Yasmine Marden - 24 fingers

The Day the Internet broke

Yasmine Marden — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 11:46:27 +0000

A mere week into October and the month’s already off to a stupendous start. We’re talking vegan cheese, wacky Snapchat filters and Theresa May-inspired poems.

Without further ado….

NSFW

This edition of #WINS and #FAILS wouldn’t be complete without the throwback of all throwbacks to possibly the greatest thread in Mumsnet history.

This time six years ago, an inquisitive Sara Crewe took to the popular parenting website to ask fellow mums a monumental question —

With many left lost for words, others turned to law of physics:

The post became so viral that the website crashed. Will there ever be a Mumsnet thread that will top this one? No. Probably not.

Grate Marketing

After taking to social to promote their brand new coconut-based ‘cheese’, Sainsbury’s received backlash in the form of one very passionate, very frustrated cheese enthusiast:

The Facebook soliloquy, with a calm and collected total of 13 cheese emojis, sparked perhaps the greatest riposte of all time.

Remembering that ‘the customer is always right’, Sainsbury’s decided the only way to resolve a completely legitimate request to call their vegan cheese “Gary or something” was by, well, calling it Gary. Literally.

Thanks to customer feedback, we’re excited to introduce our new range of #Gary 🧀 pic.twitter.com/Mr3dgokDIO

— Sainsbury's (@sainsburys) September 30, 2016

We bet Gary pairs great with Branston Pickle.

Kellogg’s Nouvelle Cuisine

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Someone tell Kellogg’s this.

A brunch recipe that even the hipsters of Hipsterdom would question, Kellogg’s avocado-feta-cornflake concoction took culinary experimentation to a whole new (nightmarish) level:

Try a super-quick super-easy brunch idea with avocado, feta… And Corn Flakes! #becausewhynot #becauseyum

Shop now: https://t.co/qWgdgS3bMv pic.twitter.com/ES6eOEEdGF

— Kellogg’s UK & IRE (@KelloggsUK) September 23, 2016

#becausenothanks #becausegross

We’ll stick to good old fashioned cereal….in a bowl.

Reunited and it feels so good

Social media can be weird (see above). Social media can also be wonderful.

A stroke of serendipity helped a Florida boy reunite his father with his mother who went missing in November and had been presumed dead, thanks to a YouTube video. You read that correctly.

Ten-year-old Evan Olsen said he was scrolling YouTube with a friend when he randomly clicked on a video of YouTube sensation Brooke Roberts feeding the homeless in Downtown Los Angeles and recognised one of the women as his own mother.

If this doesn’t make your heart warm and fuzzy, we don’t know what will.

Pawsitively Pawesome

Ever dreamt of what your life would be like if you were a dog? Dream no more.

The most recent Snapchat filter is a first of its kind, using facial recognition to add your features onto a moving video of a pug.

https://24fingers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/video-1475838731.mp4

(24 fingers’ Yvette didn’t choose the pug life. The pug life chose her).

It’s bizarre, it’s endearing, it’s borderline creepy…. and we can’t get enough.

What Rhymes with Theresa May?

The Twittersphere was abuzz on #NationalPoetryDay this Thursday, especially when things took a more political turn.

When #WriteAPoemAboutTheresaMay began to trend, many demonstrated an impressive way with words.

Like this man:

"Brexit means Brexit.
I don't know the nex' bit." #WriteAPoemAboutTheresaMay

— David Webb (@db_webb) September 29, 2016

and this lady:

#WriteAPoemAboutTheresaMay

Theresa May
Theresa Might
Theresa Will
(If the price is right)

— Parsley (@msparsley) September 29, 2016

and, saving the best for last, this joker:

This David Cameron geezer
Made way for Theresa
And we realised at last
Her anagram's The Arse#WriteAPoemAboutTheresaMay

— Phobiaphobic Lychanthrope (@carnybull) September 29, 2016

For Theresa May, there’s lots to say.

Get the Goss

When news broke that Eighties heartthrobs Luke and Matt Goss are set to reunite after 24 years at a one-off gig next summer, the internet went wild.

So wild, in fact, that the #AskMattGoss hashtag became inundated with questions, the most pertinent being ‘when will I be famous?’:

How many times did you drop the boy before Social Services got involved? #AskMattGoss

— Teddy Misog (@TeddyMisog) October 5, 2016

Will you simply respond to all questions hashtagged #AskMattGoss with "I can't answer. I can't answer that" 🎶

— 🆚 (@WeBlah) October 5, 2016

Matt Goss — till summer 2017, we’ll be patiently collecting our Grolsch bottle tops.

The post The Day the Internet broke first appeared on 24 fingers.

The post The Day the Internet broke appeared first on 24 fingers.

24 questions with Juliet Landau-Pope, declutter coach and study skills consultant

Yasmine Marden — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 10:39:00 +0000

Today, we’re talking to the lovely Juliet Landau-Pope, who through her work as a certified life coach, leading professional organiser and study skills consultant, helps people manage their time and space more effectively. Where do we sign?

#1. So, what’s your favourite word?

Serendipity. The more you notice it, the more it happens.

#2. What gets you up in the morning?

The Today programme on BBC Radio 4. I’ve reverted to using a radio alarm clock because I don’t want to become overly dependent on my smartphone. What motivates me each day is knowing that I’ll face new challenges and opportunities. I really appreciate the variety of people, places and problems that I encounter in my work – all very rewarding.

#3. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?

It opens up wonderful conversations, connections and collaborations, and the educational benefits are boundless. But social media can also become distracting and divisive, leading to major problems such as cyber-bullying and procrastination. So like all tools, you just have to use them wisely. Personally, I love Facebook and Twitter. And a bit late to the party but I’m just getting started on Instagram.

#4. Kindles or books?

Books, mostly but occasionally Kindle when I’m on the go.

#5. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry right now?

Many people still don’t know that professional organising exists as an industry. Media coverage is increasing but there are still lots of misconceptions – it’s not about tidying up! I provide practical help to declutter homes but I don’t just throw things in a skip. I coach clients to make decisions and motivate them to shift habits as well as surplus stuff. I also train adults and teenagers how to overcome procrastination and improve time management.

#6. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I always envied people who knew exactly what they wanted to do professionally because my career plans were so hazy. But from early on, I knew that I wanted work that was meaningful, flexible and varied.

#7. What led you to your current career?

During my student days, I moved frequently to and from Oxford, London, Paris, Jerusalem and Cairo. I became adept at packing and organising – and friends often asked me for help. I worked for 20 years as a university lecturer, writer, editor and consultant, and became fascinated by the role of motivation. This led me to enrol in a coaching certification programme in 2008. While training, I realised I could apply coaching skills to my zest for decluttering – and so my business (JLP Coach) was born! Now I work with clients of all ages and from diverse backgrounds, helping them to simplify their space and their schedules. I offer talks and workshops on time management and productivity, and train teenagers how to get organised and prepare for exams.

#8. Can you use your favourite word in a sentence?

Serendipity means being in the right place at the right time. More than a happy coincidence, it’s about finding purpose in the moment.

#9. Now can you make it rhyme?

Now that’s a challenge! How about: Serendipity, aligned with authenticity?

#10. BOOOOOM. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t worry so much about what other people think. Be yourself and find your own path to success. I used to worry that people would laugh at me for becoming a professional declutterer. Now I’m proud to belong to an industry that makes a real and tangible difference in people’s lives.

#11. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

Earlier this year, Joanne Hanson offered me a contract to write two books for the What’s Your Excuse series that she created. I’d been toying with the idea of writing a book for years but was deterred by the fear of dealing with agents and publishers. So it was a huge honour to be approached directly – all thanks to Twitter! On a personal note, my wonderful teenagers bring me breakfast in bed with home-made cards on my birthday – that’s the best thing ever!

#12. Tell us, what’s been your ‘career-defining’ moment?

While training as a coach, an elderly neighbour who had been widowed some years earlier asked me to help her sort through clothes that had belonged to her husband. It was an emotional day for both of us: I listened closely to the stories she told and asked questions that prompted her to decide what to keep and what to let go. I also suggested specific charities that would make good use of things she was ready to donate. At the end of the day, she thanked me and said: ‘You could do this as a business”. I’d never considered the possibility of becoming a professional organiser but she planted the idea and then referred me to a friend who became my first paying client.

#13. If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

My parents for giving me the freedom and the support to reinvent my career so many times and my friends, colleagues and clients for providing opportunities every day to learn, share and grow.

#14. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?

Where to start? This is one of my favourite subjects! Learn the positive power of the word ‘no’. Set limits with other people (and with yourself), in order to focus on what matters most.

#15. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?

The number of professional organisers in the UK is rising rapidly but the industry is still unregulated. The Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers (APDO) provides training courses (which I wrote and now lead, together with fellow board members) and mentoring, and has produced a code of ethics so we are setting industry standards. In two years, I hope APDO will become a household name so that people nationwide will know where to find a reliable and reputable organiser. I also hope that more schools, colleges and universities will recognise the value of teaching organising and time management skills. They’re not just study skills but skills for life!

#16. Where were you 24 months ago?

Two years ago I was working part-time as a social sciences tutor at the Open University while also running my coaching and organising business. I was becoming disenchanted with new management

policies at the OU and really wanted to dedicate more time to working with clients, writing a book and developing training for APDO members. A year ago I finally decided to take voluntary redundancy from the OU in order to focus on the business and although it’s strange to no longer have an academic ‘home’, I’ve never looked back.

#17. What’s interesting fact about your company?

I was the first person in the UK to combine academic teaching, life coaching with practical decluttering. I’m still the only professional organiser in the UK with my particular skill set.

#18. If you could have a 24-minute Skype chat with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

My Burmese grandfather, George Mariano (my mother’s father) who edited a newspaper in Rangoon before moving to London in 1939. He died before I was born so we never met but I’d love to hear his voice and learn more about his outlook on life.

#19. What’s one word you’d want people to describe you with?

Positive. It’s my default, I can’t help it.

#20. Would you mind taking a selfie for us?

No, sorry! I’m rubbish at taking photos.

#21. What’s your favourite Twitter handle or social media campaign?

Can I name three? @apdouk (Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers) to read news and views from fellow organisers nationwide, including some fascinating blogs. @whats_yr_excuse shares motivational tips and blogs from their expert authors. And finally, I’m a huge fan of @TalentedLadies who provide great resources for women running small businesses.

#22. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

“Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Albert Einstein

#23. What’s been the best part of your day?

Chatting to neighbours and other dog owners in my local park. If you’d told me three years ago that I’d find an extra hour in the day, I would never have believed it. I’m a single parent, taking care of teenagers and elderly parents while running a business and volunteering for my professional body. But adopting a rescue pup has helped me practice time management hacks that I teach others. Rain or shine, we get to the park almost every day and we both love it!

#24. Finally, anything to plug?

My new book ‘Being More Productive’ is available in print or for Kindle. Please leave me a review if you like it!

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5 Key Ingredients of a Great Social Media Bio

Yasmine Marden — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 14:08:03 +0000

Writing about yourself is a bit cringe, isn’t it? We’ve all been there – tasked with the horribly daunting job of summarising all of what makes you the coolest, greatest, wittiest, most amazing person there was this side of town. In just a few sentences.

Striking the right balance between personality, professionalism, individuality and comedic effect is something of an art form. One, however, that anyone, anywhere, can master….

Short and Sweet

Your social media bio isn’t a rambling chapter of your autobiography. It’s a brief introduction, or snapshot, into you as a person. At the risk of sounding existential — Who are you? What do you do? What do you love?

Concise and to the point is KEY on social media. Your bio should represent the most important info that someone should know about you, straight away. Just as Ellen wants you to know that she’s an ice road trucker (amongst other things).

To help, try approaching your bio as you would a snappy headline; think your very own sensationalized news article. In other words (pun intended), get straight to the story.

Flatter Yourself

This is usually frowned upon, but not in the case of a social media bio, oh no. Now is the time to drop in that award you won, mention your most extraordinary skills, the projects that you’ve been a part – generally butter yourself up.

Set yourself apart from all the other professionals in your field and highlight your proudest accomplishments. There’s absolutely no harm in a little bit of self-promotion. Social media is one of the best platforms to expand your network, after all.

Be Uniquely You

Whether you’re writing your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn bio, remember: there is only one *insert your first and last name* in this world.

In the age of social media, your bio has become as, if not more, important as your business card. It’s your golden opportunity to convince people to ‘Friend’ you or Follow you, and one of the best ways to do that is to be completely, unapologetically you.

With 400 million plus active users on just Twitter alone, many bios are hopelessly predictable. Yours needs to be a breath of fresh air.

Know Your Target Audience

Did you know you can attract folk to your social media page with hashtags, handles and links? Yes, it’s completely possible.

On Twitter, specifically, you can @ the company work for or own (if you’re writing a bio on your personal profile), your university and other relevant networks. Throw in some searchable, trending hashtags that display your passions – #heforshe #foodie, if you’re a gender equality advocate and burger enthusiast.

Use words that help to specify your niche: blogger, vlogger, designer, politician, artist, author.

Targeting is simple yet very, very effective.

Have a Bit of Fun

There’s a comedian in all of us, waiting to be unleashed. Got a clever punchline you think would stop people in their tracks, wishing they came up with it themselves? Or a pun that’s so bad it’s almost great? Throw it in.Your bio is there to be professional but never be afraid to show off your personality.

Need a helping hand in summing up all those superlatives in one neat bio? Just pop your email in the form below and we’ll have you up and out there in no time.

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How to Take Your Instagram Feed from Good to GREAT

Yasmine Marden — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 13:27:01 +0000

Everyone has dreams of being #Instafamous. It’s elusive and painfully cool. But, what if we told you that you don’t actually have to be Instagram famous for your brand to see top results?

Being successful on Instagram isn’t just about numbers and follower count (as irresistible as numbers and follower count can be) – that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Instead, success comes from clever, unique content and engaged audiences. Creating a great Instagram feed is just like any other marketing strategy; it takes time, effort and a sprinkle of insider tips. That’s why we’ve put together a simple but highly effective five-step guide on how to take your Instagram from good to great and, if we do say so ourselves, downright fabulous.

Do Your Research

Hashtags, hashtags, hashtags. When used savvily, these little metadata tags can cause HUGE impact. The goal for your brand’s Instagram account is to use the most relevant and highest traffic hashtags. They are essentially the Instagram equivalent of keywords – you need to find out which ones your target audience are most likely to click on and engage with.

Free sites like Hashtagify help you find relevant # with the click of a button. Alternatively, finding hashtags on Instagram’s own platform is easy as pie. Simply open up the app, click on the ‘tags’ search bar, type in any keyword relevant to your photo, et voilà!

You’ll get the highest amount of engagement if you use at least 11 hashtags. Pick and choose wisely, and you will gain a lot more popularity in the ways that truly matter!

Additionally, coming up with your very own hashtag (which you can promote in the captions under your content) will, in turn, promote user-generated content – a goldmine of photos that can be re-purposed whenever, wherever. A unique hashtag works as a source of interaction between your brand and your audience, and will show you just how many of your followers are engaging with your account.

Drive Your Audience

On your brand’s Instagram account, you have full control of the wheel. With imagery and words, you can drive followers on your Instagram page to your website, with the potential of converting them into ‘leads’, or in non-marketing terms, customers.

Never underestimate the power of an Instagram caption. They are essential to your content because it gives users a reason to be looking at your content. Captions provide immense opportunities to use your branded hashtags (see above) and call-to-action phrases – “discover more”, “book today”, “subscribe now”.

Instagram’s one-link rule can be frustrating, but did you know there’s a cunning little way around that? Contact us via the form below and we’ll share our secret.

Look at the Bigger Picture

Pun intended. By promoting your brand on Instagram, you are looking to convert visitors into new followers. Ask yourself these questions: How many of your followers like your photos? How many of these interactions turn into a sale?

Knowing these stats is important in building a loyal fanbase and discovering what works and what doesn’t. Most of the time, beautiful sells and consistency sticks. A visually stunning feed with the right amount of posts per day (enough to keep your followers interested but not overwhelmed) will gain your brand some serious brownie points. That’s why it is vital to look at your Instagram feed as a whole, rather than lots of separate squares.

When you are posting an image, details matter. Think about how it will look like next to your other photos – do the colours complement each other? Is it clean and easy on the eye? Or too busy and chaotic? By putting in that extra bit of time to curate your feed, with a consistent element or theme in mind, your feed should flow seamlessly.

Get Your Chatterbox On

Instagram is one MASSIVE community. 700 million users, to be exact.

The more you interact with this community, the more you gain. Never be too proud – by liking, commenting and following other people, you will leave positive impressions left, right and centre. After all, who doesn’t like a good compliment?

Follow accounts that you actually admire and are inspired by. They will give you endless ideas and tips to improve your own account. Interact with them enough, be relaxed and sincere… you might build some very rewarding relationships that may lead to cross-promotion.

On your own account, respond to comments that people have left. Answer questions, have a laugh, say thanks – be as personable as possible. Be the account YOU’D like to engage with.

It’s Okay to Ask for Help

Running a business is hard work. Sometimes you just don’t have time to spend thinking of the wittiest caption alive. Luckily, we live in the 21st century, and there is many a life-hack app floating around that will save you both time and energy.

Cue Rubric – a brand new tool that generates “instant, cool captions” for your photos. The app (available on all iOS devices) promises to solve any caption woes by using visual recognition technology to generate a selection of relevant captions. Like magic.

Speaking of help, this month we’re launching a service where we analyse how your Instagram account is performing against your competitors, give you an insight into your audience growth and engagement rates and show you how to take it to the next level. Which means more followers, more website visitors and ultimately more business. What’s not to *like*?

Simply drop your name and email in the form below and let our fingers do the hard work for you.

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Facebook’s 20/20 Vision

Yasmine Marden — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:43:09 +0000

World-wide facial recognition and swanky search bars are having a moment. From Facebook’s spying eyes to Pinterest’s ‘camera’ tool, the latest in tech is nothing short of exciting.

Better read on find out, hey?

Putting a Face to a Name

Social media giant Facebook is taking yet another gargantuan sprint forward in the tech race – new super powers (AKA algorithms) that would help put names on faces, even if they are completely obscured.

This super savvy feature will include facial recognition, identifying people based on their clothing and even their posture. In a statement issued by the company, the feature has the ability to “recognise the entire population of Earth”. Impressive. Also a bit creepy.

In addition, Facebook is rumoured to be rolling out advanced technology that will use pictures to sell people products based on the info provided. For example, if a user posts a photo of them hiking the Andes mountains, the tech can recognise this and strategically place adverts for waterproof boots on their Facebook page.

It seems there’s no stopping the Zuck…

Pinterest Gets Snappy

Web and mobile app Pinterest have only gone and stepped up their game, once again. With plans to make it easier for users to search and discover favourite pins, the site has now added the ‘Lens’ feature to its landing page – a search and visual discovery tool.

If you spot something out in the world that immediately catches your eye (a swaggy pair of shoes, even cinnamon sticks if they strike your fancy), you can tap open the Lens camera on Pinterest, snap a photo and find related #inspo in an instant.

This comes after research conducted by the social network suggested “monthly mobile text searches are up by 40 percent year-over-year, with that figure climbing to 60 percent for visual searches”, prompting the move to shift the Lens feature as the site’s main focal point.

Time to get snap-happy!

Google+ Goes Under the Knife

Google+ is not about to left behind in the quest for world-wide social media domination. Keeping up with their competitors, the site underwent a couple of cosmetic changes, introducing a swanky update to their search bar.

Things like ‘Popular Topics’ are now displayed, as well as a list of your most recent searches. On top of that, users can now filter searches by Posts, Communities, Collections and People & Pages, all thanks to a brand new tabbed interface.

All these features are currently being rolled out to Google+ users far and wide.

Searching the WWW doesn’t get much slicker.

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360° of Virtual Reality

Yasmine Marden — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 11:52:34 +0000

Facebook’s VR world, Twitter’s anti-bullying measures and Snapchat’s location-sharing map – it’s been a BIG week for technology, and we’re here to spill all the details.

You ready?

The Creme de la Creme of Live Stream

Video has just got THAT much cooler, thanks to Facebook’s hottest new add-on – a live-streaming feature on its virtual reality app ‘Spaces’. Starting TODAY, users can position a virtual camera and stream a two-dimensional, 360° feed of themselves to people in the outside world. Groovy.

Viewers can send in reactions and comments just like a normal Facebook Live video, but, overall, the platform offers brand new options – drag and drop comments and a virtual reality hangout with friends from any geographic location. Product manager for Facebook’s social VR team, Mike Booth, says “we really want to just put this technology out there and see what people do with it.”

In a push to make virtual reality bigger, better and more accessible, Facebook’s new feature offers those who want a slice of the VR cake without shelling out for all the equipment. Plus, did we mention that the software allows you to tour exotic locations across the globe in 360°? Sounds like the ideal staycation.

Wave Bye to the Haters

Twitter has taken further precautions to cyber bullying with a new, nifty feature – a mute button.

Now you have even more control over your notifications. Mute accounts that don't follow you, new accounts, and more. https://t.co/UapP6DtTtY pic.twitter.com/RcBQGx219k

— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) July 10, 2017

Time to avoid those nasty trolls for GOOD. From newly registered accounts, people you don’t follow to people who don’t follow you, Twitter users now have the option to disable notifications from accounts that they want to avoid.

Users can also get specific with their filters, muting notifications related to certain words and phrases. Though this doesn’t mark a complete end to cyberbullying, it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

Snapchat’s All-seeing Eye

Snapchat’s new Snap Map is causing a stir. The opt-in feature is quite literally a map showing you where your friends are in the world, at all times. Creepy but also cool.

The map uses ‘Actionmoji’ (Bitmoji’s smarter cousin) to designate where you are. “To infer the best Actionmoji, Snapchat may look at things like your location, time of day, or speed of travel,” Snapchat explained in a recent press release. “Examples of Actionmojis today include things like: at the beach, at the airport, sitting and a handful more.”

Allowing users to share their real-time location, which can then be viewed by friends on an interactive map, Snap Map knows a thing or two about precision – its algorithms show not only which street you’re on, but whereabouts you are on that street too.

If social media wasn’t already a tool to stay connected with friends and family at all times, it definitely is now.

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How to Build a Killer Fan Base

Yasmine Marden — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 12:36:28 +0000

One million. The social media milestone everyone wants to hit.

It’s a dazzling number, but, as the saying goes, “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey”. Growing your fan base on social media takes time and patience. It’s a long-term investment that will see you reaping the benefits if done right.

So, without further ado, here’s our golden list of things you can start doing TODAY to bag those loyal followers (and be on your way to hitting that seven-digit figure)….

The Root of it All

Start with the root of your business – your website! Be sure that you’ve included social connect buttons on your site (like the ones you see at the bottom right of this page). Also include buttons for connecting and subscribing to any other social platforms where you can be found, like YouTube and Pinterest.

Make it easy for visitors to share your content on their own social platforms and to give your brand an instant follow.

Spread the Word

Run ad campaigns. The beauty of Twitter and Facebook ad campaigns is that they are relatively inexpensive and can grow your business’ fan base in a very targeted, very efficient way. In these campaigns, you will define your target audience, budget, placement (i.e. desktop News Feed, mobile News Feed, right-hand column) and scheduling – when you optimise your campaign for page likes, you will be charged when your advert is served to people within your target audience who are more inclined to like your Page. It’s straightforward, and, best of all, it works.

Network

It isn’t called ‘social’ media for no reason – time to get that networking cap on and connect with others in the industry! Use free tools like hashtags to discover influencers who can help strengthen your brand’s reach. These connections can also be helpful for cross-promoting with other local businesses. Plus, social media is a very reciprocal medium, so when you promote someone else’s brand, they will almost certainly promote yours back. Take a look at the people they’re following and those who are following them… you may be surprised at the wealth of connections you might find!

Be Captivating

It might seem obvious, but create content people WANT to read and engage with. Whatever your business, content plays a pivotal role in building a fan base; strive to become a source for readers in your area of expertise, with people scrolling through your social media platforms at any given chance, simply because they are interested in what you have to say.

(Like this guy).

Personality, Personality, Personality

In the world of social media, personalisation is the best way to market. Customers share their data willingly to you, so make the most out of it by tailoring your message to your customer’s wants. Be human. Post relevant content across your platforms, and do it consistently.

There is no such thing as being too personable. With feeds refreshed every 5 seconds, the best way to stay relevant is through content that speaks at a personal level – conversation that makes your front line audience share your story with co-workers, friends and even a next-door neighbour. Create content that cuts through the noise.

Tap into Their Interests

Don’t be afraid to get sleuthy. What types of things do your audience post? Have a look.

If you can craft posts that they relate to, you are more likely to see people sharing your posts. Also, there is a good chance that the people who follow your followers are part of your target audience, too. Essentially, it is a domino effect – relatable posts leads to shareability factor, which leads to more and more people seeing your incredible content.

Get Competitive

A surefire way to engage potential followers is with a reward, and what better way to create traction than through a social media competition? Encourage people to comment on and share the post on their own platforms, and like your platforms if they haven’t already. Run the competition for a couple of days, even a couple of weeks, to ensure people get the chance to be involved. The prize you decide to give away is a small price to pay for the number of follows you will gain from this clever strategy.

Take #inspo from Cobra Beer.

Be Yourself

Cheesy, but oh-so true. What really separates run-of-the-mill social media accounts from those with thousands, millions of followers is authenticity. Whether it’s a unique expertise or a humorous tone of voice, only those who are unapologetically themselves rise to the top.

The takeaway? Don’t replicate what others are doing just because it works for them. Embrace your own way of saying things, your unique wit. Just be you, as publicly and frequently as possible, and the followers will follow.

Growing your social media fan base is something of an art, but there are a few components that will get you noticed quickly and effectively. Need help in marking your social media footprint? We’re your people.

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The post How to Build a Killer Fan Base first appeared on 24 fingers.

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How to Manage Your Social Media Like a Champ

Yasmine Marden — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 12:16:46 +0000

Constantly stressed trying to keep up with all your social networks? Overwhelmed by what to post and feeling like a fish out of water?

Don’t fret – it’s time to turn chaos into cohesion with the 24 fingers guide to mastering the art of social media management…..

Like a champ.

Quality Over Quantity

Social media has seen all sorts of enormous changes since its inception. What started out as a way for us to connect and communicate is now a powerful tool that every business, small and large, should be taking advantage of to cultivate an audience.

And while social media has grown into an incredible opportunity for business owners, it has also grown ten times more complicated, now with more platform options than EVER to choose from. So, should you have Facebook and Twitter? Does your brand need an Instagram profile? A LinkedIn page? Snapchat? YouTube?

The answer: select a medium that offers the best potential for reaching your ideal audience and broadcast the type of media best suited for your business, but, most importantly, select a medium that YOU feel comfortable with. If Facebook is what you know and navigate best, start off there. The beauty of social media is you can pivot at any time and experiment to find out what works best.

Be Trendy

Less in the flared jeans kind of way, more in the industry news and updates kind of way. Keeping up with trending hashtags will not only make sure you’re on top of your social media game, but will also keep your business relevant in this ever-changing digital world.

The best part? Both Twitter and Facebook actually keep track of what people are talking about, saving you from the hard work. Trends are shown on your Twitter and Facebook homepage, and are a great way to suss out whether you want to be part of any conversations. Additionally, knowing what people are talking about on social media can help you hone your message – a savvy marketer keeps their finger on the pulse of potential customers, and trends are a GREAT way to monitor that pulse.

That being said, just because something is trending doesn’t mean you need to jump on the bandwagon. For example, yesterday was #OnionRingDay… relevant to some, but not to all. Ultimately, it’s about understanding what’s happening in real-time and how you can successfully incorporate and seamlessly craft these trends into your brand message.

If you like it then you better put a ring on it. Onion ring, that is. Celebrate official #OnionRingDay at Johnny Rockets! pic.twitter.com/rEVajzX6B1

— Johnny Rockets (@JohnnyRockets) June 22, 2017

(Those onion rings do look good though).

Get Your Calendar On

So you’ve got the gist of your social media strategy, but how do you develop and implement it? Two words: content calendar.

Easily made on an Excel spreadsheet, a content calendar helps you to organise all the amazing content you are curating, and ensures you’re consistently sharing high-quality, engaging content with your audience. They allow you to visualise your social media strategy months ahead. They are indispensable for maintaining a high volume of social media content without losing your marbles. They are the bee’s knees.

If you’re not taking the time to plan your social media calendar in advance, DO IT. You could find yourself scrambling to find something to share otherwise. Also, a content calendar can also be useful to give your wider team an easy-to-digest overview of your social channels, making organising resources THAT much easier. It’s a win-win!

Size Matters

Image sizes, that is. This might sound like an obvious one, but hear us out.

Social media profiles are often your first opportunity to make a dazzling impression on new prospects or customers. And the pictures on these profiles are the first thing people notice. They are a visual representation of your brand online, after all.

With this in mind, you should always strive to have images fall within the optimal dimensions of each social network, to ensure nothing gets cut out and ends up looking unprofessional.

Courtesy of Constant Contact, these specs right here are all you need:

#HASHTAG

Never underestimate the power of the #.

They can be used to manage your social media in a variety of ways, the first being brand value. Are people using a specific # to post content about your company? Follow and monitor any of these hashtags on the social media channels you manage. It’s a great way to keep track of any UGC (User Generated Content) you could repurpose on your own channels.

Another benefit is monitoring campaign performance. Adding a specific hashtag to whichever social media campaign you decide to run will help you track its reach.

Lastly, hashtags are a great (and free!) tool to find and connect with influencers who can help strengthen your image and reach. Simply search any # and find the top influencers for that specific hashtag, contact them via direct message, et voilà. An endorsement from even just one social media influencer can work wonders for your brand.

Sound good, or like a whole lotta work? If the latter, we’ve got an extra pair of hands with your name on them.

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The post How to Manage Your Social Media Like a Champ first appeared on 24 fingers.

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The Billion Dollar Filter War

Yasmine Marden — Fri, 26 May 2017 14:12:37 +0000

Instagram and Snapchat are facing off against each other in a battle for total social media domination. Quite literally.

With Instagram recently dropping ‘Face Filters’ and several other spanking new features (including a Rewind button, Hashtag stickers, and even an Eraser button) can Snapchat continue to put on a brave…. face?

#Filter is the New #NoFilter

Snapchat is feeling the heat. Ever since CEO Evan Spiegel turned down a $3 billion all-cash offer (fact) from Facebook, arch-nemesis Mark Zuckerberg has been on a mission to COMPLETELY dismantle the image messaging app, one replicated feature at a time.

And, with the arrival of Instagram Face Filters, it would seem that the destruction is near-complete. From furry koala ears to a majestic ice crown, the app’s new Camera Effects augmented reality adds to its grand scheme: to reign as social media’s all-encompassing platform.

That’s not it. Instagram also added Location and Hashtag Stories to its Explore tab, making it easier to catch-up on what’s happening around you and find Stories related to your interests (chocolate cake, anyone?).

You will also be able to search for any location and see a story ring for that place at the top of the location page.

“From discovering new parts of your own city to jogging alongside the #fromwhereirun community all around the world, location and hashtag stories help you share these experiences as they unfold,” said Instagram. Do we predict a total eclipse of Snapchat in the near future?….

Right Here, Right Now

Meanwhile, Snapchat is desperately trying to stay afloat. The app released ‘On-Demand’ geofilters that let you easily customise filters for your business and special events.

Whether it’s your best friend’s wedding, a fancy-pants dinner soirée or your dog’s birthday, On-Demand geofilters let anyone build a custom filter for an event. New templates let users create their own customised geofilters without any special knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator or any (pretentious) graphics software at all.

Sounds dandy, but what’s the catch, you ask? Snapchat’s new On-Demand geofilter themes are currently available on their website…. with a price tag. Depending on the size of the geofence and the duration of the event, costs can vary anywhere from $5 to a whopping $100,000.

Maybe refrain from getting too geofilter-happy.

What’s for Dinner?

Whilst Instagram and Snapchat are involved in awkward conflict, popular image-collecting site Pinterest is busy making tech history.

Out at a restaurant? Love at first bite? Pinterest will give you a way to snap a shot of that sinfully delicious dish you ordered through its ‘Lens’ feature, and lead you to recipes related to it (like the Shazam for food). You can then save those recipes and start experimenting at home! What’s more, the site is also introducing MORE filters to its recipe searches. Users can now fine-tune their culinary experience, from the amount of time it takes to prepare a dish to those that contain specific ingredients.

Got some cheddar, chorizo and half a courgette in the fridge? You might just be able to filter through Pinterest’s search engine for the perfect recipe to whip up. Bon Appétit!

The post The Billion Dollar Filter War first appeared on 24 fingers.

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LinkedIn Means Business

Yasmine Marden — Sat, 06 May 2017 14:00:00 +0000

LinkedIn advertising, Facebook Reactions, Snapchat’s Ad Manager – it’s been a big week for social media. Luckily we’ve got the low-down on all the latest, greatest updates to get you social media-savvy….

Time to get your geek on.

Reach Your People

LinkedIn means business. The networking service is officially rolling out Matched Audiences, a feature that helps all LinkedIn advertisers target their ads based on people’s web browsing activity, email addresses and employers. It’s in-depth market research at its finest.

LinkedIn’s targeted ads will appear where people are looking to do strictly business, and since LinkedIn will consider both primary and secondary email addresses (you know what they say – never mix work with pleasure….) attached to people’s profiles, business-to-business marketers will have a higher chance of hitting their target audience.

On top of that, advertisers have the chance to get super-specific with their targeting, connecting them to the right audiences through gender, age, location, job title and even seniority level. “Most marketers would agree that customer targeting and remarketing is a game of ‘Data Science’. Not Big Data, but Real-Big-Accurate Data will solve the problem for marketers in targeting the right audiences who are interested in taking the journey forward”, LinkedIn said in a statement.

An exciting audience targeting tool for marketers, we can only expect LinkedIn to drop more features in the near future.

Express Yourself

If we could react to Facebook’s newest update, it would be this:

For Facebook users can now react to COMMENTS with emoji. The newest feature lets people respond to discussions under posts and status updates with a ‘Love’, ‘Haha’, ‘Wow’, ‘Sad’ and ‘Angry’. Online communication has just got so much better.

Handy for relaying the right message with only a tap of a button, Facebook have stated “we’ve heard from people that they’d like more ways to show their reaction in conversations on Facebook, so we’re rolling out the ability to react to comments”. Ask, and you shall receive!

Snapchat is at Your Service

Small, medium, large – brands of ALL sizes can rejoice, as Snapchat is set to launch a self-service advertising platform inclusive for everyone.

Available in the UK and other European markets from June, the tool is is available at absolutely NO cost and marketers can buy, manage, optimise and view data across all their campaigns. Not only that, but the Ad Manager works together with the Snapchat Mobile Dashboard, letting advertisers view their ‘Snap Ads’ through the eyes of the user they’re targeting. It’s (techy) magic.

So, how does one review the campaign metrics? Don’t fret. Brands will be able to track all the stats live and receive key campaign notifications straight to their mobiles.

As seen above, the tool is accessible right from the Snapchat app, no frills or fuss! Big brands, it’s time to move over.

The post LinkedIn Means Business first appeared on 24 fingers.

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