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 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

5 Websites that impressed me in 2011

Greetings Dear Readers.

Right about now you will be on holiday and maybe shopping for gifts for family or friends
for all of those year end parties you go to.

I feel a tiny bit sorry for those of you who have to work at this time of year.
Just a tiny bit.

Can you believe it 2011 is almost finished and almost time for 2012.

I thought I would share with you 5 Websites that impressed me in 2011.

Here we go:

1.  Twitter


http://www.twitter.com

One of my favourite sites.  So much on there from news, views, interviews,
useful links, people venting, amusing pics and videos and I could go on and on.
Not to mention it's a useful messaging site.  Will it replace email?  Only time
will tell.

2.  Podomatic


http://www.podomatic.com

Some people call this the wave of the future, podcasting, webcasting, having
your own shows on the net, from radio shows to tv shows to web seminars.
All of this for free.  Nifty hey.

3.  Visibli


http://www.visibli.com

For those of you who are big on social media and marketing this is the site for you.
It basically adds a bar above all your links, photo's blog entries and more for every
link you put out there on the interweb.   On that blog you can put up some wonderful things
like your social media profiles, your website and so much more.  A very powerful
marketing tool and the stats are fantastic.

4.  TinyLetter


http://www.tinyletter.com

For those of you looking to start with email newsletters this site is for you.
Very easy to use and it works.  That's right you heard me it works :)
Highly recommended.

5.  VibeDeck


http://www.vibedeck.com

A really interesting site for all you musicians out there.  It allows you
to sell your cd's, songs, ep's and more online and with the social media
integration you can decide if you want to give it away or use
the pay with a tweet or facebook message option.  Very slick site.

Well those should keep you busy for awhile at least till you decide to
hit the beach or try that game reserve or read a book.

Do you have any cool websites you have discovered in 2011?
Let me know.


Wish you and yours Seasons Greetings and have a successful 2012  :)

Yours in social media

Fred Felton
Speaker & Social Media Consultant & Author
email: falconscove@gmail.com

email to book Fred for your next talk or for a social media workshop.

What is a Tweetup?

Hello there readers, today I shall be concentrating on Tweetups and giving you some tips on them.
Last week I was involved in organising a Tweetup and while I was doing it I got a lot of enquiries about
Tweetups, what are they?  What's a Tweetup?  etc etc.

So here is some help for you who do not know what a Tweetup is.

What is a Tweetup?
A Tweetup is a meeting of people from Twitter who meet in a social gathering to meet the people
they Tweet to.  Sometimes it is just a social gathering and sometimes speakers are organised,
prizes are given and creative games are played.

How do you organize a Tweetup?
The easiest way is to use something like twtvite.com - www.twtvite.com
The interface is pretty easy and you can share it on many social networking sites.
Then get the word out early and share it with all your friends and the people you would like to see at the event.

Keep promoting the Tweetup?
Keep telling people in the area about it so if you are having it in Durban, use the hashtag
#DBNTweetup or #DurbanTweetup or #Durban so people can see it when they search for tweetups.
Have it at a central venue and choose a good time to meet.

Start early
Start promoting the Tweetup early so that you can get awareness of the event and tell people on Facebook and  other sites about it also.

At the Tweetup
Have a host or MC and their job is to make sure the Tweetup is setup, food and drinks are ready if necessary and the venue is ready.  The host should also greet the people as they enter and ensure that everyone has a good time.

There you go, that should help you on your way to starting your own Tweetup.
No matter where you are on this planet you can start a Tweetup.

So what are you waiting for?


Fly high, Fly free

Fred Felton
Speaker - Social Media Consultant
Falcon's Cove Consulting
email: falconscove@gmail.com
cell: 076-977-5788

call or email to book Fred for a talk or workshop on social media countrywide.

Book Review Coffee at Little Angels

Welcome Dear Reader

I have been asked to review a new book 'Coffee at Little Angels.'

So sit back and enjoy this review and a little info on the Author Nadine Rose Larter.

Coffee at Little Angels has possibly one of the best opening lines I have read in a long time.  Straight away it sets you up for an enjoyable read.  It is written in a fresh style and is such a wonderful book.  It's wonderful to see a new South African Writer on the scene.  Watch out for this one She is going places.

Coffee at Little Angels is set in a placeless setting so that it is suitable for any location in the world.
You are introduced to Phillip, Sarah, Kaitlyn, Caleb, Maxine, Grant, Melanie and Josh who were all school mates.  A tragedy reunites them together and they return to meet each other again.   The author examines how  they deal with death and their own ignored demons.   These friends try to rekindle their friendship and have a reunion of sorts.

Everyone has had a band of school friends so everyone will relate to this book.

Wonderfully written with a surprise around every corner.  The perfect book for any season. I can see many people curled up by the fireside reading it or sitting in a corner of the balcony enjoying a summer day.
You can be sure there will be many people taking this book with them on holiday.  The perfect beach read and the perfect holiday book.

And just what does Little Angels stand for?  Ah to find that out, you will have to read the book.

A very impressive read.

Now let's learn a bit more about the Author shall we.

Nadine Rose Larter was born in a small South African town called Molteno in the heart of the Karoo.
After High School she moved to Port Elizabeth where she stays with her son, fiance and two step children.
She describes herself as a free-spirit, she spends most of her days writing or thinking about writing.

She has always been writing from poems and short stories when she was young to diaries later on in her life.
She chose to self-publish this book simply because she felt like taking control of her own future.
Nadine wrote Coffee at Little Angels after a high school friend of her's died in a car accident.

She wrote the book with no proper nouns or full names or town names so that anybody who picks it up
can identify with it.

Nadine writes regularly on these websites:

Passing the Open Windows
http://www.passingtheopenwindows.co.za

The Katalina Playroom
http://katalina.co.za

The Poetry Project
http://www.thepoetryproject.co.za

The Writers Club
http://www.thewritersclub.co.za

Details of the book and where you can get it:

Title: Coffee at Little Angels
Author:  Nadine Rose Larter

Official launch date: Late August 2011 for print copy

Ebook copy available on The Katalina Playroom Website: http://katalina.co.za/?p=387

Ebook will also be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBookstore and Sony Readerstore

Contact details for Nadine Rose Larter

Twitter:   @nayes1982

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/nayes


Well I hope you enjoyed that book review and a brief insight into Nadine Rose Larter.
Buy her book Coffee at Little Angels why don't you ;)


Fly high, Fly Free


Fred Felton
Falcon's Cove Consulting
email: falconscove@gmail.com

Speaker - Social Media Consultant - Biz Analyst

Email if you would like to book Fred for one of his Social Media Talks or Training Sessions

5 Things To Do At A Networking Event

Good evening Bloggers and Readers from a chilly Umhlanga.  At the start of this month
I thought I would give you some networking tips.  I hope you will use them well.

1.  Know what you want to do before you get there


That may sound quite odd but basically what I am saying is before you go to the event you want to
have 3 or 4 people that you want to meet at that meeting.  People that might be able to benefit from your
business.  So at the meeting make sure you meet those 3 or 4 people you wanted to meet.  Don't be the person who just goes to the meeting for the coffee and donuts.

2.  Have your business cards at the ready


I have said it before and I will say it again.  Make sure you have your business cards before you head out.
Get yourself a nice business card holder so when people ask for your card it looks neat and professional.
Always ask for the other persons business card and right down some notes on their business cards.  Right down who they are, where they live, notes you have learnt about them.   How they can help you.

3.  Make sure you go to the right meetings


Over time you will discover which meetings are working for you and which meetings are not.  No point going to a meeting where you are getting no leads.  Avoid meetings that you do not enjoy.   Your aim is to find a networking meeting or group where you have fun and where you enjoy the people who are there.  Also look for one's where they have good speakers.    The best networking meetings are one's where you get referrals.  Make sure you return the favour with those in the network.

4.  Start going to conferences


Now some people are intimidated by conferences.   Some people feel there are too many people there.  However you will be amazed at the people you meet there.   So choose one that you feel might interest you and head off to it.  Start speaking to people, say hello, ask them why they are there.
You will be amazed how this pays off.

5.  Thank the host


One of the mistakes you sometimes make is after the meeting to just speed off to your next business meeting.
Wait.  Are you not forgetting something?  That's right.  The host.   Make sure when the meeting starts you greet them and when the meeting ends you thank them for the meeting.  Send them an email afterwards as well and start to build a relationship with them.


Hope those networking tips help you out when you head off to your next networking meeting.

Fly high, Fly Free

Fred Felton
Falcon's Cove Consulting
Keynote Speaker - IT Consultant - Biz Analyst

Book Fred for one of his Social Media Talks or Workshops Countrywide

7 Tips On How To Dress For Business

Good Evening Readers.

This week I am looking at what to wear for business.

Tomorrow morning when you get up and dress for work take a look at yourself in the mirror.
How do you look?  Do you look ready to take on that billion dollar deal?
Are people going to take you seriously dressed as you are?
Here are 7 tips for men to to make sure you are dressed your best.

1.  Get a good pair of shoes.
Make sure you have a good pair of comfortable shoes.  It always helps if you shine them every morning so they are spotless as you step out.

2.  A smart pair of pants helps.
It always helps to have a neat pair of pants that fit you well.

3.  A good belt makes a difference.
A good belt can really set you apart from others.   Take a look for one that you can use for smart or casual wear.  It will help you stand out.

4.  A shirt and tie.
Now in this day and age with a more relaxed sense sometimes you do not have to wear a tie.  A smart shirt is fine silk or cotton perfect.  A good tie that matches makes you stands out.

5.  A jacket complements you.
Make sure you have some jackets for each day of the week.  Choose a variety of colours from black to dark blue to dark brown.   A good name will ensure your jacket lasts for you.  Always remember it must have inside pockets for all your gadgets, keys, wallet etc.

6.  Extras.
In winter time or even summer time you also have to make sure you have a nice scarf that makes you stand out.  Learn the various ways you can tie a scarf.  Also do not forget a smart set of sunglasses.  The design should match the shape of your face.  Always select a good aftershave as well.  Something you like.  A good wallet can also make you stand out.

7. A good haircut regularly.
Make sure you get a good haircut.  A good haircut can help improve your confidence tremendously so go out there and find a good barber.   Someone who can really cut your hair well and keep you informed on what is going on in the area.

If you take those 7 tips into account and always check yourself in the mirror before you head out you can only do one thing.   Succeed!

Fly high, Fly free


Fred Felton
Falcon's Cove Consulting
Motivational Speaker - Biz Analyst - IT Consultant
email: falconscove@gmail.com

email to book Fred for one of The Twitter Talks he does countrywide.

Rain, Rain, Rain

Good day avid reader. Welcome to another of my blog entries.

Well it's been an interesting week over here in Durban, South Africa. Over here we have been having persistent rain day in day out. It's been so bad I found a swimming pool in my car when I opened it. No joke!

On the other side of the mountain in Cape Town it's 40 degrees. Go figure!

Dams are full and the farmers are smiling.

Now life is just like that. At times you will wonder when, just when are you going to hit success and then all of a sudden it's raining down success all around you. The trick is to keep doing what you love and sooner or later something will happen or you can make something happen.

Keep your nose to the grindstone and it's gonna rain good fortune on you.

Well either that or you will have a swimming pool in your car.

A blog worth reading is at www.twinkletalks.co.za

A website worth visiting is popurls.com

Fly high, Fly Free

From the desk of

Fred Felton

Author and Motivational Speaker

email: falconscove@gmail.com

call or email to book Fred Felton for a talk or seminar anywhere on the planet.

Seasons Greetings and New Years Resolutions

Well it is almost the end of 2010. Can you believe it?

If you think back one year have you achieved all you wanted to achieve this year.

When you have some free time you should sit down with a good cup of coffee and a notepad and pen. Draw up a list of 100 goals you would like to accomplish in 2011.

Then refine it to 50 goals, then to 20 goals, then to 10 goals.

Set a due date for each goal and plan how you intend to achieve it.

Some goals might be quite big and you might have to set up mini-goals for them.

The main task is to get yourself on track. Set a plan for your work and work your plan.

Set goals for your career, what do you want to do? What do you love doing? Follow that.

Set goals for your personal life.

Goals for your finances, pay off those debts, invest more so you can live a comfortable life.

Focus on your hobbies.

Give back to society.

The main aim is to enjoy it all.

So that at the end of 2011 you can tick off all those goals you set now.

A really good blog to read

twinkletalks.co.za

A good website to check out

webnode.com

Fly high, Fly Free

Wishing you a wonderful New Year and live the life you want.

Fred Felton

Mr Motivator

Author and Motivational Speaker

email: falconscove@gmail.com

Follow me on twitter @fredfelton

How do you handle stress?

Over the last few weeks I have had two very stressful events occur in my life.

The death of a friend and then having to handle a family emergency.

Two very stressful events.

How does one handle stressful events?

Well you take it one day at a time.

You take it one step at a time.

It can certainly knock you back a bit but it is how you handle it that counts.

So the next time something stressful hits you take a deep breath, count to ten and slowly but surely handle it.

One step at a time.

One day at a time.

Wishing you all continued success.

I just discovered this great blog certainly worth the read and be sure to bookmark it.

Here is the link: http://www.twinkletalks.co.za

A great website I discovered called Montage.

Here is the link: montage.cloudapp.net

Fly high

Fly free

Fred Felton

Mr Motivator

Author and Motivational Speaker

email: falconscove@gmail.com

email to book me for a talk or seminar anywhere on the planet.

First Motivational Tip

Hello all

Welcome to my first entry. I am Mr Motivator. A motivational speaker in

the Umhlanga Rocks and South Africa area.

Today I want you to focus on the positive.

My phone line went out and I had to report it. Instead of getting all angry I focussed

on the positive went in to the shop reported the problem and believed that it would be fixed soon.

Hey presto fixed in a couple of hours.

So be positive, think positive and focus on the life you want to create

and follow your dreams.

Get out there and build the future you want.

Fly high, fly free

Fred Felton

Motivational Speaker

email: falconscove@gmail.com

website: http://tinypay.me/1CIdRW