Los Angeles Social Media Consultant | Courtney Elizabeth

    May 2nd
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    Utilize #nowplaying.

    Twitter has launched their new #music service for iOS and web, providing a new way for users to search for music online. As of last week, your Twitter timeline should be inundated with the #nowplaying hashtag. Yep.

    Twitter #music

    So, here’s how to use Twitter #music.

    Download Twitter #music. Yes, Twitter Social #music is a Separate App

    Twitter #music is a separate app…you know, just in case you thought it was built within the current Twitter app.

    It’s not. You have to download Twitter #music it separately.

    So…step one of using Twitter #music is to actually download Twitter #music.

    I know. I’m being redundant. But I’m being redundant on purpose, so that makes it okay.

    How to Use Twitter’s Social #music Service

    Now that you’ve downloaded Twitter #music, you can now use Twitter #music to search and listen to music in several ways:

    1. The #NowPlaying section lists songs mentioned by musicians as well as people you follow.
    2. You can play a song directly from the app (either as an iTunes preview or via your connected Spotify or Rdio account) or discover new music via your own social connections.
    3. More importantly, you can also discover new music by navigating to the respective areas for popular, emerging and suggested artists.

    Many feel that the close link between music and social is an advantage for all layers of the music industry. Paul Smernicki, director of digital at Universal Music, is a fan. He says, “Twitter #music really captures, in a well executed way, what we all know about music – that it’s incredibly social. When people hear music they love, they want to share it.”

    One Twitter App Would Be Better

    One Twitter app sure would be easier than having two. Most socially active users have enough apps.

    Extending the Twitter app to include a tab for Twitter #music would make life so much easier…for us (probably not the developer).

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    Do YOU Vine? Twitter has just updated its popular video-sharing social network Vine app with front-facing camera support and mentions in posts and comments.

    Vine App’s New Front-Facing Camera

    Version 1.1 of Vine app now features support for front-facing cameras. Bring on the creativity!

    The front-facing camera view can be activated by tapping the small button in the bottom left corner of the video recording interface.

    Mention Users in Posts and Comments

    Having expanded app capability with hashtags earlier in April, Vine app users can now mention other people in both posts and comments. Any mentions will appear in the Activity section as they would on Twitter.

    Vine app is currently free and available for iPhone/iPod touch in the App Store.

    Although I haven’t really been using Vine, I know a few people who have.

    Do YOU Vine?

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    Apr 26th
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    Backup / Export Your Posterous Posts.

    Reminder: Posterous will shutdown on April 30th.

    Sachin Agarwal, co-founder of the now Twitter-owned service, announced that Posterous will shutdown on April 30, 2013.

    Do You Even Remember Posterous?

    Launched in 2008, Posterous made blogging as simple as sending an e-mail. When first launched, the only way users could post to Posterous was to send an e-mail to post@posterous.com.

    What Was Posterous?

    Posterous was to blogging what Twitter was to, well, blogging, so the argument went. Over the years, the product evolved in odd directions, opting for groups appeal over mobile interfaces and apps as simple as its original purpose.

    Export Your Posterous Content

    Users have until May 31st to Backup their Posterous Space.

    Posterous-export-backup

    Making a backup of your content is a rule of thumb for any type of blogger. With a third-party blogging platform such as Posterous, you can backup your content by “exporting” it.

    1. Go to http://posterous.com/#backup
    2. Click to request a backup of your Space by clicking “Request Backup” next to your Space name
    3. When your backup is available, you’ll receive an email
    4. Return to http://posterous.com/#backup to download a zip file

    The zip file contains all of your posts in HTML, along with any photos and videos you uploaded to Posterous.

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    Apr 24th
    Nike+ FuelBand App Photo Sharing - Version 1.5

    Version 1.5 Includes Workout Photos, Location, and Tagging Facebook Friends

    Yesterday, Nike updated its Nike+ FuelBand app and released Version 1.5. The Nike+ FuelBand App Update includes Workout Photos, Location, and Facebook Friend Tagging.

    Wait. What Is the Nike+ FuelBand Again?

    The Nike+ FuelBand uses a sports-tested accelerometer to measure your activity and movement in NikeFuel, a universal metric of activity, all day, everyday.

    With the FuelBand you can decide how active you want to be by setting a daily, weekly, and even a monthly NikeFuel goal. As you start moving, you’re able to see your progress along the way.

    Nike FuelBand App Update – Version 1.5

    With the Version 1.5 App update, FuelBand users can now attach photos of our workouts to our daily activity. You know…you can capture photos like that view from the top Runyon Canyon, or the trail at McArthur Park, or the stairs on Jefferson. Heck, you can even attach a selfie from your perch atop your favorite weight room bench or preferred locker room mirror.

    With the FuelBand App update, we can also include the location of our workouts. Not only that, but when you finish that ToughMudder or WarriorDash with a fellow FuelBand friend, you can tag each other in your activity.

    Now that is what we call an update!

    FuelBand App Suggestions

    • FuelBand Photo Map – It would be great to find other FuelBand users in the area who are also sharing their location and activity. If someone has racked up a lot of #nikefuel somewhere nearby, it would be great if we could see where they were on a map, if they posted a photo.
    • Search FuelBand Users – Maybe extend this ability within the app a little more.
    • Instagram Integration – Path is great, but Instagram is better.
    Nike+ FuelBand App Photo Sharing - Version 1.5

    Nike+ FuelBand App Photo Sharing - Version 1.5

    Nike+ FuelBand App Update - April 2013

    Nike+ FuelBand App Update - April 2013

    Nike+ FuelBand App Photo Sharing - Version 1.5Nike+ FuelBand App Update - April 2013
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    Mar 19th
    Twitter Issued Patent (IPA)

    "Look Ma, I'm officially an inventor..."

    Social Media Inventors Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone were finally issued a patent for Twitter today, after having officially filed for the patent in 2007.

    Biz Stone confirmed that the patent was issued earlier today, and provided the following statement:

    “Like many companies, we apply for patents on a bunch of our inventions. We also think a lot about how those patents may be used in the future, which is why we introduced the Innovator’s Patent Agreement to keep control of those patents in the hands of engineers and designers.”

    We’ll see how the social media industry reacts to such a broad patent combined with such a unique and equally broad promise to avoid litigation. Twitter has very publicly promised to only use patents defensively. Twitter’s patent holds claims on virtually any service that allows messages to be sent to a large group of un-addressed recipients who follow the sender.

    Recently promoted to CTO, Adam Messinger introduced the Innovators Patent Agreement (IPA)1, a scheme to give more power to engineers who create patents filed by the company. Under the agreement, a company may invoke a patent only for “defense purposes,” not for litigation, unless it has the permission of the original inventor.

    1. Read More about Twitter’s IPA on Github {}
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    Mar 19th
    iOS 6.1.3 Fixes Lock Screen Security Flaw

    But will iOS 6.1.3 fix more important issues like cell reception?

    Today’s iOS 6.1.3 Release fixes the Lock Screen Security Flaw that many users have been reporting since iOS 6.1.

    Video Demonstration of Lock Screen Security Flaw:

    The lock screen security flaw allowed unauthorized users to access the phone app by bypassing the lock screen. Basically, the flaw meant that users could call people from lost or stolen iPhones. Not cool.

    I hope iOS 6.1.3 also fixes a flaw that I have with callers hearing me speak when my iPhone battery has less than a 60% charge, and most importantly, my overall cell reception. Since iOS 6.1.0 release, the reception on my iPhone has been horrible. Not only have I missed basic sms messages, but I’ve also missed a few group sms messages sent by someone sitting less than 5 feet from me. It’s pretty sad. I’ve resorted to turning my phone completely off at night, letting it fully charge, and just praying that it finds a good cell tower in the morning.

    Hopefully, this iOS 6.1.3 software release will be more friendly than other iOS 6.1 releases.

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    Incredimail for iPad was released to the app store yesterday, March 7th, 2013.

    Simply put: Incredimail for iPad is a Social Media-Like Email Interface for all of your email inboxes. And we think moms and bloggers will love it.

    I’ve included a few snippets from the formal press release below.

    Incredimail Recreates the Email Experience

    Beginning with the iPad, Incredimail gives you your inbox with a better view.

    TEL AVIV, Israel & SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Perion Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: PERI), developer of the leading email client Incredimail, today debuted its latest version of Incredimail, forever changing the email experience for iPad owners. Incredimail for the iPad is the first email application truly adapted for the touch-screen, and is the first major redesign of email in over 20 years. It redesigns the inbox, unifies multiple email accounts, creates a photo inbox from your friends and family Facebook photos, and elevates messages so their contents can easily be seen by users at a glance, in an intuitive "magazine-by-touch" format.

    "The team has been focused on the vision of bringing a new look to email and we’re proud to deliver some exciting new tweaks to the best of traditional email."

    "We love email and believe it is, and will remain, a vital form of communication for years to come. But the new Incredimail is more than that. It is both a unified messaging application, including a photo inbox, as well as a bold new step in recreating the experience as needed for a multi-screen world, especially for newer mobile formats that have seen explosive growth," said Josef Mandelbaum, CEO of Perion. "We think users, especially our users, are going to love Incredimail for the iPad. It changes the entire email experience, tailored just for devices like the iPad. We look forward to extending this quality experience to the iPhone, Android and other devices later this year and eventually even bring this exciting new email to the desktop."

    *Incredimail is available for free download in the App Store. *

    Incredimail for iPad Highlights

    A Unified Inbox: Add as many email accounts as you want and view them in a unified inbox, or view each account separately. Incredimail currently supports Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, and any other IMAP account. POP3 is not supported in the current release, but should be in future updates.

    Pinterest Style Peeks: Just like Pinterest, you get a quick preview of emails directly from the inbox, without having to open them.

    Facebook Photo Inbox: In addition to the regular email inbox, enjoy a photo inbox that features photos from friends and family, keeping you fully up to date with the people that matter most (starting with Facebook photos, others will be added soon).

    Link Previews (a.k.a. Snippets): All links sent to you including photos, videos and articles, are presented as a preview within the email for a pleasant and uninterrupted email experience. Links you send are also viewed as previews by the email recipient.

    Social Media Integration & Sharing Is Coming

    POP3 email support, other social platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, and more photo integration with Picasa Web, Flickr and Instagram.

    Incredimail Highlight Release Reel Targets Mommies and Bloggers

    Incredimail thinks mommies, bloggers, and users of both demographics will find Incredimail to be incredibly easy to use, and I agree. Check out the highlight release reel below!

    http://player.vimeo.com/video/61252743

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    Many Windows 8 Mobile Users have asked when Instagram will be coming to Windows Phone, and the #2InstaWithLove app is Nokia’s way of provoking [Instagram](http://Instagram.com) to speed up delivery of an Instagram app to the Windows Mobile App Store.

    The #2InstaWithLove app allows users to take a photo using one (1) classic polaroid filter and automatically adds a watermark with the hashtag #2InstaWithLove. In only making one filter available, Nokia hopes that they’ll make their Windows 8 users happy without making Instagram mad. Hailed as a means of showing Instagram developers just how passionate the Windows Phone community is, the app encourages user to be creative, have fun and to share their favorite photos using popular social networks.

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    2instawithlove-windows8-Nokia

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    2instawithlove-windows8-Instagram-Nokia

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    A few days after blocking Twitter’s Vine, Facebook’s response to Twitter’s Vine App is an update of their *own* iOS app – which includes….video.

    Ha!

    How’s **that** for motivation?
    #dead

    Facebook iOS Version 5.4.1

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    I started playing with the Favour.it Beta a couple of weeks ago. Here are a few screenshots for you to check out! Read more about why I feel Favour.it Extends Facebook Likes, and how Favour.it could be a social media goldmine for businesses.

    What is Favour.it?

    Favour.it is a web application that is currently in Beta. With Favour.it, you can explore your friends’ favourits. Use Favour.it to get friends’ suggestions on web apps, iOS apps, books, movies, games, vendors, and more. { I added ‘web apps’, ‘iOS apps’, and ‘vendors’ to their website slogan. To me, it just made more sense. }

    Favour.it Extends Facebook Likes

    Favour.it extends Facebook Likes because it not only allows you to see the items that your friends like, but using Favour.it,

    • you can subscribe to friends favourits (read: likes)
    • re-favour their favourits,
    • and most importantly, read what their favourit is, and why they favourit – all in the same screen.

    In fact, the first API connection that you make when registering for Favour.it is your Facebook account connection. Once connected to Facebook, Favour.it aggregates all of your Facebook likes, and turns them into your favourits. Favour.it allows you to select specific FB Likes, categorize, and add a note on why you Favour.it.

    Favour.it Answers The Question ‘Why?’

    I love that Favour.it requests the “why” in adding a favourit. There are a million different ‘likes’ on Facebook, and Favour.it not only allows you to see those friends with common interests, but allows you to dig a little deeper into the actual interest.

    Favour.it’s Social Media Business Marketing Potential

    Favour.it’s Social Media business potential is obvious because it offers what Facebook lacks. Not only that, but if the Favour.it team can figure out a way to pull in both Twitter, Yelp, Foursquare, Linked In, and Pinterest without bogging down the site, it would be a goldmine for social media business potential.

    Can you imagine searching for a wedding planner or photographer on Favour.it?

    You’d be able to grab all of your Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Foursquare, Pinterest, and LinkedIn friends’ favourits all with the simple click of a mouse. You’ll know why they favour it, and your decision will be that much easier. You won’t have to send them a Facebook message asking what they like, or if they wrote a Yelp review. Information on each favourit will already be available to you.

    Social Media Marketing Suggestions for Favour.it Team

    Here are a few social media marketing suggestions for the Favour.it Team

    1. Connect Yelp, Foursquare, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
    2. Link Yelp to specific favourits, highlighting the reviews of our Favour.it friends.
    3. Link Foursquare to specific favourits, with the aggregate number of times our friends have actually checked-in to the favourit.
    4. Link Pinterest to allow Favour.it users to “pin” favourits, or even use Pinterest API (I know Pinterest API is a headache.) to create a “Favour.it” board with links back to Favour.it.
    5. Link LinkedIn for the added potential of finding out which friends actually work or previously worked at a favourit. {Yeah, I know Facebook does it. But they don’t do it well.}
    6. Once out of Beta, and usage picks up, allow for premium business listings.

    Favour.it Premium Business Listing – The Marketing Potential

    If Favour.it picks up, they’ll be able to roll out premium business listings. A business can pay for a premium listing on Favour.it which will feature the following:

    1. direct social media profile linking,
    2. preferred user screenshots – or – uploading own screenshots which take precedence in hierarchy to standard user screenshots,
    3. premium logos and use of banner above the entire business listing { should not replace screenshot region},
    4. prime real-estate in favour.it “hive” { smack dab in the middle – drawing the user’s eyes and attention amongst their friends’ Favour.it. Of course, I’m not sure of the current favour.it algorithm for ordering, but I’m sure this area could simply be “skipped”, allowing for premium listings to fill-in the space using an “if, then, else”. #IJS }
    5. ability to show/hide/highlight/order { add weight }Yelp Reviews,
    6. ability to show/hide/highlight specific Twitter Comments,
    7. ability to show/hide/highlight specific employees on LinkedIn.

    Again, there’s a lot that can be done if Favour.it can roll out the features both properly, and timely – not rushed. I’ve got a million more ideas and thoughts on how they can do this, and how Favour.it could be beneficial for my social media consulting clients looking to beef up their social media presence, but I’ve gotta give the brain a rest.

    I’m excited to see where Favour.it goes from here.

    Favour.it - Explore Your Friend's Favourits

    Favour.it - Explore Your Friend's Favourits

    Re-Favour a Friend's Favourit

    Re-Favour a Friend's Favourit

    View Friend's Favourits

    View Friend's Favourits

    Your Favourits on Favour.it

    Your Favourits on Favour.it

    Favour.it Sections / Categories

    Favour.it Sections / Categories

    Import Facebook Likes on Favour.it

    Import Facebook Likes on Favour.it

    Select Facebook Friends on Favour.it

    Select Facebook Friends on Favour.it

    Select Favour.it Categories and Topics

    Select Favour.it Categories and Topics

    Select Favour.it Friends to Follow - Editor's Picks

    Select Favour.it Friends to Follow - Editor's Picks

    Favour.it - My Favourits

    Favour.it - My Favourits

    Favour.it - Welcome Screen

    Favour.it - Beta Review

    Favour.it - Explore Your Friend's FavouritsRe-Favour a Friend's FavouritView Friend's FavouritsYour Favourits on Favour.itFavour.it Sections / CategoriesImport Facebook Likes on Favour.itSelect Facebook Friends on Favour.itSelect Favour.it Categories and TopicsSelect Favour.it Friends to Follow - Editor's PicksFavour.it - My FavouritsFavour.it - Welcome Screen
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    © 2005-2012. Courtney Elizabeth. All Rights Reserved.