Check up on Check-ins!

What's Foursquare? It's a social platform known to its users for check-ins, specials, mayorships, badges and more. Foursquare is considered a geolocation application and has taken the social and smartphone world by storm!

Still curious? Enjoy this quick and simple video that breaks down the fundamentals of the application for newbies:

Before you get started with Foursquare, peruse this USA TODAY blog to get clued in on safe and secure use of geolocation apps.

To get started with check-ins -download the application to your smartphone, set up an account, and start exploring your local community, favorite businesses and destinations you're traveling to for discounts, coupons, and more on Foursquare.

Check out check-ins, it's worth it!

Pining for Pinning

The latest social media creating a stir with social networkers? That would be Pinterest. What is Pinterest? The site which is nearly a year post-beta, self-describes as a "virtual pinboard." Essentially users are socially sharing photos (called pins) they find across the web with their followers on virtual boards they create and customize to their liking.

There are countless, creative ways to organize pins on your boards to share your interests and tell your story. A couple of my favorite examples include both individual and enterprise pins. Speaking of a couple - what a loving and lovely example using pins to share the story of a successful marriage proposal! And, these SxSW survival guide pins from advertising agency, GSD&M are clever, useful and well-executed.

A word of caution - like any other social network - avoid out-and-out self promotion. It's still about being social, and not about broadcasting your brand. So, how can you use pins to enhance the context of your online community and brand story?

• Follow other users. Comment on and like the pins of users that are in your other social networking communities and new users, too.
• Generically speaking, pin images that are complimentary to your business, products and services.
• Obviously, use keywords in your tags to describe the images your pinning as they relate to your business, products and services.
• Customize your board names to reflect what's important to you and about you as a brand.
• Is there content on your website that you want to make shareable? Consider adding the "pin it" plugin to your site.
• If you can, go "behind-the-scenes" at your company and share photos of the experience. Your followers will enjoy seeing aspects of your business operations that aren't immediately obvious to them when they patron your business.
• Did you know you can pin videos, not just static images?
• Give credit, give credit, give credit! But, don't pin copyrighted images.

Before you get started with individual or enterprise pinning, educate yourself on snags that you may run into. Pinterest even offers idiot-proof etiquette recommendations for users. Are there copyright concerns with pinning and socially sharing other people's photographs and work? Of course there are! A recent post on Hubpages gives a clear explanation of the dangers and what to be alert for when you're pinning. It is a tenuous balance that all users (both individual and enterprise) need to be cognizant of in order to pin safely and avoid litigation.

Will we be pining for social pinning long-term? Only time and pins will tell...

Are you likable?

So you're like innumerable other brands and businesses with a Facebook fan page in their social media arsenal. Good for you, it's a step in the right direction. But, only if you're doing it right.

• Do tell a story.
• Don't broadcast.
• Do be friendly.
• Don't ignore feedback.
• Do be personable.
• Don't try to control the conversation.
• Do contribute to the conversation.
• Do be transparent.
• Don't forget to post content.
• Do be honest.
• Don't automate content.
• Do take action when you can.
• Don't waste the time of your fans.
• Do say thank you.
• Don't forget your manners.

Yes, you're a business, but you're a person or people first. We're inherently social, so be a person when engaging and curating content that is valuable to your fans. Make it worth their while to like your fan page. Keep them coming back for more!

Don't Just Collect a Network, Build One.

'Go out of your way for people and build a network of real relationships,' says [paraphrased] marketing mastermind, Seth Godin.

Doing the Research...

I am putting the finishing touches on a post regarding how product research plays out across search engines and social networks, but I need a bit more input.

Are you more likely to research a product via your social network or the classic search engine approach?

Thanks for contributing your feedback!

Social Media: Rules of Engagement

Every social media professional will guarantee you that their "rules of engagement" are the best. If you boil it down to the nuts and bolts all prescribed rules are basically the same repackaged core principles. I've combed the web and assembled my favorites.

1. Be Transparent. Your honesty (or dishonesty) will be picked up right away in social media communities. (src: www.marketlikeachick.com)
2. Embody the attributes you wish to portray and instill – operate by a code of conduct. (src: www.briansolis.com)
3. Listen before you talk. (src: www.usemyhead.com)
4. Stay relevant. (src: Charlene Li, author of Groundswell)
5. Keep the conversation going. (src: www.britopian.com)
6. There's not much, if any room, for automation in social media. (src: blog.webdistortian.com)
7. If somebody goes out of their way for you in social media make sure you reciprocate the gesture. (src: www.kunocreative.com)
8. Travel with your networks. Go virtually with your friends, followers, subscribers, etc on their adventures...take part in their lives via social networking. (src: me. I like to "do life" with the people I engage with.)
   
9. Be cautious. Protect yourself and your privacy. (src: www.talentzoo.com)
   
10. Always, without hesitation, say thank you. Show gratitude even in the simplest of scenarios. It goes a LONG way. (src: common sense)

Pack light, virtual travel doesn't require a lot of baggage.
Did I miss anything you think should have been included?