5 Tips On How To Use A #Hashtag

Greetings dear readers.

Over the last few weeks I have been at quite a few conferences and next week
I will be at two as well.  At conferences they normally use hashtags to
create awareness of the conference and brand.

Hashtags are those words with # in front of them.  This is done to help with
search and to help it trend on places like Twitter.  Have a look at the top
Trending topics on Twitter and you will get the idea.
Now there is a right way and a wrong way to use the #hashtag

Here are 5 tips on how to use the #hashtag

1.  Choose a unique hashtag

When you choose a hashtag for your event choose one that is unique and make it your own.
Something that represents your brand or conference.
An interesting one in South Africa right now is #TBD2013

2.  Avoid making it too long

Nobody likes using a long hashtag.  Why?  Well it takes far too long to type out
and #AintNobodyGotTimeForThat

3.  Consider where you are having the event

If you are having an event in a specific city maybe add the name of the city to your hashtag.

4.  Listen to how it sounds

Once you have a hashtag play around with it, listen to it, ask people to say it, what sounds good,
what sounds catchy.  Once you find it that is your hashtag.

5.  Try not to confuse the issue

Now once you have a hashtag make sure to announce it.  So on Twitter you might want to send
a tweet out saying the official hashtag for our campaign is #xyzbrandevent

Make sure you do not change it.  Try not to play around with it.  Stick to it.  Remind people as well in all your press releases what the hashtag is.

Well that should help you on your way for to finding the perfect hashtag for your brand or event.


Yours in social

Fred Felton
Digital & Social Media Strategist & Keynote Speaker
Falconscove
A Digital Media Agency
email - falconscove@gmail.com
Twitter - @fredfelton
#FredFelton

Related articles

• Hashtags - The Key To Reaching a Wider Audience On Twitter
• The Marketer's Guide to Proper Social Media Etiquette
• Hashtags Gone Wrong: 6 Examples of Unfortunate Hashtag Choices

How Crowdsourcing Works

Greetings Dear Readers

Awhile back I sent out a Tweet asking Tweeps to send me Tweets and I compiled them into
a story.  I even got some lines from Facebook Fans.  Each line of the story is from somebody else.

What I did then was edit them into a story and from that The Twitter Story was born.
This is the basis of Crowdsourcing.

Find some people with common interests.  In this case writing.  Get them together.
Brainstorm and come up with idea's and structure them in a way that appeals
to people.

This is what Crowdsourcing is all about.  You will find it in the design of clothing,
in the making of music videos and in many more applications.

So if you have a idea for something why not Crowdsource it.
You will be amazed with the outcome.

Without further ado we present

The Twitter Story by The Tweeps (Edited by @fredfelton)

How does it work?
Any particular topic?
What about?
When do you need it by?
Okay willl see if anything interesting comes to mind.
Here's my tweet :)
Hayden family have a sheep.  One day sheep is stolen by Prince Alex.
Creativity in the toilet at the moment.
Sometimes I really want to use that axe.
Oh dear which one? Should probably learn to tweet less rubbish.
Let's try this again shall we.
Hope I can come up with something better.
I remembered cold, dark mornings on earth but they were nothing like the bitter chill of space ...
Like it




Love to hear what you think of The Twitter Story send me your comments.

What would you use Crowdsourcing for?


Yours in Social

Fred Felton
Social Media Strategist & Speaker & Author
Falconscove
Social Media Is Our Biz
email: falconscove@gmail.com
cell: 076-977-5788

call or email to book Fred Felton for a social media talk or training countrywide.

5 Photo Apps For Photographers For The iPad

Greetings Dear Readers

This week I am looking at 5 Photo Apps worth having on your iPad if you are a Photographer.

1.  Pixlr-o-matic


http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pixlr-o-matic/id450263811?mt=8

My favorite at the moment.  Beautifully designed and when you load it it shows you the latest photo
you were working on.

25 Filters you can run the picture through
30 Effects you can play around with
30 Frames to add to the picture

What that basically means is you can mix the Filters, Effects and Frames in various
combinations and come up with some wonderful combinations.

This is one picture I worked on and ran it through Pixlr-o-matic

               Umhlanga Pier Like You Have Never Seen It Before by @fredfelton

This truly is one of the most amazing pieces of software I have seen out there.
Of course once you have finished you can send it out to all the social media networks
and even email it to friends or save it.

2.  Instagram


http://instagr.am/

Recently bought by Facebook for $1 Billion Dollars and you can see why.
Simple to use but packed full of features, some wonderful filters and added enhancements
such as brightness.  You can even drop the colour if you choose.
Social Sharing is first rate.  Brilliant app.

3. MagicHour


http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/magic-hour-camera-unlimited/id434159268?mt=8

Keep an eye on this one, sometimes it is Free on the App Store

A wonderful photo app,
Simple to use and full of filters.
Here is the difference with this one.
This App gives you the option of making your own filters.
Now that is really interesting.  The idea's are as big as your imagination so go wild with it.

4.  PicShop Lite


http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/picshop-lite-photo-editor/id505766376?mt=8

Another interesting App to look at.  Also gives you the ability to edit, fix up red eye, crop,
rotate, tilt and shift, focal point, and loads of filters.

5.  Vintage Camera


http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vintage-camera/id483959252?mt=8

Has over 5 million users worldwide
It's different.  Does exactly what it says, turns any picture into one of those old photos.
I know it works.
Great little app to play around with.

Update

You will also find that now most Social Media Apps like Tweetcaster and others
that let you upload photo's now let you also add various filters to the pictures before you
upload them.

Quite an interesting new development.

Yours in Social

Fred Felton
Social Media Strategist & Speaker
Falconscove
A Digital Media Agency
Social Media is Our Biz
email: falconscove@gmail.com
cell 076-977-5788

call or email to book Fred for a workshop or training countrywide.

How To Run A Social Media Marketing Campaign Using Just a @BlackBerry

Greetings Dear Readers

Wolfgang Bonisch @charlotte_niche and @fredfelton at the @psasouthafrica National Convention 2012
                                                           #vocalislekker



This has been a crazy month for me helping out PSASA with some social media marketing
for their National Convention.  My company Falconscove helped them out with some social media
strategy and then the social media marketing at the convention.   Most of this was done using
just a @BlackBerry

Here are ways you too can market a event or convention using just a @BlackBerry

1.  Make sure you have UberSocial installed on your Blackberry


This proved to be my number one tool at the Convention.  Wherever I went I used
my UberSocial which gives you the wonderful options of sharing posts to Twitter, Facebook,
Linkedin and your Black Berry Messenger.

2.   Upload As Many Pics as you can


It has been proven that people look more at pictures than at statements so during your event
try and upload lots of pics.   Make sure you add the hashtag associated with the Event.

3.  Do some live blogging


For this I chose the Tumblr App for Blackberry and I must say it is rock solid, it works everytime
and automatically posts to Twitter and Facebook for you.  So during the event or at the end of the day
do some live blogging about the Speakers or the Event.

4.  Tell your Tweeps what is going on at the Event


People are curious and they want to know what is going on at Events.  So if you hear a gem
or a nugget of wisdom spread it with your Tweeps.  They will remember that.

5.  Make sure your battery is fully charged.


I know it sounds like a stupid thing to say but so many people forget to do this.  So just in case
take another battery with or your power cord and charge when necessary.


Yours in Social


Fred Felton
Social Media Strategist & Speaker
Falconscove
A Digital Media Agency
email: falconscove@gmail.com

5 Ways To Use A Social Media Hashtag Effectively

Greetings Dear Readers

At Falconscove we are busy helping PSASA with the social media strategy for their National Convention.
They are using the social media hashtag #vocalislekker.   Along the way it dawned on me one must make
sure you use the hashtag correctly along all channels.

Here are 5 tips to ensure you use your social media hashtag effectively.

1.  Select one hashtag across all channels


So many times companies decide on a hashtag and then along the way other people decide to use
a alternative one or something similar.  So if you decide on a hashtag eg #durban that hashtag
must be used in all tweets you send out, all facebook updates you send, all pictures you upload, blogs
you write etc.  It does not help if some people use #durban and some people use #dbn
Remain consistent.

2.  Use the hashtag in everything you share online




It's important to make sure everyone uses that hashtag especially at a conference.  So make sure
the same hashtag is used in all emails, tweets, facebook updates, pictures, videos etc.
Inform people beforehand what the hashtag will be.

3.  Trending topics


If you get it right then that hashtag will start to trend in the trending topics section of Twitter.
As long as everyone for example at a conference uses that hashtag and keeps sharing
info about the event.

4.  Make sure everyone knows


It's important especially at conferences for the MC to be told what the hashtag is and to let them
tell everyone what the hashtag is and that they must use it if they tweet about the conference or
take pictures or blog about it.  This helps that hashtag start to trend.

5.  Make it sound cool


Sit down with your staff and work on that hashtag.  It must have a nice ring to it.
People must want to share it with their tweets.  Make sure everyone knows it and passes it on
to others.  Keep track of the social channels as sometimes Tweeps will ask what the hashtag is.
Perfect time to remind them.  Have fun sharing that hashtag.


Yours in Social

Fred Felton
Social Media Strategist & Keynote Speaker
Falconscove
A Digital Media Agency
Social Media Management, Strategy, Talks & Workshops
email: falconscove@gmail.com

5 Ways To Get More Followers On Twitter

Greetings Dear Readers.

A great number of my clients and delegates at the workshops I teach at and at the talks I give
keep asking me how do you get more followers on Twitter.

Well here are 5 Tips to help you get more followers, these tips have helped me and hopefully
they will help you as well.

1.  Take a look at your business card


The easiest way is to take a look at your business card.  How many of you have your
twitter username on it?  Do you know how many business cards you give out each day
or when you go to networking meetings?  Well make it work for you.
Simple but effective.

2.  Your email signature


How many emails do you send out daily?  Well once again make it work for you.
Use a powerful tool like Wisestamp and add your Twitter username and profile
into your email signatures.  Helps a great deal.

http://www.wisestamp.com/


3.  Your Website Or Blog


How many of you have a website or blog?  How many of you have your a
Twitter Follow Me Button on your site or blog?  Once again get active and
get a Twitter Follow Me Button and add it to your site or blog.

https://twitter.com/about/resources

4.  Your Company Letterheads and Documents


Once again take a look at all of your Company Letterheads and Documents
you send out to clients.  Do you see your Twitter name on them.  If not
get busy adding it.

5.  Link Your Facebook To Your Twitter Account Same For Linkedin


Twitter also enables you to link your Twitter account to your Facebook account
so your Tweets appear on Facebook.   You can also link your Twitter account
to your Linkedin Feed and your contacts there can see you are on Twitter.

All valuable tools in gaining more followers.

What techniques do you use to gain more followers on Twitter?


Fly high, Fly free

Fred Felton
Social Media Engineer & Keynote Speaker
Falconscove
A Digital Media Agency
Social Media Talks, Workshops, Training, Branding and Management
'We Will Make You Famous'
email: falconscove@gmail.com

5 Ways To Market Your Event Using Social Media During The Event

Greetings Dear Readers

This week I am giving you 5 ways to market your event using social media during the event.
I am just back from doing a writing workshop with Speaker and Publisher Robin Jackson and
I thought I would share some tips for you on how to use social media to market your event during it.

Sure you have done all the hard work to market it before the event.
During the event is another story.  If you do it right more people will want to come to it next time.

Here are 5 tips to help you get started.

1.  Check in using Foursquare


A great way to create awareness is to use Foursquare to check in to the venue and tell people
why you are there. Include a hashtag as well, we used #IPW.  Make sure your Foursquare
is linked to Twitter and Facebook and even your BBM so you can reach many more people with it.

2.  Use a hashtag and be consistent with it


During the event use the same hashtag.  Do not veer away and use other hashtags.  Decide
beforehand what your hashtag is and stick with it.

3.  Use pictures


People love visual images of events so do not be shy, take some pics of the venue, of the
speakers, of the guests, of what is happening and upload them to Twitter, Facebook, Flickr
and Instagram.

4.  Tell people what is going on


Now your Tweeps will love you for this, so try and Tweet now and again all the great
things you hear at the event and smart advice you hear.  Share it with your Tweeps
and with your friends on Facebook.

5.  Try a live blog


You can even get someone to blog live from the event and create even more awareness.
Use the blog Tumblr and if you are more hands on with a mobile use the app for tumblr
and blog from your mobile.

So there you have it.  5 ways to market your event during it.  Hope you use them in the future
and tell me what you experienced.

Do you have any other tips to market your event using social media?


Fly high, Fly free


Fred Felton
Social Media Engineer & Speaker & Trainer
Falconscove
A Digital Media Agency
'Social Media Is Our Biz'
email: falconscove@gmail.com

100 Social Media Influencers In South Africa and counting #followsa

Greetings Dear Readers

Been very busy guest blogging for @IdeaBounty and getting some wonderful writing
and social media workshops ready for the near future.

Along the way I came upon a article on the Top 100 Social Media Influencers in the World.
I tweeted it out and the likes of @PoppieSlops and @franki1 tweeted me asking why don't
we have a list of the top 100 Social Media Influencers in South Africa.

So I told them I would start it for South Africa along the way @MelAttree suggested
we make it a wiki file which means that all of South Africa can contribute.

So feel free to contribute and add who you think should be on the list.
It's over 100 people and counting at the moment.
Interesting note, I am getting most of the feedback and suggestions via Twitter.

Top 100 Social Media Influencers In South Africa

Click on the link and see if you or someone you know is on it.

The names you see on the list are their Twitter names so go see who they are and add them
if you don't know them yet and chat to them.  You might just make a good friend.

Tweet me on @fredfelton if you have any suggestions, like it?  hate it?
You can even jump right in and edit it.

At the very worst you can add them all to your twitter account and you will have
a very interesting timeline.

It's an ongoing experiment so keep sending me your suggestions and I will try add
it to the list when I can.

Hopefully we can make it a yearly list.


Fly high, Fly free


Fred Felton
Speaker  & Social Media Engineer & Author
Falconscove
A Digital Media Agency
Social Media Is Our Biz
www.falconscovesa.blogspot.com
email: falconscove@gmail.com
twitter: @fredfelton