A fair number of people tend not to do something unless they are rewarded in some way.  They want to get compensated for their efforts or at least get a small token of appreciation.  Unfortunately, Facebook and Twitter don’t hand out rewards to their subscribers simply for using their service.  Although nothing tangible is given, there are still a few reasons why embracing the Web 2.0 culture isn’t such a bad thing.

1.    Get connected.

Fact: In 2008, 1-in-8 married couples met via social networking websites. (Qualman, 2009)

Every human since the dawn of time has yearned to be part of a group and to connect with others.  Connections create communities.  Hoffman notes, “A community, whether virtual or real, is defined by the relationships that exist between its members.” (5, 2007) The components of Web 2.0?blogs, Facebook, iTunes, news feeds?are quick and easy ways to connect with others. (Barbaro, 2008) The world isn’t slowing down and it’s becoming tougher to create and maintain relationships.  Stay in touch using Web 2.0.

2.    Break loose.

Fact: There are approximately 37,500 new blog posts written each hour (or 10.4 posts per second) (LIS Education 2.0 Project, 2009)

Web 2.0 allows for a person to break loose from typical day-to-day activities and move into a different, and exciting, culture.  A person’s day no longer needs to consist of simply going to work, sitting in traffic, and grabbing McDonalds for dinner.  With the resources of Web 2.0, he or she can write about something interesting, read and respond to thoughtful articles, and participate in online videoconferences – all before bedtime.  Break the mold.  It’s easy.

3.    Stay up-to-date

Fact: Between 2:15pm and 3:15pm on June 25, 2009, the day of Michael Jackson’s death, CNN.com received over 20 million pageviews. (CNN)

Sharing information has never been so easy.  Most blogs display an icon that allows a person to share content with their friends on Facebook and Twitter.  Since content is constantly being recycled and passed on, information consumption is on the rise.  Breaking news spreads rapidly and social networking sites are often the first to report critical pieces of information.  Web 2.0 is a metropolis of data.  Embrace it.

4.    Become valuable.

Fact: Approximately 80% of companies use LinkedIn as a primary recruiting tool for new jobs. (Qualman, 2009)

Web 2.0 isn’t only for the people; it’s for corporations, too.  Companies have realized that social networking websites would be a great place to raise brand awareness and sales.  Although many companies want to embrace Web 2.0, they can’t because their employees don’t know the first thing about Twitter marketing or blogging.  Become a resource on all things Web 2.0 and it might lead to a promotion.

5.    Learn and grow.

Fact: There have been over 9 billion Twitter updates (also called tweets) to date. (Reed, 2010)

With all of the blog posts, Facebook updates, and tweets out there, it’s nearly impossible not to learn something new each day.  Web 2.0 is a great place for self-education, both formal and informal.  Maggiani notes that social networks in particular, “capture the essence of the community members and their backgrounds and expertise.” (20, 2009) The Web 2.0 world is full of things to learn.  As Einstein said, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.”

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by firehawk77

It has amazed me what has been done through Twitter.  For example, businesses have integrated it into marketing campaigns, millions of dollars have been raised for good causes, and celebrities have become closer to fans.

Different tactics have been employed to accomplish the feats above but one particularly interesting strategy sticks out – scheduled tweets.  This isn’t a built-in feature of the Twitter.com web interface but it can be done through Twitter account management programs, such as HootSuite.  Scheduling tweets can enhance a movement or project and it can save you some valuable time.  The list below is not a comprehensive guide to the benefits of scheduling tweets but it illustrates the point that scheduling tweets can prove to be a valuable resource for you and your business.

Benefit #1 – You Keep Your Time

It takes some time to tweet tons of information, especially if you’re someone who produces content on a regular basis.  Scheduling tweets can save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run.  Here’s a scenario…

You’re a quote person.  You love to read them and you love to share them.  However, you don’t always have time to send one out during the day.  Let’s face it, your job is demanding.  It would save you a lot of time and effort to take 20 minutes at the beginning of each month and schedule a quotable tweet each day.  This way you don’t have to panic and wonder if you have sent out your quote of the day yet.

That is just one scenario as to how this would be save time.  There are plenty of others.  Scheduling tweets allows you to use up a few minutes now in order to save you hours of frustration later.

Action Step: Log into your Twitter client and schedule a post that will save you time down the road.  Do you have a message you send every day each week?  Schedule that post for the next three weeks.

Benefit #2 – Spread The Word

It can be tough to create a movement or to spread the word about a cause, especially if you are only doing it as a hobby or for a non-profit.  Scheduled tweets can ease the burden of spreading the word.  Want to promote your favorite charity or non-profit once or twice a week?  Schedule the tweets for certain days throughout the month and you’ll be good to go in just a few minutes.  No need to keep track of when the last post was sent or if you have already sent your two tweets this week.

Action Step: Think about a cause you’d like to tell others about.  Schedule two tweets in order to share some information about your cause.

Benefit #3 – Automation Made Easy

There are times when we all forget to tweet or we are not able to do so.  A great way to compensate for the loss of Twitter time is to schedule tweets.  You can maintain your Twitter presence without being near a cell phone or Internet connection.  Plus, your colleagues will be amazed when you tweet while you’re in a big meeting with the corporate executives.

Action Step: Figure out a time when you’ll be unavailable – a movie, a dead zone, or early in the morning – and schedule one or two tweets to post at this time.

These are only a few of the benefits of scheduling tweets.  There are limitless possibilities for scheduled tweets.  Be creative and imaginative.  Try a few different tactics and see what works for you.

Overall, scheduled tweets can save you time and energy while growing your Twitter presence and the trust others have in you.

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by NightLord

Google Buzz has certainly shaken up the social media world in the past week. It is estimated that Gmail (Google’s email service) has over 100 million users. That a HUGE instant user base for Google Buzz since it is tied directly to Gmail.

If all Gmail users adopt Google Buzz it would instantly become the second largest social network in the world after Facebook.

And I think the mobile app that Google has built for Buzz will propel it forward faster than some might think. Introducing Google Buzz for mobile: See buzz around you and tag posts with your location.

For example, I’m running Buzz on my iPhone and it has some great features. (It is also available for the Android – visit Google.com/mobile/buzz for more details) It is a clean design that works very well on the iPhone. You can check your friend’s status updates, comment on them and post your own updates.

Buzz also uses the iPhone GPS to find people who are posting near you geographically. I would really like to test out Google Buzz at a conference or event. I think it will do a great job connect people who are discussing the same topics in real time.

Whether or not Google Buzz is a major player in the social media space (and I think it will be) you should probably error on the side of taking some type of proactive measure. You can read my previous post about the action steps to take right now to be ready for Buzz to be a big deal for your business.

What are your thoughts on all this?

Follow Folk Media on Google Buzz

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Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership and How To Use Social Media To Find A Better Job. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

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The biggest problem I’m having with Google Buzz is the inability to update Twitter or other applications. Right now, Google has only made it easy to import Twitter feeds INTO Buzz. There is no way to export Buzz feeds OUT to Twitter.

Until now….

Here are two simple steps to take to import your Google Buzz updates into Twitter.

Step 1: Get your Google Buzz Feed

Google has created a simple API that you can grab your Buzz posts and import into Twitter. Thanks to Shashi Bellamkonda (@shashib) over at Network Solutions for cluing me into this. Simply use the following feed and replace the red text with your actual username .

http://buzz.googleapis.com/feeds/YourBuzzUsername/public/posted

For example my buzz feed is: http://buzz.googleapis.com/feeds/joelwitt/public/posted

Step 2: Use Hootsuite to import your feed and update your Twitter stream automatically

Set up a free Hootsuite.com account and click on RSS/Atom Feeds. You will then be able to import your Buzz feed and have Hootsuite automatically post them to Twitter. You can set the frequency and amount of posts to go out to Twitter in the feed settings.

Two things I want to mention about this.

First, it takes some time for Hootsuite to pull down your Buzz posts and send them to Twitter. If you want to update Twitter in real time – don’t rely on Buzz. But it might be useful to have Buzz posts go to Twitter in addition to your regular tweets.

Second, your tweets will say “Buzz by YOUR NAME from Buzz” and then a link to the actual Buzz post. So it isn’t easy for Twitter followers to see your actual message. They have to click on a link to see it.

My hope is that Google will update Buzz to allow us to post to Twitter, Friendfeed and other services directly.

What are your thoughts on all this?

Follow Folk Media on Google Buzz

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Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership and How To Use Social Media To Find A Better Job. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

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Twitter is dead? I don’t think so.

“Twitter is dead.”

That’s what I’ve heard some people say because of the new Google Buzz application. But here’s the deal… Twitter is not dead… yet. Dismiss people who make wild claims about the death of any particular tool or application.

I’m loving Buzz. It’s bringing the conversation to me… in my Gmail inbox … where I live most of the time.

My guess is that MOST people still live inside their inbox and Google Buzz will help them keep going without always switching to an outside platform. Before Buzz, you had to leave you email to visit Twitter and use the service, unless you had a primitive application like Twitter Gadget running inside your Gmail account.

What is Google Buzz?

Buzz is Google’s idea to layer on a social network of sorts right inside your Gmail inbox. You can post status updates, long form messages, links, photos and even video. It is so new most people are still asking “what can it be used for?”

The upside

Google Buzz can be used to keep in touch with your friends, family or co-workers in real-time and broaden the private closed nature of email and chat to a public forum.

Simply put, it’s kind of like making your chats and emails public (when you choose to) so that a discussion can ensue around them. You will still have your private email and chat for one-to-one communication, but this gives you another option.

I personally think the concept of status updates and public discussion might be easier to grasp with Google Buzz than it was for folks to get with Twitter. People are already used to email. They can simply experiment with Buzz as an extension of a tool they already know how to use.

By notifying you in your inbox each time someone comments on a Buzz posting, you are more likely to continue the conversation than if someone @replies to a message on Twitter.

Google Buzz will send you a notification email if someone comments on one of your Buzz posts, someone comments on another person’s post that you commented on and someone mentions you using an @ symbol the same way they would on Twitter.

The basic features of Google Buzz include:

• Automatic friends lists. Your friends are added automatically based on who you email the most.
• Photo and video sharing
• Advanced settings to seperate public and private messages
• Plays well with Gmail. Makes it easy to keep up with conversations because of it’s close tie to your inbox.
• Recommendation feature will actually recommend people to follow and “learn” about who I’d like to connect with based on my comments. (a little creepy but what about Google isn’t a little creepy these days… right?)

The downside

I can also see Buzz seeming TOO much like email and people feeling an obligation to go back and read posts in retro. That’s how we use email. We feel compelled to read every message.

The beauty of Twitter and Friendfeed is that once the stream of information passes by you by it is easy to let the old messages go. You “dip in” the stream of information when you can. With Twitter you don’t “archive” things to read later. It is a much simpler form of information flow.

Some people argue that everyone will now have to build up yet another network. But in reality, you’ve already built a network with your Gmail contacts… right?

Right now the only networks Buzz will import are:

• Picasa Web
• YouTube
• Flickr
• Twitter
• Blogger

What Google Buzz will kill – or at least challenge

Is Friendfeed needed anymore?

Google Buzz eerily reminds me of Friendfeed. It pretty much replaces the basic Friendfeed functionality in my mind. You can comment on a post like Friendfeed. Other useful features include the abiltiy to reply privately to a post via email.

Stop waving and start buzzing

I think Google Buzz really puts a hurting on Google Wave. To me Wave felt complicated, awkward and lived OUTSIDE my Gmail inbox. Buzz takes the basic idea of Wave (the merging of email and Twitter), places it inside my inbox and makes it easy for anyone to understand.

Twitter growth could slow since it is virtually reduced to a distribution channel

Because Google Buzz incorporates so many elements of Twitter and does it inside a practical business tool (email), it could slow the growth of Twitter particularly those who are latecomers to the micro-blogging site. Think about it. A 45-year-old executive already uses Gmail and now has the ability to have public discussions and posts right inside the email application. Is there really reason to try and use Twitter for any more than another distribution channel?

The idea of Twitter being reduced to a distribution channel is dependent on Google Buzz allowing outbound communications. At the time of this post they only allow the importation of your Twitter feed INTO Buzz but not the other way around.

Here are your action steps to take right now

Set up a Google profile and make sure it’s updated and ready.

All the Google Buzz posts will be displayed publicly on your Google profile. So it’s a good idea to have your Google profile ready.

The big downside to a Google profile is that you HAVE to use your Gmail name for your vanity URL. For example, I’ve been using Gmail long before I decided on my Twitter username: @joelmarkwitt. So my Gmail account is simply ‘joelwitt’ making my Google profile URL: http://www.google.com/profiles/joelwitt

Every other platform on the web from Friendfeed, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and and LinkedIn I’ve been using ‘joelmarkwitt.’ So, several months ago I registered a second gmail account with this username.

I suggest that you register the username you use for all your other online presence with Google. This way you can make it your vanity URL for a Google profile. Of course my big problem was that I had built up all my contacts and emails in your my original Gmail account. So I simply put a message on my ‘joelmarkwitt’ profile to point people to my “official” Google profile.

Start playing around with updates

This is the best time to start messing around with Google Buzz. Right now it is so new and everyone is experimenting with the application. Make a few updates. Comment on other’s posts. Get your feet wet and begin to see how this can be used for your professional life or business. Speaking of business, rumor has it that Google will be rolling Buzz out to all their enterprise business users very soon – so it will be interesting to see how it can be used on an enterprise level.

Follow Folk Media on Google Buzz

Official Google Buzz Links

Introducing Google Buzz

Google Buzz in Gmail

Readers: Get your Buzz on

Introducing Google Buzz for mobile: See buzz around you and tag posts with your location.

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Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership and How To Use Social Media To Find A Better Job. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

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By Stephanie Wonderlin

In my constant research for social media tools, I found this fantastic one!  If you are looking to stay on top of who is talking about your website, a competitor’s site, blog, etc, this will be the tool for you!  Due to people using URL shortening services, Twitter’s search will not return useful results when searching for a particular website.  I use Twitter’s search for about everything else, but for websites – it just doesn’t cut it!  BackTweets is now my hero!

BackTweets allows you to search for links on Twitter!  As seen in the photo, you can enter the URL you are wanting to research and it will resolve shortened URLs and give you a chronological list of tweets with that particular link.  If there is a website you would consistently want to research, you are also able to receive a RSS feed and you will be notified automatically as new tweets appear about your said website.

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Stephanie Wonderlin is a social media enthusiast and Regional Sales Manager for a chain of hotels in Illinois. In her spare time, Stephanie blogs, teaches Pilates, and studies to earn her Advanced Social Media certificate from the University of San Francisco. Find out more about Stephanie on Twitter.

*Photo by edmondo

Let’s face it – Twitter can be a tough marketing tool to manage.  Although messages are only 140 characters, it can be pretty difficult to maintain your brand, let alone your sanity.  In order to make up for these hardships, people take the easy way out and begin to follow a thousand users every day, hoping that once a magic number is reached their troubles will vanish.  Not so much.

The key is to engage your Twitter followers.  It’s a tough task, believe me, but it can be done.  I’m going to give you nine ways to engage your Twitter followers.  If you can successfully manage these nine concepts, you’re well on your way to effective Twitter leadership.

9.  Actively maintain various Twitter lists.

Twitter lists allow for a user to create a list of users who fall into a common category.  A user can create a list for any group of people, including professional athletes, family, and locals.  The key is to create and maintain a variety of Twitter lists.  If a follower sees their name on a list, they are more likely to place your username on one of their lists.  The more lists you’re on, the more publicity you can receive.

8.  Become efficient with hashtags.

Hashtags are statements preceded with the pound sign (#) that usually denote a particular event or feeling.  For example, if you’re attending or watching the Super Bowl, you might use the hashtag #superbowl in your tweets.  Hashtags can be searched and tracked; therefore, increasing your publicity and engagement with other users.

7.  Post useful information.

Although you can tweet about anything you’d like, it would be best if you provided useful information to your followers.  Most people don’t follow someone on Twitter because they like their hair or username.  Usually solid information has something to do with it.  If you veer from posting helpful or thought-provoking information, you will begin to lose followers and the trust of those who continue to follow you.

6.  Follow people who produce valuable content.

This point goes hand-in-hand with number seven.  In Twitterland, quality is far more important than quantity.  Some would argue that when you have more followers, you increase your chances of great PR.  Wrong.  Having a small number of followers whom you can engage with is far better than having 900+ spammers and advertisers on your “Following” list.

5.  Suggest interesting people for others to follow.

If you are following someone who always posts interesting or useful content, recommend them to your followers.  The most popular way to do this is through Follow Fridays.  On Fridays, simply list the interesting users you follow and place the “#FF” or #FollowFriday” hashtag at the end of your tweet.  These hashtags let other users know that you are recommending people for them to follow.  As a general rule of thumb, if someone recommends you, be sure to recommend them at some point.  The more people you recommend, the more people who recommend you.

4.  Don’t be afraid to say “Thanks.”

Make sure that you thank the people you interact with on Twitter.  When you do, this implies a more sincere and genuine relationship, even if you’ve never talked before.  Saying “thank you” is not a bad thing.  In fact, a simple “thank you” for a retweet or a follow can make the difference down the road when someone is purging useless users from their Twitter stream.  Don’t forget your manners.

3.  Use direct messages when necessary.

Direct messages, or DMs, are a great tool to use when interacting with a user about something that shouldn’t be public.  For example, if you are talking to a user about their account settings, you should use DMs and not a simple reply.  Also, DMs make people feel more unique because they aren’t messages posted to the public Twitter stream.  When a user feels unique, the chances that they will stick around and engage with you increase dramatically.

2.  Retweet useful content.

Be sure to retweet useful content you come across on Twitter.  Retweets, or republished tweets, are very important in the Twitter world.  When you retweet, your Twitter followers can learn about information published by other people they may not be following.  It’s kind of like a Follow Friday but for only one user.  This is a great opportunity to show others that you care about what they’re saying and, in turn, they will continue to follow you.

1.  Don’t be shy with your replies.

If you have a reaction, thought, or other useful information to someone’s tweet, reply to them with what you’re thinking.  The ct of replying can start conversation and can lead to many great things (following, lists, partnerships, meetups, etc.).  Don’t be afraid to share your reactions.  That is why people publish content in the first place.

Engaging with people on Twitter is a tough task but if you follow the points above, you should have a firm grasp on the essentials of Twitter leadership.  To learn more about Twitter leadership, check out 21 Days to Twitter Leadership by Joel Mark Witt.  Happy tweeting!

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by spekulator

I’ll be honest – there is a lot to know about social media. I consider myself to be a social media connoisseur but it is hard for me to keep up with the world of Facebook, Twitter, and blogs from time to time. However, when I do come across an interesting or valuable article, I’ll bookmark it to refer to at a later date. I might use it for inspiration, reference, or sharing. Throughout the past few months, I’ve created quite a collection. Now it’s time I share my collection with you.

I have included five articles on social media below. They are in no particular order; each article has just as much valuable information as the next. It is my hope that you will find these articles helpful and relevant to your social media campaign.

HOW TO: Manage Successful Social Media Promotions (Mashable)

Tags: Twitter, Facebook, Social Media Marketing, Promotions
Description: Many companies are using social media outlets to promote sales offers and discounts for their brand or product. However, it’s tough to get social media promotions work properly. If you’re interested in improving the success of your brand on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets, this is a great article to read.

How To Blog With Passion and Purpose (Jeffbullas’s Blog)

Tags: Blogging, Passion, Purpose, Content Creation, Stats
Description: In a world where everyone has a blog, what separates the ideas of one person from the ideas of another? Passion. When you blog with passion and purpose, you create instant credibility for yourself and your words. Communities and formed and lives are impacted when you begin to blog with passion. If you want to have a greater impact with your blog or social media campaign, this article will offer you some guidance.

How to Develop a Niche Blog Content Plan (ProBlogger)

Tags: Blogging, Content Creation, Purpose
Description: People are often disappointed in the success of their blog. Most individuals and companies think that their blog will be an instant hit but that is far from the truth. A “hit blog” takes time, effort, and a community of dedicated readers who are willing to share your content with others. This article posted on ProBlogger will help you transform your blog from a regular website to a site that has meaning.

Twitter Tips: 5 Proven Ways to Get Retweeted (ComputerWorld)

Tags: Twitter, Retweets, Marketing Strategy
Description: Twitter is a tough community at times. If you have used Twitter for any length of time, you know that it is an honor to have a post retweeted. Whether it is a fact, question, or blog post, having your content retweeted gives you a great feeling. However, retweeting doesn’t simply happen. In fact, there is a bit of a science behind retweeting. If you’re looking to step up your Twitter campaign and want to have your content shared, this is an article that will be helpful.

What’s Working for Social Media Marketers? (eMarketer)

Tags: Social Media, Marketing Strategy, Facts, Facebook, Twitter
Description: There are numerous ways to market to customers through social media. However, do you know how effective your marketing strategies really are? According to this article, buying targeted ads and tweeting regularly will only get you so far. This article is a great source of relevant and helpful data that could have a huge impact on your social media campaign.

What are some articles that have proved useful in your quest to make the most out of social media?

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by dhammza

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.  Federal buildings were left in ruin.  People were crushed by falling debris.  Thousands of Haitians were homeless.  The effects of the earthquake immediately broke the hearts of people and nations around the world.  A country was in need and citizens of all nations united to give aide.  The Haiti Movement began.

How Is This Disaster Different?

We’ve seen this type of disaster response movement before in recent years – the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, just to name a few.  So, how is this relief effort different?

The prevalence of social media in relief efforts has never been as involved as it is with the Haiti Movement.  In 2004 and 2005, social media was just beginning.  At that time, MySpace was the ultimate social network and Facebook was only for college students.  One of the world’s fastest growing social networks, Twitter, didn’t exist.

The Haiti Movement has been spurred on by compassionate and dedicated citizens using social media to reach others.  For example, people are using their status updates and tweets to state the American Red Cross number for donations.  Individuals have donated over $3 million through text messages alone.  Businesses on Twitter and Facebook have decided to donate a percentage of proceeds to Haiti relief.  The list could go on and on.

Social media isn’t merely revolutionizing the way we communicate with one another; it’s changing the way we help each other.

What Can We Learn From This?

The Haiti Movement can teach businesses and non-profits a number of things.  First, it teaches that social media does work.  For every person in favor of using social media for businesses, there will be one or two people who disagree.  But the proof is in the pudding: social media spreads the word.  Without the dedication of social media users, the Haiti Movement would not be as successful as it is.

Second, the Haiti Movement teaches businesses that social media produces real-time results.  From the moment the earthquake hit, Facebook and Twitter users were tracking the events as they unfolded.  This needs to be the same way a business approaches its social media campaign.  In order to properly gauge the impact on the community and consumers, businesses need to be constantly aware of what is being talked about on the various social media platforms.  Without the real-time knowledge, you might be stuck in the shadows instead of the limelight.

Finally, the compassion campaign for Haiti shows that becoming like everyone else isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  When you join a movement, whether as a business or individual, you are showing the world that you care about others and creating positive PR for yourself.  Who do you think will make the bigger impact on the community this weekend – the bar down the street that is giving all of its proceeds to Haiti relief or the bar that is treating Friday and Saturday nights like any other night of the week?   Becoming involved in a movement of change can help raise awareness for the cause, awareness for your business, and a dedicated customer base.

A terrible thing happened in Haiti but the world is coming together to turn a disaster into a mission of compassion.  Social media has played a big role in the level of success for the Haiti Movement and it can create just as much success for your business or non-profit.

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by Mark Brannan

In the past it has been difficult to keep up with what is being said about your company.  Before the digital age, the only way to find out what was being said about your brand was to overhear it or hire someone to get the scoop.  With the Internet and advanced searching capabilities, acquiring the lowdown on your business is easy.  For example, Google Alerts can generate some great information and regularly scanning online forums can prove to be helpful.  Now, LinkedIn has developed a useful application to aide you in getting the skinny on your company.

LinkedIn’s “Company Buzz” application is a tool that displays real-time tweets relating to your company (or other search term).  Also, the tool allows you to see historical plots of your search term and receive the most popular words associated with your topic.  For example, if I searched “Folk Media” using the application, I would be able to see real-time tweets that included my search term, a graph of the history of “Folk Media,” and words that are associated with my search query, such as “awesome,” and “useful.”

In a nutshell, “Company Buzz” can allow for you to know what is being said about your company, product, or industry in an instant.

Adding “Company Buzz”

Installing the application is pretty simple.  First, sign into your LinkedIn account and scroll over the “More…” menu at the top of the screen.  Once the options have appeared, select “Applications Directory.”

After arriving at the Applications Directory, locate the “Company Buzz” application description and click on the title.  On the right hand side of the screen you will see the “Application Info” section.  Click the “Add application” button at the bottom of this section. (For the purposes of this walkthrough, it doesn’t matter if you display the application on your LinkedIn homepage.)

The Lay of the Land

After selecting the “Add application” button, the application should load.  In the future, you can get back to this screen by rolling over the “More…” menu at the top of the screen and selecting “Company Buzz.”

Before we begin a new search, let’s take a look at the layout of the page.  You will notice there are a few section on the right side of the page.  The first section is the “Search” feature.  As the name implies, this is where you would enter your search query.

The next section is “Followed Topics.”  LinkedIn automatically displays these topics based on your profile settings.  You will most likely notice your employers (both past and present) and educational institutions listed here.  You can manage these topics by clicking the “Manage” link in the upper right corner of the section.

Below “Followed Topics” you will see “Buzz Words.”  This is the section that will display the most common words associated with your search term.  The last section, “Trends,” will display a graph of how popular your search term has been in the last week.

Putting it to Good Use

If you do not use another application or service to monitor your brand on Twitter, this is a great place to start.  It is essential that you are aware of what is being said about your company, product, or competition so you can adjust your marketing strategy appropriately.  There is a significant chance that Twitter users will complain or acclaim your product before major media outlets do so you want to be on top of the most recent results for your searches.  Remember, the easier you can address any urgent issues, the easier it will be to put out the fire or fan the flame.

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by: Brajeshwar