Top Twitter tools to make life a little easier
With hundreds of Twitter tools readily available and many more launching on a daily basis, it can be quite a daunting task to work out which are worth signing up for - and which aren’t.
So, Onlinefire thought we’d let you know about six Twitter tools we really like and why…
Bit.ly - shorten, share and track links
Fast surpassing TinyURL, Bit.ly is an intelligent link shortening service which lets you share content quickly and easily. But that’s not all it does. Bit.ly tracks traffic information in real-time and can tell you where your link is being shared and how many people are clicking on it. Very useful stuff if you want to measure and evaluate the impact of your tweets.
Even handier than that, Bit.ly highlights top trends relating to your links, which means that you can access useful nuggets of information, such as the five hottest web pages related to your interest topic, or which social networks are sharing links to your web page on any given day.
HootSuite – Twitter management
HootSuite lets you manage all your Twitter profiles in one place. It’s a godsend if you’re trying to keep on top of multiple tweets. Another useful option is the pre-schedule tweet button, letting you stager your messages throughout the day.
HootSuite tracks user engagement by summarising your link statistics and individual tweet stats, letting you see at a glance which tweets have generated the most interest within the Twitter community. It also tells you who your top referrers are and where they are in the world.
Trendsmap – real-time local Twitter trends
We all know about Twitter Trending Topics, the global system which highlights Twitter trends, but what about Twitter users in your area - what do they care about?
Trendsmap allows you to drill down and find out exactly that, by mapping trends at a local level. Understanding what local Twitter users are talking about means you can tailor your messages to ensure they are both timely and relevant.
Digsby – the ‘Twittteractive’ desktop application
Digsby is a wonderful tool for incorporating Twitter into your everyday life. Once you have downloaded the programme, you’re able to update, reply, ReTweet or direct message straight from your desktop.
Your Twitter stream is updated in unassuming pop-up windows and archived in a button on your toolbar. So you can keep track of what’s going on without ever having to visit the site.
Brizzly – The dashboard of all dashboards
Brizzly is a brand new web dashboard for Twitter that makes organising Twitter lists, trends and DMs a breeze.
It includes real-time update alerts for @replies and DMs, and includes a ‘mute’ option that allows you to prioritise who you want to see in your Twitter stream and who you don’t. Clever.
TwitPic & BubbleTweet – Add photos and video to your Twitter profile
TwitPic allows you to post pictures to your Twitter stream and alert your readers automatically and in ‘real-time’. It integrates seamlessly with your Twitter profile and you are updated when anyone comments on your photo.
BubbleTweet is a lovely invention which gives your Twitter profile that personal touch. Making Twitter even more interactive, you can add an introduction video in the form of a bubble which pops up and plays when a new user visits your profile page.
Posted 2 weeks ago on 23 October 2009
A fine way to regulate endorsements
—From Melanie
The US has announced a crackdown on product endorsements. For years, we’ve all been used to seeing celebs and models hawking everything from car insurance to beauty products, but surprisingly this ruling isn’t limited to Iggy Pop or Sarah Jessica Parker – it includes bloggers too.
The new rules say that anyone endorsing a product must give full disclosure about what he or she received – if anything – in compensation for the endorsement or else face fines up to $11,000 (£6,910).
Oddly enough, an attorney for several advertising groups in the States said this ruling is the ‘worst fears of businesses come true’. That seems a bit of an overreaction to me. It won’t be a surprise to people that celebs are paid to endorse products (or even lie about them), and most bloggers I know already do disclose the terms in which they’re either endorsing or reviewing a product, i.e. So-and-so asked me to review, I wasn’t paid for this post, etc.
I’m curious to hear what other bloggers think, but my hunch is that we spend so much time trying to prove that we haven’t sold out that this ruling (should it ever make its way across the pond) won’t change very much at all.
Posted 5 months ago on 5 June 2009
Next Generation Talent is back for 2009
Hola everyone!
We’re knee-deep in a few amazing campaigns at the moment (which explains the absence), including this little gem: Next Generation Talent.
If it sounds familiar that’s probably because we kicked off the 2008 inaugural competition back in November.
(If you need a refresher, NGT is an initiative by Panasonic to foster more interest in the creative industries. The programme offers students a chance to win an ad spot on national television, a two-week work experience placement with one of Panasonic’s creative agencies and a full portfolio review for creating a sample video ad for the Panasonic Viera home hub television.)
This year, though, it’s bigger and better than ever. Panasonic and Young Creative Network have just wrapped up a tour around the UK with 10 partner Universities to get more students involved, we’ve created a fun video, as well as released a bit of research on student career aspirations concerning the creative industries.
If you know any Univeristy students, who would like to get involved, give us a ping on Twitter @nextgentalent. We’d be happy to help.
And of course, don’t forget to pass on our pride and joy:
Posted 6 months ago on 17 April 2009
From a Young PR's perspective...
—From Anne
Since joining the wonderful world of PR I have noticed that many companies only focus on the traditional methods of PR. I’m amazed how, even now, there are so many who haven’t joined the online PR bandwagon.
Looking at the way the media has reacted to online in general -blogs and social networks, etc. I don’t think there has ever been a more important time for people like me (who are just entering the industry) to get involved in a PR environment that caters for online. There are so many ways to create online buzz through all the different forms of social media. I’m new to this and was amazed to find this HUGE digital world that existed online. I mean, don’t get me wrong it’s important to understand traditional PR but the media’s fascination with online has proved that it is vital for young PRs to get out there and learn about influential websites, blogs, forums, social networks, online communities to make the most of their campaign.
This channel is definitely the future and will only continue to grow and grow and seeing as we are the next generation it is essential that we adapt and learn the skills needed to progress in this area.
Posted 7 months ago on 23 March 2009
Why online PR taken so long to arrive...
—From Graham
Where was online PR when ‘online marketing’ was coined? Where was it when online advertising arrived on the scene?
E-mail marketing quickly became the digital equivalent to direct mail. Banner ads instantly imitated print display ads. PPC has grown to become very similar in principle to traditional classified ads.
Over the past 15 years or so, every traditional form of marketing and advertising has one-by-one developed an online equivalent.
But all the while, PR has quietly stood in the wings, watching bemused at this new spangled Interweb.
It has taken the steroid shot that is social media to suddenly awaken the realisation: “PR too has an online equivalent!!”
But what lies in the past, lies in the past.
The important thing now is that this realisation has in no uncertain terms spread far and wide. People now increasingly understand the important role for PR in engaging people online.
For me, the most exciting thing is looking ahead to the future. Where is this all leading?
Experience at onlinefire highlights to me that we are headed to a very interesting place. The tools and tactics available to online PR agencies are vast and varied. Never before has there been such scope for creativity.
Over the course of the next few weeks, I plan to cover off the various tools we use as part of our campaigns, and the ways they can be used to engage and excite people online. Watch this page!
