A Simple Twitter Strategy

Hi, how are we all? That’s good. Wooo steady on, maybe a little too much information though.

I'm going to keep it short and sharp this week and let you in on a little secret. Not so much a secret in the literal definition. You will find that in the coming sentence. “Secrecy (also called clandestinity or furtiveness) is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups, perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret.” I’m sure some of you will already know this and I haven't really kept anything secret from you. It just sounded right in the above context.

Over the last month my Twitter following has increased dramatically. It has made me feel a little cooler and given me way more cred on the streets. No one picks on me at the local milk bar anymore.

I thought I might tell you, how I think I may have achieved this. I am going to share with you my very simple strategy. If you can even call it that. Let us just call it "a sentence I say a lot in meeting's when I talk about social media".

Are you ready? Here goes.

“Add value and make people smile.” (Insert gasping noise here)

Your thoughts?

Since I have taken on this credo (Whenever I use this word I think of Apollo Creed from the Rocky films), things have really hit a tipping point for my good self.












Apollo Creed one Sexy Bastard

Add Value: Just try and add value to your followers. Provide them with useful, relevant, interesting and timely information

Make People Smile: I generally believe people take themselves to seriously. So, have some fun. Twitter is a great medium to conduct business, but also have a little fun and let your personality show through.

To make people smile I have recently taken to sending people who RT me or offer me something of value, a YouTube clip as a way of thanking them.

An example if you will:

Whenever I get a RT I will reply with something along the lines of; “Thanks for the RT You’re the best” and a link to the below Karate Kid Montage.



That wasn't as short or as sharp as I thought it would be.

Ford Social Media Guidelines. Not a Guideline for Your Life. But Close.

This is good! This is the Ford Social Media Guidelines! Simple. Good use of text boxes. No Gobbledygook (I haven't used that word since Yr 12 English.)

Ford Social Media Guidelines

Some points that I would like to point out:

1. The Internet remembers: Great title for a film. Surely we can get Wes Craven to direct. He must be sick of doing Scream by now?
2. Be honest about who your are: This is potentially awkward as only my mother knows this.
3. Use your common sense: The most elusive of all the senses.
4. Awareness that what you say is permanent: So don't do it drunk.
5. The Internet is a public place: Refer to point 4.
6. An official response may be needed: What like the cops?

Hope this is at least useful for you kids out there. Please advise below of any thoughts, changes, opinions or stock market tips?

New Kids on the Block: #SMinOZ

So, there is a new kid on the block. (aahh I can now tick “using New Kids on the Block in my blog” off my bucket list) It operates under the name of #SMinOZ or its alter ego @SMinOZ.

Side Note: How cool is the above pic?

I’m lead to believe it started roughly over a week ago by a gentleman named Heath Evans follow him here or here or if you want over here.

In my opinion I think it is a great initiative and one that should be applauded. (Insert applause here) It’s great to have a place where we can share stories, network, promote, discuss, advertise jobs and connect with those of us who are in the same hood. By hood I mean Australia. And by Australia I mean the country and not the Nicole Kidman movie.

From what I have been able to gleam from my sources, (Said source being “What the Hashtag?”) I can tell you #SMinOZ is not only a hashtag but a “Collective of Australian -based folks interested in sharing social media resources."

Other unrelated things I initially thought it may have stood for:

- A nasal spray

- Steve Martin is coming to Australia

- Sminoz – a new word the kids are saying???

- Some form of rash

In just over a week there as already been 398 tweets and 177 contributors. (These figures may have changed or they may have not by the time I press publish). I myself have noticed a dramatic increase in followers since I started using the hashtag, which I’m led to believe is a good thing. Have you guys noticed any change?

The only downside to #SMinOZ to date is the number of RT’s that appear in the stream. It can almost come across as spam. I think the problem is that the number of contributors is still low compared to other hashtags. It should sort itself out over time. Feel free to shout me down if you disagree.

Some peeps I recommend following to date:

- @SydneyiStrategy

- @Heath_Evans

- @malchia

- @masonqld

Follow them. DO IT. DO IT.

All aboard the #SMinOZ train or hover board.

Please check in next week when I attempt to work the Samurai Pizza Cats into my blog and tick them off my bucket list.

If you guys could please tell me below what your humble opinions are? Or at least tell who is going to win the GF?

GO CATS!