Category: Facebook

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How Do You Automate Status Updates to Facebook Fan Pages?

There are a few ways to automate status updates to your Facebook Fan Pages. Doing just this used to be incredibly problematic and one reason why we had really stayed away from Facebook Fan Page management services. Now however there are a few pretty good applications that allow you to automate your status updates on a schedule. Here are a few of my personal favorites.

HootSuite
I like this online application, but it can be flaky about getting your Facebook Fan Page integrated. It is no problem to integrate with your Facebook profile, but the Fan Page – hmm get ready to be annoyed. What worked for me finally was trying from a different computer that did not have Vista and I tried at night as well. That may be the ticket for you as well. Once you’re set up, you can post and schedule for future dates status updates to your Fan Page with just about one click. The great thing is that this application is free! If you upgrade to a Pro account after clicking my HootSuite links, they will pay me a small commission.

SocialOomph.com
If you want to update Facebook Fan page or just your profile, you need to upgrade to the Professional version. Click my link and they’ll pay me a small commission if you buy. I like SocialOomph, and it will allow you with the Pro version to not only schedule future status updates to your Fan page, but you can even upload bulk tweets to Twitter in a text file format. I use the free version and am happy with it for now. One thing that I really like is the RSS feed that you can create and post tweets to although this is not a Facebook Fan page attribute, it is one of the reasons that I really like Social Oomph.

Sendible
I just found this online application this last week and I think it is a cool application. If you have trouble integrating your Facebook Fan page in HootSuite, then check out www.Sendible.com for sure as it worked for me. With Sendible you can post status updates on a schedule easily. You can also post to other social networks as well. Now there is one catch you get 100 free credits a month. If you start really using this application for more than Facebook Fan page status updates you will most likely end up buying credits, so check out HootSuite first.

If you’ve like this post go to my right sidebar and “fan me”. This way you can see more great stuff and get more tips and tricks for Facebook and other social networking sites.

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Google’s Instant Search Results

This past week Google announced that its search results would be instantaneous. Meaning specifically that indexing the web every week or every month just had to go! They have to spider the web continuously to provide up the second results.

Sounds like Google is feeling the pinch with the popularity of Twitter news sharing and Facebook interaction to me. With instant news being found out on Twitter and shared, who has to go to Google News anymore. Remember when Michael Jackson died? I found out on Twitter before any of the news networks had picked up the story. That really must have made ole Google feel out of the loop.

In the past weeks Google has signed non-exclusive agreements with Twitter and Facebook to use their instantaneous news to update their own index hoping that it can woo back immediate news and information junkies from Twitter Search and Facebook updates. Although this doesn’t sound like a problem, Google must be scared with the increasing popularity of Facebook and migration of regular email users to solely Facebook mail users as this will hurt them in their pocketbook for sponsored advertising.

For Twitter users this new Google thrust is a boon. Your tweets may very well be the hot property and viral message that now gets incredibly huge exposure and bonus staying power by being included into the Google index.

Based on this information if you are not on Twitter, you’d really better be considering getting started. This mash-up of Twitter, Facebook, and Google is bound to be a huge boon for website and businesses who dare to really take advantage of it.

If you need help with implementing Twitter check out our Twitter services to help you get started.

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How to Schedule Facebook Status Updates

Are you looking to schedule Facebook updates to keep your productivity in line and not have to be tied to a computer during the day and yet keep connected? Do you wish you could program your Facebook status updates when you have a really busy day so you don’t miss out on exposure. I’ve found out how to do this and wanted to share this great tip with you.

Here’s the process:

  1. Set up Selective Twitter application in Facebook
  2. Log into your Facebook account first.
    b. In a new browser screen add this URL: http://apps.facebookcom/selectivetwitter/
    c. You will be asked to enter your Twitter user name and approve access, please do so.
    d. If you would like your Facebook updates to appear on your fan pages, please click the tabs in the application to go to pages and then install the application as well as grant access.
  3. Set up an account at www.HootSuite.com Log in to HootSuite and write your Facebook status update. Schedule your micro post using the calendar function and then make sure to end your post with #fb.

That’s it, fast and simple your timed post gets sent to Facebook at the correct time.

Follow-up Note:

This last week the Twitter API was very flaky and I had a lot of trouble getting Selective Twitter to work, so I have found another simpler alternative that you may want to consider instead, it is called Social Tomorrow. With Social Tomorrow, you set up an account and then login to a web interface and type in and then schedule your Facebook Updates. It does not use the Twitter API and so is not subject to traffic overloads as your posts go right to Facebook. For our professional client needs this is actually a better fit for us than Selective Twitter.

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Refusing to Join the Social Networking Phenomena

Are you refusing to get a Facebook account? Do you think that Twitter is for people who have nothing better to do? The Washington Post print edition did an article last week on this new phenomena of young twenty to thirty somethings that literally refused to connect on Facebook. I found the article interesting reading and wanted to share my thoughts.

First in both cases the participants who refused to join their friends on Facebook either had a significant other keep tabs on Facebook for them or act as their “secretary” and also both said that they preferred “real face to face or phone to ear” interaction. Both mentioned that they were out of the loop with their friends. One missed important appointments for his band, the other missed auditions that the friends shared with each other on Facebook. Hmm, an interesting case study especially for the age of the individuals involved.

There are some who have decided to not join Facebook and purposely and rabidly declare that it is a waste of time. Usually the age of the individual is a factor on if they consider Facebook important. It is a real rarity to see a college student or for that matter really even and older high school student who is not using Facebook as an alternative to regular email.

Facebook is here to stay. In fact for many young people the email and chat function on Facebook now are their email and instant messaging programs. As for me, I think that Facebook is fun. It is a great way to stay connected with family and friends, and a wonderful way to deepen the interaction with colleagues and clients.