[TOP 10 TUESDAY] My Daily To-Do List for Becoming a Better Tweeter

I like Twitter. Though sometimes it feels pointless and cluttered with information, I actually like the nexus of quick opinions and observations. Hashtags are also a genius result of Twitter #justsaying. My account, however, doesn't really reflect my fondness for Twitter. Even my live-tweeting of Project Runway has fallen to wayside.

Today I was inspired by DKNY PR Girl's tumblr quote: "Pick one thing, just one - and do it better today than you ever have..." because it's about progress, not perfection. Any social media marketer worth his/her salt will tell you the same applies for Twitter.

As I mentioned yesterday, there is no giant, overall goal when it comes to social media. It doesn't matter if you're wanting 100 more followers or $1,000 more for this quarter, these are both small goals which will later be replaced by other small (but no less important) goals. Working with this theory, I wanted to give myself 10 small goals to complete daily on Twitter in hopes of becoming a better tweeter. Hands down better tweeting equals better content - and I'm sure that my 10 tweets per day minimum will accomplish that if I follow a plan.

1: Tweet a Media/Marketing LinkBecause marketing is such a big part of what I do (at least that's what my resume says), I like to read about how new communication tech and how people are recycling old marketing ideologies for a new generation. If I like it, somebody else probably will.
2: Tweet a Fashion Blog LinkMy Google Reader is 60% fashion blogs so it's obvious to see where my passions lie. I don't think this will be a hard "to-do".

3: Recommendation TweetI've seen a lot of these tweets start off as "I'm currently loving..." Human nature states that when something catches our eye or makes our Wish List, we have to recommend it to someone.
4: RetweetThis one is a given in becoming a better tweeter (just ask the million and one people who've written about it). I'm looking for tidbits that make me smile like inspirational quotes.
5: Reply to At Least One TweetAnd this means more than a "Yes" or "No". A good marketer will tell you that an intelligent response goes a long way

6: Tweet At Least One Instagram PictureIf you look for at least one good, interesting thing everyday day, you enrich your life. If you take a picture of it on Instagram, you enrich your Twitter feed (just make sure they're linked).
7: Tweet a Link Back to Your BlogWhat's the point of social media if you don't promote yourself just a little. My blog automatically publishes to my feed but on days I don't post, it's necessary to reference an older but relevant blog I wrote.
8: Picture of Someone's Personal or Street StyleI'm slightly obsessed with personal style. I love seeing how people translate trends, colors and event the items themselves into their own fashion language. I hope finding and tweeting one pic a day is not too much.
9: Tweet About Something Interesting You're DoingI know this sounds self-centered but so does most blogging and tweeting. There are occasions where I attend cool events or am watching or reading something interesting. I blog about most of them but a quick in-the-moment tweet shouldn't be so hard.
10: Tweet Something RandomThe last tweet is dedicated to me being me. I'm very random sometimes, I tend to yell at inanimate objects, and I was never diagnosed with attention deficit disorder but I swear I have it. This tweet will reflect that.

So what do you think of my 10-Step-Twitter-Plan?
Do you have one? Or is this one you could adopt and adjust for yourself?

Twitter Bird Icon via Icon Archive and recolored.

[MARKETING + MEDIA] The Cycle Continues: The Ever-Changing and Ever-Copying Face of Social Media

I gave in and activated my Google+ account to see what all the fuss is about. There's been a lot of talk about Google+ knocking Facebook off it's pedestal so it must be something new and amazing... Right? But after logging on, it just looks like Facebook. It has prettier icons and a more modern feel but the same overall function and features.

I think the feature everyone was most excited about was Google+ Circles but Facebook has parried with Lists for your Friends. I've slowly started categorizing people but my 300+ Friends looks daunting - I can't imagine people who are past 1,000. The Lists are obvious knockoffs of Circles but social media is made up of the sharing (and stealing) of ideas.
And now Facebook is rolling out with Timeline come October. While Timeline seems to be a response to the attention Google+ is getting, it seems to also be taking from MySpace. It looks like Facebook is going back to it's social media roots and adding a bit more customization (a MySpace feature I personally missed).
Do you even remember MySpace? It was the social network that started it all - the profile page, internet fame, collecting friends and the reach of online advertising. Why wouldn't you take a few examples from it? ...Like modules. That's right Facebook, don't think I didn't notice how your design improved.
I'm still wondering if Facebook has actually reached it's peak yet. Every business and their grandmother has a page, a lot of their recent changes are pissing people off, and, just like fashion, social media goes through dreaded cycles of mass acceptance and death. But there doesn't seem to be a noticeable amount of people jumping ship - at least not regular, non-media types (i.e. the majority of the population needed to make a social network work).

I'm still fumbling through Google+, dreading having to update yet another network and watching my Klout score go up and down like a drunk in a bouncehouse. There is no light at the end of this tunnel, no ultimate goal when it comes to social media because it never stops growing and thus your spot is never guaranteed. Google+ might be what's after Facebook but what's after that?

Twitter: The Next Generation... Tweet Long (up to 200 characters now) and Prosper

Style & Tips from Fashion 2.0 Dallas Debut

Earlier this month, Jean Pratt, founder of the StyleObserver.com and pictured to the left with me, launched an extension of the very successful New York Fashion 2.0 here in Dallas.

The group centers around the changes in the fashion industry due technology. To join, you have to be fashion professional in Dallas with an online presence.

The first meeting featured a panel of local fashion entrepreneurs talking about online fashion retailing and the impact of social media.

It was agreed that Facebook and Twitter have changed the way people think about PR. Magazines aren't the only outlet for fashion companies; businesses now have to consider blogs and Facebook fanpages. But even though the speed at which we transmit information has changed, sometimes you can't beat good old word-of-mouth.

The biggest tip they gave for online PR was unplug and take time to think. Just because all the work is online doesn't mean that all the thinking should be.

The next meetup is on November 9th but the topic hasn't been posted yet.

And to the right is a little event style snap. I loved her slouchy top, scarf and fox tail bag accessory (which has been really big at anime conventions for years).