never respond to anything when you're emotional" and "never fight fire with fire on the web."

Ms. Smith shares some helpful points for developing a daily routine for time management. We all know that time seems to fly by when we are reading and posting on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. She recommends a scheduling program and several social media management tools to manage your time on social media sites.

Ms. Smith has a fascinating section is this book on deciding who the 16 to 25 high-level leaders and influentials are who you would most like to meet on a personal and professional basis. She has created a "Hollywood Squares" exercise where you can list these people and then create a plan of action to connect with them.

The New Relationship Marketing provides solid advice on how to turn fans, friends and followers into paying customers. The author shares an acronym that she lives by: ABM, or always be marketing. People decide whether or not to do business with you depending on your words and actions.

My Thoughts
This is a progressive, informative and enlightening book. It should be read and studied very carefully. The author has provided a free page of resources from this book on her web site. The resources include books, web sites, blogs, events, applications and articles that she discusses in the book.
The more I read this book, the more I realized that I need to make some changes in the way I interact with people on social media sites. This is a book that should be at the top of your "Must Read" list. Highly recommended to anyone who is ready to embrace change and climb to new levels of success.

If you would like to learn more about this book, please watch "The New Relationship Marketing Official Book Trailer" on YouTube.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Zarrella's Hierarchy Of Contagiousness

Want to learn how to maximize social media? Are you a snake-oil salesman or are you a scientist? 
"Zarrella's Hierarchy of Contagiousness: The Science, Design, and Engineering of Contagious Ideas", by Dan Zarrella, reveals the results of data and experimentation in the world of social media marketing.
This book was published by Seth Godin's The Domino Project and is being offered as a FREE Kindle book this week (offer ends August 27th).


About The Author
Dan Zarrella is an award-winning social media scientist at HubSpot. He has a background in web development and combines his programming capabilities with a passion for social marketing to study social media behavior from a data-backed position and teach marketers scientifically grounded best practices.

What Makes An Idea Contagious?
Dan Zarella is a social media scientist. He has spent many years collecting real data from a variety of social media platforms. Mr. Zarella dispels many myths about the proper ways to use social media marketing to grow your business. He describes three criteria that must be met before someone will spread an idea in any format;

• The person must be exposed to your content. This means that numbers count when it comes to followers on Twitter, fans on Facebook and subscribers to your email list.
• The person must become aware of your specific piece of content (the idea you want to spread). This means that the person must read your tweet, update or email message. The author shares his findings about the best times to post your ideas and the best/worst words to use.
• The person must be motivated by something in order to want to share the idea with his contacts. Mr. Zarella states that "rare information is power" and you must give your reader a reason to pass along your idea to his friends. The author presents his investigations into what motivates people to spread ideas.

My Thoughts
This book will encourage you to take a new look at the way you are using social media platforms to market your business. Mr. Zarrella believes it is time to take social media marketing to the next level and discover what is really working.

Most people will be able to read this book in about an hour. I suggest that you read it all the way through, and then go back and slowly read, highlight and take notes on the the key passages in this book. There is a wealth of information presented here.

I suggest that you grab Zarrella's Hierarchy of Contagiousness: The Science, Design, and Engineering of Contagious Ideas this week while it is being offered as a FREE digital download. This book is a real gem and the price is right!

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Be Social Be Rich

I recently received a digital review copy of "Be Social Be Rich: Social Networking Your Way to Endless Profits!", by Martha Giffen, to read and review on this blog. I am always looking for new books on the subject of social media marketing so I was thrilled to have this opportunity.
Martha Giffen is CEO of Best Kind Marketing, LLC. She has built a successful business using social networking to connect with people "one person at a time." She has co-authored a best-selling book, produced a popular Twitter training program, created motivational audios, and been featured on numerous talk radio shows. I met Martha during one of the Ultimate Blog Challenges and I have been a fan ever since. She blogs about methods and techniques to help entrepreneurs build thier own online businesses.

Martha Giffen loves people and she understands the power of building relationships. In Be Social Be Rich: Social Networking Your Way to Endless Profits!, she shares the experiences that have helped her build a successful business. Martha is a Twitter Guru and she explains many methods that have helped her meet people, build relationships and get clients. She has used a personal page and fan page to network with hundreds of people on Facebook. 
Mrs. Giffen explains how to use LinkedIn as a business networking tool. She explains that the profile is very important and is the basis for connecting with other people in your niche. Martha reveals some of her blogging secrets in the chapter on blogging. She explains that blogging is social because sucessful bloggers connect and interact with their readers.
I really enjoyed the chapter entitled, "Secrets of Seminar Networking". I have never attended an internet marketing seminar so I was very interested in this topic. Martha tells how she has met some very influential internet marketers by attending seminars. She explains how she has met many seminar speakers and presenters during after-hours meals and gatherings.
Mrs. Giffen included informative articles by Warren Whitlock, Dabney Porte, and Christina Hills to add more value to this virtual gold mine of social media information.

I REALLY like this book because....
it provides the "total picture" of what is needed to thrive and succeed in the world of social media marketing. Mrs. Giffen makes it very clear that building relationships must always come before the sales pitch. This means getting out of your comfort zone and reaching out to people.
This book will inspire and motivate you. I have a feeling that Martha will touch your heart just like she did mine. I learned that "being social" can lead to financial riches but more importantly, it will provide opportunities to develop relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Be Social Be Rich: Social Networking Your Way to Endless Profits! is now available in paperback version at Amazon.com. The Kindle version will be available soon.

Please share your thoughts in the Coments section below.

Book Review: Social Media For The CEO

I recently read Social Media for the CEO: The Why and ROI of Social Media for the CEO of Today and Tomorrow by Eve Mayer Orsburn.  I read this book in digital format on my Kindle.  I borrowed the book from a fellow member of the Kindle Lending Club. 
Ms. Orsburn is the founder and CEO of Social Media Delivered in Dallas, Texas.  This book provides an abundance of information for the CEO who is interested in promoting his/her business.  You are not a CEO?  The good news is that this book will benefit anyone who wants to learn more about social media marketing. 
Ms. Orsburn emphasizes that social media is about communication and building relationships.  Social media delivers (1) customer service, (2) marketing and (3) communication.  It is as simple as that. 
The author provides 14 case studies of companies that use social media to build their client base and grow their businesses.  Some of these companies are the Mayo Clinic, Anheuser-Busch, Texas State Optical and General Motors.  Ms. Orsburn explains how she built her reputation as a social media consultant on Linked-In. 
I found the author's "Social Media Equation" the highlight of this book.  She breaks down the amount of time that you should spend in providing information, entertaining and interacting with people that you connect with on social media sites.  If you follow this formula, you will reap the rewards of new friendships, professional contacts and clients.  I am going to write this formula on a piece of paper and tape it to my desk. 
This book is a quick read and is very easy to understand.  The concepts that are presented in this book are very doable.  I have read quite a few books on this subject and I honestly believe that I learned more practical information from this book than from any other. 
PS: The last pages of this book lists hundreds (thousands?) of Twitter names that the author follows.  I found this list fascinating and I am using it to find many new people to follow.

Book Review: 33 Million People In The Room

I read the Kindle version of 33 Million People in the Room: How to Create, Influence, and Run a Successful Business with Social Networking by Juliette Powell.  I am an avid Twitter and Facebook user, so I am always looking for books that will increase my skill and knowledge in social media marketing and promotion.
This is a slender book that can be read in a couple of hours, but it is packed full of useful information that will teach you how to use social media to make your business grow and thrive. 
Ms. Powell highlights the importance of social networking.  A social network is a Web platform where people can connect with one another.  It is the online counterpart of the rolodex and card catalog wrapped into one, and it's becoming just as widely used.  Social media offers new and exciting ways to communicate.  Social networks aren't just about catching up, they are about staying in touch.
The author uses "Reed's Law" to illustrate the effectiveness of large social networks. Reed's Law suggests that every new person on a network doubles it's value. If you have a network of 25 business contacts, the amount of possible connections and subgroups within your group is an amazing 33 million.
The author provides numourous examples of how entrepreneurs have used social media platforms to build and grow their buisiness empires.  There is plenty of practical information in this book to educate a  newbie and enough details to sharpen the skills of a social media guru.
I really enjoyed the inspiration that this book presents by providing true stories of people who have worked hard and used social media networks to achieve success that truly blows my mind.  I read this book and then I made a list of things that I want to implement to expand my social media networking efforts. 
I recommend that you read this book and then use it as a reference tool in the future.

Kudos To The Dell Social Media Team

My husband and I have been using Dell computers for many years. I worked as a school librarian and my library was full of Dell computers. My husband works for a large company and has been using Dell computers for about 15 years. We have also purchased one Dell desktop computer and two Dell laptop computers for our personal use. We have been good Dell customers.

I bought a Dell Inspiron 1526 laptop computer in May, 2008. A few months ago, I noticed that the battery would not hold a charge. I ordered a new battery but that did not help. The computer was just out of warranty but my husband thought we should try to get it repaired. He called Dell Customer Service and received authorization to send the computer to a local (Houston area) Dell contractor and have it repaired. Dell sent us a FedEx box and we shipped the computer to the repair facility.

We waited one week, two weeks, three weeks....still no computer. My husband had been on the phone for hours trying to find out why the computer had not been returned. Each phone call resulted in hours of being put on hold, transfers from one customer service rep to another and calls being cut off. My husband was becoming more and more frustrated. He said he would NEVER buy another Dell computer.

I was getting impatient. One night my husband said that the Dell rep on the telephone told him that my computer was on "hold" because of a "payment problem". That sent me over the deep end because I knew that Dell had charged my credit card over $400.00 BEFORE they ever received the computer for repair. They talked to my husband on the phone and then charged me $400.00 before they even touched the computer! Now, they are saying that they are holding the computer because of a "payment problem" and putting the blame for this mess on us. I don't think so.

I am an avid Twitter user so I started tweeting and retweeting all kinds of trash about Dell customer service. (YAWN) It wasn't long before I attracted the attention of the Dell Online Community Escalations Team??? I was contacted by DarrenAtDell and he said that he would have someone from the team contact me. I was skeptical. I thought it might be a hoax or just a ploy to get me to stop posting nasty remarks about Dell Customer Service on Twitter. However, I soon got an email from a gentleman named Bradley who said he would try to "expedite" the matter.

Well, the past 4 or 5 customer service reps that my husband talked to said the same thing. They were all "expediting" the matter but still no computer. So, I continued to tweet on Twitter. Again, I attracted the attention of the Dell social media people. This time, billatdell shot me a direct message and asked me to call him. I called him and he seemed sincerely interested in helping me resolve this problem. He accessed my account and said I should have the computer within the next 3 or 4 days. He also said he would investigate the charges on my credit card and make corrections as needed. I also received several emails from Bradley (from the online community team) keeping me posted on what was going on.

The computer was delivered 3 days after I talked to billatdell and it seems to be as good as new. I have to say that DarrenAtDell, billatdell and Bradley were all top-notch professionals. They responded to my frustrations and they had the authority to get results.

KUDOS to the Dell Social Media Team! This story has a happy ending because of you.

Are You A Twitter Gnat?

Have you heard the story of The Gnat and the Bull? It is an old Aesop fable that was written hundreds of years ago.

A Gnat landed on one of the horns of a Bull, and remained sitting there for a considerable time.

When it had rested sufficiently and was about to fly away, it said to the Bull, "Do you mind if I go now?"

The Bull merely raised his eyes and remarked, without interest, "It doesn't matter to me; I didn't notice when you came, and I won't know when you go away."

MORAL: We may often seem to be more important in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbors.

The gnat remained sitting on the bull's horn for a considerable time. He wasn't doing anything to make a difference. He wasn't contributing to the welfare of the bull. He was just sitting there.

Are you a Twitter gnat?

What Is The Most Important Quality Of A Good Mate?

I recently asked my friends on Twitter the following question;

If you had to name the single most important quality of a good mate, what would it be?

Here are some of the answers I received from my fellow Tweeps;

@GetOutOfDebtGuy Compatible humor/laughter

@sereneworld4us Hm, that would be honesty!

@Bobby61557 Their huge Bank Account Because unfortunately Money plays a huge roll in relationships.

@IveGotUCovered A mate must put God first in his life. To me, I think that's the most important quality. You need to have that for the proper foundation.

@readergirl fidelity - not just fidelity to each other, but to plans, visions, growing in the same direction.

@formatted_dad Someone who listens.

@mattkirschner Good question. Between humor and ability to be laid back, I'd pick the latter.

@andsarah2 Compatible worldview

@ewellburn kindness

I read these replies and then I thought about my own answer. I am very glad that I have a Christian husband. I agree with @IveGotUCovered - "You need to have that for the proper foundation".

Twitter Is Like Catching Your First Fish

Fishing Lesson from Janette Fuller on Vimeo.

This video of Kaley catching her first fish in our pond shows you how I felt as I was getting my feet wet on Twitter.

Here are five reasons why using Twitter is like catching your first fish;

1. Cast your line in the water and wait. It was hard for me to be patient when I first cast my line out in the Twitterverse. You can't just jump in and start trying to influence people. It takes time to build relationships and establish an authentic online reputation. I learned to cast out my line and slowly build a following.
2. 
   
   Be prepared for a nibble. Be ready to answer questions and return comments when Tweeps communicate with you. Tweet something of value in the midst of conversation you are having with your followers.
3. 
   
   Reel the fish in. Keep a positive attitude and consistently post tweets that help other people. People are not going to care about what you know until they believe that you care about them. I learned that being a good listener is a valuable trait on Twitter.
4. 
   
   Ask for help if you need it. Twitter is a great place to ask questions. If you need advice or encouragement, you can find it on Twitter. It is just amazing how helpful your fellow Tweeps can be.
5. 
   
   Smile for the camera. Enjoy your sucess. It might be a little scary to wake up one morning and realize that you have thousands of followers waiting for your next tweet of wisdom. Keep a sense of humor and enjoy the ride.

Keep tweeting and be prepared to hang a big one!

Follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/janettefuller

Twitter Avatars; Is A Picture Worth A Thousand Words?

An avatar is a graphical image that represents a person on the Internet. You have an opportunity to choose a personal avatar when you register on Twitter. This avatar becomes your personal branding with other people in the Twitterverse.

If you want to make a good impression on Twitter, you should give your avatar careful consideration. Here are some of the avatars that I have observed on Twitter;

• Current photograph. This can be a formal picture or a very casual picture. The majority of people using Twitter use a personal photo as their avatar.
• Twitter generic avatar. If you don't upload a picture, your avatar will be the default Twitter logo.
• Business logo. Some Tweeple use their company logo as an avatar. This is good for the business but not so good for personal interaction. Most people like to have a mental image of the person they are communicating with.
• Animal pictures. Some Tweeps post a picture of their pet for an avatar. I am the biggest animal lover in the world, but I do not want people to identify with me by thinking about a picture of my dog.
• Clip art. These graphics are cute but they do not have the personal touch that a photograph has.
• Baby and children pictures. Proud parents have every right to display pictures of their kids but I would much rather see a picture of Mom or Dad so I could relate as an adult.
• Body Parts. Can you expect Tweeple to value your intellectual comments when your avatar is X-rated?

How Tweet It Is!

I am a tweet....a twit....even a twitaholic! I have been getting my feet wet on Twitter. It has been a great journey and a fantastic learning experience. I have met many marvelous people who have greatly added to my knowledge of social media and internet marketing.

It is truly amazing what can be communitcated in 140 characters or less. It is known as microblogging. Each time you post on Twitter, you answer a simple question - "What are you doing?"

As a newbie Twit, I often found myself wondering what to post. What am I doing that would be interesting to my followers? I gradually learned that there are many ways to share information with my Twitter friends.

Here are some ways that I connect with tweeple on Twitter:

1. I really post what I am doing. Getting the kids ready for school? Taking the dogs for a walk? Working on my next blog post? Waiting in the doctor's office? My followers are interested to know that I do the same kind of things that they do.
2. Being a good listener and posting comments. Everyone likes to get feedback. Everyone likes to be noticed. I post @ replies to tweets that I find interesting. Sometimes I ask questions or give my input on what was posted.
3. Giving sincere compliments. If I just read a fascinating blog article written by one of my Twitter friends, I provide a link and recommend the post to my followers.
4. Posting links to my blogs. I recommend products. I share recipes. I pass along good deals that I find online.

The Twitterverse is a fascinating place to visit. I am learning more everyday.