Adland Gal and LowLow Kerry Butter

This has got to be one of the slickest adds to come from Ireland in a long time. And there is great use of social media integration; rather than demanding to be liked they have asked their audience to share their thoughts about the promise of the add on their Facebook  The add makes fun of advertising and the starving, skinny, happy girls skipping about their boring hungry lives. I really like this add.

Facebook Fake Stories and the Matador

I saw this on Facebook, and yes it is another fake story. Be careful of what you read on Facebook, a lot of the information is inaccurate and pleading to the soft of heart just for likes.


'This incredible photo marks the end of Matador Torero Álvaro Múnera’s career. He collapsed in remorse mid-fight when he realized he was having to prompt this otherwise gentle beast to fight. He went on to become an avid opponent of bullfights. Even grievously wounded by picadors, he did not attack this man.

Torrero Munera is quoted as saying of this moment: “And suddenly, I looked at the bull. He had this innocence that all animals have in their eyes, and he looked at me with this pleading. It was like a cry for justice, deep down inside of me. I describe it as being like a prayer - because if one confesses, it is hoped, that one is forgiven. I felt like the worst shit on earth.”

Original fake story source. 
he true story is on Snopes. 

David Maybury, Vizify and Awesomeness.

I saw author, David Maybury's, Vizify and thought that only he could be witty, funny and smart enough to put such a cool profile together.

I joined out of curiosity and it linked some of my social media accounts and, hey presto, the work was done for me and my very own Vizify was created. 

It is a tad creepy that was it presents all this info about you and got me thinking about the data you share on-line. I am careful, heck I only use it to share my blog links and rarely even use Facebook.

Anyway, set up your own account and you'd be surprised by your cool profile. Like, one aspect I particularly enjoyed was the words I use a lot on Twitter, 

So, we can all be a little David Maybury and have our own witty, funny and smart  Vizify profiles. (See what I did there? I made him into a verb!)

Housekeeping, Catherine Tate, Followers and Blogger

When you read a magazine do you contact them with a comment? More than likely, you don't. So, why would people bother bother commenting on blogs?


There are two reasons that I would ever bother to leave a comment. One, I have been following the blog for a while and just want to leave a short comment to show support. Two, I want another link to me on Google.

So, I got rid of the comments on my blog.

I also got rid of email followers. I checked the stats, they told me who you were (I was very surprises by one or two of them!) and how often you open the email posts. I don't get hits on the blog if you open the posts in your inbox; so I got rid of it. That, and the fact that I can now post as often as I want without having to worry about clogging email subscribers inbox.

But, to show some sort of community spirit, I am bringing back the followers gadget. Not that I ever bother to go to the blogs I follow via that gadget. But there may be some people here that would use it.


So there you have it, my housekeeping news, not that you're bothered. Am I right?





I aint bothered.

How Google Search Works

Tumblr That!

I wonder...is the traditional blog a tad passée?

Well, it depends on what you are looking for. If you want a professional website and info dump for people who want to trawl through your long blog posts, find out about your books and where to buy them, then I suppose the blog is handy. But, if you want engagement in a short and snappy  medium* then Tumblr is your only man.

*This especially applies to the YA (young adult) market and it applies even more to the American YA book market. I could say that I write for the love of it (which I do), but if I was to be  when I am published I'd also enjoy using my marketing and sales skills to ensure the best possible sales for my book.


I am very new to Tumblr, I still don't get it, but I can see its appeal. Just look at Maggie Stiefvater on Tumblr. She only set it up a few weeks ago and it is hopping with love. And do not get me started on Sarah Rees Brennan, that lady knows how to Tumblr it.


If you want to suss it out, have a look at mine or even better; set up your own and follow me. We can learn to Tumblr together!

FOUR NOMINATIONS FOR IRISH BLOG AWARD 2012

Can you believe it? My wee blog has been nominated for four Irish Blog Awards 2012. I didn't post about wanting to be nominated, I didn't hint or ask.....and here I am with four nominations. Thank you to all who nominated, I really appreciate it.

taken from Pinterest

The best thing about these awards is that they have judges to pick the winner; the only public judging is for best blog post annnnnd as I am not nominated in that round - I won't have to ask/beg/hassle you guys to vote.

So, you can relax and be happy that you have been reading and supporting a Four Time Blog Award Ireland Nominiee!



How do you feel about blog awards?

G'wannnn, give us auld comment! 

Interesting Random Stuff Y'all Need to Know

Why do you guys read blogs? Me? Well I like to learn or be entertained. This post falls into the former. We will learn about some new social media platforms and some deadly agent writerly tips.

It started with a Tweet

As a lot of you may know, I was lucky enough to be a student of Caren Kenney. She is one busy lady - the creator of a television series currently in pre-production with Warner Bros TV, co-author of the book Fake Alibis, guest blogger for writing.ie, screenwriting tutor with INKwell Writers' Workshops, and a freelance researcher, proofreader / editor to boot.

I loved studying with Caren. But do you want to know how I met her? It was my 3rd week on Twitter and her 2nd day! There I was tweeting a published writer and she tweeting me back. Out circle of friends grew, and as we tweeted, we shared links to our blogs and the blogs we liked. I learnt so much about teaching, writing and social media.

You will think what I tell you to think

This video speaks volumes on today's culture, raising awareness can help address our consciousness on issues.

You will think what I tell you to think? 

Let's start to question.

Social Media Know How

A green screen, black text, random messages from a spy and a frantic mission for help, this is how my favorite movie opens: "Jumping Jack Flash." This movie got bad reviews; but when you are a farmers kids in the Golden Vale, Co. Tipperary, it gives you an insight into the power of computers and more importantly the fun of computers.

 

So here I am, many years later, with a blog, twitter, Facebook fan page, Hootsuite and LinkedIn accounts; at a Social Media class.

 

I look around and realise that the people here are business owners, thankfully I missed the introduction part, like, what would I have said...."oh I am a new teacher, who has delusions that she might write a book."  Morto! But, how bad? I mean, now that I interview writers for www.writing.ie I have found that the one thing they have in common is that they all started with a dream. They are curious people, they need to know what make characters tick, and of course they love the dilemmas they write about.

 

So, I like learning, I like sharing what I learn, I love ICT and of course I adore SM. Where was this course when I started my SM journey! We cover Facebook fan pages, twitter, LinkedIn and Youtube channels.

 

So let's get jumping, Jack style:
Find out who your target audience is,

 

Facebook

• Set your personal profile to private, you don't want people seeing your personal info.
• Set up a Facebook page for your brand, do not use a personal profile. It looks unprofessional, no-one wants to share their private data with you and you can only have 5,000 friends so - PAGE it!
• HR Google you, they will read your Facebook account, so keep it private and be careful what you put on it.
• If you do competitions on your page, you must use a third party, (like North Social, cheapest one). Facebook will shut down your page if you do not use a third party.
• The more engagement you have on your Facebook page the higher your "edge rank." It is important not to try to sell all the time, you are tyring to build your brand.

 

Twitter:

• Again, find out who your target audience is and keep it relevant.
• Get a grip and get a profile picture, not some random one; YOU, use a relevant avatar.
•  Fill in your bio, add a location.
• You want your tweet to spread, so make it relevant and cool.
• Don't tell the world that you are going on holidays and your house will be free for buglers.
• Add location if you are at a meeting or promoting you. If you were at your book signing, then add the location.
• Use a hastag.

 

Hootusite.

• Some of you may have seen the tweets that I send out during the night. I use schedule tweets in Hootsuite, mainly because I just like to connect with the US, Asia and Australia. And, of course, it means I get blog hits while I sleep!

 

LinkedIn

• Join groups that are relevant to you make your account 3-D by adding your blog feed, your twitter account, fill out your profile and even start a group. Just get involved!

 

There was so much more, so many fantastic tips and loads of stuff that this SM addict had no clue about. I plan on executing my new SM plan tonight, so my advice, follow Sandra Hennessy read her blog and do a course in Social Media!!