Yesterday, I got the question “why do you blog?” of course I had around a million answers to respond with. Then I realized that the reason the person asked was not to find out why I blogged but to see if there was any reason to why he should blog.
This got me thinking about what [...]
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Why you should Use Twitter Lists to Complement your Blog Posts
Posted By Annelie Näs on March 9th, 2010
More than a year ago, Mashable started to create lists of inspiring people on twitter in certain areas, which they shared in posts on their website. The lists were not only good marketing for the people on them, but they were also great for new Twitter users who want to find people who tweet about their field of interest.
Today, I see a similar trend happening on other blogs; people recommend other’s that they are following and put up a link and a description of the user. But this seem a bit “yesterday” to me, after all; we now have Twitter lists to do that.
If I go back to Mashable again, you can check their Twitter account and see that they have created multiple lists that is now named for example; web, twitter-stars, design, marketing and of course social media.
This means that if I want to I’m interested in one of the lists that Mashable have, I do not have to click on each users, I could simply subscribe to the list and see if I like it. Then, I could decide to start following individual users and not the list, but I saved a lot of time.
I recently did something similar when preparing a Swedish Blog post, I wanted to tell people about the social media representatives of Dell. Instead of listing each of them, I created a list with those I knew about and linked to that one, giving my readers an easy way to get in touch with anyone of them, in just one click.
So the next time you are recommending people to follow on Twitter on you blog. Do both! Give them the easy option to follow your list (which is good marketing for you also) or each individual !
Google Equalize Opportunities to Discuss for Online Students
Posted By Annelie Näs on March 7th, 2010
So, as you know from a few previous blog posts and my bio, I study online. What you might not know is that I have done about half my education on Campus. Therefore, I often compare the pros and cons with the two ways to study and constantly find new ones.
My latest discovery was in the English Class I’m taken, we are studying culture and literatures and this particular assignment was an analysis of the short story Doctor Marigold by Charles Dickens. We were told to find interesting angles and questions to the text and then discuss the subjects in a group. In one of the groups I was in we started discussing whether the characters were “mimetic or semiotic?” I was pretty confused by this question before as both these concepts were new to me, but after making searching and reading some information on Google; I could participate in the discussion.
The interesting thing about this is that not only could I participate and generate value to the discussion even though I did not know anything about the concepts before. Even more, neither did the other group members (except for the girl who asked the question) but it still became the most active discussion thread.
Now, if this had been a question in the classroom, there would probably been more than one who where familiar with the subject and they could discuss it leaving other in the dark. Something that would be a lot less educating, than the online discussion group which allowed us all to understand and participate.
Thus, sometimes discussions and group assignments online are actually better for the students, because we have the time and material to understand new concepts. And everyone get’s heard, as there is no one speaking louder or thinking faster.
Posted in Annelie's Musings
Bravissimo Use Their Customers As Models
Posted By Annelie Näs on March 3rd, 2010
One type of marketing technique that really interest me, and which I even consider writing my thesis about, is how you can use current events and issues to market your business. I been talking about this in a post about Ikea, and how they promoted their business with the message Obama sent the public: change.
Today I stumbled upon another example of this. I saw the advertising material for the lingerie brand Bravissimo, who focuses on underwear for women with bigger breasts. They use real women in and not just any women but their actual customers. These women are curvy, healthy looking women and thought they have been styled and look gorgeous they really are real women.
Of course the use of these models helps positioning the brand towards a certain audience which is what they are looking for. But more importantly, in this case, it diverts us from the size zero ideal and show how great women look when they have curves. This means that the brand Bravissimo takes up the battle against the sick ideals which the fashion industry promotes.
Other brands have done similar things before, but Bravissimo actually let their customers apply for the opportunity to model for the brand. This shows that these women are not only models but actually customers who like the brand and enjoy the products. This makes the campaign and the message of it even more genuine.
Because of the message and pictures of these gorgeous real woman, the brand have got even more publicity than they would in another campaign. But hopefully, they have also contributed to preventing the issues with teenagers that the size zero ideal creates.
Go Bravissimo!
Posted in Annelie's Musings
3 Sources for Blog Post Inspiration
Posted By Annelie Näs on February 23rd, 2010
I often get stuck when I try to write blog posts on a set time frame instead of when I feel like it, and it is not because I do not have anything to write about. I usually have ideas for subject to write about a few times during the day, but they are rarely connected to the time which I am going to start writing, and then when I have time to write the subject does not feel as interesting anymore.
Therefore I have looked on ways to inspire myself to become instantly “passionate” about a subject to create a post about it at the assigned writing time. Now, I have figured out three sources that usually get me thinking enough to create that writing momentum.
Similar search terms
Looking though my daily analysis for website traffic I usually see word or sentences that people have search for and ended up on my blog by typing. Usually these keywords are very connected to what I have written, but now and then the keywords and the post they found does not seem to be a “match.” In these cases I try to write a post about the subject which they were looking to read about, because generally there is more than one person interested in that subject.
Tip 1: Create the content that your visitors are looking for.
LinkedIn Answers and More Particular LinkedIn Questions
The LinkedIn answers section is a great place to learn about things that you are interested in, and get answers to the questions. However, far from everyone even consider it as a source when they are looking for information. Instead, they make a Google search to find the answers to their questions. Therefore, you could go to the LinkedIn section to answer questions from your expertise, and also blog about the subjects that people ask questions about to make sure that even more get the information.
Tip 2: Blog about the subjects that are asked about in the LinkedIn answer section.
Read, read, read and then read a little more
When you read things that other people have written you automatically starts developing your own ideas and drawing your own conclusions about what is said, or perhaps the text even gets you thinking about something else. By subscribing to a about 150 RSS feeds on my Google reader I receive a constant flow of information and thus sources of inspiration.
Tip 3. Read and get inspired to create your own ideas based on the knowledge of others.
To this list I also have add the comment by Mark Murnahan, aka A web guy, who commented on my blog today saying “Exercise does not only count for biceps. I have found that the more I write, the more I think…”
I don’t think I write enough to have this working for me yet, but the concept is so trough that I wanted to share this as well.
Do you have any other tools that you use to get “on the spot” inspiration?
Posted in Annelie's Musings
Where was the Buzz around Google Buzz?
Posted By Annelie Näs on February 10th, 2010
Today Google’s latest service Google Buzz launched, and at least it took me by surprise, because I had not heard about it. I follow over 100 of the biggest social media, marketing, tech and web development blogs, yet the first article I could find about Google Buzz was published about four hours ago.
The function is coming to all Gmail users during the next couple of days, and I have to admit that I’m not one of the lucky ones who already got it. However, I was able to get a glimpse from it by looking at some other people’s account. Because you can see “buzzes” from those who have account and has “buzzed” publicly, here is Mashable’s.
So what is Google Buzz?
Google Buzz is Google’s first real attempt to a social network. It is build in to the Gmail interface and automatically connect you with your friends, and with 150 million Gmail users this is a social network with a high potential.
Here is the official video introduction:
So where was the Buzz around the launch?
Before the launch of Google Wave, there were videos, a site, invites and comments from those who had tried it. Yet, I still have not figured out how I could best implement the use of it in what I’m doing. However, I did know what Google Wave was.
With Buzz the opposite seem to be going on, no one had heard about it, or at least not said anything about it. The network seems to be easy to use and it does not require much set up as it is built into Gmail.
Now this might have been a smart move considering the amount of Buzz that is going on right now. On Twitter I looked at the hash tag Google Buzz and within seconds I had 290 unread tweets. Thus, they might not have needed too much pre buzz.
But why not? What will they win or lose on not having any buzz? Did they have any test group outside of Google before the launch?
I think that the face that they did not speak about it before make the implementation quicker. Because of the fact that Google is so established, they knew that the Buzz would come with the launch. Therefore by releasing it to all in a few days, they created an “eagerness” of people to try it out. Which could mean that people have time to create their own opinion before they have heard everyone else’s?
What do you think?
Try it out, or check the buzz, (without getting to influenced ;)
Here are is some of the latest Buzz about it:
- Read Write the Web – Live Blogging from Google: Launch of Google Buzz
- Marketing Pilgrim – Google Buzz Launches 150+ Million User Social Network
- Mashable – Google Buzz: Competitors and Experts React
- Read Write the Web – How Google Buzz is Disruptive: Open Data Standards
- Louis Gray – Google Buzz Brings Social Sharing, Aggregation into GMail
- All Facebook – Google Declares War On Facebook With Google Buzz
Urban Dictionary First To Benefit From The Facebook Viral Status Updates
Posted By Annelie Näs on February 4th, 2010
They have been going on a while, the viral Facebook status updates. I was first asked to post my bra-color in my status, which has turned into a mystery as no one knows who started it. A day later came the question about the length of my hair, and I’m sure there has been many more like them.
After that came the doppelganger week, where you where supposed to publish a picture of your celebrity look-a-like as you profile picture. This caused some drama as it might violate the terms of service for the network as first published by Cnet. But there is still people participating in this.
Because of these trends I got the question from @Thrimpth on twitter:
At the time the idea that companies, organizations or even blogs could benefit from this hit me right away. But I had not developed my thought more than that at time.
Today the next viral campaign spread and indeed there is a website that is getting a lot of attention for it. Urban Dictionary is the “winner” of being the first to actually benefit from these weekly trends.
Urban Dictionary is the dictionary you wrote. Define your world.
The trend is that people look up their name on the urban dictionary and then post the result for it in their Facebook status. Of course you can also find the word for
“To look up your own name on Urban Dictionary, either for definition or myspace useage” which is Urbaning. So technically the latest Facebook trend is called Urbaning, and indeed it is a trend, as the urban dictionary page for Urbaning is in the top ten most popular webpages right now according to the alexa toolbar.
The dictionary’s visitor count changed + 143 % yesterday (Feb 2), according to alexa. Considering the fact that most online media journalists and bloggers just began writing about this trend around 24 hours ago, this is only starting. My guess is that because of this viral trend Urban Dictionary will double their visitor-count five times at least because of this.
Now, an interesting consideration to take here is that there is a big chance that the creators of the urban dictionary did not initiated the campaign themselves, but simply some user who saw the potential it had. Though regardless of who started it, many people will now know about the dictionary.
Many companies might think that they would have a hard time implementing a trend like this, because their message, product or service is not as easy to spread or and interesting to share. But I would have to disagree. There is a lot of successful viral campaign’s that wasn’t too connected with the initiators. Take the fun theory that I wrote about a while ago, I’m sure that people did not think about Volkswagen when they first found out about it. But I would say that most of the people mentioning it to a friend will know who created it. And they did not scream “we did it,” they simply but their logo in the end of the clips.
Thus, sure Urban Dictionary had an obvious “pitch” for starting a trend on Facebook. However, a good idea is a good I idea, and I think any great idea could make it.
What do you think? Could any company, organization, blog or website start a viral trend on Facebook? Have you seen any other facebook trends that I have missed? Do you think that anyone benefited from the previous viral status updates?
10 Reasons To Why Students Should Blog
Posted By Annelie Näs on February 1st, 2010
Yesterday, I got the question “why do you blog?” of course I had around a million answers to respond with. Then I realized that the reason the person asked was not to find out why I blogged but to see if there was any reason to why he should blog.
This got me thinking about what blogging has done to me, and why I continue to blog. Thus I wanted to create a list to why I think that students should blog to complement their studies and choice their own professional path. Because I honestly believe that when I want to apply for a job or make decisions for my career this blog will matter.
Blogs give individuals an opportunity to express their opinions and make them count in a world of millions of others. Years ago, you needed to be a journalist or a politician to get your opinion heard; today, blogs offer anyone the opportunity to express oneself.
Now this list is written on the presumptions that writing is a way of studying; When you have put something in your own words you know it a lot better than if you only read it. Also, I talk about blogging about subjects, interest etc. and not a personal blog about what I did today.
1. Gain a deeper knowledge for the subject you are studying – or show people that you know about another subject.
When it comes to University classes I many times feel that even though I’m taking classes in subjects that interests me and the classes are really good, I do not really learn what had expected to learn. By blogging you can assign yourself any subject you want to analyze and write about and then learn about it yourself.
2. Improve your creativity by finding new subject to write about.
Initially blogging might be very easy and the subject may come to you by the second, but sometimes you will lose your flow or you might not find and interesting angle. Then creativity will be essential to keep your blogging up, and of course there will be other ways to improve your creativity like with the blog design etc.
3. Develop your analytical thinking though writing insightful posts.
It is one thing to republish the news or the facts that you read about, but adding value to them and figure out new angles is what will improve your analytical thinking. After all, for most subjects people already have a source for the news, so from you they will be looking for something a bit more insightful.
4. Create pieces for discussion and debate subjects that interest you through comments on your blog.
I bet that you many times wonder about what other people think about a subject. A blog could be the ideal way to find the answers. Many bloggers write about subjects that interest them and ask questions or do other things to make people comment. Then they learn from others by reading and participating in the discussion that can come out from that.
5. Improve your language skills, writing will give you a wider vocabulary and better grammar and if you prefer your could practice your professional writing.
As I write in my second language I broaden my vocabulary by having to find words representing what I am trying to say. But if you blog in your first language this same thing will probably work with synonyms and finding more precise definitions on what you are trying to say. Thus both will give you a wider vocabulary. Along with this you will improve your grammar by writing on a regular basis. Here I also want to point out that a blog, if you want it to, could be great way to learn to write professionally so that you are always ready to present yourself well.
6. Show that you are trustworthy by keeping the promise to your readers – blog on a regular basis.
All bloggers know that the traffic to their site decrease if they do not update regularly. Now what regularly means defers between bloggers, some updates a few times daily, while I update two or three times a week. This is what my readers expect from me and that is what I give you.
7. Improve your skills to express yourself, practice to write in a way that influences people.
It is one thing to use well thought out words and proper grammar, but expressing yourself in a way that influences people takes quite some talent. Some might have I naturally, while others have to work on it, and might never reach the same level. A blog could be a great place to practice.
8. Show that the interest that you have for your future profession is a passion.
Now, when most students who come home from school might be tired of the subject they study and want to do something else. Which is why showing a real interest for the subject you study could give you a great advantage in the future. When it comes to hiring, who will an employer choice – the blogger or the student watching tv?
9. Build a name for yourself, a personal brand, share your ideas and thoughts with the world and let them get to know you.
A blog is a great way to take control of your personal brand, to show people who you are. Now, you might not be an expert in a subject, and be honest about that. But you still can contribute you can still teach people who now less than you about the subject something. Or perhaps you can give a person who knows more a few great ideas. Let people get to know you and what you think, and one day you will probably be an expert.
10. Create a written portfolio showing that you are knowledgeable in the subject that you want to work in and you are very likely to get a head when you want to apply of a job.
What all comes down to, it being prepared for your future profession. Surely a diploma and a degree will do that, but your fellow student will have that to and compete for the same jobs. A blog will give you a differentiator, a lead, something that proves that you know what you are talking about. It is a written portfolio of your thoughts and ideas, or perhaps pictures, which make you, stand out.
Now, already when writing this I can think of more ideas, but I am going to stop here for now. I have given your some of reasons and explanations and left some things unsaid. Do you blog? Why do you blog? Why do you recommend others to blog? It is your turn to contribute to the list..
Write the most important thing first – in any kind of email
Posted By Annelie Näs on January 29th, 2010
I recently registered a new domain name, but for this one I tried another provider than the one I have for my other domains. I happy with my current provider, but as I didn’t want a web hotel this time, I had to try something new. Anyway, the whole registration was kind of made in a hurry, because it was an idea I got and then after I headed out. From the mail I received, I got the impression that I was going to get an invoice via Snail mail. So I just closed the email without reading all of it, and headed out.
After some waiting I still had not received any invoice, but neither had I taken the time to figure out when I today got a “reminder” to pay. Weird I thought and opened the mail, only to find out that further down in the mail there was a title called “How do I pay?.” But I never got that far down in the email the first time, thus never realized that I could pay online. Rookie mistake indeed, I would have understood that there was an online payment. But as some domain-resellers have your confirm the domain name with a signature by fax or snail mail, I thought that this was some variation of this.
Either way, make sure that you organize your emails so that the things that you really want to be said is not too far down in the e-mail, as people tend to start to read and then just browse through the rest. Believe I have more examples of this, or perhaps you can admit that you also do it?
3 Tips to Make sure that people read what you write:
- Put the most important things first, or at least a very noticeable notifier of what is coming.
- Track the click-through rate on all the links in emails (those that your send to many people atleast) to figure out what people read, and how they interpret what you are meaning.
- Consider ways to shorten your emails, because people are used to Tweeted information now, 140 char, that is!
Looking at the second advice here is what I’m talking about. Sometimes you put many links after each other in a sentence like: I recently wrote on my blog that I published a video on YouTube. Now, to me it is obvious that it’s only the link under “video” that defines the actually video I’m referring too. But other people might think that the link under blog refers to the specific blog post, or that the YouTube link shows the video on YouTube. You can track or at least anticipate what people think of this sentence by tracking the click-thoughts.
So, the next time you write an email with something important, make sure to start with it!
Any thoughts on this? Personal experiences?
Posted in Annelie's Musings
Preconceptions: Chocolate Pralines in a Red Tinfoil Wrapper!
Posted By Annelie Näs on January 24th, 2010
As you might know, Belgium is famous for their wonderful Chocolate. So moving here I made it a habit to try new kind of chocolate; dark, milk, white, expensive, cheap, pralines and other kinds. Though it was not until recently I found out that I had preconceptions about chocolate and their wrappings.
As a Christmas gift I got this amazing chocolate box filled with delicious pralines from Neuhaus. I do not know if that is the case here, but in Sweden we have a tradition of giving each other boxes with chocolate pralines around Christmas.
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| Photo: Neuhaus |
Anyway, I many other situations I save the best for last, but with chocolate I do the reverse. So the last pieces in the box, those that I really do not care for become emergency chocolate for when I really crave it. In my box those that are left are usually wrapped in a red foil wrapper, to me meaning that it is a praline filled with cherry liqueur, (or some other type of liqueur) and I really don’t like them.
So when I got my Neuhaus chocolate box, I followed the habit and saved the praline in the red tinfoil wrapper for last. Only to find out that it did not contain any liqueur but some very tasty soft nougat mix. What a great surprise! After this experience I realized that I never even thought about the fact that this wrapper could mean one thing in Belgium and one thing in Sweden. So I even asked a few Swedes if they had the same preconception, and indeed they had.
Now thinking about this, I realized that launching a product as international as Chocolate in a new country could mean a lot more investigations about preconceptions and habits than one would think.
So you have any similar experiences? Have you ever launched a product in a new country and faced this kind of challenge? Share your experiences.
Posted in Annelie's Musings
Why You Always Need To Communicate Using The Tools Preferred By The Respondent
Posted By Annelie Näs on January 21st, 2010
A few days ago I had a discussion with a clear Facebook opponent. Actually, she was against all social media. She argued that Facebook was only a place to share photos while I argued that I used it for communications. I guess in a way we are both right, as people tend to use Facebook very differently. Even my use has changed over time.
At one point we started discussing the value of communicating in various channels, especially comparing: Skype, Phone calls, E-Mail and Facebook mail and wall. She said that all the people worth being friend with she communicate with using the first three communication tools, and those she does not contact using this tools, she did not consider friend nor did she have any need to stay in contact with them.
As you might suspect my view was completely different. I use all those tools, and many times I prefer communicating via Facebook as opposed to mail. Primarily because on Facebook all communicating is “person to person” and by that I mean my inbox is not filled with newsletters etc, that might make me forget or lose an email from a friend. I do agree with her that my closest friends are those I communicate in voice with, but that would never mean that I would consider dropping all my other relations. I love the fact that I can stay in touch and updated with some many of the people that I meet and talk with.
So what can we learn from these differences in use of communication tools and value of them?
Basically I have realized that I might want to see the irregular use of Facebook of a friend that this person might prefer me to contact them via the normal email or via phone call. Whereas, a frequent user might love the (1) after the inbox on their Facebook account.
Thus, take the time to look at what communication tools someone is using before you contact them and you might end up with a better conversation. As you are doing it on their terms!
I asked the question: “Do you value a ”normal” mail more than a Facebook mail?” on Twitter and got these responses:
As you see there was some misunderstanding of the term “normal” mail; I should have said e-mail. But I thank @Garthy30 @tomegnome and @mveilenstein for their answers, once again showing me that this is very individual.
Which one do you value more? And how do you go about contacting someone? Which communication tool is your default?
