text:
Lindsay, thank you for writing this great article. I totally agree, although I do at times take the liberty to socialize and be playful with some of the "peeps". Professionally, our goal for using social media is to grow our business, position ourselves as experts in our field and to help our clients whenever possible. We also use social media to help others connect professionally, support worthy causes and our local art scene. It's a great medium if used wisely.
T.M.I. (Too Much Information.)
Your business called. It said you're over-sharing via social media and scaring away clients in the process.
I'm just going to come straight out and say it: social media is good for business. It's a chance to connect, develop and nurture relationships, cultivate "expert status," and grow a successful enterprise.
There's just one [HUGE] problem. Propriety has been thrown out the window.
In a sense, a computer is like a security blanket. People say things online that they would never say in real life. You would never share intimate marriage details with a business acquaintance. You wouldn't call up a client and tell them you're bored. Just because you feel like you can share anything on the internet doesn't mean you should.
If you want to make a good impression online, avoid these common social media pitfalls:
Getting too personal.*
Sometimes, I think people forget that sites like Facebook and Twitter are public. These individuals broadcast information that's better kept private. Take this recent Tweet from a business colleague:
"Going to have my yearly pap smear today. Be sure to schedule yours!"
Really? I don't know about you, but the last thing I need is a visual of a client or colleague with their legs up in stirrups.
Even worse than the unflattering mental image is this: the personal information overshadows a larger, more helpful message about women's health. This status update could have raised awareness and motivated people to set up their own appointments. Instead, it just made everyone cringe.
Don't get me wrong. Sharing personal information can work for you if it's done carefully and with purpose. For example: "October is breast cancer awareness month. I know the value of yearly examinations firsthand. Be sure to set-up your appointment today."
A general rule? If you wouldn't stand up in the middle of a networking meeting and announce what you plan to say in your status update, don't do it. Period. In real life you filter yourself, and you should do the same online. If you don't, you'll lose credibility and clients.
*A problem at the other end of the spectrum: being a ghost or social media "lurker." Get involved or you'll never get results!
Posting boring updates.*
I must confess, I'm guilty of writing a boring status update or two. (That's a conservative estimate.) The problem? These updates insidiously attack your reputation because they don't help your clients or enhance your brand.
Common offenders: "I'm bored," "Going to lunch," or "Watching T.V." You get the idea.
These sorts of updates were what made business-owners slow adopters of social media in the first place. Remember the days when we would cry: "Who really cares if I'm drinking coffee or eating oatmeal. My clients don't need to know that!" Well, we were right: no one cares about this stuff. If you're now using social media to tell people you're drinking coffee or eating oatmeal you might want to re-think your online marketing strategy.
Boring updates are usually posted for two reasons.
1. You feel guilty if you don't post something. (People are following you after all!)
2. You can't think of anything clever, inspirational, or informative to say.
The root of these problems is that we don't have a plan. We sit down to the computer, stare at the blinking cursor and rack our brains for a bright idea. The result? We share the mundane details that no one really cares about.
Instead of wasting 15 minutes every day coming up with "I'm bored," create an idea folder. Spend two hours a month visiting other blogs, collecting quotes, and writing 30 status updates that help your clients (that's at least one good update each day). Every time you come across a great idea, throw it in your folder. When you have a fresh source of inspiration, you'll never write a boring status update again.
*The play-by-play update is a cousin to the boring update. For example, a series of posts like these: "I'm at the coffee shop," "Just ordered a mocha," "This mocha is fantastic," "I'm sipping on the mocha and waiting for Jill," "Jill just got here!" Refrain from doing this. I beg you.
Being passive-aggressive online.*
While these status updates are often amusing, if you're an offender in this department you're probably causing your business irreparable harm.
What am I talking about? Updates like these:
"Why can't clients be more cooperative?"
"I love it when I get stood up for meetings."
"It's fantastic when one of my clients think that they're my only client."
Believe it or not, people will figure out who you're talking about and the situation that led to your update. And, if they don't figure it out, they'll worry you're talking about them. The Facebook news feed is not the best place to vent your frustrations with clients and colleagues.
When it comes down to it, airing your dirty laundry via social media is just a bad idea. YOU'LL come off as the bad guy: you'll sound like a whiner instead of a problem-solver, you'll alienate the people you work with, and future clients will be scared to work with you. (Who wants to live in fear that a future nasty note will be about them?)
*Opposite side of this coin, but just as bad: being outright rude, offensive, or belligerent.
Ultimately, the goal of social media is to grow your business, position yourself as an expert and help your clients. You do all three by providing great information and avoiding the common pitfalls above.
Learn more about the author, Lindsay Berger.
Comment on this article
Posted by Gary Powell, Portland, Oregon |
Dec 07, 2009
Posted by Lindsay Berger, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Dec 07, 2009
Gary: Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on my article!
Yes, I think using social media to enrich relationships (be playful and socialize) is the whole point of networking and the beauty of the medium--lord knows I wouldn't have met you otherwise! Inserting this type of interaction with your more "professional" posts is perfect: it helps people realize that you're a person and get to know you better! I guess something that I might have mentioned in this article was the type of user who ONLY promotes themselves. That's not cool, either!
I think you pull it off your social media strategy beautifully, though. (I can say this because I follow you.)
Thank you again for the kind words and insightful feedback, Gary!
Posted by Ken Peters, Phoenix, Arizona |
Dec 08, 2009
I couldn't help but smile to myself reading this. Anybody who has spent a fair amount of time on Twitter knows exactly what you're talking about. I can't believe some of the things I see there.
Social media is certainly a critical component to any branding strategy. Getting it right can be a boon. Getting it wrong can be a disaster.
Great advice here. Nice job.
Posted by Kimba Green, Frederick, Maryland |
Dec 08, 2009
Great article. Love this: "A general rule? If you wouldn't stand up in the middle of a networking meeting and announce what you plan to say in your status update, don't do it. Period. In real life you filter yourself, and you should do the same online. If you don't, you'll lose credibility and clients." What perfect advice for us all!
Posted by Lindsay Berger, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Dec 08, 2009
Ken: I'm glad I made you smile! Thank you for reading and sharing your insight.
Kimba: I like that rule too. Because it's so easy to share our thoughts online, we often forget to think before we post. Taking that second or two before writing can really make a difference. Thanks for reading!
Posted by Sandra Rees, Ferndale, Washington |
Dec 09, 2009
Enjoyed reading your article regarding social media and the importance of being pertinent, but not boring. I know with both Twitter and Facebook it is very easy to write something glib, but as a business owner, it is important to "think before you write." You are creating a presence via your posts, so it is best to make sure they are positive and relevant as you promot yourself and your business.
Posted by Erin Ely, Eugene, Oregon |
Dec 10, 2009
great article, I especially like this suggestion:
spend two hours a month visiting other blogs, collecting quotes, and writing 30 status updates that help your clients (that's at least one good update each day).
definitely a keeper idea for me. I spend a lot of time on social media.
Posted by Marte Cliff, Priest River, Idaho |
Dec 10, 2009
Great post Lindsay! You see so many extremes on Twitter - and so much of it isn't worth the space on the page.
Well, some of it is even worse than that. I remember one woman who wrote two posts about needing to make a trip to the bathroom... (but in a little more specific terms.) I un-followed her after reading those posts!
The most interesting Tweeters, in my opinion, are those who offer a variety of comments about their own work, links to good articles they've read, responses to others, and some good quotes. But I'm prejudiced, because I collect good quotes.
People really should realize that anything they post on line - OR send in an e-mail - could be seen by the "wrong" person. It could mean losing a job, a client, or even a friendship.
Common sense would be a good tool to engage before touching fingers to a keyboard.
Posted by Susan Templeton, Bellingham, Washington |
Dec 10, 2009
Oh how about this one: mentioning you are going to be away from home for two weeks...like inviting a burlar to call!
Posted by Marianne Borg Hyokki, Espoo Finland |
Dec 10, 2009
Hi Lindsay! I have been uncomfortable with the too intimate or too many daily updates (Facebook) some people do. I think there are two purposes for people to be in Social Media: for friends and spending virtual time and for business. Since I am there for business, I try to post value to clients and others, but do not share all my personal stuff.
Well written article and your subject is important. Thank you! Best regards,
Posted by Eric Basir, Evanston, Illinois |
Dec 10, 2009
Excellent article. Playful poetry about things I'm working on or experiencing works for me (very little personal things unless it's "cute."
Posted by gerry suchy, Alexandria, Virginia |
Dec 10, 2009
Great article! Just spot on with regard to what is so annoying about social media. I often have clients who ask me about a social media presence for their business. They are reluctant to move forward with because they have seen all the drivel that passes for information. "Brain Droppings," to borrow a phrase from Doonesbury. I point out to them that it is certainly possible to have a Twitter,Facebook Business,a blog and a LinkedIn page and keep it professional and focused. This is especially true if you use any of the posting aggregators like PingFM. Your cute little message ends up everywhere at the click of your mouse. It all begins and ends with the owner of the pages. When I first began using social media to promote ny graphic design business I came across a "how to tweet" article. The author closed her piece by telling her readers that if anyone ever told her what they had for lunch she would stop following them. I just concentrate on my own small slice of the universe and advise clients that they can and should do the same.
Take Care
Posted by Shibley Rahman, London United Kingdom |
Dec 10, 2009
Great article.
Sometimes I think people should remember, "You say it best when you say nothing at all."
However, I find myself being generous to other people indulging in a bit of self-promotion, provided that they have genuinely worked hard at something, or it's something that they are immensely proud of for personal reasons.
However, I believe that the issue of keeping business separate from pleasure is a real one. On the one hand, you can argue that clients get to know you better, by understanding what makes you tick. My keenness to talk about disability issues may be as off-putting as another's enthusiasm about the Pap test. On the other hand, it's sometimes appropriate to keep them entirely separate. I find this particularly to be the case when discussing politics.
Anyway, I digress. I love the article!
Posted by John Doble, Montreal, Quebec Canada |
Dec 10, 2009
What a great article with practical tips of what to do and what to avoid in Social Media.
I really like your take on passive-agressive posts.
I am a newbie to social media and have been reading as much as I can from the experts. However, your article is the first I've seen with common sense practical tips to succeed in this medium.
Thanks so much for posting. I will share this link with some of my groups on Linkedin.
Best Regards John
Sandra: You're absolutely right: "You are creating a presence via your posts, so it is best to make sure they are positive and relevant as you promot yourself and your business." When you think of social media as an extension of your brand, and not just a way to let people know you're alive, your goal (and hopefully the posts) change for the better. Thanks for your insight!
Erin: I'm just starting to take my own advice on the time-chunking in preparation for 2010. So far, I've found it to be extremely helpful, AND it rids me of some of the guilt I used to feel for surfing the web. Now, I've set aside time to do that and it's great! Good luck with your efforts as well. :)
Marte: Great point about the ideal combination of posts: "The most interesting Tweeters, in my opinion, are those who offer a variety of comments about their own work, links to good articles they've read, responses to others, and some good quotes. " I agree, this variety is interesting to me and I love following these people. It's also an important point you mentioned about posts being seen by the wrong people. Again, just another thing to think about before you click "enter." Thank you for reading!
Susan: Oh my gosh, yes. Things like business trips, when you're leaving the house, etc. Should be kept private. Excellent point!
Marianne: Thanks for commenting. Trust me, I know what it's like to feel uncomfortable with too intimate posts. Here's a question for you: do you have separate social and business Facebook pages? I'm starting to think I might do this to keep things separate and from subjecting my own clients and colleagues to those "too personal" details.
Eric: I'm glad you've found a way to keep your posts interesting while branding yourself as the "playful poet" at the same time. I'm going to check that out!
Gerry: I think it's an excellent idea to use an aggregator like PingFM, it not only saves you time but (like you said) keeps all of your social media pages focused and on-topic. Great points!
Shibley: Yes, I try to steer clear of politics on any of my social media pages, as well as other "hot topics." Why? Not because I don't have opinions, but because they can so easily overshadow your core message and alienate readers. (Unless you're in the business of politics of course.) As far as getting too personal goes...you're right, it's a fine line. I've found that a blend works: 2/3 business and 1/3 personal/random musings. Thank you for commenting!
Posted by Deborah Aldridge, Venice, Florida |
Dec 10, 2009
Well, don't follow me, please, because it will save you the trouble of unfollowing me. I actually unfollow people who never do social, banal, personal tweets or posts on FB. When someone follows me, the deciding factor in whether I follow them back is if they have any conversational tweets. To me, social media is just that...SOCIAL. I don't give a rat's a$$ whether a client won't hire me because of my personal life. I'm sure there are a lot of clients whose personal life I wouldn't like too much either, for instance, I have one Twitter follower who is a HUGE Sarah Palin fan, and I can't stand her. I don't unfollow her because of it, and I still buy things from her Etsy store and RT her sales posts.
This is like saying you won't ever go to another movie with an actor in it whose personal life you don't approve of. I don't approve of John Travolta's involvement in Scientology, but I love his work, and will go see any movie he's in.
It's people who only think of business online that make Twitter boring, not those of us who actually make ourselves real.
Deborah: You make a valid and good point: social media IS social. Although this article uses extreme examples to illustrate a point about getting TOO personal, I don't think you should omit your personality out of the equation and only post about business. In fact, I acknowledged this fact in regard to Gary's comments above: "I guess something that I might have mentioned in this article was the type of user who ONLY promotes themselves. That's not cool, either!"
Also, I think the distinction between a small business owner who works one-on-one with clients as opposed to selling a product is an important one to make. When we buy a product at an Etsy store, we like the product, not necessarily the person who makes it. Most likely, this retailer offers discounts via their social media pages which makes it beneficial to follow her, despite the fact you can't stand her. The satisfaction of buying a product you like outweighs your dislike for her political views. However, when you work one-on-one with people, it's different. The product is the person. People do business with people they know, like, and trust. You build this over time, and certainly not by offending them via social media.
At the end of the day, how you post depends on your goals for using social networking sites. If it's to be social, great. Share whatever your heart desires. If it's to meet new business connections, I think a level of propriety should be maintained. A lot of the time, you're meeting people for the first time via social media. And, as much as it stinks, first impressions make a difference. This doesn't mean, though, that you have to remove your individual personality from the equation entirely. I just feel that when one posts, they should take a second and ask "do my readers want to know that?" "Is this best reflecting my personality?"
I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment on my article.
Posted by Brad Miller, Chicago, Illinois |
Dec 10, 2009
As a small business owner, my web presence is for professional purposes. I get kinda sad sometimes that I'm missing out on the fun part of the web. On Facebook, I can't share anything political or raunchy. Sure, I share some kid pictures for my family, but nothing too interesting.
It's good business to stay professional, but it's too bad I can't interact with friends in the casual way.
Off the subject, but...Your political contributions become public record and always pop up on searches. I've searched clients and contacts by name and seen who they've supported. I would hate to turn off half of my potential clients.
Posted by Henry Kilpatrick, Arlington, Virginia |
Dec 10, 2009
You know, you can create more than one account on any of the well-known social media, and you don't necessarily need to use your real name on all of them. And now Facebook is making it easy to control everything you post to any account. It is easier than ever to filter what you write to different groups.
I tend to be less risk-averse than some, so I might put a few controversial posts or tweets up for all to see, on the theory that I don't care what you say about me as long as you spell my name correctly. But it is a conscious act and my brain is in gear when I do it.
A few months ago a writer followed me on Twitter and I followed her in return. I noticed she did a presentation at a venue that I am interested in, so I asked her if she could give me the name of a contact person. No reply. A few days later I received a mass direct message from her promoting her book. Like I'm really going to buy it or tell other people about it if she can't be bothered to reply to me? It's a two-way street, and some people forget this. I would rather be offended by an ill-considered post than be exploited by someone who thinks it is all about her/him.
Posted by Kimberly Gauthier, Marysville, Washington |
Dec 10, 2009
I really enjoyed this article. Thanks for posting. I've been thinking the same thing. It's shocking what I see on Facebook. One business owner threatened to egg a clients house for not paying their invoice and then friends jumped on that post with ideas of what else could be done - the client was the business owner's friend and saw all of the posts. She never did get paid.
And I've unfriended several people who just post ads all day long. What I love about social networking sites is that it's a way to put your personality out there. That's how I've gotten most of my clients (that and festivals). If I just posted links to photography or pet sites, people would drop me pretty quickly.
Thanks again!!!
Posted by Shibley Rahman, London United Kingdom |
Dec 10, 2009
The post by Henry Killpatrick says it all.
I think the trick of using Facebook or Twitter is to use it as a medium to reach lots of people, without making clients feel used in the process.
Have a good day everyone.
Posted by Tracey Warren, Mountlake Terrace, Washington |
Dec 10, 2009
Loved the article and it made me laugh. I have lately seen how bi-polar some of my friends are through their posts and it has been a huge turn off.
I use facebook for business and personal use through one account. Lately, I have discovered my favorite feature is "hide". So, if I have friends who post every 5 minutes, or only post overly pushy sales statuses, I just "hide" them. They won't know they are hidden and they will still receive your posts - unless they have done the same to you.
Thanks again for the article!
Posted by Lillian Hoyer, Wheaton, Illinois |
Dec 10, 2009
Hi Lindsay, This is a great article and full of wonderful advice and tips. I've been in the corporate world a long time and social media networking is a challenge for me as I pursue my own business. I would much rather speak to someone in person or over the phone, but social networking sites are the new reality today. I think it is such a challenge for me because I do not possess the gift of writing...and I believe writing a good article such as your's is a gift. Perhaps this is why so many people post items that are not complimentary to them...they don't know how to put their ideas into words. I understand the advantages of starting a blog, writing an article, contributing to the social sites and not lurking (which I am gulty of doing) in order to grow my network and develop relationships for the long term. But I was one of those students that hated English composition. I got A's in spelling and grammar, I was a wiz at dissecting a sentance, but froze whenever I had to compose a story.
I get the feeling that in order to make it work today, I have to do a lot of blogging and writing. It just seems unrealistic for someone like me that doesn't possess this gift. (I really do like your tip on keeping an idea folder, though.) Thanks again for sharing your thoughts with us.
Posted by Nadja Specht, San Francisco, California |
Dec 10, 2009
Great article! Everyone can relate to what you are describing. I especially like that you point out that you need to have a plan - at least from a business perspective. The chaotic and unstructured nature of social media oftentimes lures businesses into believing, that any kind of systematic approach is counterproductive. It's completely the opposite! Because of the lack of structure, a business can only use social media successfully when they have clearly mapped out where they are coming from and in which direction they are headed.
Again - great article with lots of laughs!
Posted by Karin Rush, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Dec 10, 2009
Another great article. I agree with you 95% except about my comment on pap smears. I'm generally more gregarious and open than some so I would share that in front of a group of business women. Women AND men neglect their health. Reminding and sharing I follow through with taking care of my health (Tho not enough, I need reminding too) I hope to help people other's health and maybe even save a life. Sorry it's too personal for some but it's worth it to me to help others. Other's help in their own way. This is mine. I've regretted some of my posts but not that one. Keep writing, I enjoy reading your articles. :)
Posted by Gayle Barton (Gail), Cumming, Georgia |
Dec 10, 2009
Very timely article.
I am sometimes appalled at the things I read or see on a competitor's social site. That includes profile photos. (Having a photo of your husband biting your tongue is not what I'd call professional.)
Customers often "goggle" a person or a business whose services they are contemplating using, and your social site is often their first introduction to you.
I recently removed a "friend" who had wanted to link to my facebook page to keep up with my blog. Her site was so scarily inappropriate that I was afraid she might post something questionable to my site making me look "guilty by association" to anyone who saw it before I did.
Excellent article about a real life topic!
Amen brother marketer!
We are saying the same thing at Stella Pop, our clients trust us and our judgement. We see companies and individuals throwing all their years of experience out the window when it comes to social media messaging.
Check out our post with a similar thread - Twitter Tired at YoStella.com
Thanks again, stella
Posted by Julie Weishaar, Nanuet, New York |
Dec 10, 2009
What a great article - it made me chuckle. I agree 100% but I have a personal preference that is aligned with what is appropriate for business as well. I don't share personal info on social networking sites like facebook unless I want the entire world to see it - because they will! It is therefore easier for me to mix my personal info with my business. However, I do have to admit that i have been guilty of the meaningless posts like "it is freezing" as my facebook status just yesterday LOL. No harm done but in reality, "who cares?" :). I have heard some say that they need to get off of facebook because they are looking for a job and don't want prospective employers to see their statuses and posts. My answer to them has been that they shouldn't be posting anything that is inappropriate or TMI on a global bulletin board anyway. Go figure - what is common sense to some is not to many. Thanks for sharing and consider yourself re-tweeted and bookmarked.
Posted by Dawn Cramer, Fort Walton Beach, Florida |
Dec 10, 2009
In my business, it's more about selling your story, than the product itself. I find the "real-peopleness" of Facebook is useful; But you made some great comments about crossing the line, and inspired me to edit a few profiles. so thanks!
Julie - Your the Best and Thanks for the laugh. Keep up the thoughtful and funny writing.
We'll be following you too - thanks!
Well, I think I might as well hang it up as I've probably made everyone of these errors. Thanks for the insightful post. Perhaps we really should just have alter egos....and two facebook, social media et al accounts for everything. One where we can be honest and open, and the other face for "business."
Posted by Patrick Plummer, Roanoke, Virginia |
Dec 10, 2009
Hi Lindsay, Great article! I agree that it is better to say nothing than say something poorly. Social networking is so valuable that we incorporated it into our email marketing for merchants. Consumers can send info about values to facebook or tweet with just a click. Thanks for your insite.
I do have to say, though, that in some ways those "TMI" posts can be helpful in screening potential embarrassing moment with clients or employers, etc. There are certain businesses or orgs that I have my bias toward (or against), and if my bias happens to come up in heated political and social discussions on facebook or elswhere, and that turns that prospect away before we've even talked, then that saves a lot of problems later on. Thanks for the great piece though. Excellent insight.
Posted by Donna Cohen, Portland, Oregon |
Dec 10, 2009
On a related note, the UC-San Diego just published a report: How Much Information? 2009 http://hmi.ucsd.edu/pdf/HMI_2009_ConsumerReport_Dec9_2009.pdf
Brad: It is a balance between business and personal. And it is sad sometimes that you can't share everything. For me, though, it's embarrassing enough to put my foot in my mouth in public. If I did it online, all the worse, because it's recorded forever and ever amen. I did ask this question before, but maybe it's worth asking again: does anyone have personal and business Facebook pages? If so, how is that working?Thank you for reading, Brad!
Henry: You're absolutely right, it is about relationships. I too "would rather be offended by an ill-considered post than be exploited by someone who thinks it is all about her/him." Also, you mentioned that you post controversial topics CONSCIENTIOUSLY. That's awesome! That's the whole point of this article. Not to censor people (its everyone's right to post whatever they want), but to alert them to the possible consequences of posting without a moment's pause.
Kimberly: Wow. Blackmail via Facebook. That's extreme! You're right: social media is a way to get your personality out there, and the right balance of business/personality posts works best. (No one wants to hear about business all day, either.) Thank you for reading!
Shibley: Great point!
Posted by Lorian Rivers, Port Richey, Florida |
Dec 10, 2009
Thanks for saying it! I can handle with the pap smear post....not a great pic but valuable info. But why on earth does someone need to tweet about having coffee and donuts?
WHY would I care? Well, if the donuts were amazing, yes. But just because? No.
Tracey: Thank you for the "hide" tip. I think I'll use it soon! I appreciate your comments!
Lillian: It's true. Writing is an important skill to have these days, and is becoming especially more important as blogging and article writing become more popular. But, I can tell from your comments that you have a lot of great ideas to share, and the important thing is that you share them. To help you get out there, you can always seek the help of a copywriter or colleague who's especially good with the written word. OR, just stick with the simple, less-wordy social media pieces like participating in Biz-talk here, Twitter, or Facebook. There are ways to get involved in social media without having to write too much. Thank you for your insight!
Nadja: Yes, a plan is important. AND, once it's complete, you almost automate the social media process and create more time for yourself (and who doesn't need that!). Thanks for sharing!
Posted by Deborah Aldridge, Venice, Florida |
Dec 10, 2009
Just to clarify (lest someone's feelings are hurt), it's not my follower I can't stand, it's Sarah Palin. I actually like the follower, despite her love of SP.
There, now I've gone and lost every conservative Christian in the country. Again, don't care.
Posted by Jess Robinson, Bellingham, Washington |
Dec 10, 2009
Lindsay, this is a very helpful article. Thanks for posting it. I love the idea of creating an idea folder. What a great way to offer value to our readers. I come across gems worth sharing everyday....your article is going into MY idea folder.
Karen: Yes, you are more open and gregarious than some (I know that you would, without a doubt share pap smear information in front of a group of women). I do appreciate that you use social media to share this message, are brave enough to share your personal health updates with your followers, and probably remind people to take care of their own health in the process. Sometimes, though, I think we make these types of posts too-personal, so we miss the more important message--that's the point I was trying to make. As a side note, while this was actually not a post of yours I was commenting on, I'm sorry if you took this point personally.
Gayle: Yikes! Pictures are a whole other topic, but directly related to first-impressions and over-sharing. You're right on point: people Google you before you ever meet them, it's wise to put a good foot forward! Thank you for commenting!
Stella: Thanks for the thread, I'll check it out!
Julie: I'm totally guilty of the boring status update as well! (Everyone is.) That's actually what inspired this article in the first place: I realized I wasn't writing the best posts possible and know that I need to step up my game and THINK about what I'm writing. Thank you so much for reading, bookmarking, and retweeting!
Posted by Julie Weishaar, Nanuet, New York |
Dec 10, 2009
Lindsay, in case you were wondering, it is sunny here in New York today LOL
Dawn: Glad I inspired you!
Gary: Don't hang it up! EVERYONE's made these errors, including myself. Also, I was thinking of an alter-ego, but I didn't know what I'd call it. But, in regard to having separate profiles for everything. I Don't think that being business-minded and being honest/having a personality are mutually exclusive. But, there are some instances, like those Gayle mentioned where a friend or acquaintance posts something on your wall that's not kosher. I'm wondering for this reason, if there should be separate personal and professional social pages. If you're using one page for both, I just think it's wise to reflect before they write, and be aware of the potential outcomes. Thanks for keeping the discussion going!
Donna: Thank you for the link to that study, I'm going to check it out. Coincidentally, thank you for reading and commenting on my article!
Lorian: But some doughnuts are THAT good. I've had one. And I confess, if I had one again I'd break my own rules to tweet about it. :)
Deborah: Right on.
Jess: Thank you for the kind compliment!
Ah, Julie: It's a blustery 19 degrees here in MN. And my lips are numb from being outside too long. :)
Thanks, Lindsay. I was truly trying to be glib and sarcastic, but what you wrote is definitely worthy of sharing. I've posted a link via the facebook fan page and my wordpress...I think it's probably one of the best articles on the subject I've seen.
Posted by Kip Ludwigs, Kansas City, Missouri |
Dec 10, 2009
If it hasn't already been suggested: keep your personal profiles separate from professional profiles. My clients don't need to know my political views, but I do want to discuss these topics with friends. My friends DO want to see my Halloween costume, clients NO. My personal profiles have very strict privacy settings and the number of people I connect with on them is VERY limited. Professional profiles are free game and the content on them is always considered public information.
Posted by Kate Phillips, Seattle, Washington |
Dec 10, 2009
Excellent article, Lindsay! You really dissected "what's wrong" with a lot of social media communication, and gave us some suggestions how to fix it.
I do see Deborah's point about wanting to know SOMETHING about the person (or you start wondering if it's a VA doing the posts?) And one time when getting "personal" seems to work well (and everyone is doing it) is on or around a holiday. I think it can be a nice "connector" to take a break from "work" and share common experiences of Fourth of July fireworks or Thanksgiving turkey or send Happy Mother's Day or New Year's Wishes.
Posted by Ann Bingley Gallops, Brooklyn, New York |
Dec 10, 2009
Thanks for this excellent article, Lindsay. You've generated so many comments that I've actually learned as much from the replies -- and your replies TO the replies -- as I have from the post itself :) You're setting a great example of how to be social in social media -- thanks!
Posted by Heather Carder, Seattle, Washington |
Dec 10, 2009
Hi Lindsay - This is such great advice, as prior to twitter and facebook (etc) I worked with colleagues who chose to air their personal laundry in person as a way to break the ice (high-tech sales, no less!) I always thought that this shifted the authority and professionalism against them, even though some of the buyers we called on seemed to enjoy the banter. I never was comfortable engaging in this type of representation, because at the end of the day I wanted them to remember what product and services I was offering, not the fight I had with my boyfriend the night before. Thanks for a great article!
Gary: I know you were being sarcastic! But, through your sarcasm you raised an excellent point: some people truly do feel like they need to hide themselves when they're being "professional." I just wanted to take the opportunity to clarify my thinking a bit. :) Also, thank you for your compliments and for posting my article to your pages: I appreciate it!
Kip: Excellent points and a great recommendation! Thank you for your insight.
Posted by Kip Ludwigs, Kansas City, Missouri |
Dec 10, 2009
Kate: Yes, I totally agree. Sometimes I wonder how many people I follow have VA's! Also, I do agree that too much business can also be a negative. Here's what I wrote to Gary Powell above: "Inserting [personal] interaction with your more "professional" posts is perfect: it helps people realize that you're a person and get to know you better! I guess something that I might have mentioned in this article was the type of user who ONLY promotes themselves. That's not cool, either!" Great ideas on when to connect in a more personal way (like the holidays), when we find common ground with our business associates, our relationships become deeper and more fulfilling. Thank you Kate!
Ann: Thank you so much for reading not only my article, but all the comments as well. (There's a lot of discussion happening--you're a trooper!)
Heather: I think you make an excellent point. Before we post (or banter), we should think about how we want to be remembered. Nice! Thank you for commenting.
Posted by Karin Rush, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Dec 10, 2009
Lindsay: Great discussion. Social media is such a baby... it's going to take awhile (along with cell phone etiquette) to learn what is acceptable. As will most things people disagree (makes life more interesting) however I'm thankful for discussions like this. People do forget who is and COULD read their entries. I've heard from several employers who turned people away because of their posts. (FYI no worries, didn't take offense at all. :)
Karin: You're right, social media is still in it's infancy and is growing exponentially! Everyone's getting their bearings and discussions like these help everyone grow and learn. I've heard of people losing jobs because of posts, too. It's really a reminder to be aware that anyone could be reading entries, not just your "friends" or "network." Thank you!
Posted by Nancy Grant, Bellingham, Washington |
Dec 10, 2009
Loved your article Lindsay. Thanks for the reminder that we do need to be mindful of what we say online. It's truly a balancing act between letting people know us and being inappropriate or boring. I've certainly been there with not knowing what to say and you're right... it is about not having a plan for this activity.
I especially liked your advice about not saying anything you wouldn't say in a networking group. It's an easy to remember tip.
Can I put an excerpt with a link to this article at my blog - YoStella? thanks, stella
Posted by Gil Pauley, Bellevue, Washington |
Dec 11, 2009
Good article!! I get so tired of people on Twitter talking about what they ate for lunch, and other small talk that probably their closest friend could care less about.
Also, I think Tiger should have read this article before he started leaving text messages on all his girl friends' phones--how stupid was he??!! He should have said nothing or maybe just breathed heavy into a phone somewhere.
Gil Pauley
Posted by Matthew B. Olson, Delavan, Wisconsin |
Dec 11, 2009
Lindsay, wonderful read!
Kip mentioned this earlier, but I wanted to echo the whole "voice" concept. We've been discussing this a lot with clients.
You have a "personal" voice and a "brand" voice. The two should be kept separate, but that doesn't mean your "brand" voice should lack any of the passion or personality of your "personal" voice.
A lot of it will depend on your business' culture and personality. While we all like some animus in our social media, we need to remember to pump out signal and not noise.
"Cuts heal, bones mend, but your social media entry is forever"
Posted by Linda Landry, Tucson, Arizona |
Dec 11, 2009
My fave status updates from others are motivational quotes or positive thoughts and newsworthy events regarding their business.
Posted by Lindsay Berger, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Dec 11, 2009
Nancy: Thank you for reading and commenting. You're right, it is all about balance. I think when you have a plan, it's easier to create a balance between personal/personality and "business" updates!
Stella: Sure, you can post an excerpt with a link to this article! Thank you for the residual exposure, I truly appreciate that!
Gil: Wow, yes Tiger could have probably used some of this advice in regard to text messages, you're right. Too funny! Thank you for reading and making me smile.
Matthew: You're right, the "voice" you use in brand communication does need to reflect your business' culture AND I think it's worth mentioning: it should appeal to your ideal client. Great points about pumping out a signal, that a brand voice doesn't have to lack personality and passion, and great quote at the end of your comment: "Cuts heal, bones mend, but your social media entry is forever." I think that one is going up on the wall next to my computer! Thanks Matthew, your insight is great.
Linda: I love motivational quotes too, they're an instant pick-me-up. Thank you for reading and sharing!
Posted by Shibley Rahman, London United Kingdom |
Dec 11, 2009
I am wary of being frightened to post dodgy remarks in case they're read by employers, but I think that such self-monitoring is especially important for the responsibility that comes with certain jobs. I think that this should be borne in mind, as it's difficult to remedy when you've pressed the "post" button. Comments are often archived even if officially deleted. But if these comments are likely to cause problems for potential employers, on principle maybe they should be tolerated by real 'friends' too? That's where the aforementioned 'hide' button may come in useful......
Posted by Roxana Nunez, Sanford, Florida |
Dec 11, 2009
I am really glad to see this post because I often talk about this with my daughter and her friends. They have the bad habit of using offensive language and making rude comments on their facebook and myspace profiles. They also have their settings on public so that the whole world can see it. I keep telling them that a future employer might not find their "quirky" attitude funny.
I am very careful of everything I have on the internet period. You never know when an email will "accidentally" become public or when your snazzy comment will offend some sensibility. It is not a matter of being politically correct. It is a matter of protecting your brand, which in many entrepreneur cases, happens to be YOU. Great advice.
Posted by Laura Foley, Hubbardston, Massachusetts |
Dec 11, 2009
Lindsay, I totally agree with you. On Twitter and LinkedIn, which I use primarily for business, I usually post one tweet a day. My postings relate to helpful design and marketing tips or are reactions to what went on at networking meetings. I've always hated the up-to-the second kind of tweets. Who cares?
I am very careful in my Facebook posts not to trash talk anybody or divulge too much information because I realize that it's all public. Although I use it primarily for personal reasons, someday, somehow one of my past or future clients will read my posts. I don't want to be known as the chronic complainer who vents and complains to the whole world via my computer!
Posted by Lindsay Berger, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Dec 11, 2009
Shibley: You're absolutely right! Thank you for your continued contributions to the discussion.
Roxana: It's funny that you mention this. I was having a discussion about this topic with a friend today, and she said she was glad that Facebook wasn't around when she was a teenager because it would have gotten her in trouble. Another thing to consider (if you have teenage children) is that college admissions officers are checking out social media pages on potential students. Also, great reminder that as entrepreneurs, we need to protect our brand, which as you pointed out, is ourselves. Thanks for reading Roxane!
Laura: Great point. Although you don't use Facebook for business now, maybe you will. And, even if you don't, there's always the possibility that a client could read your posts! You touch on a question we should ask ourselves before posting: "who do we want to be known as?" Thanks for your comment!
Posted by Julie Weishaar, Nanuet, New York |
Dec 11, 2009
Regarding our teenage children, what they post and what they shouldn't post, I couldn't agree more. My teenager daughter has more facebook "friends" than all of the people I have ever met in my lifetime! I often tease her about her 1500+ "closest friends" - but she doesn't think it is funny :) Given the concerns of colleges seeing their profiles and statuses, many of these same teenagers are changing their names - often. Not sure if this will help to keep them somewhat anonymous but it sure keeps me guessing who the heck is who :)
Posted by Lisa Giesler, Missouri City, Texas |
Dec 12, 2009
great and practicle article! I posted it to my twitter
Posted by Stacy Karacostas, Seattle, Washington |
Dec 12, 2009
Hi Lindsay, Thanks so much for putting into very entertaining words some things that should be common sense, yet clearly need to be stated. I have SO many clients and people at my workshops ask what they should tweet about and I give very similar advice.
In my own marketing, I do like to share some personal info --particular about my outdoor sports and adventures-- as it lets people get to know me. And I do occasionally share the more mundane insight if I can do it in an interesting way and I think others will connect with it. But the rest of the time I offer helpful marketing info.
And I'd rather not tweet at all than tweet about nothing. That said, I'll be tweeting about your article for sure!
Happy Friday! Stacy
Stacy Karacostas Practical Marketing Expert http://www.marketing-junkie.com
Posted by dare olubanwo, lagos, lagos Nigeria |
Dec 12, 2009
Have enjoyed all comments and the article too.
Social networking sites are good for promotions,but useers needs to be more careful with informations and profiles shared. Dare Olubanwo http://9jakonnect.com/international-updates/
Posted by Jordan Kovats, Gueph, Ontario Canada |
Dec 14, 2009
It's a fine line between posting the mundane update, and posting for the sake of posting. I agree though, we all must be able to find something about what we do each day that is beneficial for our clients and prospective clients.
Posted by Lindsay Berger, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Dec 14, 2009
Julie: I don't know if I'd be able to keep track of that many "aliases," I have a tough enough time keeping track of all my user names and passwords as it is!
Lisa: Thanks for the compliment and posting the article to your Twitter page! I appreciate it.
Stacy: I think you bring up a good point--it's awesome to post a mundane post if you can do it in an interesting way. This is exactly what comedians do: take something everyone can relate to and make it funny (even if it's not an exactly "exciting" topic). If the post causes someone to smile, laugh, or pause and think for a minute, it's a good post. Plus, like many readers have brought up so far, it's not exactly interesting to only read business-related posts either! I think your mix of business, mundane, and personal is great! Thank you so much for reading and your thoughtful feedback!
Dare: You're right, people do need to be more careful! Thank you for your comment.
Jordan: I agree, it is a fine line. And, like Stacy brought up a great point: a mundane topic doesn't necessarily mean a boring post. If we can talk about things in an interesting way, we're sharing something of value and giving clients/prospects insight into who we are as individuals. Thank you for reading and your insight!
Posted by Dan Estabrook, Sedro Woolley, Washington |
Dec 15, 2009
Hi Lindsay,
Thanks for writing this article. I got some good tips and reading all the comments is a great help also. I have just started the Twitter thing and never really know quite what to say. I am going to use your idea folder. Thanks.
Angel Perry www.americandreamhomecenter.net
Posted by Lindsay Berger, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Dec 16, 2009
Hi Angel: I'm glad you liked the idea of an "idea folder." I hope it helps as you begin to navigate Twitter. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Posted by Jeanne Yocum, Granby, Massachusetts |
Dec 17, 2009
One of my Facebook "friends" let us know, without actually using the word, that he had a vasectomy this morning! Talk about TMI! I know the guy but just barely and this was a private detail I didn't need to know about, for sure.
Thanks for an excellent article.
Posted by Lindsay Berger, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Dec 20, 2009
Jeanne: Wow. Sometimes TMI messages just make the reader feel awkward! Thank you so much for reading my article and for sharing your experience!
Posted by Patrick Kelley, Everett, Washington |
Dec 26, 2009
You're all so smart....and I'm so old....there's really nothing I can add to this wonderful knowledge flowing here. With all the problems this nation is faced with....you guys could surely fix a lot of them.........Please!...Pretty Please!
P.S. Could you look in your trash can and find some marketing copy that you didn't finish because it wasn't good, and send it to me....I have a hard time sleeping.
Posted by Lindsay Berger, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Jan 02, 2010
Hi Patrick,
Thank you for reading my article and for taking the time to comment!
I think you're right: there are so many wise and insightful people here on Biznik, surely we can work together to improve some things...
I'll look through my trash can and see what I can find! :)
All the best, Lindsay
Posted by Nancy LaMont, Marysville, Washington |
Apr 07, 2010
Thanks Lindsay for an article that should be posted at every computer desk.
Posted by Lindsay Berger, Stillwater, Minnesota |
Apr 07, 2010
Hi Nancy, If you put this article by your computer, I would feel honored. Thanks so much for the compliment and for reading!
All the best, Lindsay
Article tags
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- networking
- status updates
- online
- marketing
- what not to do
- over-sharing


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Travel Blogs from Sarasota
Departure Day
... new families temporarily visit the time shares on or near the island, they fill the homes of our former relatives and friends and it takes away from the local quiet winter escape my ancestors once enjoyed. As familiar faces disappear I try convincing my mother to find a place to make new memories with her grandkids and siblings.
And with that final thought I flipped off the light switch, shut the door, and locked up another chapter of my ...
Cats, Dogs, and Alligators...Oh My!
It wasn't the birds, nor the screaming lizards, or woodpeckers and snakes that kept me awake all night. The sun didn't shine through the windows onto my face and the air continued to run correctly. It was sounds and rustling of the co-pilot. Due to Jessica's sunburn she felt uncomfortable lying in the bed so in the middle of the night I woke to her sneaking through the living room, getting comfortable as she pushed back the recliner. After a ...
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All the latest news from Bolton
Celebrate Bolton's cultural diversity at Spirit of Bolton event (From The Bolton News)
Celebrate Bolton's cultural diversity at Spirit of Bolton event
8:42am Tuesday 27th May 2014 in News By Melanie Wallwork, Entertainment reporter
PEOPLE from across Bolton are being invited to take part in a popular annual event to celebrate the town's rich cultural diversity.
Spirit of Bolton will take place for the seventh successive year at Victoria Square on Saturday, July 5.
Arts, crafts, entertainment, singing, dancing, music and drama will be showcased and enjoyed by people from a range of religious and cultural backgrounds at the event, led by Bolton Interfaith Council (BIC).
Chan Parmar, strategic officer at BIC, which has representatives from all major faith communities in Bolton, said: "This is an excellent event open to all community and voluntary sector groups, as well as other organisations, to promote their good work and to raise awareness.
"We are looking also for groups from our various communities to provide entertainment through music, singing, dancing and items of cultural diversity from various groups who have settled in Bolton.
"I would be delighted to see many groups coming along to participate and be part of this wonderful community engagement event for everyone."
Other major events being held in the town in the coming weeks include a Genocide Memorial Day service on the Town Hall steps on Thursday, June 19, from 1.30pm to 2.45pm.
Spirit of Bolton, a multicultural One Bolton event, also celebrates the town's working partnerships, as well as providing a fun programme of activities.
It is supported by organisations including Bolton Council, Bolton Council of Mosques, Bolton Christian Community Cohesion, Bolton Hindu Forum, Bolton Wanderers Community Trust, Bolton at Home, Bolton CVS and community groups.
To book a stall or to participate, please ring Chan Parmar on 01204 546110 or e mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
Comments (6)
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8:55am Tue 27 May 14
Wolfie190 says...
9:00am Tue 27 May 14
thomas222 says...
12:58pm Tue 27 May 14
bernie boy says...
4:33pm Tue 27 May 14
Jim271 says...
7:26pm Tue 27 May 14
Bolton First says...
Why promote alien culture when our own is being systematically destroyed?
Destruction of British culture is wrong. I respect the culture and traditions of others, but why should aliens and radicals rub my nose in the destruction of the British way of life?
Soon we will have Genocide Memorial Day. Genocide is always wrong. It happened in Armenia, Ukraine, Central Africa, the Indian sub Continent when Muslims murdered Hindus; then at the time of partition in India; and also when the new Indian Prime Minister was the boss of Gujarat. Genocide is always wrong. Who would have thought that after the persecution of Jews during World War II, that the Jews would set up a racist state, persecuting arabs, and that Western Politicians would let them get away with it? Who would have thought that Arab fanatics would slaughter innocent Jews, when given a chance?
May 28th 1644, saw about 1.600 people massacred in Bolton during the Civil War, but little is said about this.
Where are the leaders of the various factions to remember our dead?
10:22pm Tue 27 May 14
Citizen Cane says...
Comments are closed on this article.


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Passionate Voices of the Upper Cape
The Board of Directors of the Falmouth Chorale met along with John Yankee, Artistic Director, and Kate Housman, General Manager, to review the past concert season and plan for the future. Conversations in the Chamber's meeting room reached all the way to Hawaii during a skype call with Jung Ho Pak, conductor of Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra. Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for hosting.
Sandwich High School senior, Rachel Walker, received the $1,000 Frederick Johnson Scholarship award at the Chorale's "Clap Your Hands!" concert. Ms. Walker will be attending the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music this fall to pursue a music degree in composition and theory.
Congratulations to everyone who was part of the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra's performance of Mahler's "Resurrection" Symphony this past weekend! Thank you to Jung-ho Pak, Jerry Karter, and everyone at the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra for the wonderful experience!
Congratulations to Anne-Marie Runfola and Ken Kostel of Falmouth, pictured here with travel agent Betsy Stegeman (far left), winners of this year's Big Apple Raffle!
Falmouth Chorale Celebrates Community, Commitment, Voyage, and Redemption—and the Sea
By MARILYN J. ROWLAND [Falmouth Enterprise]
October 26, 2011
"In a glorious celebration of community, the Falmouth Chorale, directed by John Yankee, presented "The Coming of the Flood" this past weekend....The 73-member chorale has wonderful expressive sound, and Mr. Yankee brings out every aspect of its musicality, giving each work a distinct flavor."
Click here to read the rest of the article.
Magical musical tales flood Falmouth auditorium
By Susan Blood
CONTRIBUTING WRITER [Cape Cod Times]
October 24, 2011
"When was the last time a local performance really moved you? Or surprised you?...Artistic director John Yankee put together a program of lush music that took the audience on its own mesmerizing journey....this program in Falmouth fed my soul."
Click here to read the rest of the article.
Flash Mob of America the Beautiful at the Friends of the FPL Book Fair
July 3, 2011
The Falmouth Chorale led a flash mob at the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library Book Fair. Click here to read the Falmouth Enterprise review of this event. Click here to listen to 99.9 FM WQRC's interview about the event. And check out videos below.
Beethoven Ninth Resonates Joy
May 13, 2011
"The chorus was awe-inspiring, strong, and confident in the fast passages, and impassioned in the slower, dramatic sections." -Mariyn Rowland, Falmouth Enterprise
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Remember Me
IRON RIVER—West Iron's track team finally got to take part in an outdoor track meet May 2 in Stephenson—and was more than ready to go.
Three Wykons were triple winners at the Stephenson Invitational: Tori Harris and Emmy Kinner on the girls team and Ryan Rogers for the boys. As a team, the Wykon girls rolled up 244 points to dominate the girls meet, and the boys team scored 111 to finish second in the six-team field. That's good because there's just one week left before the regional tournaments on May 15 (Class C at West Iron, Class D at North Dickinson). The Wykon girls were dominant at Stephenson. Two girls earned three first places each, and another earned two. WIC also swept all four relays. Harris, a senior, dominated the distances, winning the 1600, 800 and 3200 events. Kinner, a freshman, was the darling of the dashes, taking first in the 100, 400 and 200 runs. Harris' times were 6 minutes, 6 seconds in the 1600, 2:40.20 in the 800 and 13:33 in the 3200. Kinner finished in 13.02 in the 100, 1:03.60 in the 400; and 27.60 in the 200. Cassilyn Pellizzer won twice, the 100 high hurdles (17.50) and 300 low hurdles (50.0). Other first places came from Alexis Golfis in long jump (15 feet, 4 inches) and Megan Miatech in shot put (34-6.5). The Wykon girls also swept the four relay events: the 3200 in 11:37.04 (Mariah Marcell, Aly Possanza, Harris and Madeline Waara); the 800 in 1:58.60 (Casey Harrington, Brianna Lambert, Golfis and Elizabeth Pellizzer); the 400 in 38.90 (Harrington, Sarah Penkivech, Ally Jo Polich and Lizzi Pellizzer); and the 1600 in 4:38.10 (Kinner, Lambert, Lizzi Pellizzer and Cassi Pellizzer). • West Iron's boys teams also had a triple winner: Ryan Rogers won three times, boosting his team to second place. The Wykons scored 111 points at the meet, trailing only Rapid River, which ended with 171. Stephenson was third at 99. Rogers' wins came in all three sprint events, the 100, 200 and 400, and he was second place in long jump. He finished the 100 in 11.80; the 200 in 23.90 and the 400 in 54.80. Tylor Capadagli won the 300 low hurdles event (46.00) and was part of the winning 1600 relay team with Tommi Keski-Kestari, Brandon Olson and Colton Pangrazzi. Their winning time was 3:54.50. • This week, the Wykons were scheduled to compete at the Kraemer Invitational in Ironwood on May 5 and in a meet at Kingsford on May 6. Next week starts with the rescheduled Copper Country Invitational in Calumet on May 12, the Kingsford Invitational on May 13 and the Class C regional tournament at West Iron on May 15. Forest Park: Persistent rain and cold weather forced cancellation of Forest Park's only scheduled track meet last week, the event at North Dickinson on April 29. The Trojans hoped to finally get their season started at the Norway Invitational on May 5 and the Rapid River Invitational on May 8. Next week, Forest Park is at the Kingsford Invitational on May 13 and the Class D regional tourney at North Dickinson on May 15.
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Firefly Fairy Toddler Costume
Your fanciful little fairy will look magical in the Firefly Fairy Toddler Costume. She'll spread her wings this Halloween in this orange and pink dress with ruffle detail, beautiful wings, and a floral headband.
Blossom Fairy Toddler Costume
Be the cutest little fairy in the forest in the Blossom Fairy Toddler Costume. She'll show off her sparkle and shine in this green leaf bodice with pink tutu skirt bottom, matching headband and of course some delicate pink wings.
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Judge to decide on bail for man held in bank clerk's death
A man implicated in the murder of Scotiabank employee Dwayne Grigg was yesterday remanded into custody when he appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court, despite a plea by his attorney that he had nothing to do with the killing.
Christopher Prendergast is charged with the murder of the 26-year-old bank clerk who lived in Duhaney Park, St Andrew.
Grigg went missing on February 25, and two days later his body was found with multiple stab wounds in a secluded area of Cherry Gardens, upper St Andrew. His eyes were also gouged out.
Following the discovery of Grigg's body, his motor car was later recovered off Waltham Park Road, St Andrew, following an alleged shootout with its occupants.
One man was killed during the operation and two others, including a 17-year-old girl, were held some time later. A firearm was also allegedly seized.
However, when the matter was mentioned yesterday, Prendergast's lawyer, Carol Gonzales, told the court that the prosecution did not have any evidence linking her client to the murder.
"Somebody in custody told the investigating officer that my client confessed to the killing and that is the sum total of the evidence against Christopher," she said.
Gonzales told Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey that her client was innocent and knows nothing about Grigg's murder.
However, the prosecutor told the court that the police were objecting to bail as they are currently trying to find three suspects in connection with the murder and believe that Prendergast would interfere with the investigation if he was granted bail.
In the meantime, the investigating officer told the court that the police have uncovered new evidence, including cellular phone evidence, that they will be bringing to court shortly.
However, the magistrate told the lawyer that she will have to read the file before making a decision about Prendergast's bail. As a result he was remanded into custody until May 1.
-- Tanesha Mundle
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The Energizer laptop: 20 hours on a single charge
New add-on batteries from Dell and HP kept notebooks going and going in InfoWorld's tests. Download our benchmark to see what these extenders could do for you.Follow @infoworld
I encourage you to download the InfoCountdown benchmark (the .zip archive includes both the executable and the source code) and try it on your own system. (To run it from the Windows command prompt, type in java -jar InfoCountdown.jar; to stop it, type in Control-c or kill the corresponding Java process in Task Manager.) To determine how much to adjust my results for your specific workload profile, run the benchmark on your notebook (from full charge and using the same conditions I did) and compare these results with the amount of work time you obtain from a single charge. Then adjust the battery results from this article by the same margin, and you'll have a good idea of what to expect from these products.
To my surprise, the results from my benchmark closely tracked the advertised numbers for the batteries. Initially, I was confused that such minor activity could equal the industry benchmarks for working life until I realized that the industry tests include large blocks of time in which the computer is doing nothing and is in a low-power, near-hibernating state. So when you read manufacturers' numbers, understand that, say, a 5-hour battery does not imply the ability to do 5 straight hours of work. It's a liberal estimate.
Batteries and their duration
Dell's Latitude E4300 has an external battery option, called a "slice," that complements the laptop's existing 6-cell power source. Officially billed as a 6-cell, lithium-ion battery, the slice is a thin, flat panel that fits onto the entire underside of the notebook. Just 3/8-inch thick (1 cm), it weighs 22 ounces (620 grams). For the fully charged combined 12 cells, Windows Vista predicted 9 hours, 57 minutes of usage. On my benchmark, I registered 9 hours, 13 minutes.
According to Dell, if the E4300's hardware configuration were modified (reducing RAM, disabling various drivers, and removing some components such as the optical drive), it would score 12:56 on the Mobile Mark 2007. But with the more normal shipping configuration, a very respectable 9 hours is a practical expectation. At a retail price of $230, the slice is a little costly, but it is by far the least obtrusive and most convenient of the external batteries I looked at.
HP's EliteBook 6930p has two battery options: an Extended Life battery and an Ultra Capacity model. The Extended Life model, at $159 and weighing 1 pound (454 grams), is an ungainly product that adds an inch to system height. It has a C shape that plugs into the underside of the notebook. However, it frequently came loose during regular movement of the notebook. Its 8 cells, when added to the notebook's 6-cell battery, were projected by Windows Vista to deliver 13:46 from one charge. In fact, they delivered slightly more on my benchmark: 14:05. For $159, this is an impressive extension of battery life.
However, I would recommend skipping the Extended Life battery in favor of HP's 12-cell Ultra Capacity model, which costs only $30 more -- provided the 28.6 ounces (810 grams) it adds to the laptop's weight is not a problem. The Ultra Capacity battery is shaped as a wedge and adds approximately 1 inch of slope to the back end of the EliteBook. It fits more snugly than its Extended Life counterpart. HP's marketing literature claims that the Ultra Capacity battery provides 4 hours more than the Extended Life model. In my tests, it did better than that, coming in at a whopping 20 hours, 24 minutes for an astonishing performance!
These results show convincingly that battery technology has advanced substantially in recent years -- so much so that mobile workers really can comfortably and reliably leave the power cords and bricks in their hotel rooms when visiting clients or local offices. Just imagine, you could work all the way through a long international flight without worrying about finding plugs. Then again, perhaps a 15- or 20-hour workday is not such a good thing...


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The biggest downside of making teachers and students bring their own computers to school is that logging them onto the school network can be a chore with different software for different platforms. JAMF's latest Casper Suite puts an end to the BYOD shuffle with a system that relies on iPad and Android users to do most of the work of enrolling and maintaining networking connections.
The latest ActivBoard Touch interactive whiteboards from Promethean have been made for classroom collaboration with support up to six individual touch inputs. This makes it great for group work or having several students doing a problem independently on the board. Available in 78- and 88-inch models, the boards work with Windows, Mac and Linux computers and work with a stylus or fingers. You can use it to teach with PrometheanPlanet's library of 80,000 educational resources, there's an optional sound bar and you can order the screen with the company's marker-friendly Dry-erase surface option.
The goal of a single place to log-in to start teaching and learning is a step closer to being a reality with the introduction of Smart Technologies' Amp. The online service acts like a repository and portal that brings the world of digital education to classrooms.
Based in the cloud, Amp can do things that local curriculum storage can't. It can integrate Google apps, the company's Smart Notebook-based lessons and all the material on Smart's online Exchange as well as deliver the curriculum from 28 individual curriculum providers. The list currently runs from Ablenet to Zondle. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Discovery Education are the service's major anchor publishers.
It's a pretty good start and the list of participating publishers continues to increase. Rather than working with one curriculum provider, Amp's goal is to be agnostic as to educational services. In fact, the more the merrier is their concept. While Amp doesn't consolidate the payments and licensing for the world of online learning, it provides a single log-in point for students and teachers and gives them an effective delivery service to bring curriculum and collaboration to the classroom.
The key is that rather than using a series of native applications to run the software locally, Amp delivers everything over the Internet to students and teachers in a browser window. Think of it as a virtualized environment that can bring lots of different material together onto a single screen. This makes Amp appropriate for a school with mixed systems and software packages and perfect for a BYOD school with many different systems and software.
Getting started is easy because the company offers a 30-day trial that's instructive as to the system's strengths and weaknesses. I used a full version over the course of three months with several different teacher and student client machines, including Android tablets, PCs, Chromebooks and iPads.
To start, there's no software to load because everything is delivered over the Web to a familiar browser window; it worked well with recent versions of Internet Explorer, Chrome and Safari; while it's not specifically supported, Opera worked fine as well. A big bonus is that no matter what you're using, you always have the most recent version of the software.
A one-stop shop for classrooms, Amp can use a Google ID to sign-on to the service and it can bring up classroom items stored on GoogleDrive. This makes it particularly advantageous for those schools that have integrated GMail and other online services. Plus, the use of GoogleDrive within Amp doesn't count towards your storage limit. Unfortunately, Amp hasn't incorporated the recently introduced Google Classroom software, but it should be just a matter of time.
In addition to starting with a class list, teachers can add students by having them log in and use a six digit code or snap a shot of a QR code that can be sent to them. After that, they're automatically part of the digital class.
To start teaching, I created a Workspace that I filled with everything from Smart's existing lessons, stuff stashed on GoogleDrive and the content of publishers that I have an account with. It's, ironically easier to grab stuff off of the Web than from a local server at school, though.
There are nine different templates to start with, from a sheet of graph paper to a storyboard for examining plot development. Of course, you can work from a blank screen as if Amp were a digital board. The teacher can work alone, with selected students or the whole class at once. Alternatively, kids can work on their own or in groups with the teacher periodically looking in.
A big step forward for neophyte and technophobic teachers is that there're several how-to videos that can help get them started. Regardless of what you do, Smart is always saving your Workspace lessons; deleted items can be retrieved. Unfortunately, there's no way to undo a change, but you can use the eraser to make any annotation disappear. Those lessons you plan to reuse during the day, year or career can be turned into templates.
It took me a couple of lessons to get the hang of using Amp, but I suspect that kids will figure out the ins and outs of the software. Items can be dragged to the main screen to be worked on and kids can work together over a single screen or share a virtual desktop space with a student or teacher across the room or country.
Over the course of lessons on grammar, math and geography, the system worked well. The items on the screen can be brought forward or back, and locked into place and the service's pen and markers offer a variety of colors and line weights. It works better with a touch-screen system and finger or stylus, but if you're careful a touchpad should suffice.
The leader can pass control to a student or work one-on-one with any child and control what appears in the browser window. On the downside, Amp can't lock a student's screen to keep inattentive students from wandering to other sites or local apps.
Based on Smart's heritage, as you might guess, it works well with an interactive projector or digital board, but you don't need to use a Smart product. In fact, I used Acer and Epson projectors and everything worked without a hitch.
With everything in place, the system can allow teachers and students to work through the material on their own or in groups, grabbing different elements from different sources. In this regard, Amp allows teachers and students to create their own curriculum from the best sources available.
Amp has a place in both traditional lessons as well as flipped curriculum. It has three big extras for thoughtful teachers and administrators: it is perfect for keeping children stuck home sick engaged in the lesson and means that a snow day doesn't have to be dead time. It can even be used for afterschool enrichment away from school.
The key to Amp's feedback is its Dashboard. Here, a teacher can see who's connected, start a lesson and review assignments and assessment results. The software includes six different test formats, including True/False, numeric entry and multiple choice.
All this can put more stress on the school's data infrastructure than traditional digital apps that work locally. Rather than the immediate response of a local program Amp can take a few seconds to grab and display a screen on a student's computer. Most schools can handle the extra flow, but I suspect that schools with marginal data connections and internal networks will find them quickly overwhelmed and in need of a revamping.
While it works well on a notebook or desktop computer, Amp can feel cramped on a smaller slate or phone screen and require zooming, scrolling and panning to see everything. Of what I've seen and experienced, Amp is off to a good start with some impressive integration and lessons. With Amp starting at $8 per student per year, the service can streamline how kids are taught by consolidating their instruction resources. As is the case with school software, the larger the school or district, the lower the price for Amp.
At the moment, it is a work in progress and only time will tell if they are able to aggressively add more publishers, but for now, Amp can deliver the lesson regardless of where it is coming from.
$8 per student
+ Brings digital lessons to kids
+ Works with a variety of hardware and services
+ Google ID log in
+ Free trial
+ Works well with interactive displays
+ Provides collaborative space
- Need to purchase curriculum separately
- Limited array of providers
Why is it that you always have trouble connecting to a projector when you didn't have time to spare? Epson can make quick work of putting what's on an iPad or Android tablet onto the big screen with its PowerLite EX7235 Pro projector. Rather than fumbling with cables, the device projects a QR code that you snap a photo of with the slate or phone and after choosing what you want to show, it's projected via the company's iProjection app. All told, it takes less than a minute.
The projector itself is no slouch, either. Like other Epson projectors, the EX7235 Pro uses a trio of LCD screens to create its image. It can put 3,000 lumens onto a screen with WXGA resolution and its HDMI port can work with an MHL-equipped phone or tablet. It costs $649.
Casio's FX-9860G2 scientific calculator not only now has a backlit screen for better viewing, but can be had in a variety of colors, including pink, blue or white. Designed for grades six through graduation, the calculator has a built-in spreadsheet program that can help with science classroom lab work and business assignments. It can work with statistics, conversions, regressions as well as a variety of graphing tasks. The calculator costs about $80.
When Google announced its Classroom learning management system this past spring, the service's ability to work with Google Docs and an emerging array of educational apps was impressive. Well, the software is finished and Classroom is now available. It's used by 100,000 students worldwide and because it's browser-based, the free Classroom system works with just about any connected computer you'll find in a school. The software not only coordinates Google Education apps and can create separate folders on Google Drive for kids to turn in assignments, but handles everything from student feedback to grading. Happily, it's all ad-free, secure and available at no cost.
This fall, look for the arrival of TCI's Bring Science Alive series of science lessons. Purchased by subscription, the service is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and will cover Kindergarten through 5th grade curriculum. The class gets interactive lessons, assessments and a full digital textbook that's delivered over the Internet to a browser window so just about any computer can be used.
Who says that notebooks must have an upright screen, keyboard and can only be used on the lap or a desk. Not Dell, because the company's Inspiron 11 3000 is like a Transformer toy that can change among several different configurations depending on what needs to be done.
The company calls it a 2-in-1, but that's a modest understatement. In fact, I found that the Inspiron 11 can assume at least five different computing personalities appropriate for schools, plus, I suspect, a few more that I haven't thought of. Rather than having a removable keyboard base, the magic of the system's multiple personalities is its sturdy pair of hinges that allows the display to rotate nearly 360-degrees.
While the system can sit on a table or lap like a true notebook, it has a touch-screen that can be rotated, allowing it to be used flat on a tabletop, making it perfect for finger painting or drawing a map. Rotate it farther and the system turns into a tablet; the keyboard, which is underneath is automatically turned off. The screen and keyboard base can also be formed into a "V" shaped tent for group work or with the keyboard pointing down and bringing the screen up so that it can be used for collaboration, presentations or viewing videos.
Going between the configurations is easy and takes little effort. On the downside, the screen wobbles a bit too much when it's in notebook mode and you swipe or tap it.
At 3.1-pounds and measuring 11.8- by 7.9-inches, it is the right size for a variety of classroom uses from the teacher showing a group about vowels to students using it in a physics lab. The system is only 0.8-inches thick, which leaves more room in the backpack at the end of the day. By contrast, Dell's similar XPS 11 is a few tenths of an inch thinner and lighter, but is more expensive and its keyboard isn't as comfortable to type on.
With its AC adapter, the system has a travel weight of 3.6-pounds. This makes it great for going from room to room all day in a bag. Fortunately, there's a large touchpad and keyboard that has dedicated keys for adjusting the system's brightness, volume and playing videos. The 18.6-millimeter keys aren't backlit for projector-based lessons but it's much better than the screen-based keypads on tablets for typing anything longer than a Web site address.
Its 11.6-inch screen shows 1,366 by 768 resolution, which should be just fine at school, but pales in comparison to full HD displays. It can interpret up to ten independent touch inputs, but sometimes didn't respond on the first try.
The $480 version that I looked at is priced right in the range that schools can afford. It features a quad-core Pentium N3530 processor that runs at 2.2GHz as well as 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive. Dell also has an entry-level $400 model that is built around a Celeron processor.
While it can connect via its 802.11n WiFi system, the Inspiron 11 3000 gets by without a wired LAN port and a Trusted Platform Module for secure remote access. The system has Bluetooth and a good assortment of connection possibilities including one USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports. The Inspiron 11 3000 can run a projector with its HDMI connection, but lacks an old-school VGA port. There's also a headphone jack and an SD card slot; happily, the card doesn't stick out.
In addition to a recessed power button, the system has a volume control that is handy regardless of what form the system is taking at the moment. It has an LED that shows its battery status, but not one for system activity.
Above the display is a 720p Web cam that has a microphone on either side. The system has Waves MaxxAudio Pro software that lets you customize the system's sound. It has a pair of speakers.
For such an inexpensive system, it was a surprisingly good performer. Based on its PerformanceTest 8 score of 716.5, it won't set any records but can handle just about anything that a student, teacher or administrator can throw at it. Even with a bright screen that delivered 292 candelas per square meter of illumination, its 3,600 milli-amp hour battery was able to power the machine for 6 hours and 40 minutes of continuously playing videos over WiFi. That's more than two hours longer than Dell's XPS 11 and more than enough for a full day of school work with something left over at 3PM. The Inspiron 11 3000, however, requires a three-prong outlet to charge up, which might pose a problem in an older building.
All in all, the Dell Inspiron 11 3000 brings together everything needed to make it a success in the classroom and does so at a price that districts can afford.
+ Price
+ Five computing personalities
+ Right size for variety of tasks
+ Performance
+ Battery life
- Screen wobbles
- Neither VGA nor LAN port
With Tynker, kids of all ages can use their tablets to create vivid and creative programs, from games and interactive stories to puzzles and even some educational titles. There are free versions for Android and the iPad, but the $4.99 Premium versions add game building features. There are tutorials available for $50.
The name iLoud says it all. It's the wireless speaker that puts the emphasis on high quality volume. The $300 sound system has a 40-watt amplifier and inputs for musical instruments as well as the ability to connect with tablets and phones via Bluetooth. No bigger than a dictionary, it delivers rich full sound and the ability to fill a room with audio.


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