Read the entire article here….

It is time to devise a plan! Please do not just randomly start following people! You need to devise a strategy. If you “randomly” follow you will not have anything good to retweet to your friends or gain knowledge from. Basically, you are as good as your followers!

It all starts with “Why are you on Twitter.” If you really want to promote your articles, you need to figure out who would be interested. Also you need to find people that might inspire your next great blog post!

Where do you start to find good people on Twitter? Did you know there is a Twitter Yellow pages? It is called Twellow (yes it is a funny name, if you use Twitter you will need to get used to that). Once you register with Twellow (yes it free), you can create a nice bio and get listed in 10 different categories. Here are some more uses of Twellow:

• When you sign in you will see many categories. This will be a good place to start. If you are interested in food, click the food category and you will see people that tweet about food.
• You can find local people who are on Twitter using Twellowhood (this works well if you own a Pizza shop).
• See the people you follow and people that follow you. You can also see who is not following you and who you are not following back. More on all of this reciprocal following in my next blog post.
• Check out the “Suggested Users Tab”. It includes some people that Twellow recommends to you based on the categories you have chosen.

How would a business use Twellow to find good people to follow? If your blog is about women, there are several categories about women including “Women Issues.” See who you find interesting listed there and follow them.

Now there are other cool sites that will help you find targeted follower:

Who Should I Follow – This website will recommend people based on the your current followers.
We Follow – This website will give you the top followers for a certain category. This would be a good website to find experts to follow. When you are looking for people that might read your blog, someone with 1,000,000 followers will not even see your blog!
Tweepsearch – This website will allow you to search by twitter posts by keyword
Tweepz – With this website you can sort by the number of followers and join date.
Just Tweet It – Choose a Category and find other tweeters like you. Check out the Twitter Tools Directory on this site to see a nice collection of twitter tools.

When looking for types of people to follow, look for blogger’s of your topic, you might be able to catch their attention. For example if you sell baby products search for mommy bloggers. How do you catch their attention? This will be a subject for another day.

You can always use the search feature on Twitter.com as well. But is it not as fancy!

There are others of course. But you do not need to get too crazy. Start with Twellow, pick one or 2 more if you wish you should be good. And remember you do not want to add a ton of followers every day, Twitter will think you are a spammer. You can use a different tool a week.

Make sure you add your twitter account to any of these sites and others that gives you the option.

Come up with a plan and stick to it. Find people to follow for their advice and guidance. And follow people that you think might find you interesting.

There is one thing to remember, not all will follow you back. So do not feel offended. The more aggressive you are in finding followers, the more you will eventually need to trim your followers. And that will be another blog post for another day!

If you would like to use Twitter for research, you can read an older blog post here.

So follow along and have a good time: you can always follow me if you are not already a follower: @juliedaloiso

One of the social media tools that I have been using since January of 2010 is Foursquare. At first, people thought I was crazy. Telling people where you are? Yes! It is fun. I usually check in using Foursquare on my way out of a location (read my old Foursquare article from 2010 here). So by the time someone sees where I am usually not there anymore. It is a fun (free) game that you can play with your friends and earn badges by checking in there more than anyone else. And back in the day, I was the mayor of a lot of places because not many people where using the app. I liked it because I could bring some attention to local businesses. After a while, more and more people started using it and it became more fun.

Then along came Facebook places. Facebook wanted people to checking using their phone app instead. I have used it a few times to check in to cool places, but if I used it to check into all of the places that I do with Foursquare, my Facebook friends would “unfriend” me in a heart beat!

Well people, guess what? Facebook just killed Facebook Places. So we do not need to worry our pretty little head about it. AMEN!

If you have not checked out Foursquare, at least take a peak. You might be surprised at how many of your friends are already there! They have recently added a bunch of new tools. I like apps that keep improving!

As a side note, I have been playing with Google+. The jury is still out on where it will go, but to me, it reminds me of Google Wave, (which died a year ago in 2010). You can read a recent article here: Google+ promising, but too early to tell

So hang in there people. And remember, If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.  ~Author Unknown

I love the part where it is his job to put movie make-up on a girl who he has a crush on. The girl, Alice, is played by Elle Fanning (Dakota’s sister). Is also fabulous. The kids in the movie are all believable even though the plot is way out of this world. It was cool to see kids in the movie ride around town on bikes. After all it is a Steven Spielberg movie! Parts of the movie remind me of E.T. And in fact E.T. also had a child that turned out to be the hero of the movie. But I love the whole premise of the kids making a movie within a movie. In fact if you watch the movie stay for the end. It will be worth it!

I am looking forward to other “Super Hero Movies” this summer. But we do need more women super heroes movies. In fact I read the book “Super Born” and was excited to read that  the super hero is a woman. She is sexy, funny, and a single mom. She tosses beer trucks around like crazy and for some reason all of the men in her town are morons. Now that would make a great movie!

Stay tuned for more super hero movies this “Super Hero Summer”.

But getting back to the Thor movie, it was much better than I imagined. The Director was Kenneth Branagh who is known for Henry V, Frankenstein, Hamlet and Valkyrie (among others) did a great job of making us “like” this big Thor character (played by Chris Hemsworth) and his somewhat small (but mighty) hammer. The special effects were stunning and executed well. I never once looked at my phone to see the time!

Chris looks great in long hair and delivered some majestic lines that sounds silly written down: “The answers you see shall be yours once I claim what is mine.” , “I will end this.” and “I have no plans to die today.” But just like Arnold Swarchenegger in the Terminator movies, it works.

There are other memorable characters too that bring more comedy to the movie. Natalie Portman who was also in Black Swan, acted like a totally different character than  Star Wars Episode III. And Darcy Dennings (who has come a long way from “House Bunny”) also made the movie interesting with funny lines. Stellan Skarsgard also added some dimension to the movie with some surprising comedic spots.

Yes Tom Hiddleston (Thor’s brother) was in the movie, as well as Anthony Hopkins(Thor’s father). They did a great job, but these are the typical characters that you would see in an  super hero movie.

I am very excited about more super hero movies coming this summer, because the world seems to be a little too crazy right now. We need someone to transport us to a better place even if it is only for 2 hours.  Having read the book Super Born (who is a client), I wonder why we do not have more female main characters coming to theaters this Super Hero Summer!

I think it is Facebook’s fault. We are definitely hooked! Some people have programs that will automatically post their workout schedule. Do we really need to know exactly how many miles you went on a certain machine? You can have Foursquare post to Twitter and Facebook when you check-in – but should you? Facebook has over 400 million active users and 50% of the active users log in every day! Soemtimes I think that number is wrong, but then I can’t remember a day when I did not login.

Facebook does have an option where you can hide people. You can just hover your mouse over a post and see the option.  I have definitely hid all the Farm-ville type games and such. It makes my Facebook viewing experience much better. You can also put your friends in lists and view that list instead of the default stream.

I am not writing this to single anyone out! We are all guilty at times.

Once additional note: If you would like more information about Facebook lists and privacy settings, I am leading a Social Media Leap Webinar on July 30 (shameless plug).

What is Foursquare? You can check it out here. It is a GPS (global positioning system) game that works with Iphone, Android, and Blackberry. You can also use your mobile web browser if you do not have any of those devices (click here for more info about how to use Foursquare). You can tell your friends where you are, see where they are if they are “checked in” there.

Yes Tweeting too much information could help criminals. WKYC ran a story on this recently. I do not “check in” on Foursquare when I go to the bank, go on vacation or go to the doctor.

People need to use common sense.  Do not eat the entire bag of potato chips! Do not play with fire! Do not spit into the wind!

When I see my friends “checked in” on Foursquare, I think of them and notice the location. One “check-in” might remind me that I would like to go to that restaurant sometime or that I need to call a friend about a project!

I do not check in everywhere! Sometimes I forget or sometimes I do not want to publicize where I am. There is an “off the grid” option where you can “check in” but not tell anyone where. This way you still earn points and badges no ones knows where you are.

Speaking of  badges, they are fun to earn. I was on a boat one evening for a meeting and earned a “I’m on a Boat” badge.  I was at a Cleveland Indian’s game one day recently and received a Swarm Badge. More than 50 people had “checked in” at the game. The badges you earn may surprise you!

It is also fun to be awarded with a Mayorship! You become a mayor when you check in at a location more than someone else in the last 60 days. I am the mayor of quite a few places in my neck of the woods, because there are not that many players. But that is changing. And lately I have been getting “ousted as mayor.” But I do not get upset because it is more fun playing if there are others checking in also!

If you are adding a location that is not on Foursquare, you can put them on the map! I have seen businesses with Foursquare landing pages appear in Google results!

Some people post on Twitter and Facebook every time they “check in.” I only have it go to Twitter and Facebook if I become Mayor or unlock a badge. There are always exceptions to my own rules, I have the option on my phone to post on Twitter and Facebook if I am some place super cool.

Speaking of Twitter and Facebook, you can add your accounts to your Foursquare profile and gain more followers. I use this strategy to find local people. If you want to find local people in your city on Twitter, go to your local cinema and see who has “checked in.” If they have a Twitter account you can follow them.

Businesses are starting to get the hang of the new tool and are using it to award mayors of their establishments with discounts and free sodas.

Are you using Foursquare? You can be my friend on Foursquare here.

If you are not, why not?

Please share your comments here:

My Peeps at the Tribe Social Deck

It all started with an idea. I had wanted to have a cool event for my birthday. A friend and I were considering venues. We wanted the event to be somewhat of a Tweet Up where we could meet up with our social media friends. We considered one location on the west side, but people complained about driving that far out and the venue we were considering was not being  cooperative. They seemed confused about the idea of a tweet up.

So while we were discussing some other venue options.  I attended a Nordonia Hills Chamber of Commerce luncheon and sat next to Dave Murray, Director of fan services for the Cleveland Indians! After explaining to him that I am a social media specialist, he proceeded to tell me about the brand spanking new Tribe Social deck!

Say Hi! to Rob Campbell

I thought that sounded like the perfect place to Tweet up! We actually had the privilege to go before my birthdays and check it out. Rob Campbell from the Indians, helped me with all the details.

The tribe social deck is a new section at Progressive field. It includes 10 new seats that are Wi-Fi friendly. The seats are in a special section next to the bleachers. There is a TV so there is no need do to crane your neck to see the scoreboard behind the bleacher and plugs for laptop or other devices that need a recharge. In fact we could have jumped up and did jumping jacks and no one would have been bothered.

Tv view of the game as well as an awesome live view of the game!

So I wrangled some of my Twitter/Facebook friends, and off we went! It was nice having a special place to Twitter about the experience. Even though the Indians lost, we still had a great time. Some of us had our laptops and some had smart phones. We discussed hosting,  iPads, WordPress, Twitter applications like Hootsuite and Tweetdeck. There was a special “check-in” at Foursquare for the Tribe Social Deck. There was no one to tell us to loose the “geek speak”!

Awesome view from the Tribe Social Deck

The Indian’s are the first team (that we know of) that has implemented this social fan experience. There is a very interesting article here about the Tribe’s social media policy. The Tribe Social Deck was recently featured in this week’s ESPN Magazine! You can follow the discussions and the coming and goings of  Tribe Social Deck’s inhabitants on the Twitter hashtag #tribesocialdeck.  Rob Campbell can be found on Twitter @tribetalk

The Indian’s are working on a system where people can register for tickets for the special hi-tech section, but I am very honored to be a part of it’s beginning. What a way to have a birthday! It was a big hit (pun intended).

22 years of marriage is a big deal! I love my husband a lot!  Where has the time gone? We actually got married in St. Thomas. It was very romantic! Some day we are going back!

48 years of being on the planet is also a big deal. I am proud of where  I am. And speaking of being proud, I have 4 very cool kids! That’s worth celebrating on Mother’s day! I have so much to be thankful for!

So this year, my wonderful husband decided to give me a big gift to commemorate this trifecta and get all three done at the same time.  He told me to get an iPad for myself! I was so excited! But then I found out that I could not walk into a store and buy it. I could only order it! So I did just that. I went to www.apple.com and put in my order!

Now it is a waiting game! It should be here before Mother”s day. I know that there are some people out there (you know who you are) who already have one. I am looking for advice!

Here are my questions:

• What apps should I get?
• Which apps are a waste of money?
• What is the best case to keep it protected?
• What are some unexpected uses you have discovered?

Please send me your comments! It will help me pass the time.

You can keep an eye  on your brand.

Social media is a great place to check out the competition. You can see what people are saying about a certain topic or company without following or friending them.

You can make it easy to be a resource worth sharing. With social media marketing, it is easy for people to refer you to someone else. They can also share the link you posted on Facebook much easier than if you handed them a flyer. You can stay in touch with current customers which will help them remember to refer your business to another.

You can establish yourself as an expert on the internet. If you share articles about your industry and come up with your own content, you can get some recognition for your knowledge.

The postings you do through social media are easily found in the search engines. If your postings contain the right keywords and you have a well established social media account, some of your postings will be found in the search engines.

Not as many people will see your commercial on the television, hear it on the radio, or read it in the newspaper or trade journals. There are not as many people seeing and hearing those ads as before. They block the commercials on television, listen to non commercial music in their cars, and find more news online than on paper. We need to market in a new way, because buyer behavior has changed.

You can dramatically increase traffic to your company website. More activity means more business. The more visits your website receives, the higher up in the search engines you climb.

People say: “I don’t have the time.” But what they do not know, is  that with training, you do not have to invest many hours a day. And with a professional company helping you with your social media marketing efforts, you can avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that with come from trying to go it alone.

Come to a Twitter for Business Seminar in Akron Ohio on March 25 – click here for more info.

This event is presented by SpiderCat Marketing, Inc.