Back in the game – just a little bit different

October 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A wise man said, just write and you will be a writer. You don’t have to write a book to be a writer and everyone who has written a book is not a writer. This is taken from a recent post by Chris Brogan, which came just at the right time for me. I went from writing two-three post a week, to one, down to only a few in a month. Now it has been two posts since my last post and I realize that it is not longer an issue of not having the time. But simply that my own expectations on what the next post needs to be has grown higher and higher as the weeks has past, to a level where the idea of beginning  a new post was scary.

A lot has happen since the last time I wrote. I my internship turned into a temporary employment, which meant that I changed from being a full-time student and working on the side, to a full-time employee and trying to have time to finish school on the side. I work in the telecommunications industry which business development now, which fits me perfectly, I always wanted to work with technology and business, so I could not be happier. I guess this is a contributing reason to why I have not been blogging. The words on my blog have always been from a student, now all of a sudden they are from an employee. I’m still the same, of course more experienced – but not that much, yet the pressure I put on my blog posts grew.

With all this said, I’m coming back into blogging. This post was my way of saying “Hey, I’m still here, just a little bit different.” Hopefully this is a start of a at least weekly tradition and I’m going to work myself back into the game. I’m glad and surprised to see that so many of my readers are still with me and I hope you stay!

Ohh.. And if you haven’t, read more here about my thesis project and please sign up!

Filed Under: Annelie's Musings

3 Things That Would Improve Twitter Suggestions

July 31, 2010 By 3 Comments

Today Twitter added a new interesting feature which is common on other networks like Facebook and LinkedIn, where you are suggested who to follow. According to the twitter blog the suggestions are based on several factors, including the people you follow and the people they are following.

I find this feature very interesting, especially for twitter users who are still new and who have not yet got a hang of it. It has sometimes been difficult to find interesting people to follow that you do not know from before. At least from my experience I usually follow the writers of the blogs I read and the people that I meet in real life. I rarely sit on twitter and try to find people to follow. But maybe that is just me?

Twitter also added the feature “if you like this person, you might like these as well”. Interesting, but I wonder what will happen if it starts suggesting organisations and people that you don’t want to be associated with.

Anyway, in the right menu you can see the users suggested, and you can also press “view all” and see come to a new page where you see a longer list of suggested people. In the right menu you get to see their name and a picture and have the option to follow them in directly from the right menu. Most of the time these features are in beta when they are first published, so they might have more coming on this one. But here are three things which I would like to see in the feature which would make me use it even more.

1. Tweeter rollover – displaying; location, latest tweet, bio, followers, website etc.

In the “normal” feed you can get more information about the tweeter by rolling you mouse over his/hers screen name, this I feel is very useful when you want more info about the person you are following. This is even more important I feel when it comes to people that you are not following and that you might want to learn more about to follow. If I’m going to follow someone by pressing follow in the right menu, I want this info there as well.

2. The reason – why should I follow this person?

Twitter says that the suggestions are based on several factors, I want to know which one. Am I recommended this person because we live in the same city? Or because my friend follow her? Or is it because she tweets about the same subjects as I do? I think this information would make me more interested in following this person.

3. Variables – give me an option to choose what people to are shown – perhaps depending on language.

I rarely, or almost never follow people because they are from the same city as me or live close to me. So I would like the option to turn of that factor. On the other hand I love to listen to people who tweet about social media, marketing and business development, so then I would be nice to have the option to be suggested people two tweet a lot about this keywords.

So far the best thing with this feature, if it works, is that if you “click “hide,” and we’ll try not to suggest that user again.” However, could this could be bad if you click it unintentionally and cannot find the person again.

Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

Updated: 7 (5) beginner mistakes to avoid in social media & blogging

July 28, 2010 By 19 Comments

Everyone makes mistakes, and those who have made them, tend to have a desire of not wanting others to do the same. Personally I’m some where in between when it comes to blogging and social media. I’m still learning but I’m experienced enough to teach others. So I thought I would start by sharing a few things about what NOT to do. Some are mistakes I’ve made myself and others are mistakes which I see other making.

Creating accounts that you don’t use

When it comes to personal accounts most people are very forgiving when they find account that people don’t use. It usually says more about the network than the person. The problems start how ever, when you leave accounts that you have been using without a word. For example an old twitter account, people might not realise that you have stopped tweeting and is wondering why you don’t answer. Which puts you in a bad light, this goes for emails and everything else. Be careful with “looking active” where you are not. I have also seen this done by companies which I find even worse.

Not having any contact information

This one I’ve stumbled upon a lot since I’ve tried to get to know the people behind the blog etc. But many ‘forget’ or choose to not put up a contact form or an email address. I wonder just how many opportunities are lost that way.

Automated messages

Automated messages is one of the things which I really oppose. First of all you “represent” things that you cannot control. Second, people think that you are around and you might not answer. Third, people might start questioning your motives if you just send out a feed. If you want to be around in social media, make sure that you are around and not some robot version of who you are.

Not follow up on replies

This goes for both social networks and blog comments and any other communication online. If people are trying to communicate with them do not leave them hanging. Even if you don’t reply until a few hours later, make sure that you do reply because people will remember. I have unfollowed people that I’ve tried contact who have not answered many times. With some it is understandable because they have too many followers, but for the people like me, I find it as rude as not responding to a hello when you meet IRL.

Promoting yourself to much

This is one of the lessons I read about most. And which I’ve been good at following because you can read it in any book about social media and personal branding. People wont listen to you if you only talk about yourself. There is not much more to that point. Try to promote other peoples stuff and to talk with people and not only write and share your own content.

After talking with a few people on Twitter about this posting I figured I would add two lessions to this post.

1. Be careful with information related to employers or clients

This suggeston came from Gert Lambers on Twitter, and I could not agree more. It is important to seperate your own opinions from your employeers. Either you can state it in a sentence “my opinions on twitter does not reflect my employer”, but also make sure you think twice when you post something which has any relevance to your work.

@GertLambers  “Being careful with info related to employers or clients would be wise, 1 should make sure to be compliant with employers rules”

2. Listen more than you speak

The second tip came from Adrian Chira, who says it all, we have 2 ears and 1 month and should use them accordinly. Listen more than you speak. And I would says that listning twice as much as you speak is not an exaggeration at all.

@adrianchira I would add that we have 1 mouth and 2 ears and we should use them accordingly so first try to listen more than you speak

Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , , , , ,

Updated: 7 (5) beginner mistakes to avoid in social media & blogging

July 28, 2010 By 19 Comments

Everyone makes mistakes, and those who have made them, tend to have a desire of not wanting others to do the same. Personally I’m some where in between when it comes to blogging and social media. I’m still learning but I’m experienced enough to teach others. So I thought I would start by sharing a few things about what NOT to do. Some are mistakes I’ve made myself and others are mistakes which I see other making.

Creating accounts that you don’t use

When it comes to personal accounts most people are very forgiving when they find account that people don’t use. It usually says more about the network than the person. The problems start how ever, when you leave accounts that you have been using without a word. For example an old twitter account, people might not realise that you have stopped tweeting and is wondering why you don’t answer. Which puts you in a bad light, this goes for emails and everything else. Be careful with “looking active” where you are not. I have also seen this done by companies which I find even worse.

Not having any contact information

This one I’ve stumbled upon a lot since I’ve tried to get to know the people behind the blog etc. But many ‘forget’ or choose to not put up a contact form or an email address. I wonder just how many opportunities are lost that way.

Automated messages

Automated messages is one of the things which I really oppose. First of all you “represent” things that you cannot control. Second, people think that you are around and you might not answer. Third, people might start questioning your motives if you just send out a feed. If you want to be around in social media, make sure that you are around and not some robot version of who you are.

Not follow up on replies

This goes for both social networks and blog comments and any other communication online. If people are trying to communicate with them do not leave them hanging. Even if you don’t reply until a few hours later, make sure that you do reply because people will remember. I have unfollowed people that I’ve tried contact who have not answered many times. With some it is understandable because they have too many followers, but for the people like me, I find it as rude as not responding to a hello when you meet IRL.

Promoting yourself to much

This is one of the lessons I read about most. And which I’ve been good at following because you can read it in any book about social media and personal branding. People wont listen to you if you only talk about yourself. There is not much more to that point. Try to promote other peoples stuff and to talk with people and not only write and share your own content.

After talking with a few people on Twitter about this posting I figured I would add two lessions to this post.

1. Be careful with information related to employers or clients

This suggeston came from Gert Lambers on Twitter, and I could not agree more. It is important to seperate your own opinions from your employeers. Either you can state it in a sentence “my opinions on twitter does not reflect my employer”, but also make sure you think twice when you post something which has any relevance to your work.

@GertLambers  “Being careful with info related to employers or clients would be wise, 1 should make sure to be compliant with employers rules”

2. Listen more than you speak

The second tip came from Adrian Chira, who says it all, we have 2 ears and 1 month and should use them accordinly. Listen more than you speak. And I would says that listning twice as much as you speak is not an exaggeration at all.

@adrianchira I would add that we have 1 mouth and 2 ears and we should use them accordingly so first try to listen more than you speak

Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , , , , ,

What will happen to Apple after Steve Jobs?

July 26, 2010 By 4 Comments

I just read this “In 2008, a CNN iReporter (the amateur arm of user-generated content for the U.S.-based news service) reported incorrectly that Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a heart attack. The report knocked the Apple stock from $105.27 to $95.41 in just a short moment, leaving everyone reeling” in the book trust agents.

This got me thinking of leaders and leadership. I’ve also read the book from good to great, which among other things says that great leaders contemplates a lot before they choose their successor, and does it with the companys’ best at heart. Meaning that they care for the company they work for and the people there and not only their own success and careers, which is one of the things that make them great.

This have always sounded very good and logic in my head, but what will happened when Steve Jobs is going to choose his successor, if he wull be the one who does it that is. If he is a great leader, can he actually convince everyone that the person he chooses will be able to “fill his shoes”? What do we really know about Steve Jobs, everyone know that he is the CEO of Apple, but what do we really know about him as a leader? Would we trust the person that he choose to replace him?

I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man! – Kanye West lyric

The lyrics for Kanye West fits pretty well here, for many, Steve Jobs is Apple. But what does that mean? If we do trust him as a leader, does that mean that he will choose a great successor. Do we actually believe that he is great enough to do this? Is there any possibility that his choice wont have an impact on the apple stock? Or will his departure mean the end for Apple as we know it today?

Filed Under: Annelie's Musings Tagged With: , , ,

Startups vs. the well established & the power of simple web solutions

July 8, 2010 By 4 Comments

Most companies create their website by putting together a list of demands and features they want, which they hand over to a developer who build this from scratch. Companies are usually very happy with this solution and sticks with it for a few years until it is outdated and then they send in a new list of demands.

Lately, however, I’ve realized that lots, I mean really many, companies have website which leave more frustration than anything else. I might visit a website of the bookstore I’m going to, only to realize that they don’t have their selection online. (This happened today) Something that is extremely frustrating, as nowadays I expect this from a website.

This got me thinking of how many times I check in on blogs which are better than newspapers and online stores which have more and better info than the IRL stores. Some purchases I might want  to do IRL but, don’t do, because the website of an e-company is just so much better.

What will big companies do, when smaller, unlikely competition begins to beat them? And fast?

We all know that things happened extremely fast on the web. But bigger companies realized how fast they can become out dated because of this. What happened when the web beats bureaucracy?

To my point earlier, about hiring a developer to create a website from scratch. What will happened when free versions are better than the customized? This scenario is possible because we like what we know, and if many uses the free one’s that is what we now. They don’t even have to be free, they just have to be made so they can be adapted. Developers can even use them, but will probably not be able to charge for as many hours.

Are big companies, and bureaucracies ready, for the power of good, simple web solutions?

Filed Under: Web development Tagged With: , ,

Startups vs. the well established & the power of simple web solutions

July 8, 2010 By 4 Comments

Most companies create their website by putting together a list of demands and features they want, which they hand over to a developer who build this from scratch. Companies are usually very happy with this solution and sticks with it for a few years until it is outdated and then they send in a new list of demands.

Lately, however, I’ve realized that lots, I mean really many, companies have website which leave more frustration than anything else. I might visit a website of the bookstore I’m going to, only to realize that they don’t have their selection online. (This happened today) Something that is extremely frustrating, as nowadays I expect this from a website.

This got me thinking of how many times I check in on blogs which are better than newspapers and online stores which have more and better info than the IRL stores. Some purchases I might want  to do IRL but, don’t do, because the website of an e-company is just so much better.

What will big companies do, when smaller, unlikely competition begins to beat them? And fast?

We all know that things happened extremely fast on the web. But bigger companies realized how fast they can become out dated because of this. What happened when the web beats bureaucracy?

To my point earlier, about hiring a developer to create a website from scratch. What will happened when free versions are better than the customized? This scenario is possible because we like what we know, and if many uses the free one’s that is what we now. They don’t even have to be free, they just have to be made so they can be adapted. Developers can even use them, but will probably not be able to charge for as many hours.

Are big companies, and bureaucracies ready, for the power of good, simple web solutions?

Filed Under: Web development Tagged With: , ,

3 ways of using Yammer as meeting support

July 7, 2010 By 7 Comments

For those of you who have not tried it, Yammer is an internal microblogg. This means that only people with the same email can see each other microposts. Just like twitter you can also send DM and Reply messages to the people in the network, so they are very similar in that way, which is very helpful when you are introducing other people to the network.
Either way, so far I’ve only used this tool at a smaller company which I worked for and in smaller groups, but it is very interesting, and I’ve found one time when it is particularly useful, if it is frequently used. That one is meeting support.

When you are in a meeting, Yammer can be a great, “silent”-way to communicate with the rest of the office, both to ask questions and to see what is going on. 

Three ways of using yammer in meetings:

  1.  When you need to ask a question, “yam it” – then you can ask the question without interrupting the meeting by making a phone call.
  2. Let people contact the meeting – Let people contact the meeting without interrupting by sending a message.
  3. Now what is going on outside the meeting – If you are in longer meetings for project groups check office status on yammer in the breaks.  
Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , ,

Iphone blog: Make the summer the time to get ahead

July 2, 2010 By 1 Comment

I’m at the airport waiting for My flight to nice, France. In my suitcase i have two books, trust agents and six pixells of separation. I got them around christmas, but have not had the time to read as Ive been busy reading school litteratur. I have à rule: no reading for fun until done reading for school. As this never happened, i try to do all of My reading between the courses and om the summer holiday.

And after à few years of using the time i have off to read non-fiction litterature and work, i have learned far more which is useful for My work Than at the university. Simply because i’ve read what interests me instead of what i have to read. I think that most People underestimate reading to complement school and says that work experience is the best and often only complement. And i agree that is is, but reading Will teach you à lot.

When we work and/or study, that is our excuse to not go that extra mile. When we are on a vacation we just sant relax.

But why not bring à few books to the beach or your computer to the summerhouse for rainy days. You might just learn à few new things or get an idea which Will give you à promotion you wanted. Reading on the beach might be what reduces your stress in the fall. Give it à shot?

Filed Under: Career development Tagged With: , ,

The communication balance – what is too little and what is too much?

June 29, 2010 By 1 Comment

Sometimes there is a thin line between communicating two little and two much. Below, I will share to common situations online where this is particularly evident; with opt-in/confirmations and with newsletter lists.

 Opt-ins and confirmations

Nowadays we are used to getting some kind of confirmation when we sign up for a service, a newsletter or what it might be. An opt-in och something else.  we don’t get this confirmation, regardless of what it is for, many of us begins to question if we did it all right. Did I really order that service or not?

On the other hand, if there are to many steps, email we might refer to them as this time, we get annoyed. We feel “spammed.” For example, if you opt-ed in for a service and then receives a thank you email with no more useful information than that. This might be received a spam instead of the second confirmation that it was intended as. For some services it might be necessary to have a double opt-in, or some other type of double confirmation.

The suggestion here, seems to be, what ever confirmation/opt-in that brings some kind of value for the receiver is granted. Could be more security or a easier adaptation to the service.

Newsletter lists

From experience I rarely sign up for newsletters before I now what I will receive. For example a company who says “product info, new etc” but not gives any indication on how many times they send them, I would never accept. Mostly, because many companies seem to have problems with the “unsubscribe” button. The same goes for companies who offer a whole list of newsletters that they have for different subjects.

However, a few weeks ago, I tired one of those lists and signed up for a few newsletters that I found interesting. BIG MISTAKE! It turned out that each of the newsletters is delivered once or more per day, which was never said in the list. Which means that I now barley even check the box that they comes to, because I want to start reading but it is too overwhelming.

Conclusions

Ask your subscribers what they think works and don’t work with your communication. This way they will feel more included, and you limit the changes for you to be viewed as a spammer or that they feel like you fooled them. Be honest and share! But not to much ;)

Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , , , ,
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