Facebook “Like” button… hidden secret to contact your “likers”

I’m letting the cat out of the bag… I mean, the baby Harp seal… in the first sentence: you can contact people who “like” your pages/posts via your “Like” button admin settings on Facebook.

It’s that simple.

Here are your action steps:

• add the like button to the top and bottom of each page/post
• create object admin pages for button
• treat “likers” like fans
• use fb API to group similiar “like” / object categories

Want to know more? Post a comment, like this post (of course), and I’ll let you in on the coolest mojo around that lets you post to the wall of anyone who’s “liked” your stuff.

All the best,

Chris

Watch a flooring company with no social media presence grow before your eyes

I’ve been contracted to work with Stradwick’s Carpet One Floor & Home in Mississauga, Ontario GTA, to build and monitor their Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Yelp, web and blog presences… and it’s working quite well

It’s not a mystery that it’s working out so well because I’ve been doing this for nearly 15 years and most of that time in the flooring industry.

Check their website and other links here:

http://www.carpetonegta.ca
http://mississaugacarpettoronto.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/mohawk-carpet-sales-in-mississauga-gta/
http://twitter.com/carpetonegta
…

More on the way, but I had to squeeze this post into the two free minutes I had this morning.
All the best,

Chris

Social Media book release: The Social Media Equation – Get Your Team Involved & Use The “Big 4″ To Bring Your Brick-And-Mortar Business To The Next Level

Know what people are saying about you online… even if you’re not saying anything?
Would you like to?
Or, have you heard so much about “social media” but are afraid to jump in because you may give a competitor valuable information?
This is where solid business meets Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs.
It’s also full of advice and each chapter comes with an Action Plan for each platform.
The Action Plans are packed with immediate-action tips to keep you from looking like a beginner, even if you are.
They’re also written from the perspective of an executive who has been successful in off-line businesses, but used the internet to augment lead generation.

One tip could save you or make you thousands… or help you combat cyber-squatting and other brand-damaging internet iniquities.
But the key to this book is that it gives you helpful advice to get your team involved and buying in to the concept.
Because if they don’t come along for the ride, you won’t enjoy it nearly as much as you could.

Click the image to order and you will be able to download it immediately. As updates hit, you will receive them automatically. You will also have access to my exclusive newsletter… and this is the only way to get access to it.

All the best,

Chris

Target and Facebook

Is it any coincidence that Target is the first big-wig to offer Facebook giftcards… and then change the url they show on TV commercials to Facebook.com/…?
Facebook.com/Target in this case.
Well, call me silly, but I’d say no.
Or nope.
Or hell no, it’s so friggin’ obvious that Target actually GETS IT!
You may be thinking “Hey, Chris, what’s this “it” you’re so jazzed about?”
Well, friends, the “it” is that the way business has been spoon-fed to us by ad agencies for hundreds of years SUCKS… to put it succinctly.
Social media represents the missing link for businesses not afraid of transparency, or at least savvy enough to curate their online real estate.
And don’t worry, I won’t say “make no mistake” anywhere in this post… except… ah forget that one.
Seriously, Target may be ahead of the curve in understanding that business is done with people, and we “people” value relationships.
Although I think the movie “The Social Network” is a piece of Hollywood overly-dramatized, soap opera-esque crap, Facebook is phenomenal and I truly enjoy the new connections made, and old ones re-kindled.

So, what are your thoughts on this?
What other businesses have you seen that have implemented the use of their Facebook.com/ url in advertising, if any?
Friends, I think we’re on the cusp of some really big changes and those of you who already get “it” are well-positioned to not be taken by surprise.

All the best,

Chris

“The Social Network” movie… and what it means to a die-hard geek

Here is my first true “rant” and it’s about a movie I thought I was going to thoroughly enjoy.
It’s also about what it meant to a die-hard geek… and former Marine with a sense of honor.
I’ll mince no words by saying I feel that not one ounce of value was added to my life by watching that movie, and I’m embarassed that I brought my wife to see it. And I’m glad Mark Zuckerberg spoke out in the video below.
But this movie… it has nothing to offer of value other than another glimpse into a back-stabbing, dishonorable way of doing business I want no part of.
Guys, it’s not the bong hits and cocaine that got me… it’s a friend hurting a friend, badly, and that’s never the kind of movie I’ll want to support.
I’ve attained a measure of success and used to think being a millionaire was cool… but now what means more to me, as one, is HOW one gets to be a millionaire.

Add to that the fact that I’m a father of an autistic/Asperger’s child with perhaps a hint of Asperger’s myself, and I can tell you I will do whatever it takes to be as unlike how Zuck is represented in that movie as possible.
I’m going to keep my rose-colored glasses on and believe Zuck is not that bad, and that hurting a friend stung more than some lowlife director let the actor portray.
It should be renamed “The Anti-Social Network” because that’s all it represents.
Again, I’m not saying Facebook or Mark Zuckerberg are bad.

No, what I am saying is that Hollywood still sucks and I should have known better than to even consider watching a movie where Justin Timberlake plays any sort of substantial role.

I’m physically sick.

Chris

Ok, I feel better now that that’s off my chest
I’m going to watch Brave Heart, Patton, Saving Private Ryan and read some Calvin and Hobbes to wash out my brain!

If you’d like to learn more about social media and real business, even if it’s just to check on your brand, check out the book The Social Media Equation. One tip from it could save you embarrassment or make you thousands!
Click the image to order and you will be able to download it immediately.

The Social Media “Lone Wolf” – Thankfully, A Dying Breed In Concept Only

Maybe you’ve been there… the outside-of-the-box thinker who actually “got it” when it comes to social media -
aka the Social Media Lone Wolf.
Yep, you know what it’s like to look at a business’ Twitter posts and say, “Stop selling, idiots! It’s about relationships and branding first, business second… good, solid business.”
Or, maybe you’re less tactful -
“Cold selling on social media is like sex without foreplay, jackass!”
Guilty here on both counts.
Or maybe, heaven forbid, you share information with people in your field or those who may not know as much as you or be able or willing to pay you for that knowledge!
Mercy me.
Heck, maybe you’ve even brought your smartphone into the bathroom just to connect with your kind (yep, it’s more common than you think).
Hopefully, you’ve transitioned to a new industry and are welcomed among the understood of the pack, appreciated at last.
If not, you’re probably a masochist or you just don’t know how valuable you are.
Well, my friend, if you “get it” when it comes to social media, you’re valuable.
Just go to LinkedIn, Mashable, Monster, and any other employment site and enter “social media” into the search box.
Then hold onto your geeky hat and prepare to smile. 
Here’s a hint, do whatever you can to get “social media” added to your business card…
And when “they” finally come around and see how blasted wrong they were to:
- force brick and mortar metrics on you;
- bring up ROI within the first month of a “campaign”;
- sift tweets through a committee of ignorant suits;
just try to hold your fingers down and not smile too broadly… but smile!
You deserve it
Now, watch this video and enjoy, my fellow “new dork”:

All the best,

Chris

Yes, I’m smiling…

How to spot a social media beginner… stupid Twitter mistakes you can easily correct.

I’m going to be a critic for a quick second here and steer away from my usual “come on, you can do it” tone.
I’ve even used “stupid” in the title, which would have gotten me kicked out journalism school at the University of Maryland.
Why the switch?
Well, because this is a fantastic way to show you how easy it is to weaken your brand online… especially if you’re a consultant as in the following example.
And, friends, this Twitter-er I’m about to critique is a very good business consultant who knows more about MBA-type business than I… but he made the mistake of telling me that working the web “is so easy” he could do it himself.
I applaud the DIY mentality… when it works.
But if you have been doing what I’ve been doing for nearly 15 years in the metro Washington DC/Northern Virginia area… that’d jab your jiblets, too… “easy.”
Nothing personal here, as this is just a fantastic example of what not to do if you want to be taken seriously.
Though this post is Twitter-specific, much of it can be taken into other presences such as Facebook and LinkedIn.
So, let’s dig right in. If you have trouble viewing the text I’ve added to this screenshot, just click on it and you’ll get a bigger, better view.

Social Media Credibility Killers

1 – Announcing to a teeny, tiny audience (probably 1 or 2 followers) that you’re launching your “social media” campaign… and then dropping the ball… is worse than not starting at all.
Here, the first tweet says “xyz.com has just launched its social media campaign.”
I’m waiting… and social media is not an ad “campaign”, it’s a presence.
This presence, in turn, is about relationships, hopefully with others who have more than 1 tweet that reads “Hello Twitterers” or something to that effect.
2 – Leading us on.
Telling all 8 of your followers (me included… just for fun) to check back often for special offers and freebies, and then not having any, is a double credibility killer.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not feeling very special right about now (sniff, sniff).
3 – 3 tweets in 5 months?
Come on, guys, this tells me you don’t have much to say… or (boo hoo) you don’t care about me… 12% of your audience!
4 – Following too few.
This says you’re selfish (in a “social media” sense).
5 – Followed by fewer.
This says you’re boring.
6 – Listed by none.
This says you’re boring as hell.
7 – “No Favorites”
This says you’re boring as hell AND afraid of commitment.
8 – Laying an egg.

Too many “egg” icons on your profile? Wondering why your icon changed to an egg?
These are the default Twitter icon for beginners.
This should be the first thing to go when you set up your profile.
Now, don’t get me wrong, if you’re waiting for the eggs to hatch and monitoring their progress, that’s fantastic!
But I don’t see any hatching going on here.
Omellettes anyone?

9 – Stepping on a geek’s toes.
Telling me, or any other established web professional, that setting yourself up online is “easy.”
Want an analogy outside of tech?
My wife is an accomplished physical therapist in private practice.
Try telling her your post-op shoulder rehab treatment protocol can be explained over a cocktail at a party and you’ll see what I mean.
Love ya, honey

Got Anything Good To Say? What’s right with it?
Of course, there are positives to this profile too.
1 – It exists.
Come on, let’s give the guys a break.
According to the latest studyby the Pew Internet and American Life Project, there are millions of active Twitter users with a median age of 31.
They are “mobile, urban and engaged online.”
This, my friends, sounds like fertile ground for building relationships with affluent, or soon-to-be affluent people.
And since 59% of Twitter users are females (my offline industry’s primary customers), it only makes sense to meet them where they are.
2 – It shows that it’s linked to the Facebook presence.
One of the three tweets came from Facebook.
This implies at least a basic understanding of which button to click.
But I can’t stay positive the whole time here because this may also say the Facebook presence may be ignored as well… oops.
3 –  The “Bio” is filled out and uses up the valuable 140-character real estate.
This is good.
Use it up and fill it with appropriate words relative to you and your style.
Search.Twitter.com is being used with greater frequency, and this bio can be found.
Think of it as another store front in a different section of town.
4 – The web url is in the bio.
You’d be amazed how many forget this simple step.
Check out my Twitter list of “guru’s, experts and professionals” and see which ones don’t have a url… you’ll get the irony.
5 - The owner’s icon has been changed from the egg.
Of course, it’s a boring Sears portraity-faux-painted background, but it’s better than an egg!
See, I’m not all that bad!

NEX T STEPS
“But what do I do now?”
Let me offer up a few words of friendly advice if you have a profile that needs serious “pimping.”
1 – Start
Do like the above example and start.
But for goodness sake, don’t drop the ball.
2 – Link
Link it to your other online real estate.
It’s got to be connected to your website, Facebook presence, YouTube profile, Foursquare, etc… through a link in the bio and links woven into the tweets.
Interested parties can go through your tweet history and click on links from your past.
I see it all the time, and I do it when I come across someone interesting.
3 – Be 140 smart
Set up your profile and use all 140 characters with keywords relevant to your goal… but don’t be boring.
Include hobbies, anything that will make you interesting.
You can even include geo-specific keywords and, if appropriate, zip codes.
If you come across as a sales person in your bio, you will lose.
But slipping a little selling language in is ok, especially if it’s product- or service-specific.
4 – Change
Occasionally change your profile wording to reflect your varied interests and attract new followers.
5 – FOLLOW
Follow interesting people and retweet their good stuff.
Ask them for advice, too, and they may follow you back.
Remember, this is social media.
And, you may be the one to introduce your followers to someone interesting like @Loic (Seesmic maven), @Alltop (Guy Kawasaki of Apple-now-Alltop fame), @Scobleizer (Robert Scoble, a well-connected smart guy)or @Lockergnome (Chris Pirillo of CNN and etc web note)… all of whom you follow, right?
I’ve gotten to know these web superstars over the years and their online worlds are full of valuable information.
6 – FOLLOW BACK
Follow those who follow you, and do not over-think this.
You can always unfollow and block them if they’re trolls or porn star wannabe’s, but that’s another story.
7 – Hyperlink your tweets
Include links in your tweets often.
I said it in #2, but it’s worth repeating
8 – A picture is worth a thousand words
Include pics intermittently in your tweets.
If you don’t know how, email me.
9 – Say something
TWEET, damnit!
Seriously, though, offer some value.
In my opinion, you should also occasionaly serve up some humor.
10 – List and be listed
Build lists and list people you admire and want to follow you.
This shows you are savvy.
Don’t give up.
Here is an example of someone who seems as though they gave up (in my geeky opinion):

This one is tragic, but one day, good old Bob may give me a call (although I prefer email, Skype video, FaceTime, Meebo…) and I’ll lend a hand.
You can always ask me for advice… hopefully before I give it “unsolicited.ly” as in the above examples.

If you’d like to learn more about social media and real business, even if it’s just to check on your brand, check out the book The Social Media Equation. One tip from it could save you embarrassment or make you thousands!
Click the image to order and you will be able to download it immediately.

All the best,

Chris

@WebMindSet @ 14,000 ft

PS – this post got Alltop-ed 11 hours after I posted it.
If you don’t know, that’s a good sign.
Thanks Guy Kawasaki!

For those of you unfamiliar with my least favorite aspect of Twitter – Twitter Mention Spam – here is an example:

Screen capture showing Twitter mention spam courtesy of Seesmic Desktop2 (great tool!)

And here is my reply… for all the world to see:

@deangad48 you can stop the “Mention Spam” any time… you’re on my “Twitter Spammer Twit List” http://wp.me/pOEb4-67

“Mention” spam – a form of Twitter spam that jabs my jiblets

Using Twitter, direct messages can only be exchanged with a follow, but mention spam, or @spam, on Twitter is an insidious way to circumvent this and build click traffic… until you get busted.  This helps keep spam to a minimum if you are discerning about those you follow.
But those who understand the value of “@” mentions and track them Twitter through an app like Seesmic Desktop2 or a smartphone app that notifies you of mentions are vulnerable to exposure. It’s somewhat harmless, but that’s where sharing the “follow love” doesn’t protect you.
Here’s an egregious example that prompted me to build a list called “Twitter Spammers.”  Notice how a string of @mentions come from wingnuts I do not follow:

Check out my Twitter profile to add the list to your profile and see who the latest twits are.

The dingbats have found a way around the “social” aspect of social media and are exhibiting anti-social spam behavior.
So, what can you do?
Well, report the users for spam, first.
Then, if that doesn’t work, send your suggestions to me and I’ll add them to my list which is checked by our friends at Twitter.
And, you can create a list called “Mention Spammers”, let me know and I’ll follow it and report listees with you.
Why am I doing this?
Because as a University of Maryland-trained journalist, I have grown very fond of the concise quality of 140-character tweets. They get to the point fast and I can decide quickly whether or not I want to dig deeper.
Let’s crowd-source a solution to this and keep the Twitter-sphere unpolluted
All the best,

Chris

Chris is a fan of Jared Rubin’s “The Maker’s Diet” and member of  his online network “Living Beyond Organic.” For more information, click here.

Seesmic Desktop2 is out, loaded with Plug-ins & working well

What makes me happy?

Well, there’s more that makes me smile than that cute little guy, but he’s one heck of a social media powerhouse.
Looks can be deceiving.
It’s kind of like getting beat up by a little guy, but that’s a different story
What does Seesmic Desktop2 do? I can check and post to all my accounts from Facebook to Twitter to LinkedIn…. and here’s a quick, cropped screen shot:

Notice the “thanks” from @Loic.
You’re welcome, mon amis.
To get Seesmic Desktop2, click here. You’ll need the latest Silverlight from Microsoft, and let me know how it works for you!

All the best,

Chris
@webmindset