How To Quickly Add the Tweet Button and Facebook Like Button to Your Site

If you have a website with a blog or frequently updated posts, you can easily add the Tweet button and the Facebook like button to your posts – and you don't have to have a designer or developer do the coding for you.

Facebook Like Button

To add the Facebook like button (or the recommend version, seen below), visit what Facebook's developer's Social Plugins section, and click on Like Button. Don't get nervous that it's a "developers" section – if you know how to copy and paste, you can do this.

Scroll down until you see this:

As you fill out the fields, Facebook shows you what visual changes you are making to the widget. Basically, just choose whatever you want visually, if you want faces to be shown, if you want it to say "like" or "recommend", and if you want a specific font or color scheme.

Once you have the design you want, click "get code" and copy and paste the iframe code to the post, anywhere below your text. If you're using Blogger, Wordpress or another site that differentiates between rich text formatting and HTML, you'll need to paste this in the HTML section.

Here's an example of the Facebook like button on one of our articles.

And what happens when someone clicks it? It appears in their profile under recent activity, and increases the chances that one of their friends will click and read the same content.

Tweet Button

If you think the Facebook like button is easy, the Tweet button is even simpler.

Go to your Twitter page, click on Goodies in the footer, then click on Tweet Button.

Twitter gives you customization options, from button design to text and URL options. If you want to link to the page on which you're adding the button, you don't even have to fill in the URL (which is handy if it's a post you haven't published yet).

You can optionally add a Twitter username to the auto-generated tweet. If you have a Twitter account, this is a great idea to not only increase traffic on your site but also to gain more followers.

Once you've filled out all the necessary fields and chosen your design, just copy the code into the HTML section of your post, and the Tweet button will appear.

Here is an example of the Tweet button on an article about Tennessee Civil War Trails.

And here's what happens when someone clicks the button:

Unlike with Facebook, you can edit what appears, but most people stick with the default setting.

Have you used the like or tweet buttons on your site? Do you find them effective?

Tweet

Tweetbeat Firsthand: Build Your Twitter Lists, Enhance Your Online Reading Experience

Kosmix's new Tweetbeat Firsthand is the coolest thing I've added to my web experience lately.

What is it? Call it an add-on, extension, plug-in, what-have-you ... it's a browser utility that is nothing short of awesome, especially if you are always looking to add to your Twitter lists, or if you simply want to see what is being said in real time as you read articles and blog posts around the web.

All you have to do is visit the link (Tweetbeat Firsthand) and install the add-on in your browser (there are versions for Chrome, Firefox and Safari). Then, as you read articles, small Twitter icons appear in the text next to names, places and organizations that have a presence on Twitter. Hover over the icon, and the real-time Twitter feed from that organization will appear.

Besides being able to see the live feed, it also allows you to share the feed and site you are via a tweet from your own Twitter account. In other words, it sends a tweet that says something along the lines of "I am reading tweets by @fema on cnn.com with the Tweetbeat Firsthand browser addon http://bit.ly/9xJyzN."

It's a great way to enhance content for the reader in a "read more, now, in real time" kind of way, but on first assessment, I'll probably be more likely to use it as a way to quickly follow Twitter accounts, if I don't follow them already. I can't count the times I've read an article or blog post and wondered if a publication or organization mentioned might have a presence on Twitter. It's rare that I stop what I am reading, open a new browser window and actually go search.

Read TwitterMedia's review of Tweetbeat Firsthand.

Editing Your Facebook Privacy Settings

image courtesy of AllFacebook.com

Facebook's privacy settings seem to change every other day, but if you want to be more selective about what you share with whom, we've compiled a list of resources to help you stay updated.

The "recommended" settings on Facebook are the default settings, so if you haven't ever gone into your settings, this is what you will see if you log in, click on "Account" in the top right and select "Privacy settings."

Facebook suggests that you keep your status, photos and wall posts public to everyone on Facebook. Personally, I don't want complete strangers knowing every time I post a picture of a tomato in my garden, so I've created my own custom settings, which you can see designated with a green checkmark.

Before creating your own custom setting, you may first want to create Facebook lists. I have a list called "Professional Contacts," filled with people I've met at various networking events – someone I might want to share a technology link with, but not someone I want to know what I ate for breakfast (I don't usually post that sort of thing, unless there's blueberry pie in the office kitchen at 8 a.m. ...).  In addition to How To Create Lists, Mashable also has a great post on Using Facebook for Professional Networking.

Once your lists are in place, changing your Facebook privacy settings is easy – just click "customize." Facebook has it broken down by "Things I share" and "Things others share," and you can easily select whether you want Everyone (remember, this is anyone with a Facebook account), Friends of Friends, Friends Only or a Custom setting – that's where your lists, if applicable, would come in – or you can allow or disallow individual friends' access, too, just by typing in their name.

For instance, I let everyone see my website, but only I can view photos I'm tagged in – mainly because I can't control that. If you want your profile extremely locked down, you may disable your friends' ability to post on your wall – something else you can't control, but it is also a useful communication tool. Also of note, you do have to apply specific settings to your photo albums separately and individually within the photo album settings section of Facebook.

Once you have your privacy settings squared away, you may want to review this resource that covers both specific settings (hiding from search engines) and common sense (letting strangers know when you're not home): Seven Things to Stop Doing Now on Facebook

Also, my favorite Facebook-related site, AllFacebook.com, has a whole guide to Facebook privacy settings, which I highly recommend checking out. 

Finally, if you have any specific questions about Facebook privacy settings that we haven't covered, let us know in the comments!

What Ice Cream Can Teach Us About Social Media

It's really hot today in Journal Communications' hometown of Franklin, TN — like, triple digits hot.

Which means it's time to talk about ice cream. And social media, of course.

Luckily, some news from lovable hippie confectioners Ben & Jerry's makes this easy. Word got out last week that the company was dropping its regular e-mail marketing campaign with plans to use only social media from now on.

As Hubspot Blog reported, this move came about because "customers had indicated that they disliked the email despite loving the brand, which means that it wasn't building the positive relationship that the famously brand-conscious ice cream company wanted."

Naturally, lots of discussion from marketing professionals followed this announcement, both critical and more conciliatory.

But the story changed when the company Tweeted on July 14:

That's right; all us North American fans can still sign up for the colorfully named e-mail missive for all our dairy dessert news.

Which is good news, and the part where we start learning from ice cream.

We all know how powerful social media can be — Ben & Jerry's Facebook page has a 1.3 million plus fans, for Pete's sake.

But though it's growing fast, social media is still just one element of a successful marketing strategy — one scoop of your sundae, if you will.

Engagement with customers is the ultimate goal, and Ben and Jerry's pretty much rocks at this, whether it's heading to Bonnaroo with a specially made flavor in tow or providing ice cream lovers their Scoop of Happiness iPhone app.

The fact that Ben & Jerry's was listening to its customers and attempting to reach them in the way their fans like best is the biggest lesson.

Take the Ben & Jerry's example to heart as you plan your marketing strategies. Listen to your customers. Find new ways to reach them. Make changes based on what they tell you. Look for engagement in any and every way you can find it.

That's our recipe for a sweet success story, no matter what your business.

A User's Perspective on Foursquare

Until you've used Foursquare, you may not understand what all the hype is about. After all, it's nothing more than a means for your friends to find you when you're out and about, right? And if it's nothing more than that, couldn't you accomplish the same thing by just sending a text message to your friends or simply tweeting it?

Well, sure.

But let me explain Foursquare to you from the perspective of a girl who in recent weeks has gone completely bonkers over one of the hottest social media trends happening right now.

When I first began using Foursquare, I assumed I would tire of it within the first month, maybe even the first few weeks. From what I knew about the social-media platform (which was very little at that point), I could see the benefit of having something like Foursquare available when I lived in New York and had friends spread across four boroughs and three states. (It might actually make it easier to meet up with some folks from time to time and grab a bite to eat.) But now that I live in the 25th largest city in the U.S., it's much easier to find my friends. There are only so many places a person can go and my friends and I tend to stick to the same neighborhood and its popular hangouts anyway. We're bound to run into each other eventually! But after playing around with the application for a few weeks, I was hooked, and here's why:

It's fun. Checking into venues, collecting badges, competing with friends for points, and becoming Mayor if I check into a specific venue more than anyone else on Foursquare . . . This is the gaming aspect of Foursquare and we all know how fun games are!

It's easy. Instead of texting my friends or, um, calling (can you imagine?) to let them know that I'm currently at our favorite restaurant and they should stop by, I can just check in on Foursquare and leave the rest up to them. And since I have the option to send my check in information to Facebook and Twitter, I can also alert my friends who aren't on Foursquare - yet.

It's motivating. If there's one thing I do more of now that I'm on Foursquare, it's going out into the real world and engaging with real people. I dine out more often (usually at restaurants that my friends often check into), meet up with friends more often, and even go the gym more often. (I'm currently the Mayor of my gym and while this is strictly due to no one else checking in on Foursquare yet, I still want to hold onto that title for as long as I can!)

It's mysterious. While there are a handful of documented badges out there, new badges are being created all the time. I never know which check in will trigger that "Overshare" or "Socialite" badge, but when it does, it's down right fun!

I get stuff. I recently checked into a movie theater with my husband and discovered a "deal near-by" pop up for three scoops of Ben & Jerry's ice cream for only $3. All I had to do to get the deal was show that I checked in on Foursquare. And Ben & Jerry's isn't the only company doing this. My friends and I have received everything from free fried pickles to free soda and half-price beer just by clicking a button on our Smartphones!

It gives me voice as a consumer. Each time I check into a venue, restaurant, gym, theater, bar or shop, I'm casting my vote for that business, at least once. Whether that business is paying attention or not (which they should be), I'm not only announcing to my friend's that I'm at this place, but I can tell them about my experience there too. And I will. Foursquare allows me to leave tips for others and will even pop-up an alert when I'm at a nearby establishment where one of my friends has left a tip. And we all know how powerful word of mouth recommendations can be.

So while I may absolutely get on the nerves of my husband and my friends and colleagues because I'm constantly fumbling around with my phone each time we walk into a place of business, or getting in heated discussions about badges that should exist and "wouldn't it be neat if so and so had a deal," I simply can't help myself! Foursquare has found a unique way to combine social media with real world interaction and that's something we could all stand to do more of.

For the Social Good

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to attend the Mashable Media Summit in NYC with Jessy Yancey. During the conference there was definitely a lot of talk of using social media for the social good. There was one particular company that I wanted to highlight:

EDWARD NORTON'S CROWDRISE.COM

Norton observed:
• Organizations were not effectively using contemporary web-based social networking tools to enhance their fundraising efforts in a meaningful way or to engage people who were supporting them.
• Organizations were not using dynamic, cutting-edge technology to reach a new generation of people in a productive way. Younger people were adopting these tools, but struggling to find a way to use them productively.

So he and a group of other partners created Crowdrise. The basic goals of Crowdrise:
• To provide a platform that works in complementary ways in multiple directions
• To develop a way to create team efforts in fund-raising for corporations and organizations involved in social responsibility

"Our conviction is that a lot of social networking is in essence about personal narrative ... people take pride in what they are doing, their personal narrative matters, and they want to share it with other people. Our extension of that is simply to encourage people to plant a flag, raise a fist, take pride in what they care about, what they are engaged in and engage other people in it."

– Edward Norton

What makes Crowdrise a great solution? They have found a way to incorporate the things that people love about social media ... the connection, the competition, the fun, the humor ... into a way to help support a good cause. Better yet, into a way to help support a lot of good causes. And according to Norton ... it only takes about 15 minutes to setup a project.

I definitely encourage you to take a look at the site and learn more about it.

3 Things I Learned at the Mashable Media Summit

I was fortunate enough to attend the Mashable Media Summit in New York last week, which they put on in partnership with CNN. It was filled with great takeaways, cool resources and even plain old funny content (what else can you expect when the speaker roster includes representatives of The Onion, College Humor and URDB?), but here are the top 3 things I feel were most important with applications to content developers like myself, small businesses and anyone who uses social media:

1. People want content that comes to them.
Both sportscaster Len Berman and Motorola representative Christy Wyatt each voiced this message in different ways. Len was referring to the 2008 presidential election and hearing young people say they don't turn to the news anymore, but rather the news now comes to them – especially through Facebook and Twitter feeds. "There's no faster way to get the news and information than on Twitter," he said. "It's on Twitter before it's anywhere else." Keep in mind this is coming from someone who grew to fame using traditional media, but has since expanded his horizons and opened professional doors using the web as his primary voice. He adds that the instant two-way conversation is the best thing about new media.

Christy, who was hawking the platform Motoblur (successfully, I might add – every attendee received a free smartphone!), was talking about the rise of mobile web. "People don't want to go to data – they want data to come to them," she said, comparing the time-consuming, battery-draining installation process (such as mobile apps, an obvious criticism of the iPhone) to the ease of directly connecting (mobile web). With more and more people using their phones as mini computers, users want mobile-friendly websites that use push notifications – almost like a text message – rather than pull notifications reserved for your desktop computer. Again, the user doesn't have to actively seek out information – their phone (or the social connections within their phone) sends it right to their pocket.

2. Foursquare is the next big thing. (Probably.)
I've said it before, and so have my colleagues – businesses shouldn't ignore Foursquare. But even though some may blast it (Time magazine calls it "the next generation of creepy social networking"), enough early adopters – including major brands – are supporting it that Mashable and others are calling it the next Twitter. As one moderator said, "The whole experience of checking in is still foreign to people, but you can compare that to the two years Twitter spent explaining why they were tweeting."

And more than 1.5 million users are checking in, and often. But what's so refreshing about founder Dennis Crowley (as compared to the lack of privacy concerns of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg) is this quote:

People that get most concerned about privacy are not the ones that have used [Foursquare]. I'm not a fan of the passive check-in model.

This means that as "creepy" as Time considers this new social application, the founder has spoken out against what I personally consider the creepier versions of location-based social networking, those that use your GPS to track where you are and automatically check in for you. No thanks. I like Foursquare for the same reason I like the e-newsletters I receive – they're opt-in, and it's my decision to actively check in/sign up.

The Foursquare discussion gave some insight into their business model. They've gone from six employees to 25 employees in the past year. They just had their developers take two weeks off from developing new features to focus on fixing functionality problems. (Don't we wish we all had time to focus solely on fixing problems?) And though they did develop an iPhone app, they didn't develop apps for the Android or Blackberry operating systems. Instead, they spent time developing their API (essentially, the interface that programmers use to create third-party applications – like Facebook Connect or TweetDeck) in hopes that someone else would develop the apps for them. And it worked.

Of course, we're not all that lucky, having developers knocking at our doors to create applications for us. But there's more in the works for Foursquare, including the idea of rewarding frequent visitors other than the mayor, so I highly recommend checking out what Foursquare can do for your business. Need an example? Listen to what Robert Smith Hotel has done with social media – and how well it's worked.

3. Content is still king – but find your niche.
My professional title has the word "content" in it, and so does my company's logo: Custom Media, Custom Content. So it's refreshing to hear these speakers constantly say things like, "Great content is a terrible thing to waste."

That quote comes from Chris Bruzzo with Starbucks, and he had a plethora of social media success stories. But throughout this conference, no matter who was speaking, content remained at the forefront of conversation. Mashable talked about how their team posts 25+ new pieces of content per day. College Humor's CEO discussed their success with branded content. CNN covered user-generated content. Even Foursquare was called "socially filtered location content."

In fact, I found the discussion between CNN and Mashable CEO Pete Cashmore (swoon) to be probably the best out of all of the great sessions. I liked it because they didn't always see eye to eye, provoking some of the best conversations. Television content is broad and general, web content is passion-based. CNN spent two years developing an iPhone app, while Mashable instantly offered up an iPad app that has since undergone six revisions. Even as user-generated content soars, CNN says it will never rely entirely on iReporters for a story: "If we let it go to purely user-generated content, it would be the lowest-common denominator," Sanjay Gupta said.

Two of the commonly used, relatively unknown (to me) phrases I heard were "curating" and "niche verticals". Mashable does both. They curate content, rather than aggregate it – select relevant news from throughout the web while giving it their own spin. As far as their niche, social media, they don't just confine themselves to that subject; rather, they will examine it from all angles, thoroughly and purposefully. A wide range of mini-topics all spin off from the central, core subject – causing what they and others called a niche vertical.

At the end of the day, your site is only as good as your content is. If you sell apples, I don't expect you to tell me how to grow oranges. But I do expect you to tell me how to grow apples, offer apple recipes, tell me the difference between a Granny Smith and a Red Delicious, and let me know how to reach you to buy apples – or just to ask a question. As the era of social media expands, remember: It's all about making connections.

Want more? Check out Mashable's recap of the Media Summit – includes complete video of all major speakers.