Likebook

[brightcove vid=2421244892001&exp3=1275216913001&surl=http://c.brightcove.com/services&pubid=1130468786001&pk=AQ~~,AAABBzUwv1E~,xP-xFHVUstjFMsS-3Kb8-iZB6sJ0hUm_&w=620&h=350] These days, it seems like Facebook does a better job of documenting your life than anything else, maybe even your own memory. While it is great to have this online database of past events, there are still plenty of people out there who would love a tactile version of these memories. Likebook is a new service that will take all of your Facebook activity, from pictures to updates, and create a physical book.

Check out the Likebook site here.

We think this could be a really cool gift for anyone who spends a majority of their free time on Facebook. Remember, father's day is coming up.

-Mike & Samantha

Winter is Coming...

With all the different social media platforms out there, it may be hard to keep track of who is playing nice with who. HootSuite did a great job of detailing all social platform relationships in a way we can relate, Game of Thrones style. Check out this creative graphic below: -Mike

The Silencer

Do you have Facebook friends who are always spoiling the latest episode of Game of Thrones or the newest blockbuster flick? Do you have friends who you would rather not see activity for anymore, but don't want to go through the trouble of explaining why you unfriended them? If you do, the Google Chrome Silencer plug-in may be for you. This plug-in allows you to add terms, phrases, names, or hashtags that you want silenced in your Facebook or Twitter feed. Not only do you have the option to manually create the silenced criteria, they also offer Mute Packs. These allow you to silence dozens of terms from popular shows like Mad Men or Game of Thrones with one click. The description of this plug-in according to Google is: Silencer lets you mute and filter any content you want out of your Twitter stream or Facebook News Feed.

Avoid TV show or sports spoilers. Block people that you can’t unfollow but aren’t really interested in anymore. Take back the Internet on your terms!

Introducing Mute Packs! Mute dozens of terms from “Game of Thrones,” “Mad Men,” or “Arrested Development” instantly with one click!

Mute terms, phrases, people or hashtags quickly and easily.

If you are not using Google Chrome as your browser yet, you should seriously consider it. They offer tons of helpful plug-ins and the Silencer seems like one we could all get a lot of use out of.

-Mike

Updating Your Twitter Profile Just Got Easier

If you ever thought making your Twitter profile look perfect is a little more difficult than it should be, this is for you. Twitter just made their profile editing easier and more user friendly. Don't take my word for it though, check out this video from Twitter explaining the process: [youtube=http://youtu.be/ZkP8riJvau8]

-Mike

What Does Your Facebook Profile Look Like to Other People?

We have said it before and we will say it again, be very careful of what you make visible on your Facebook profile. Many may not be aware of this, but Facebook actually allows you to see what your profile looks like from the view of other people. It is as simple as going to your profile, and clicking the settings icon in the lower right corner of your cover photo. This will allow you to toggle through a few "view as" options, including the public or even a specific person. Now you can actually see what a total stranger sees when they come across your profile online. This feature can also be handy in discovering what your Mom sees when she logs onto Facebook. Take a second and check out your profile through someone else's view, you might be surprised and what you find.

-Mike

Facebook Introduces Verified Accounts

Starting next week, Facebook will be introducing verified pages. Much like Twitter, verified pages will display a small blue check mark besides the owner's name. This check will also populate anywhere else the verified user's name shows up on Facebook.

The verification process will also be similar to Twitter and will not be offered to everyone. Verified accounts will be reserved for public figures like celebrities, government officials and popular brands. We think it is great that Facebook is now offering this verification. With increasing ambiguity online, anything that can help identify real, official accounts, is welcomed.

-Mike

Social Media Crucial for Retailers

Everyone has been hearing about the importance of social media for the last few years, especially in retail business. Some businesses may have written off social media, not wanting to spend time and resources, thinking it is just a fad. Social media has officially been around long enough, and its importance validated enough, that we can all agree, this is no fad.

Speaking from a retailers point of view, more and more customers are using social media to stay informed and up to date on their favorite brands and retailers. According to Monetate.com, 80% of smartphone users access social media on their devices, and 55% of those users visit these social networks at least once a day. In addition to the social network activity, 96% of smartphone users have researched a product on their phone before purchase. With consumers relying so heavily on what comes through their mobile phone, it is imperative retailers take full advantage.

Although it is obvious that a retailer must commit to improving their online social presence, it is not always so clear as how to measure their return on this investment.   According to SocialBakers.com, here are a few social media metrics a retailer can use to measure the fruits of their labor.

• Fan/follower growth: How many new fans are you gaining during a select time frame?
• Engagement rate: The number of user interactions (likes, comments, retweets, replies and shares).
• Response rate: The percentage of user posts or questions that the administrator responded to.
• Response time: The average amount of time it takes for the administrator to respond to user posts or questions.
• User activity: Identifying the hours and days of the week your users are engaging most frequently.
• Shareability: The number of shares and retweets a post gets.
• Interactions: The number of interactions that a page or post receives and the types of interactions (likes, comments, retweets, replies and shares).

Whether done in house, or outsourced, do not underestimate the power of social media and what it can bring to your business.

-Mike