“I just got a new iPhone today!” “Oooh, ahhhh!” the room replies. Yes, iPhones may seem to be the new expensive toy on the block but it is also a very important social media tool. So if it wasn’t you with the opening statement, “I just got a new iPhone” then you are out of the loop! And this is a loop you can’t afford to be out of!

In case you were unaware, iPhones and Droids have access to all the social media sites that a computer would have, but it has the convenience of size. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, and even your email are all at the tip of your fingers- literally!

Angie Swartz, the proud owner of a Droid, explains how it helps business through social media in this week’s Social Media Minute.

Here’s a quick review of Angie’s points:

1. iPhones and Droids make it easy to fit social media into your busy day because your phone is with you all the time.
2. These smart phones help you keep up with important customers when you’re not at the office.
3. They help you keep up with competitors when you’re not doing work for your own company.

I hope you enjoyed the Social Media Minute and I look forward to your thoughts and comments.  Please subscribe to the Square Martini Media YouTube channel and if you have a question you would like covered on the Social Media Minute, let us know by giving us your Social Media Minute Question.

Related posts:

1. Using Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to Follow Up After Speaking To kick of the Social Media Minute please watch the...
2. Why Should My Company Use Social Media? Why should my company use Social Media? The person asking...
3. Two Social Media Strategies Perfect for Earth Day! Birch Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium A post perfect for Earth Day! Jessica Crawford and...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Did you see a twitter or Facebook logo at the bottom of the screen while watching CNN?  Did you see a recent commercial or advertisement with just the Facebook business page listed for your favorite brand?   No website…  just the Facebook website.

Everybody else is doing it, right?  All types of companies are turning to Social Media.  Large fortune 100 companies, big local companies, all the way down to your favorite coffee shop down the street.  Is everyone just jumping on the band wagon or is this social media stuff really working?

Is it because you do not want to be left behind?  The companies that are building their social media presence now, creating great content online, and attracting an online following, are the ones that will continue to grow at a rapid pace.  Those companies starting now will be far ahead of anyone jumping into the social media pool a year from now.

Maybe there are other reasons?  Maybe its because you see your competitors using social media.  Maybe you are interested in social media because it is all the rage…  Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and blogging are the current buzz words and you want to be a part of that buzz.

The reason why you see big brands using Facebook instead of their website is they want to create a presence where their customers are spending their time.   Everyone is doing it because social media works.  The companies with a strategy are attracting new business using social media as you are reading this.

The reasons why your business should get started with social media are endless.  The most important thing is to get started and figure out how social media can work for you and your business.  Take the time to listen to what is being said on Facebook and Twitter about your business, brand, or industry.  Research the web and read blogs that mention your business name.  Find out what your customers are saying about you and your brand online.  Use Facebook, Twitter, and blogs learn before you jump in!  And most importantly… get started now!

Related posts:

1. Twitter For Business Case Study: The Coffee Groundz Square Martini Media is committed to sharing Social Media success...
2. 7 Simple Steps to Add a Twitter Follow me Badge to Your Facebook Profile 7 Simple Steps to Add a Twitter Follow me Badge...
3. How To Use Facebook and Twitter To Promote Events Let's talk about events! Business events, networking events, business trainings,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Mitch Wagner met up with host Angie Swartz  to talk about Second Life and the future of blogging. He shares stories about his exciting career path and encourages writers to pursue Social Media careers.

Twitter Names: @MitchWagner, @JJainschigg, @Kim_aka_Rissa, @AngieSwartz.

Twitter Talk Radio is recorded live in the WSRadio studios in sunny San Diego! You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the links below and sign up for our RSS feed at the bottom of the page.

Each week on Twitter Talk Radio, we spend an hour broken up into four segments when we cover:

• Two Guests Offering Great Case Studies and Examples of How People and Businesses are Using Twitter for Business and Social Media
• Useful Tips for Listeners on Twitter for Business
• Twitter and Social Media Happenings in the News

Mitch Wagner, Blogger and Social Media Strategist

Angie Swartz interviews Mitch Wagner, technology writer and blogger. Mitch describes his exciting career journey from small town newspaper journalist to Information Week Executive Editor to freelance technology writer. He describes why his true passion has always been in the storytelling.   We discuss his early adopter involvement with Second Life including live virtual interviews inside the platform with many authors, business icons, and even Biz Stone, the founder of Twitter! Wagner gives insight to the media platform’s tools and disadvantages. Mitch is currently the author of the Computer World Tool Talk blog and the Copper Robot podcast.  He is Copper Robot in Second Life.

Mitch Wagner on Virtual World Second Life’s Role in Social Media

Angie Swartz and Mitch Wagner discuss the virtual world of Second Life, what it is, how people use it and why it’s important for business and social media.  Mitch describes how to use an avatar as your online presence. Mitch also discusses three things that Second Life does for business that no other site can offer.  They also cover Chat Roulette and how why so many people are so interested in virtual worlds and online meeting opportunities.   Mitch discusses his views on the recent 30% layoffs at Second Life and predicts that it may be an indicator of the end of the Second Life.

The Second Life Economy-$567Million in 2009?? OMG!!

Angie Swartz and Mitch Wagner welcome  immersive world vendor, World2Worlds to the show.  John Jainschigg  & Kim Smith discuss how their offering of virtual events and advertising in Second Life and make money in a virtual platform.  We discuss the importance of community and participating in Second Life if you want to advertise as a business and the similarity to all other social media platforms.  We discuss the large size of Second Life’s virtual economy of $567million in 2009.   Mitch asks them hard questions about recent layoffs and the future of the site. Jainschigg and Smith answer with optimism and exciting future plans for the social media medium.

Mitch Wagner:  Are Blogging and Journalism Really Different?

Angie Swartz and Mitch Wagner discuss how journalism has changed permanently.  Mitch shares his experience of being laid off  and the opportunities this offered for personal and professional growth. Angie and Mitch discuss the differences between blogging and traditional writing, the opportunities for writers in social media and why writers shouldn’t ignore social media as job options.

Leave a comment about Mitch Wagner’s views on blogging being the new form of journalism and share your own thoughts!

Subscribe to Twitter Talk Radio:

Related posts:

1. Social Media Strategy Case Study: AJ Bombers uses Foursquare, Twitter to Rock the Restaurant Industry The Foursquare Swarm Badge Party and Location Based Services...
2. Two Wedding Industry Social Media Strategies: The Ultimate Engagement and Album Boutique Elizabeth Beskin and Maya Kalman joined host Angie Swartz on...
3. Two Great Social Media Strategies: Garrett Popcorn and Foiled Cupcakes Garrett Popcorn’s Alecia Dantico and Foiled Cupcake’s Mari Luangrath...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This year at the famous San Diego Comic-Con I was given a mission to seek out Felica Day and the other cast members of “The Guild.” Admittedly, I had no idea what the show was about or why it was important until I got to the booth. As it turns out, I’ve been missing out! “The Guild” is especially interesting because the show is an online series!

While I awkwardly got autographs from the actors that I didn’t know I tried to get in a quick word with Felica, both the creator and main character. She smiled kindly and asked me what I wanted to know. She told me that the show started out as being completely supported by its fans. This is pretty amazing, to have a successful television series or should I say internet series just from its fan’s donations! The show was posted on the WatchTheGuild website and their popular YouTube channel. Fortunately, YouTube was able to help “The Guild” reach its target audience online gamers.

The show itself is about several “gamers” or “guild members” that play on online multi-player war game. Some of its players even go so far as to make a living off the game they play. This does actually mimic real life, as thousands of people sit down to play games like World of Warcraft or Runes of Magic for hours on end and then sell valuable items such as gold or potions to other players for real money. While this is not the typical way people think of business through social media- it is an interesting concept to grapple with. Meanwhile, “The Guild” is a great example of a small business that made it to popularity by social media. “The Guild” was picked up by Sprint who sponsors the show and by Microsoft and XBox who now distribute it. Fecila Day has won “Best Actress” by the Streamy Awards, while “The Guild” won “Best Comedy Web Series” and “Best Ensemble” this last year (2009). Other awards include “the SXSW”, YouTube and Yahoo Web Series Awards in 2008. Felica Day can be learned from as someone who put together the three things she loved, acting, gaming and social media into something successful. I encourage those new to the social media scene to follow Felica Day and “The Guild” on Twitter and YouTube to see how these social networking websites can help you and your business!

One last thing to note about the business of social media is how willing people involved in it are willing to connect and share ideas with others. Felica was happy to speak with me, despite how busy it was at Comic-Con. The show’s website was also willing to share its success story in a way that was helpful and inspiring to other people who want to use social media to help their own businesses succeed. For me as a writer, it really helped show me how much impact it can have to put my work online, to use a blog and to have my own website. It was also further evidence how much having an active Twitter and Facebook account could help boost my popularity by trafficking my fans to my own website, or simply giving them a reason to trust me because they are familiar with my style and attitude. “The Guild” inspired me and I hope that it can for others as well!

Note:  This post was written by Lemon Drop.  She is a Square Martini Intern studying Communications and Literature Writing at the University of California, San Diego.  She graciously assists the Square Martini Team with all things social media.

Related posts:

1. Trident Gum Combines Social Media with Traditional Media for Advertising Success The recent full page color ad in USA Today shows...
2. Two Wedding Industry Social Media Strategies: The Ultimate Engagement and Album Boutique Elizabeth Beskin and Maya Kalman joined host Angie Swartz on...
3. 7 Simple Steps to Add a Twitter Follow me Badge to Your Facebook Profile 7 Simple Steps to Add a Twitter Follow me Badge...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

You should be using Twitter for your business! As we have said again and again with enthusiasm, Twitter is a very valuable social media tool for business! It is second in searches to Google, SECOND! With over 22 billion searches, you can be assured many are business related. So the question to ask yourself is where are you, your company and maybe more important where are your competitors showing up in all of these Twitter searches?

Watch the latest video of “The Social Media Minute” to learn how to use Twitter for your business:

Here are a few of the take away points from the video:

1. Get a Twitter account
2. Learn from Twitter success stories
3. Read the two books recommended in the video

If you understand how to use Twitter, the process is easy, enjoyable, and highly beneficial for your business.  If you want additional help with learning how to use Twitter for your business you might enjoy our Audio Guide How To Make More Money Using Twitter in Your Business or join us for an upcoming Twitter webinar Using Twitter to Grow Your Business.

Make sure to follow @AngieSwartz and @SquareMartini on Twitter for additional Twitter tips and resources.

I hope you enjoyed the Social Media Minute and I look forward to your thoughts and comments.  Please subscribe to the Square Martini Media YouTube channel and if you have a question you would like covered on the Social Media Minute, let us know by giving us your Social Media Minute Question.

Related posts:

1. How To Use Facebook and Twitter To Promote Events Let's talk about events! Business events, networking events, business trainings,...
2. Using Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to Follow Up After Speaking To kick of the Social Media Minute please watch the...
3. Twitter For Business Case Study: Naked Pizza Our first case study involves using twitter to attract new...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Let’s talk about events!  Business events, networking events, business trainings, online events, webinars, or any of the other possible events you may use as part of your business marketing or sales strategy.  One of the the key steps to having successful events is what you do to promote that event both online and offline.

Watch the latest video of “The Social Media Minute” to get ideas on how to use twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to promote your next event:

Let’s recap on how to use Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin for your upcoming events:

1)  Use status updates on Facebook and Linkedin leading up to the event. Many of your followers, friends, and connections will  spread the word and promote for you!  New connections will learn more about you and possibly attend the event.

2)  Link the event before it happens with ALL the  people and businesses associated with the event (anyone hosting, being a guest, or sponsoring the event). The more people that are linked in this event, the more traffic and awareness will be directed to it.  We all want more buzz right? (You can link to other people in facebook simply by using the @ symbol. You must be facebook friends with them for this function to work.)

• If Square Martini Media was part of your event, you could include @SquareMartini in your tweets about the event.
• On facebook, you could include our facebook business page in your updates by using @squaremartini. This would link our business page to your update.  You might also write on the Square Martini Media Facebook wall about the event.
• On Linkedin you can add the Square Martini Media founders as attending or presenting at your event.

3)  “Tweet” to or “Invite” all your friends on twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. It helps spread the word and gives people time to plan to be there. The more people that commit to attend your event, the more virale buzz you create.

I hope you enjoyed the Social Media Minute and I look forward to your thoughts and comments.  Please subscribe to the Square Martini Media YouTube channel and if you have a question you would like covered on the Social Media Minute, let us know by giving us your Social Media Minute Question.

Related posts:

1. Using Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to Follow Up After Speaking To kick of the Social Media Minute please watch the...
2. 7 Simple Steps to Add a Twitter Follow me Badge to Your Facebook Profile 7 Simple Steps to Add a Twitter Follow me Badge...
3. Using Your Personal Facebook Profile to Create New Business Facebook is the #1 website online. More people are on...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Jeffery Hayzlett joins host Angie Swartz on Twitter Talk Radio to talk about his career at Kodak and newly released book, The Mirror Test. He gives a sneak peak of the helpful advice his book has for business owners and explains why it is a must-read. You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the links below and sign up for our RSS feed at the bottom of the page.

Hayzlett’s  The Mirror Test Offers Advice to Business Owners

Angie Swartz  prepares to interview Jeffrey W. Hayzlett on his career journey, being Kodak’s Chief Marketing Officer and being a best selling author with his new book The Mirror Test.

Jeffrey Hayzlett Gives Insight into The Mirror Test

Jeffrey Hayzlett discusses 12+ Things You Can Do to Make “The Mirror Test” a Best Seller listed on his website.  A must listen and review on how to market your book!    Hayzlett explains how his book will help readers evaluate if their business “is really breathing.”   The book is a how-to guide for business owners seeking ways to maintain a state of growth and sustainability within their companies. He lists his three main motivations for being a successful businessman and how they bring him fulfillment. In addition, he emphasizes the importance of marketing across all platforms including print, social media, and other forms of advertisement in order to effectively reach consumers.

Jeffrey Hayzlett: Using Twitter and Social Media to Sell

Learn how Jeffrey Hayzlett is using Twitter and social media to promote his upcoming book tour and speaking events and how you might duplicate this for your future book. Hayzlett enjoys traveling and public speaking events as they allow him to inspire and reach people eager for knowledge of the business world. They discuss how  most invitations for events come from Twitter. Hayzlett raves about the effectiveness of Twitter’s networking tools and shares which twitter tools he prefers.  He admits that he tends to Tweet for his own reasons, not for public satisfaction. Hayzlett also shares about a recent not so pleasant Twitter encounter.

Jeffrey Hayzlett Explains the 118, the New and Most Effective Elevator Pitch

Angie Swartz and Jeffrey Hayzlett discuss social media for Kodak.  Hayzlett discusses recent changes in the Kodak world including new hires and a new outreach program which have allowed them to reach international markets. Many of the videos on Kodak’s YouTube page features exciting products and changes they have made to become a revolutionary company that extends beyond photography. Hayzlett and Swartz also talk about how tweeting about daily routines benefit one’s presence in the Twitter world. Lastly, he tips off listeners about the 118, the new digital version of the elevator pitch. He explains that 118 seconds is how long people should be able to effectively pitch their business to potential clients and investors.

Twitter Names: @JeffreyHayzlett, @AngieSwartz.

Leave a comment about what you think of Jeff Hayzlett’s book and how your business could benefit from “The Mirror Test”!

Twitter Talk Radio is recorded live in the WSRadio studios in sunny San Diego!

Each week on Twitter Talk Radio, we spend an hour broken up into four segments when we cover:

• Two Guests Offering Great Case Studies and Examples of How People and Businesses are Using Twitter for Business and Social Media
• Useful Tips for Listeners on Twitter for Business
• Twitter and Social Media Happenings in the News

Subscribe to Twitter Talk Radio:

Related posts:

1. Social Media Strategy Case Study: AJ Bombers uses Foursquare, Twitter to Rock the Restaurant Industry The Foursquare Swarm Badge Party and Location Based Services...
2. BlogWorld on Boost Your Business Radio This week, Las Vegas is going to be inundated with...
3. Angie Swartz Interviews John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing John Jantsch founder of Duct Tape Marketing joined host...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

There are endless ways and ideas for almost every business to use Social Media i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and blogging.  In fact almost every day we are asked how to use Social Media in business.  To start answering this question Square Martini Media has started a new series called the “Social Media Minute”.  Each week you will find a new blog post and YouTube video with an idea or way you can use Social Media in your business.    We will cover questions we are often asked about Social Media, ideas we share with our clients, and explore Social Media uses for all types of industries.

Some of you may be thinking why video and why put them on YouTube?  This could be a post in its self but to keep it simple video is HOT, it’s something we recommend to many of our Social Media clients, and if you  looked at YouTube as a search engine it would be ranked number 2 above  Yahoo!.   So what you really should be thinking is how can you implement a video and YouTube strategy in your business?

To kick of the Social Media Minute please watch the following video as we explore using Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to follow up after speaking.  In the video I discuss using Social Media to continue the conversation, establish stronger relationships, and move prospects in an audience to customers and referral sources.

I hope you enjoyed the Social Media Minute and I look forward to your thoughts and comments.  Please subscribe to the Square Martini Media YouTube channel and if you have a question you would like covered on the Social Media Minute please let us know by giving us your Social Media Minute Question.

Related posts:

1. 7 Simple Steps to Add a Twitter Follow me Badge to Your Facebook Profile 7 Simple Steps to Add a Twitter Follow me Badge...
2. Using Social Media Share Buttons to Increase Website Traffic From Linkedin A simple way to create brand awareness as well as...
3. 11 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Linkedin 11 Reasons Why You Should be Using Linkedin. Simple steps...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

A few months ago one of our clients mentioned how frustrated they were with Twitter.  Apparently Twitter changed the rules and decided programs like Tweepi and UnTweeps can no longer have a check all box in their program.  This really is not a big deal unless you have a very active twitter account and are following and unfollowing many people at a time.  With this new change Twitter has forced it’s users to manually check or uncheck each box when using these types of programs.  This seems a bit silly and for some twitter users has added an additional hour or more to their twitter managing process!

So how do you check or uncheck all boxes when using Tweepi or UnTweeps? If you are a Mozilla Firefox user I have a very quick solution for you!  All you need is a simple add-on program called CheckFox.  CheckFox allows you to check or uncheck checkboxes for any website.  (say that one fast 3 times!)

To add CheckFox to your Mozilla Firefox browser follow these steps:

1. Click on Tools at the top of the browser and select Add-ons
2. Once the Add-ons window is opened, click on the Get Add-ons tab
3. In the search box, search for CheckFox
4. Add to Firefox
5. Download and then close and reopen Firefox

The next time you are on any website with checkboxes you can highlight or select all and then right click your mouse and you will have an option to Check or Uncheck.  (with Tweepi is seems you have to have your curser above the old “check all” box by the ? in Follow?)

Are you confused?  If you do not use Twitter tools like Tweepi or UnTweeps to follow or unfollow twitter users this could be very confusing!  In the future I will write about the benefits of using Tweepi and UnTweeps to manage your twitter followers.  In the mean time for those who do use these programs I hope you find this helpful.  Happy checking!

(If you found this post valuable please consider sharing it with your facebook friends, tweeting it on twitter, or stumbling it on StumbleUpon using the ShareThis button below as this action is one of the best compliments we receive!)

Related posts:

1. 7 Simple Steps to Add a Twitter Follow me Badge to Your Facebook Profile 7 Simple Steps to Add a Twitter Follow me Badge...
2. Top 7 Reasons To Use TweetChat With Twitter! There are so many Social Media tools available now and...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I was just asked this question today from a new client.  Why should my company use Social Media?  The person asking intuitively knows their company should be using Social Media specifically a company blog, Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.  And the reason why they know they should be more active in Social Media is because they are seeing their customers use Social Media more and more.  Customers are viewing Facebook and Twitter on their iPhone, Driod phone, and now of course their iPad.

If you take a moment and ask your customers what they use their smart phone for you will hear all kind of answers.  Some may surprise you but many of these customers will say things like browsing the internet, sending tweets on twitter, and checking facebook.  You will receive similar answers when you ask what they are doing on the computer when they are not working.

With all of this focus on Social Media from your customers it creates a great opportunity for you to engage them where they are spending their time.  Going back to the original question here are 5 reasons why your company should be using Social Media.

1. Top of Mind Awareness - Once you have a customer why not make sure they always think of you before anyone else?  There many ways to do this and Social Media is one way that you cannot ignore!  By connecting with your customers in Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter you maintaining top of mind awareness every time you update your status or send a tweet!
2. Creating stronger relationships - Social Media tools like facebook and twitter are used in the office as well as home.  This allows you to create stronger relationships where your customers are comfortable and where they are more likely to talk about you!  Social Media makes it really easy for your customers to give you referrals to potential new clients!
3. Listening - Your customers are most likely already talking about you, your brand, or your competitor’s brand.  Social Media allows you to listen, engage, and create conversation.  Conversation leads to new customers and new sales.  If you are actively blogging and adding content to your website as well as active on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter it will lead you and your company to new sales.
4. Building Customer Loyalty - Let’s face it people are moving so fast they forget what they did yesterday let alone who they purchased a product from last month.  Increasing customer loyalty and retention is about creating and nurturing the buying relationship.  This really gets started after the purchase has been made!  Social Media make very easy for you to keep that buying relationship going for months and years after the sale.
5. NEW FREE BUSINESS – What do I mean by new free business?  With Social Media tools you can create a base of loyal customers, users, and fans.  These customers, users, and fans will send you business.  They will think about you and talk about you!  The easiest business to receive is from prospects that have already been sold by your current and past customers or fans.  Giving your customers the tools to do this is the key and Social Media is currently one of the best tools you can use to make this happen!

Are you using Social Media in your business?  Please let us know by leaving a comment and sharing with everyone why you are and how it is working for you.

(If you found this post valuable please consider sharing it with your Facebook friends, tweeting it on Twitter, or stumbling it on StumbleUpon using the ShareThis button below as this action is one of the best compliments we receive!)

Related posts:

1. Trident Gum Combines Social Media with Traditional Media for Advertising Success The recent full page color ad in USA Today shows...
2. 11 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Linkedin 11 Reasons Why You Should be Using Linkedin. Simple steps...
3. Twitter For Business Case Study: The Coffee Groundz Square Martini Media is committed to sharing Social Media success...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.