TwitterWatchDog.com

- by Nile Flores

Yep, Twitter List Fail is already an issue only days out of the birth of Twitter Lists. It is a fail that closely resembles that of #FollowFriday fails. Though #FollowFriday is not a total loss with some tweeps, there are a great many who have failed to use it correctly. As for Twitter Lists, I was just talking to a few tweeps on Twitter List fails. One thing that was noticed was, mis-labeling. For example, I was put on a list called ‘media-whore’ and another tweep had said she had been put on a ‘naked’ Twitter List. Obviously some type of breakdown in communication happened along the way.

It was also noted in the conversations that the other thing is because you have the ability to follow someone’s list, people are thinking it is a popularity game. It is not. The purpose is to organize these lists so people who might be outside that list might actually want to check these lists for valuable information. You do not necessarily have to follow individuals selected within each Twitter List, but simply follow the list. (Well you could if they are people you want to connect with.)

As for creating Twitter Lists, it is important to try not to put everyone in your list as some may not fit at all in certain lists. For example, for the gal who told me about being put on a list called ‘naked’, it would have been better to put her in a different list (and no, she is not in the adult entertainment industry, nor shares any pictures of herself.) Make sure to be accurate in labeling your lists. Most people would not find it offensive to be labeled incorrectly, but there are some out there who are sticklers.

In a way, you need to be aware of the lists you are on, especially if you are trying to brand yourself in a certain niche. If people are not putting you in the lists you should have tried to brand yourself as, then you have not brought your point across.

Have you used Twitter Lists? How have you utilized Twitter Lists? Have you been listed on any strange lists?

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Watching out for you, one tweet at a time -TwitterWatchDog

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Paid To Tweet

-by Nile Flores

Paid to tweet or sponsored tweets have been something that has popped up majorly in the past year, especially since Twitter (Twitter) has really exploded onto the mainstream. Basically paid to tweet is as it says. Usually you will get the final say on what goes through your own social network stream and all these sites require full disclosures, which is great since the laws on endorsements have changed for both bloggers and social network users. Below I have listed a few sites that offer these services for user looking to make a little cash. Although I may have an account with each, none of them contain my referral. If you plan to join, and like to use my referral, please ask me via my contact form and I will send my referral link.

RevTwt (RevTwt): I have really never been paid by RevTwt, though I do not doubt their services. The problem is that their opportunities come in increments below $1 per tweet. Even their cost per followers is quite low, which makes it almost impossible to make anything with this service.

Twittad (Twittad): Twittad has both paid to tweet services and also replacing twitter backgrounds with full ads. The user can submit and search topics that are relevant to their Twitter stream conversations and choose ads which best fit. The payout is okay, but nothing to impress. Opportunities for those who stay true to their interests may not be lucky as those who do not give a care.

Read the rest of this entry »

I have been blogging for many years. I believe this year will conclude as my 6th year blogging. Believe me, it has changed quite a bit. More tools have changed to be more community oriented as the content pulls in people who want to continue on the topics through whatever comment system has been integrated. Bloggers went from hard coding plain HTML or simple php sites without comments, to using simple outside comment resources like Haloscan (haloscan), and then finally to blog platforms like WordPress (wordpress), and many others. Bloggers now use social network sites like Twitter and other sites to push their content to the masses. However, I have been finding that there are people pushing their content in a manner that may detract from their own site.

Examples: Read the rest of this entry »

FTC: How will it affect Twitter and Advertising

Recently, CNN covered FTC targets bloggers, celebrities along with many other media organizations. Basically this rule extends to the internet including bloggers and social networkers (along with celebrities) or just anyone who endorses a product. This is not just an endorsement, but one that involves a monetary exchange.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants anyone endorsing a product for monetary gain to disclose what companies they are working with to ensure the integrity of the product. With the undeniably fast growth of social networks like Twitter and Facebook, as an example, users are turning to monetizing their streams.

Paid to tweet companies like Be-A-Magpie, Sponsored Tweets, and more have popped up in the last year alone. With some tweeps with more than 10,000 followers, these applications allow users to choose what advertisements to tweet. These tweets, if done tastefully are unobtrusive. Already most of those sites require some type of disclosure to allow users to know. For example, perhaps you might have seen #ad, #sponsored, or “my sponsor…” or something similar to those examples.

(Note: The paid to tweet sites listed above are not an endorsement, but an example and have no affiliate links tied to them to give any gain to anyone.)

It is important to disclose tweets that endorse products because it allows the user to keep an honest front with followers, as well as an honest front for the company and the product being represented. However, as the CNN article listed above mentions – the FTC may go after advertisers first before bloggers and social network users so the companies will make sure to provide instructions for product reviewers or even Tweeps to adhere to the disclosure compliances.

How will this affect Twitter and advertising? Well, it would just mean that companies like Be A Magpie and Sponsored tweets will continue to make sure some type of disclosure is issued with each tweet by their users. This will also drive away companies that are seeking less honest ways to advertising products that are questionable. Also, tweeps will now know exactly what is being endorsed.

What do you think of the FTC’s new policy? Do you pay to tweet sometimes? If so, do you use some type of disclosure?

140it – Making Your Tweets Fit

140.it has possibly put a unique spin on Twitter usage and possibly fulfilled those wishes of tweeps who have a hard time making that 140 character limit. In a way it uses the same idea of short url websites, but it goes further than that.

Services that are provided:

• Reduces words
• Shortens URL with their own chosen short URL site called Unhub

Another feature, especially if you talk about certain companies, 140it shortens the company name and uses their StockTwits symbol.

Here is a video for those who are more visual and want to understand 140it better.

140it Demo from Vinicius Vacanti on Vimeo.

Please note that sometimes using this feature may not be in your best interest. You have to gauge your followers and their expectations of your tweets. Sometimes it might be great when tweeting with close friends and family, but dishing out valuable information on a serious note may not be conducive in influencing your followers. Also, when or if you use 140it, make sure to proof your tweet to make sure the shortened version makes sense and will be understandable.

What do you think about 140it? Have you tried it before? Or if you just learned about it – did you try it out and what did you think?

Follow me Nile on Twitter

What The Hashtag: How To Use The Site As a Tool

What The Hashtag (wthashtag.com) is a wiki-based site that tracks Twitter hashtags (also known as trending topics.) Each trending topic is documented automatically or users can insert new hashtags and the wiki will document each.

The hashtag each have their own page that include a description, stats of when they trended the heaviest, and a twitter stream including all users that have used the hashtag.

So, what can you do with this site? The answer – plenty!

What The Hashtag can literally be used as a data tool for you to target more of your niche followers. You can find big dogs in your niche, as well as unique people who have great ideas to help expand success in your own niche. This is a tool that gets down in the midst of the conversation and lets you use it as a way to succeed. Simply do a search for certain tags and you might find things that you have been looking for, but have not had much success trying to gather the right day to market what you are trying to share or sell.

As mentioned, users can enter their own hashtags and if you use them regularly, and within reason (there are always people who overuse hashtags and exploit them), you can attract people into your niche that you need. You can even start your own trend and document it with What The Hashtag as well.

Although my introductory of What The Hashtag in my site, Blondish.net in the article Hashtags: Hashed and Re-hashed, the site has come a long way in the past two months alone and improved. I recommend it as another way to obtain more data for marketing in your niche.

Have you heard about What the Hashtag? Do you use it? What do you think about it?