Everything I Need to Know About Social Media, I Learned From Football

Blue 42, hut hut, hike.  Who’s ready for some Football? With the NFL Playoffs set, I put together this fun (and handy) infographic to help explain social media in terms of Football.

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The State of Social Media in 2012

2012 was a HUGE year for social media – especially for mobile.  Twitter revamped their mobile app, Facebook followed suit and overhauled Facebook for iOS (which was sorely needed). Then, not to be outdone, Pinterest launched business pages for Pinterest, which allowed businesses to create their own accounts that didn’t require a complex way to squeeze your business into the first name and last name fields (finally).

Besides mobile, 2012 was also big for investors as well, as Facebook went public – and who can forget about Facebook Timeline, which also launched in 2012 – I know, it’s hard to remember all the way back to January 2012.

So what else happened with social media in 2012? Take a look at this infographic on everything that happened in social media in 2012.

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Facebook cover photo policy – changing yet again

Facebook Page cover photo

Just when you thought you were finished making changes to Facebook Pages in 2012, Facebook has gone and done it again – this time, they’re making their first change of 2013. This time, they’re changing the Facebook cover photo policy.

What changes in the Facebook cover photo policy?

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3 Ways to Remove the Post Info Function in Studiopress Genesis

If you would like to remove “Post Info” section located at the bottom of your WordPress blog post in your Studiopress Genesis child theme, here are 3 ways you can remove the post info function.

Note: You do not need to add each of these to your code. You just need to select which option you want to use in your Genesis Child Theme and add the appropriate code to your functions.php file. 

Option 1: Remove the post info function completely.
This will remove the post info section completely from your blog.

/** Remove the post info function */
remove_action( 'genesis_before_post_content', 'genesis_post_info' );

 

  • Open functions.php
  • Copy and paste the above code into functions.php (at the bottom)
  • Save your document and reload your site

Option 2: Change the position of the post info function.
This will remove the post info section from your blog. The second set of code will add it back in – this time, at the end of your blog post.

/** Remove the post info function */
remove_action( 'genesis_before_post_content', 'genesis_post_info' );

 

/** Adding the post info function */
add_action( 'genesis_after_post_content', 'genesis_post_info' );

 

  • Open functions.php
  • Copy and paste the code labeled “Remove the post info function” into functions.php (at the bottom) – this will remove the code.
  • Copy and paste the code labeled “Adding the post info function” into functions.php (at the bottom) – this will add it back in at the bottom of your post.
  • Save your document and reload your site

Option 3: Customize the post info function
If you would like to customize the text in the post info function, add the following code and then make your edits. 

/** Customize post info function in genesis */
function post_info_filter($post_info) {
if (!is_page()) {
$post_info = ' EDIT THIS TEXT ';
return $post_info;
}}
add_filter( 'genesis_post_info', 'post_info_filter' );

Make sure you edit the text that says EDIT THIS TEXT

$post_info = ' EDIT THIS TEXT ';

 

  • Open functions.php
  • Copy and paste the code labeled “Customize post info function in genesis” into functions.php (at the bottom) – this will let you keep the post info function and customize the section.
  • Save your document and reload your site

 

Bonus: Using conditional tags with post info data
If you want to add conditional tags so that the post info is displayed on certain pages, add the following code.

/** Display post info data based on conditional tags */

function post_info_filter($post_info) {
if (is_home()) {
$post_info = ' EDIT THIS TEXT ';
return $post_info;
}
elseif(is_single()){
$post_info = ' EDIT THIS TEXT ';
return $post_info;
}
else {
}
}
add_filter( 'genesis_post_info', 'post_info_filter' );
  • Open functions.php
  • Copy and paste the code labeled “Display post info data based on conditional tags” into functions.php (at the bottom).
  • Edit the text that says “EDIT THIS TEXT” – there are two instances.
  • Save your document and reload your site

13 ways to spot a Yelp! user [Infographic]

If you’ve ever taken a photo of your food, read reviews about what others had to say about a new restaurant you’re thinking about trying, claimed an deal from Yelp! or read up on a new shop that opened in your area,  then you’re probably a Yelp! user.

In fact, Yelp! is a seriously powerful social network. For instance, if you’re using Apple Maps, you’re also using Yelp! as store information, photos and Yelp! reviews are integrated  into Apple Maps.

Let’s take a moment to check out 13 ways you can spot a Yelp! user – do any of these describe you? I can identify at least five items. How about you?

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How to embed tweetchat in WordPress

For those of you looking to leverage the social networ Twitter, to engage with your followers, one of my favorite tools to use for this is Tweetchat.

If you’re unfamiliar with Tweetchat, what this tool does is it allows you to hold a chat on a specific Twitter hashtag. There’s no need to refresh your screen or sift through multiple hashtags. You simply enter a hashtag and it Tweetchat creates a room where you can tweet and chat with your followers.

Tweetchat features

Here are a few features of Tweetchat

  • Put blinders on to everything else going on on Twitter and focus on one hashtag
  • Feature certain accounts so that they stand out
  • Converse in real-time
  • Have fun!

How I use Tweetchat

Personally, I’m a big fan of Tweetchat. I use it during conferences by broadcasting it to LCD and plasma screens that I have setup. This way, attendees can follow what is being talked about on Twitter while they’re walking around. If they want to participate, all they simply need to do is visit Tweetchat and sign-in to their Twitter account and they can easily add to the conversation from their mobile devices such as their smartphone or tablet and it will show up on Tweetchat.

Another way that I like to use Tweetchat is to embed it into my website. This way someone can easily join the conversation from my website. The great thing about Tweetchat is that if you want to, you can embed tweetchat into your WordPress blog,

Embedding tweetchat into your WordPress blog takes just a few minutes. Here’s how to do it.

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20 Twitter Terms to know (and bookmark)

 

Twitter in the dictionaryIf you’re just getting started with Twitter or even if you’ve been using it for a while, sometimes you just need a refresher on Twitter terminology.

I’ve taken the time to compose a list of 20 Twitter terms that you should get to know (and bookmark).

Take a few minutes to read through these 20 Twitter termsand examples of how you use them on Twitter to tweet with your friends and make new ones!

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5 Reasons Why Your Facebook Page Sucks

5 reasons why your Facebook Page sucks

At the urging of your friends, you created a Facebook Page for your business, but around one year later, the party is over, your Facebook Page is hanging on by a thread, and you’re still stuck with a low number of likes and very little engagement from your Facebook Page fans.

If you’re like most businesses stuck in this situation, you’re quick to point fingers that Facebook simply doesn’t work.  Actually, it does.

The problem isn’t Facebook – it’s your business that’s the problem.

Now before you get mad, I’m not saying that you have products that are necessarily bad. Chances are you have really great products that provide a solution to customers.  What’s missing though is that you have bad Facebook Marketing for your business.  That’s why your Facebook Page sucks.

Here’s what you most likely did for your Facebook Marketing.

  • You looked at other major brands in your field to see what they were doing (good)
  • You copied them (bad)
  • You read articles that gave stock examples from major brands (good)
  • You copied them again (bad)
Hopefully you’re seeing a pattern here – while there’s nothing wrong with using major brands like Starbucks as a guide for your own Facebook Page marketing, you have to remember, you’re not Starbucks or Coca-Cola or any other major major brand so don’t expect to amass millions of fans overnight. Building a social media strategy takes time.  So why does my Facebook Page suck?
5 reasons why your Facebook Page sucks:

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Facebook takes friendships to a new level with relationship pages

Facebook Relationship pages

If you’re in a relationship, you’ll definitely want to head on over to the new Facebook Relationship Pages. Yes, that’s right – if you’re in a relationship with anyone, Facebook has updated Friendship Pages to a new type of page called Facebook Relationship Pages, which showcase everything you have in common with a person.

Personally, I can understand where Facebook is going with the new Facebook Relationship Pages. If you’ve taken the time to tell Facebook that you’re in a relationship, why not have a separate page that lets you reminisce and remind you of why you fell in love with your significant other in the first place or let you look back on the good times and the bad times you’ve had with friends.  While you’re at it, I’m sure Facebook is hoping you send them a Facebook Gift.

While there seems to be a lot of upside to Facebook Relationship Pages, some people such as The Telegraph‘s Emma Barnett had this to say about  Facebook Relationship Pages.

“Please take note Facebook executives,” she wrote. “I enjoy being able to share the information I wish and curate in the way I want. I have no desire for your technology teams to help me organize my photos — nor do I wish to have a shared ‘couples’ Facebook profile with my other half on which you automatically curate our relationship.”

So what details do Facebook Relationship Pages share?

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6 Useful Pinterest Tools to improve engagement and get more repins

In just 2 short years, Pinterest has rocketed to the top of many users favorite social networks.  Weekly visits to Pinterest jumped 2,183% – a staggering increase, given its short life. So how can you take advantage of this popular social network without spending all of your time doing it?

In this article we have compiled 6 useful tools for Pinterest to help you create engaging content, schedule pins, curate pins about your brand, and set Pinterest alerts for your website. Together, you now have a powerful toolbox full of userful Pinterest tools to help you grow your engagement, increase your influence with others and get more repins on Pinterest.

Check out these 6  Pinterest tools to help you create more engaging content and get more repins!

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