CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-06-19 00:09:38 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

For every fan of #caturday.... go forth and donate! My gal +Roxy White is raising funds to rescue cats (and hopefully take a lot of meme-worthy photos...)

2013-06-14 14:22:40 (82 comments, 6 reshares, 76 +1s)

I was wondering... what's your hobby?

Mostly online I chat about work-related topics (my work anyhow) but it's rare I talk about personal interests. I love working with paper arts and my CO2 laser cutter but haven't been able to clear out a spot in the house and work on crafting in years. I don't really consider reading a hobby because I think it's necessary to live!

So, what do you like to do because it makes you feel great?

2013-06-13 13:38:22 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

Hanging out at the +Purple Stripe Productions office today and waiting out the storms. The goal today is to make and consume as much coffee as possible before the storms knock out our power.

This will be the first true test of how 'off the grid' our office building is. Rumor has it we might be on a dedicated and top-tier power grid because our building has been a bank since 1909.

2013-06-13 02:10:09 (0 comments, 28 reshares, 114 +1s)

Okay, THIS was an amazingly sweet video. 

2013-06-11 19:28:20 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

While we love Google+ we know that any digital publishing platform that allows you to tell a story is valuable. Have you used Vine (http://www.vine.co) yet?

Here is a 7 second video ... that's the longest you can record in Vine ... of the Steel Pier in Atlantic City NJ that our founder +Lynette Young took on a recent "Social Media for Socia Good" event.

2013-06-11 19:12:48 (7 comments, 15 reshares, 61 +1s)

Google+ Dashboard - making it easier to manage your online presence

Today millions of businesses use Google+ to connect with their customers in meaningful ways. Many of these businesses also use AdWords to promote their products; Maps to update store info; and YouTube to publish high-quality video content (to name a few). We want to make it easier to manage your online presence - all across Google - so today we're getting started with Google+ Dashboard. After signing in to your Google+ page, you'll now have access to the following Dashboard features:

1) The ability to update your info (like website URLs, store hours and phone numbers) across Maps, Search and Google+ - all from the Overview tab.

2) One place to monitor your Google+ notifications, assign page managers, share photos and videos - even start a Hangout with followers.

Local businesses... more »

2013-06-11 02:19:41 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 27 +1s)

What a great resource and point of view from The Eloquent Woman blog. A Twitter account (https://twitter.com/nowomenspeakers) to follow that 'highlights' (calls out...) conferences with little or no women speakers. She's also Tweeting conferences that DO put a good number of women on the stage.

2013-06-10 23:27:11 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 31 +1s)

I'd love to see Google purchase +Waze if - and only if - they don't junk it up or kill it off! Waze is my "have to have" app on my phone.

2013-06-10 19:38:19 (0 comments, 3 reshares, 50 +1s)

Some amazing #JerseyLove friends came to NJ this past weekend and visited Belmar NJ. We talked to local businesses and residents about the Hurricane Sandy storm and restoration and saw how much the Jersey Shore is ready for vacations this year. The mayor of Belmar Matt Doherty accepted a donation check for displaced families from our group and D'Jais club hosted us during a rather rainy Friday. You can donate also at http://www.belmar.com/.

The ladies and I had a bit of fun on the car ride up to Belmar from Atlantic City. (Note the intentional misspelling of "BLMAR".) I'm WAY in the back seat in a supporting role. By the way, the video we made is a spoof on a very famous - and funny - video by some other Jersey guys... Original video NSFW : WHOAHHHH!!! - ORIGINAL CLIP

2013-06-10 19:30:54 (26 comments, 30 reshares, 286 +1s)

All I really care about with the new Apple iOS 7 updates is 1) can my iPhone 4 finally get Siri and 2) can I change the colors of my text messages so I can color code them based on who I'm chatting with or what ID they messaged me on?

Ok, as you were... I'm going back to work!

2013-06-10 18:27:50 (3 comments, 5 reshares, 28 +1s)

OUCH! America's Worst Charities ranked by money blown on soliciting costs. (Totals from the latest 10 years of available federal tax filings.) Good thing I plan on donating to +The LittleBigFund.

Right now my heart (and wallet) are with charities that are helping restore the New Jersey shore after Hurricane Sandy last fall.

2013-06-10 14:23:30 (7 comments, 9 reshares, 54 +1s)

Opening from the Tony Awards 2013. Neil Patrick Harris runs through all of the shows running on Broadway - now I want to go see a show!!

2013-06-07 12:12:15 (24 comments, 4 reshares, 152 +1s)

JerseyLove 2013

I'm spending the weekend in Atlantic City and Belmar to celebrate bring attention to the amazing shore tourism trade 'down the shore'! There 40 women on the trip in total. Some women brought their families, some traveled solo. Some women are from Jersey but most are from out of state. I'm excited that I can share my state with the powerhouse ladies that came on the #JerseyLove  trip!

As a kid my family would vacation down the shore every year. We'd rent a house, pile in every relative we could find and spend a week playing on the beach during the day and walking the boardwalk at night. Just being here brings back such cool memories - I think it's time I brought my own kids down the Jersey shore! We live close enough for day trips in but 'life' always seems to get in the way and we don't get down here as much as I'd... more »

2013-06-06 23:08:12 (8 comments, 2 reshares, 85 +1s)

Spending the weekend in Atlantic City at Caesers to celebrate my home state of New Jersey and bring attention to the amazing shore tourism trade 'down the shore'!

After Hurricane Sandy last year the entire coastline of New Jersey was beaten and battered, but the people here are strong. A winter of rebuilding and the 2013 beach season is underway! Homes still need attention and money to rebuild as probably thousands of families are still displaced. My job this weekend is to showcase what a versatile and family friendly place the Jersey shore is. I hope you love it as much as I do...

I have never been more proud to call myself "Jersey born and raised!!" As I am right now. #jerseylove

2013-06-06 13:54:06 (6 comments, 3 reshares, 42 +1s)

Chances are you have more than one or two (or five...) social media accounts. Throw in a blog and maybe a few professional accounts and you have yourself quite a difficult trail to follow online.

Enter +Overblog. I've combined my Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest feeds to create one über blog of my chit-chat online. Since they are supporting Google+ I thought many of you here would like to check it out.

2013-06-06 12:16:26 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 30 +1s)

Local / regional friends are always asking me where the next 'event' is in the NYC/Philly/NJ area... here you go! (PS - If you are only looking for 'blogger' conferences, break out of the rut and go to a business event where the big players - and money - go!)

Pros from Forrester, Vanguard, American Airlines and more will be speaking at Social Business Institute. The programming is a half-day program on Tuesday, June 11, at Villanova University (Pennsylvania), to bring interested professionals together to learn and share insights on social business. The program will begin with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. Registration, including breakfast is just $45.

2013-06-06 02:21:45 (29 comments, 76 reshares, 148 +1s)

This is about the funniest explanation of regional dialects in the United States I've ever seen. I say 'hoagie' so you can see exactly where I live on one of the maps. If they did a survey for the pronunciation of water (I say 'wadder') and dog (I say 'dawg') you would be looking at New Jersey again!

How do you say some of these words? Does it match where you live?

2013-06-05 13:58:59 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 15 +1s)

I've looked over my production calendar for June-August and could shimmy in one more client project. I thought I'd put that here since I get about 20 messages a day (every day) for help with digital strategies and tactics, so now I'm saying here's a spot in my calendar for you...

What am I looking for?

--->
ONE short term project (3-6 months) working with a marketing or PR team to get their company or brand unstuck with digital media and move into profitability again with fresh ideas and actionable task lists.
<---

Could this be your company?

2013-06-05 13:49:01 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Business stuck in a rut? +David Newman gives 33 questions for you to consider to get unstuck!

2013-06-04 18:47:34 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 30 +1s)

"For every customer complaint there are 26 other unhappy customers who have remained silent – Lee Resource."

And considering how much complaining we see online, that number is SCARY! The rest of the statistics in this +LinkedIn article written by +Colin Shaw should be a big bucket of cold water... but aren't!!

2013-06-04 14:56:45 (36 comments, 113 reshares, 292 +1s)

What do you do out of 7 billion people? Very interesting information! 
#knowledgegraph  

2013-06-04 14:03:30 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 26 +1s)

It's time to stop talking about social media and social networks as if they're the be-all, end-all. (It was time a few years ago).

2013-06-04 02:28:26 (0 comments, 5 reshares, 68 +1s)

Women I am watching! As much as I despise 'lists' (someone always feels left out) I do like finding new people to watch being amazing!

2013-06-03 16:33:02 (0 comments, 23 reshares, 102 +1s)

Interesting.... 

In addition, more women report using G+ than men. Ahem. 

cc +Amanda Blain +Lynette Young +Chris Lang 

2013-06-03 15:27:28 (15 comments, 46 reshares, 172 +1s)

What (Social Media) Banner are YOU?

In typical geek fashion someone (that would be +HootSuite) came up with a brilliant mashup between Game of Thrones (show on HBO and book series from George R. R. Martin) and social media networking platforms. Outside of the geekery and gorgeous infographic - the stats are amazing!

#HouseGoogle  
#blog  

2013-06-03 14:29:24 (9 comments, 6 reshares, 50 +1s)

The general public is 'coming around' when it comes to Google+ almost two years after the platform's launch. Based on my professional experience this seems about on par.

Once Facebook allowed non-.edu accounts in (and well before FB Pages) it still took some convincing that the platform had communication benefits outside of stalking your college kid online.

Of course I feel any form of communication - online or offline, digital or analog, Braille or smoke signals - is valuable. I like the positive spin the author +Frank Reed puts in this article instead of the strongly pro- or con-stance so many take.

2013-06-01 00:13:51 (0 comments, 10 reshares, 55 +1s)

A password tattoo? A pill that makes YOU your own password? I'd do it, just not now... Once the tech comes up to speed I'm game!

2013-05-31 17:47:56 (0 comments, 21 reshares, 62 +1s)

I'm just blown away by this story of Patrick Stewart (Capt. Jean Luc Picard on Star Trek) from a fan of his. 

Here is his speech at Amnesty International about domestic violence agains women (Patrick Stewart on violence against women). From the Tumblr post:

Sir Patrick told us about how he couldn’t protect his mother from abuse in his household growing up and so in her name works with an organization called Refuge (http://refuge.org.uk/) for safe houses for women and children to escape from abusive house holds.

Forget about him being an actor, that is one amazing HUMAN.

Thanks to my amazing friend +Angie Pedersen for sharing that story. Geek girls stick together!

2013-05-31 17:35:25 (0 comments, 22 reshares, 42 +1s)

Worst client comments turned into beautiful art posters.

"The target audience is males and females aged zero and up"... only if you are selling AIR.

2013-05-31 14:38:28 (8 comments, 3 reshares, 50 +1s)

Three Summer Book Read Picks for 2013

I'm recently back from the BookExpo and excited to have about 130 pounds of books to read over the summer. Normally I stick with business or professional enrichment topics, but fiction (specifically sci-fi) are also favorites of mine.

I'm curious to learn about the types of books YOU like to read. Leave your "Top 3" summer read picks in the comments! I need some ideas!


#blog   #bea13   #bookexpoamerica  

2013-05-29 17:20:40 (17 comments, 4 reshares, 119 +1s)

I'm so excited to be back at BookExpo America for the second year as a speaker. It's an entire industry conference full of 'my people' ... Book Geeks!

My session is at 11am and covers how to use Hangout on Air to have a book tour. So, amazing friends, tell me about the book community YOU have found and love on Google+!

2013-05-29 02:48:30 (16 comments, 13 reshares, 80 +1s)

This is amazing - and horrifying - to me. I was born in the early 1970s and I cannot even imagine a world in where my fierce and independent (and single) mom lived in an environment like this.

I still have a lot of work to do to make things right for my daughter and my granddaughters (if I have any...lol)

2013-05-28 18:57:23 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 34 +1s)

"What cultural or gender-based biases do you think exist with STEM adoption? How can these biases be best overcome?"

This is a question from the Twitter chat I hosted May 23rd discussing STEM: (S)cience (T)echnology (E)ngineering (M)athematics.

What do YOU think? I'll add my answer in the comments, but I'd love to foster an even larger discussion here. 

Photo credit goes to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewomensmuseum/

2013-05-27 23:23:14 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 30 +1s)

Thanks to +Chris Brogan for passing this along... give back when I can, help when I can, love all I can.

2013-05-26 13:52:31 (17 comments, 64 reshares, 305 +1s)

2013-05-24 18:19:28 (6 comments, 2 reshares, 34 +1s)

Thank you +Comcastcares Comcast for getting some free WiFi down the Jersey Shore this Memorial Day weekend!! It helps to share photos and memories from the greatest vacation spot ever - the Jersey Shore!!

Now we just need to find a way to get more bathrooms and charging stations on the beach <chuckle>!!

#JerseyLove  

2013-05-24 13:50:57 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 39 +1s)

First Social Media for Social Good Retreat Kicks Off Re-opening of Belmar, NJ Boardwalk

Over 40 women from Social Media Moms and New Jersey Digital Moms to come together in Atlantic City to support Jersey Shore tourism post Superstorm Sandy. Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty to be presented with donation to Belmar Relief and Recovery Foundation.

I am excited to be a part of this fabulous group of women that truly care about the future of my home state of New Jersey, our residents, and our tourism trade down the shore.

Be on the lookout for an onslaught of posts, pictures, and video from June 6 - June 9th during my trip!

I miss the Jersey Shore so much... I'm honored to be a part of the project!!

#blog  

2013-05-23 15:51:36 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 28 +1s)

This is my second year speaking at BookExpo America and this time around I've got TWO sessions - both on Google+ of course! Saturday June 1st is the day open to the general public!

2013-05-23 14:57:15 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 14 +1s)

Companies and brands that understand women use technology to make their lives - and the lives of those they care for - easier will excel in today's highly competitive digital business landscape.

From the +Business Insider article:

"The perception that men are always the early tech adopters is definitely shifting as women get increasingly technologically savvy."

"Women are embracing technology to make our lives easier.
Savvy retailers get this."

Thanks to Julie Bornstein, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer at +Sephora - YOU get it.

2013-05-23 14:50:40 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Lists always interest me. Who's 'popular', who's 'wealthy', who's 'successful'. Someone is always hurt they aren't on the list, someone is always hurt their industry isn't represented more.

If you could make a list of the most influential people to YOUR LIFE or YOUR BUSINESS, who would you pick?

2013-05-23 14:35:06 (0 comments, 5 reshares, 23 +1s)

Memorial Day 2013 Google Doodle

What a beautiful Google Doodle from a high school girl, Sabrina Brady of Sparta, Wisconsin, that represents the day her father returned home from military deployment. I hope all children can have happy reunions with their deployed parents...

From the +Google blog...

"In addition to seeing her artwork on the Google homepage, Sabrina—who is in 12th grade at Sparta High School—will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a Chromebook computer and a $50,000 technology grant for her school. She will attend Minneapolis College of Art and Design this coming fall, where she will continue her artistic pursuits. Congratulations Sabrina!"

2013-05-22 18:25:34 (55 comments, 16 reshares, 119 +1s)

Who needs a vacation? (ME!) If you could go anywhere RIGHT NOW where would you go?

2013-05-22 14:00:00 (9 comments, 13 reshares, 62 +1s)

"Google's advertising revenue is now bigger than that of the entire U.S. print industry."

That's scary and exciting at the same time!

+Mitch Joel of +Twist Image has a new book out titled "Ctrl Alt Delete" that talks about how business has changed in the digital age and where we go next. I can't wait to dive into the book (I bought it on Kindle) at lunch today!

About the book:

The DNA of business has changed. Forever. You can blame technology, smartphones, social media, online shopping and everything else, but nothingchanges this reality: we are in a moment of business purgatory.

So, what are you going to do about it?

2013-05-22 13:31:05 (0 comments, 3 reshares, 26 +1s)

I loved +Chris Abraham's article on how enemies, "unfollowers" and churn can be a GOOD thing in social media. Pretty much if you are sitting on the fence and trying to be all things to all people and make everyone happy - you might want to rethink your strategy. (This goes for mostly business/brands, if you use social media for strictly personal reasons, carry on...)

Thanks Chris for "puttin' it out there."

#smallbiz  

2013-05-21 17:00:24 (15 comments, 9 reshares, 52 +1s)

Remember last week when I was talking to a group of professionals (uh, I suppose you "had to be there") about finding and rewarding people that love your brand so much they self-select from fans to evangelists to advocates - and how to help them?

Yeah, this isn't one of those times.

How absolutely stupid of Nutella. It's one thing to hand out C&D's (cease and desist) letters to people stealing or misusing your branding or content, but to shut down the person who started an international holiday around your product?

Stupid.

2013-05-21 16:12:41 (0 comments, 7 reshares, 60 +1s)

I have a new "geek hero" and it's Zach Galifianakis. He befriended an elderly laundromat attendant before he became successful as an actor and filmaker and now takes her to events and covers her rent.

She looks like quite the spitfire and has a great outlook on life and an amazing sense of humor.

2013-05-20 19:22:54 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 34 +1s)

I'm excited to see this interactive resource from +The New York Times on where you can find open beaches down the shore in New Jersey! Yes, there are many parts of the state that are still horribly battered from SuperStorm Sandy last year, but for the most part the boardwalks and rental properties are ready to go for summer 2013! I hope to get a week down the Jersey shore with my family this year.

#JerseyLove  

2013-05-20 19:01:32 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 14 +1s)

Thought I'd share a circle today since I haven't in a very long time. These are my favorite #Philadelphia PA ( #Philly in the house!! ) friends. These are some of the best movers and shakers in the Philly tech / startup / social scene. Got any more for me to add?

2013-05-20 15:55:05 (0 comments, 8 reshares, 37 +1s)

For the next two weeks, we're partnering with +Google+ to highlight creative ways it can support your organization. Check out our page each day for guest tips and stories written by G+ experts. Here's our first post, by +Susanna Kohly Jacobson:

Use Google+ hangouts to hold face-to-face meetings. If your team is scattered all over the world, schedule a hangout to provide a simple way to come together, collaborate, discuss ideas, make decisions and share documents. 

Use the Google Drive button to easily access any Google docs, spreadsheets or presentations. The Screenshare button easily allows you to share what is on your screen to present a pitch or collaborate on a document together. 

2013-05-20 14:21:15 (7 comments, 23 reshares, 59 +1s)

Six Ways Google Is About To Transform Your Small Business

Great summary article of the new Google changes and improvements in the works and how it affects small businesses written by +GENE MARKS. My personal favorite improvements across the Google product line is in Google+, but Google Payments and the toolkit upgrades are a huge perk since I work at a tech company!