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| Be sure to connect the dots for your audience. |
I understand many of you may have already completed today's challenge. If so, hooray! Enjoy your easy Friday. If you still want something to do (or want to earn extra credit), share a #FollowFriday (or #ff) Tweet on Twitter of 3-5 Tweeps you find especially engaging. Be sure to include a few words expressing why these Tweeps are worth following.
Is it appropriate to link to my blog post multiple times?
All writers develop their own strategies for linking to their articles and blog posts, but here's my rule. I will usually link to each blog post on every one of my social networks at least once. Since I have a regular profile and a fan page on Facebook, I link to each of those profiles once--and I only link to posts once each on Google+ and LinkedIn. But Twitter is a special case.
The way Twitter works, Tweets usually only have a few minutes of visibility for Tweeps with an active stream. Even Tweeps with at least 100 follows may only have a 30-minute to hour window of opportunity to see your Tweet. So for really popular and timely blog posts, I will Tweet them more often than once on Twitter.
That said, I'm always aware of how I'm linking and don't want to become that annoying spammer that I typically avoid following in my own social networking efforts.
Some tips on linking to your post:
- Use a URL shortener. These were discussed and shared on Day 11.
- Apply title + link formula. For instance, I might Tweet this post as: April Platform Challenge: Day 13: (link). It's simple and to the point. Plus, it's really effective if you have a great blog post title.
- Frame the link with context. Using this post as an example, I might Tweet: Take advantage of social media by linking to your blog posts: (link). Pretty simple, and it's an easy way to link to the same post without making your Twitter feed look loaded with the same content.
- Quote from post + link formula. Another tactic is to take a funny or thought-provoking quote from the post and combine that with a link. Example Tweet: "I will usually link to each blog post on every one of my social networks at least once." (link). Again, easy stuff.
Happy Friday the 13th! Don't break any mirrors or step under any ladders!
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Need to catch up or re-visit earlier challenge tasks? Here the most recent:
102 comments:
Done. Thanks! Interesting tip about tweeting link more than once b/c of short shelf life.
Already done. Automagically. My Wordpress settings for Misk Cooks post links on Twitter and Facebook (and my Facebook page). I will however do a few #FF later today when America wakes up (as in time zone differences).
Done! Thanks for the tips! I'm looking for help on how to link blog posts to Pinterest... anyone?
Julia, as you're probably aware, I'm not able to help with Pinterest yet, but I plan to dive in (along with everyone else) later this month.
I just created a Pinterest account for my writing last night. Looking forward to learning more about it later this month!
Misky, do you use a plug-in to post from Wordpress to Facebook? I haven't been able to find any free plug-ins, that work, to let me do this.
OK. well this is tricky, because of the aforementioned (on yesterday's post) uncertainty about a call to action. But I do routinely (though not automatically) share blog posts on Twitter & Facebook & sometimes other networks.
I also just have to add that I have a low tolerance, personally, for multiple tweets of the same blog post. Twice is fine. Three times I can occasionally handle. But beyond that, I'm mightily tempted to unfollow. (This is hard, because some of my friends commit this "sin" routinely.)
I should also say that I'm not talking about multiple tweets that aren't concentrated in a single day--for instance, tweeting an archived blog post weeks/months/years later.
On another note: Robert, don't dive in to Pinterest! Stay with those of us who #ResistPinterest because we just can't handle one more social-media platform.
FWIW.
Already done here too. I suppose that is a good thing...and a bad thing. My first response was, oh cool, no challenge. My second response (immediately thereafter) was Oh my God! What will I do come May 1? It was a scary thought. So I guess I will set up a Pinterrest this morning... Having a task everyday is good. Maybe I will rethink that PhD...again!
Thanks for the perspective on Twitter feed.
I link my blog to pinterest. It has its own board, called "my blog", with the pictures I use in each post linked to that entry. It hasn't driven very much traffic, which given my topic, I expect. If I blogged on food or fashion or design, however, it would be a must.
Already done but I'll do a few #ff tweets.
I'm listening to Chris Brogan's book on Google+ (in an auditory format but it's also in text). http://www.amazon.com/Google-Business-Googles-Network-Everything/dp/B007A9IKPQ
I think the Google+ platform will be useful to authors. Hangout events, for example, might be a way for people to talk about a first chapter or hear and talk about poems.
That said, I still have not mastered Google+. Is anyone active on that platform?
Done!
I never thought of tweeting my posts more than once due to the visibility. Thanks for the tip.
Done...I post my blog daily to all of my social networks.
I asked a couple days ago what "tumblr" was...a blog I subscribe to has a button to share to this site. Any ideas?
I will do this as part of my A to Z Challenge. I share my blog posts with my networks already, but I too had not thought of strategically posting the same post a couple times on Twitter. Put me down as someone else who is opposed to Pinterest. Social networks are great, but I'm of the opinion that signing up for more than 3, maybe even 2, begins to experience some diminishing returns, especially with a full-time job and competing for time to actually write the content worth sharing on the networks. Just my thoughts.
Twitter: js_orozco
I do this every time I post to my blog. Posted a #ff & will add that to my weekly schedule.
I do this after every blog post, too, so I'm going to skim through my followers for a #ff :)
I so appreciate this..
newbie question?
If I'm on google+ does my blog automatically link there or do I have to + myself?
I am done with this challenge.
Julia & others, I link my blog posts to Pinterest. Make sure you have a good graphic at the top of your post. Once you have an account, go to "add a pin". Put the URL in the box and go through the images until you find the one you put at the top of your post. Then "Pin It." I learned how to do this one Saturday afternoon and it really drives traffic to my blog.
It may make a difference that I link to a collaborative board. I already have 3 likes and 6 repins in the last five minutes.
http://pinterest.com/jeanniepartin/you-know-you-are-a-teacher-when/
Your point about Twitter, and your blog posts is well taken.
I think Tweeting a blog post once when posted, and once later in the day, is more my speed.
I'll be doing the #FF today since I've already tweeted my latest posts, from yesterday, and there may be another blog post today, that will get mentioned on all my platforms.
I have completed some of the multi post assignment and even had time to mow the yard yesterday.
My searching the 1940 census sheets is replacing in dull and re-run TV programming in the evenings. I am experimenting with my new Google+ account.
If it rains again tomorrow, I should be able to tie up the loose ends of the rest of the challenges.
Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn done. May tackle Pinterest and #ff posts, although I'm not comfortable with Pinterest yet; just figuring it out.
Thanks, commenters, for the Pinterest tips.
Done. I haven't quite figured out LinkedIn's sharing feature, but I managed to get a post there with my blog link. Facebook and Twitter, no problem.
The LinkedIn interface is not immediately intuitive.
Done. Retweeted mine, as well as two other people's I liked. Thanks!
de
Done! I will work on the extra credit this afternoon. :)
Yay, an easy day on Friday the 13th-bodes well, no?
Never thought of linking more than once on Twitter, but makes sense.
#FF on F13, good stuff, will do in afternoon.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Done! Thanks.
Done. Easy task today!
However, count me as one who prefers not to get into Pinterest. Although they've tightened up their copyright policy, I have concerns about the free and easy pinning of images that don't belong to people, not that this directly affects me, but I'm not keen on Pinterest for this reason.
(Besides, as someone stated, I need time to actually write!)
Done. Added my link to my Google+ sit even though I only have 2 followers. Not very many people seem to be buying in to this idea so far? Also #FF one of my favourite Tweeps to follow in the April Challenge. @rhondaparrish
Done.
Fabulous! I did that yesterday. #FF is also great fun.
Easy-peasy Friday! I do the linking automatically each time I blog. WordPress has it built in if you opt for their Publicize app.
I did just RT my tweet from yesterday. I agree w/your point about a tweet's short shelf life and wondered how best to handle that, because like you, I do not want to be perceived as a spammer.
That said:
"My latest blogpost, about #caretaking #aging #parents~The Fourth Commandment, Part II~ http://wp.me/p2ajcN-4y ~ #WhatWouldYouDo #MNINB "
Done. I had already linked to Facebook and Twitter, so today I just added LinkedIn.
The odd thing is that now that I have all of these places to post my thoughts . . . I don't seem to have any interesting thoughts! Maybe tomorrow . . .
Yay, done! You already got me in the habit, thanks to this challenge.
I'm still working on the automatic part of the sharing thing. At the moment, I use my share button below the post after it is published. It's kind of a cranky way to do it. I guess I need to work on that some.
Robert, can we get a list of people who are on Google+? I've started a Writing Circle, but it's kind of small. I'm sure there are many more people working the challenge who are on Google+. I'd like to add them to my Circle.
THANK YOU for spelling out how to retweet!! I got The Twitter Book, which I plan on plowing through this weekend. Your post really helped me for now though! :-D
Re: Pinterest - I've resisted joining because I'm afraid it will suck more time out of my day, but I read somewhere about using it to create storyboards for novel writing. Great idea!!
By the way, if any of you want to become friends on Facebook, here's my link: Linda Hatton .
HA. My toddler tried to go under a ladder today.
Linked to FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest. Let's see how this goes!
Done on the fly.
Done, though I still have to figure out the URL shortener.
Done and done and I even signed up for bitly. Soooo much to learn and soooo little time! Oh, right time management. I even wrote about it in one of my blogs.
Done.
~ Rhonda Parrish
I finished linking to my social media sites just before reading this challenge. Easy Friday for me. I had been linking to Facebook for a while and today was my first day linking to Twitter. Thanks for the kick in the pants this month. I've improved my platform a lot.
Nice to round out the week caught-up...challenge + extra credit done!
Done. I hadn't looked at LinkedIn since joining last weekend - didn't realize I had all this news, etc. to read!
I don't mind repeat tweets when somebody you follow warns you that you may have already seen that post. "For those who missed it, (link)" or when somebody retweets you, and you retweet that as a thank you (with the link).
Not that I need another social network, but I hope we talk about Google+ because I think other genealogists hang out there.
Done already, except for linking to twitter, which I am still unable to make myself do. Guess i won't win the raffle unless someone can explain to me why i want this?
Done. ;)
Tweet done. I shouldn't have read all the comments - now I have to look up tumblr and bitly!
I have my Twitter Tools all set up to send new posts to Twitter. I have all the directions written down to link to FB, & LinkedIn remains a complete mystery to me. I need to spend some serious time over there figuring things out. Can you only find people if you know their email addresses?
I learned about #FF from my Twitter Handbook and will be doing it today!
I caught up! & learned some things too!
Done. I did link my blog post to FB, Twitter and LinkedIn yesterday, but I will also take a look & see if I can post the link anywhere else as well.
And I really appreciate the advice about how and how often to link to any given content! I've often wondered what's appropriate, particularly with Twitter, since I hadn't had any experience with it before this Challenge.
Thanks, Robert!
Hey Nicole here. Done.
Until tomorrow.
Done! I link my blog posts to my social networking sites when they are published. I do the same on Twitter, and today on LinkedIn.
Here is the link to today's post...for your reading pleasure =)
http://bit.ly/HAQyaL
Happy Friday the 13th
Brooke
Since day 1, I have been posting my website, and blog posts on twitter, multiple places on facebook (including my blog's FB page), G+, LinkedIN, and emailing friends and family. Otherwise, how would people know about my blog? I have gone back and forth on pinterest. But for now, I'm leaving that alone.
I also realized that my blog post is for a different audience other than writers. Trying to find that audience has been difficult. Piper Bayard suggested some places.
ROBERT -I was wondering if you could look at my website and suggest some groups to send my post? Www.bendsintheroad.com
TTHANKS
Monique
So the tweets went out with the blog post yesterday (wordpress auto sends them to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for me). However, I pushed myself a bit further. I did the #FF retweet, and then I posted a 2nd twitter post with my first line of my blog. Maybe I'll get a big more traffic? Thanks for the challenge! Looking forward to tomorrow's!
oh, one more thing, as far as Pinterest is concerned, I joined but I did it for images that inspire my fiction writing. Sort of line an online inspiration board. If you don't need it, don't join. Its a little weird to sit and look for photos to 'pin'.
Finished for today!
I linked to my post from yesterday on all the relevant outlets, including Pinterest. I get good results from Pinterest, especially for health and wellness issues.
Since I rarely make #FF tweets, I made a point of it today -- compiling a list of book bloggers that I think some of the people in this challenge will find interesting to follow. I hadn't realized how many "thank you" tweets I would get back -- that's pretty good! I should do it more often.
Done & Automated. I am challenging myself to visit everyone's site who is following me. I hope this encourages others to do the same.
I second the suggestion to try and hook up on Google+ - I'm still feeling my way through it (especially since they just changed things again!) but it seems that I get a good amount of traffic from it.
Mind you my market, until now, has been foodies (still trying to figure out how to transition that site in to more creative writing, or if I need another site...) I'm rambling now, sorry :)
-Danielle
Done! 9:30 is early for me.
I hate LinkedIn (long story . . . spam stuff). So I made a Google+ account to for my third share of the blog post.
Done!
Done, except for linked in, since I use that for professional connections other than writing.
All Done, I have all three of my social Media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, and Linked In) So I can post it once and it goes around to all three but it is a nice tip about Twitter, I will try to use that more often. I am also using the call to action on every post.
Thanks for the help.
All done for Day 13.
Done - however, I'm confused with LinkedIn, and couldn't figure out how to post and wondered if anyone would really care due to the nature of my blog. I don't want to annoy anyone. Suggestions?
Yep. Already completed. ^_^ Thanks for an easy Friday, Robert!
Done... Thanks again for this challenge.
Done! I agree the tips on tweeting are helpful. Thank you.
Done, but still confused about the grab it buttons on Posterous. Hope to have a few minutes this weekend to work on it.
I linked to my FB page, G+, and Twitter. I stopped linking on my personal FB page because I didn't want to seem like a spammer to my friends. I figured that the friends who want to see the blog updates are the ones who like my FB page. Do people link to both?
I am still not sure if LinkedIn in is something that is worth putting in the time for, so I haven't set up a profile there.
Done.
today it worked...hurrah!
But won't work with my open id from wordpress. Anyone else have trouble with that?
Done. My blog auto-alerts to twitter and facebook when I post an article. I tweet a second time, based on targeted reading times. So this blog tweeted once yesterday around noon, for Friday readers, and once today for weekend readers. Thanks to the participant who mentioned how they post links to blogs on Pinterest. I have links from Pinterest to my blog for certain writing projects, but hadn't thought to create a board for all the blog articles. I'll go back and #ff people later.
If you are on WordPress.com, you can set up your blog entries to automatically get posted to FB, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Then you only have to post to G+ ... I tried adding that network, but I don't think they have that option added in yet. They may have in the future. So every blog post is shared across my network. For those of you not on WordPress.com, I believe that you can set up posting instructions on Hootsuite to automatically post to various social networks on a schedule. There is a marketing strategy out there that says you should post everything 10 times. I think that is a little excessive, and draw the line at that. If you're posting on a regular basis, you should be able to get "out there" to your followers sufficiently. The better thing to hope for is the share/retweet/liking of your posts by your followers, so that perhaps their followers will share/RT/like as well :)
That's all for today!
Done!
Done!
Think I forgot to say I got this done!
Hey Nicole here. Done nikkitrees@gmail.com
Until tomorrow.
My blog already goes to Twitter, Amazon, Open Salon, so I think I have it covered.
Done
Done (on the 13th--just forgot to post, ha-ha!)
Done -- on FB & Twitter. (I'm still not Linked In (and not sure I want to be) -- so that will have to suffice... unless I change my mind... could happen... or not. :-]
Have broadcast my most inner thoughts on Facebook and Linkedin. But still don't know how to insert a link in Twitter posts. Guess I'm a Dodo bird who can't tweet
Done. I actually had sent it to my social media yesterday right after I had posted. Thanks Robert for giving me good habits!
Done. It took a lot of courage and 3 extra days, but it's done.
Once I felt secure in my blogging I started crossposting on my social media accounts so I can say this is "DONE"
Done a bit late, but done.
Done.
Yup - done. Only like a week behind almost now.. :)
Completed!
I started out my blog linking each time to Twitter and FB. A couple of times it hasn't "auto-linked" but most times it does. I'll be glad when I'm switched out of posting thru MobileMe. I need to get things into a permanent state.
I've been linking to FB and Twitter since starting my blog. A few times, a blog hasn't "auto-linked" but most times it works great.
Done!
Moving right along...
Well that was easier than I thought!
My post of literary happenings has been posted now to Twitter and LinkedIN. It was already going to FB.
Done. Finally able to add Wordpress app to LinkedIn page.
I did this a couple days ago, but I don't think I left a comment. I have linked my blog, ThreeSistersExclusive.wordpress.com to my accounts in Facebook, Twitter, & LinkedIn.
Done!
Blog posted on Facebook, Twitter, & LinkedIn when published.
Done. This is such a great idea and something I'm going to do from now on.
Already linked to Facebook and LinkedIn. Still not hooked into Twitter.
Halas!
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Done. I already had it posted to Facebook and Twitter, but today I added LinkedIn.
Did it! Thank you!
Done!
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