Stop!

Before you tweet the link to your latest blog post, read these tips on maximising the impact of your tweets.

1. Where you put the link to your blog is important

Links placed in the middle of a tweet have the highest click-through and retweet rates. 

2. Allow space for retweets

Try to write your tweet in less than the allocated 140 characters so that your followers have room to add a comment to their own RT (retweet).

3. Ask a question

Experiment with adding a question to your tweet.  For example: “Do you agree with..?” Or “share your tips on..”

Bonus tip: Write your headline in the form of a question to maximise Twitter engagement.

4. Add a hashtag

Including a RELEVANT hashtag can spread your tweet further. Note the word relevant! Examples of relevant hashtags you could use include #blogging; #biztips; #sme.

Bonus Tip: Check hashtags.org to see which hashtags are popular and currently trending. Again, only use if it is relevant to your tweet.

Do you use these tips? Can you add another tip on how to use Twitter to promote your blog?

The post 4 Ways To Promote Your Blog On Twitter appeared first on Write On Track.

We are delighted with the positive response we got to the announcement of the launch of Ireland’s first Twitter blog chat . We are looking forward to our first #blogchatie tonight at 9 pm on Twitter. If you have never participated in a Twitter chat before, you might be wondering how it all works.

Here is what to expect.

Joining In #Blogchatie

When the time comes for the chat to start (9 pm), you can follow along on Twitter.com by searching for the #blogchatie hashtag.  But be warned, tweets can move fast in a chat and if you aren’t used to it, it can be a little overwhelming at first. We recommend you set up a search column on your Twitter with the  hashtag #blogchatie (you will need an application like TweetDeck or HootSuite to do this).

Alternatively, you can use  a chat room like TweetChat.com or the chat tool on HashTags.org which will allow you to concentrate on the chat without the distraction of other tweets on your timeline.  You can also pause or control the refresh rate of the tweets if things are moving too fast.  Don’t worry if you feel you aren’t getting all the tweets, we will be posting an archive of the chat when it is over and you can catch up at your leisure.

During The Chat

The chat will be moderated by either Lorna or myself and we will start off by introducing ourselves and inviting you to introduce yourself to the group.   You don’t have to do this part – nor do you have to tweet at any stage during the chat, you are welcome to just observe and listen in -  but it is a good way to get to know each other and perhaps make new contacts.

Next we introduce the topic. Tonight’s topic is Your New Year’s Blogging Resolutions. To help keep the chat focussed we have topics prepared beforehand.

Here are the topics and the order we will be discussing them tonight.

T1 Are New Year’s resolutions for your blog a good idea? Have you made any?

T2 What are some of the barriers you might find in sticking to your resolutions?

T3 Can you suggest ways we can stay motivated to keep our blogging resolutions during the year?

T4 Any other questions you would like to ask the group

The chat will last one hour, but of course you are free to continue the discussion after this time with each other if you like. If we don’t get to answer your question on Twitter, then do pop along to our Facebook page where we are always happy to answer any of your blogging related questions.

Joining From Outside Ireland?

You are very welcome to join us for the chat from wherever you are in the world.  Click this link to convert GMT to your own timezone.

Any other questions?

Have I covered everything here? If not, do let me know in the comments below.

Looking forward to chatting with you tonight!

The post How To Join A Twitter Chat appeared first on Write On Track.

We at Write On Track are excited to announce the launch of #blogchatie – Ireland’s first dedicated Twitter chat for bloggers based in Ireland.

What Is A Twitter Chat?

If you’re on Twitter, you will have seen the hashtag symbol # showing up in tweets. A hashtag is a keyword marked by the # symbol in front of it. When you click on the hashtag it is hyperlinked to all other tweets using that tag, so it is a useful way to categorize tags and connect with others interested in the same topic.   Tweet chats are popular with Twitter users who want to engage in conversation with each other around a particular hashtag topic. Chats usually have a designated start and stop time and recur weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Even though conversations may happen outside that time frame by using the specified hash tag, the chat time is a great way to get people who are interested in the topic engaged with one another for a short period of time. There is normally a leader or moderator who will lead the chat, post a topic, and help keep participants on track.

Introducing #Blogchatie

#Blogchatie is a Twitter hashtag which stands for Blog Chat Ireland. Starting  Thursday 10th January, #blogchatie will take place on Twitter every Thursday at 9 pm GMT.

Who Can Take Part In #Blogchatie?

We welcome all bloggers to the chat. So whether you are just starting out and want to learn more about blogging, or you an experienced blogger and want to share your experience, please join us.

Want To Take Part in #Blogchatie?

We will be launching our first #blogchatie on Thursday 10th January, 9 pm GMT.

Our first topic will be Your New Year’s Blogging Resolutions. We will be discussing how to set goals for your blog and maintain your blogging resolutions throughout 2013. We will have tips on how to stay on track with your blogging and will be happy to answer your questions related to the topic.

In the meantime, you will need to create a  Twitter account if you don’t already have one.  We will post more details tomorrow on how to participate.

Any Questions?

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about #blogchatie

Looking forward to chatting with you soon!

Marie and Lorna

The post Launching #Blogchatie – A New Blog Chat For Ireland appeared first on Write On Track.

I’ve been to many social media conferences where at least half the audience is tapping away on a netbook, ipad or smartphone busily using the hashtag provided by the conference organizers.  I love multi-tasking, love being able to listen to the speaker, type a tweet, check what other tweeters are saying about the conference by checking the hashtag and engaging with them.

However, I’ve also been to conferences where I suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable (and the odd one out!) for tweeting.  At a women’s conference last week, as a member of the committee I was all ready to tweet and update the facebook page from the speaker’s content and the MC explained that I wasn’t on the laptop because I was disinterested but because I was tweeting.  At  a conference in April, the organiser asked people to desist from texting as understandably, it can be offputting to the speaker. I had been merrily tweeting away on my phone! I did stop, partly because the conference was so good I sat back and listened fully, partly because no-one else was tweeting or using a hashtag and it became a bit boring texting in a vacuum (not able to engage with other delegates) and partly because I felt a bit uncomfortable (and naughty!)

As an ex-secondary school teacher, I’d have loved to have handed an obstreperous 14 year old a gadget to use while sitting at the back of the classroom if it kept them quiet and stopped them distracting the other kids but instead I had to resort to other means!

Why You Should Tweet At Conferences

I was therefore intrigued when I saw the subheading of an article in Toastmasters magazine which read ‘Don’t be put off by those who text or tweet when you speak’, written by Tim Cigelske @TeecycleTim.  Be different – don’t tell people to turn off their mobile phones. Follow the example of Chris Brogan, as cited in this article and tell people to send tweets, post to facebook, do what they have to do.  Here’s the reasons why and I agree with everyone of them:

• This relaxes the audience, rather than feeling they are in a schoolroom situation
• Increases the size of your audience – their followers/fans/friends will also be hearing all about your presentation
• Those tweeting will concentrate more as they summarise your content into soundbites for tweets/updates.
• You’ll get instant feedback after your presentation by checking the hashtag.
• You can build on the relationship with members of your audience by following them, thanking them for their tweets and by responding to tweets.
• Some people listen best when doing something else while listening such as doodling with a pen or using a phone so assume their best intentions if you see them using their phone – do not presume they are bored!
• If the audience are involved by tweeting (or another means), they are more likely to be engaged.

The post The Value of Twitter at Conferences appeared first on Write On Track.

First up – visual.ly. You can explore an extensive showcase of infographics which you can upload to your own website or blog or you can create your own data visualisations, and share them to the site if you wish.

A user generates content through publicly available data such as information from a Twitter hashtag or a Facebook feed, and then selects a template  to instantly visualize it. The site will grow over time to include additional data feeds, designs, stories, and themes in the areas of sports, politics, economics, food, and more.

Visual.ly is very simple to use – a quick sign up process and I created my own personal Twitter infographic in a matter of minutes. Good to know that I am a Twitter Trailblazer

Have some fun and create your own infographic with visual.ly, then post it to your website or blog. Don’t forget to share a link with us to your creation either in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

Get creating!

The post How to create an infographic with visual.ly appeared first on Write On Track.

Buffer Account

I recently starting using the Buffer tool for my Twitter updates.  Buffer is a scheduling tool for Facebook and Twitter, (they have recently added LinkedIN) which lets you pre-programme times for your updates to be posted. I think it is one of the easiest and most effective time-saving social media tools for small businesses, and I encourage you to give it a try.

How much does it cost?

There are three pricing plans with Buffer, but as I have just started using it I am happy to go with the free plan for now. This allows me to add 10 updates to my Buffer, 1 Twitter, 1 Facebook and 1 LinkedIN account. The paid plans extend the number of updates and accounts you can add.

Buffer Analytics

You can gain valuable insight with Buffer analytics into how many times you have been retweeted and how many people conceivably see your updates.

Buffer Analytics

Scheduling vs Automation

I would emphasize that I use Buffer to schedule my updates, not automate them. I am no fan of automation, but I am a great believer in scheduling, especially as is the case for one of my social media accounts, your audience is global.

It’s very simple to use. You just type in your update and Buffer automatically schedules it to go out at a time that your audience is most engaged. You can easily change the times to suit yourself if your prefer.

I choose not to add Facebook to my Buffer account, as what I tweet and add to LinkedIN are different from my Facebook updates. Again I would caution you not to fall into the automation trap, but consider which of the platforms you would gain most from pre-scheduling.

The post How to buffer your social media updates appeared first on Write On Track.

I am not sure I would agree with Jones when he says you should blog several times a day and tweet once an hour, but I do agree that you need to blog and tweet far more than once a week (read my recent post on how often you should blog).

I also find merit in his statement that “no longer can you think of the Internet as just one marketing channel which you “do” when you get the time after finishing your “real work”. What this study suggests is that if you want to benefit from the online social world, it is activity in this world which is your “real work” nowadays.”

What has been your experience of online engagement? Would you agree with the Harvard study findings? Or does all of this make you groan in despair at the thoughts of all the work and effort it would require? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

The post Harvard research shows you need to blog and tweet more to succeed in business appeared first on Write On Track.

Social media is of most relevance to transactional websites. Social features integrated on the website can improve e-commerce revenues and boost consumer loyalty. Such features include Facebook like, follow or share; e-mail to a friend; share and follow links; product reviews by customers; Twitter tweet or follow and Facebook store.

Web consultancy Amas recently reviewed 100 Irish e-commerce sites, ranking them by how many of 10 social features the websites were deploying. On the Amas criteria, the most social websites are Amazon, HMV, CD Wow and Littlewoods.

Among Irish retailers, the most sociable are Dabs, Elverys, Carrolls Irish Gifts, ESB, Meteor and Micksgarage. A fifth of the sites surveyed had no social media features at all, including, ironically, Bord Gáis, sponsor of the Social Media Awards.

You can read the rest of the article here.

The post Brand managers adapt as social media sites put power in hands of consumers appeared first on Write On Track.