Facebook Removes “Share” Feature from Third-Party App Posts
They’ve done it again! Facebook has removed the “share” feature from posts that come from third-party apps like Hootsuite. The scuttlebutt says this is to cut down on spam. Many businesses use third party apps to schedule posts ahead of time. Removing this feature will make it difficult for businesses to get their content shared – which is a big component of showing up in the News Feed. Small business owners, in particular, don’t have time to be on Facebook 24 hours a day – monitoring their pages. But there are people who say, “Good! Facebook wasn’t intended for business.” Well, guess what, folks? Facebook sure likes those ad dollars that businesses bring in!
Third-party Workaround
Hootsuite and NetworkedBlogs have designed a workaround to this problem. In the picture below, you’ll see that Hootsuite has added its own “Share” button. However, these shares don’t get included in Facebook Insights.
Facebook’s Decision – Crazy Smart or Simply Dumb?
As a Facebook admin for several client pages, this move is puzzling to me. A couple months back, Facebook “fixed the bug” that was hurting the Edge Rank of third-party posts. But it seems as if there might be an internal war going on over the ability to schedule posts rather than interacting on Facebook in real-time.
My feeling is that if Facebook continues down this path, they will be sending businesses right into the arms of an anxiously awaiting Google+. I guess, as the saying goes, “time will tell.”
What do you think of this development? Please share your comments below and on my Facebook page! I’d love to hear from you there too. Visit www.fb.com/gloriarandcopywriter to become a fan. As an added incentive, I’m giving away a free website analysis to my 500th fan. I only need 7 more fans to get there, so you better hurry!
Google Amps up the Volume on Social Search
Here we go again! Google just announced a radical change to search – splitting up social search results from the global search results in something it’s calling “Search, plus Your World.” Essentially, you now have the option of doing a search and getting results from your friends (especially ones who are active on Google+) or staying with the traditional global search results.
Read all about it in Google’s blog.
I’ll be writing more about this at a later date, once I have a chance to test this out for myself. What do you think of this development? Will this enhance your search experience? Please comment below!
How to Get More Views for Your YouTube Videos
The beauty of video marketing is that once you upload a video to YouTube, it can be viewed months and even years later, as long as the video has been optimized properly with the right keywords.
Your videos can also get new exposure to a wider audience thanks to some recent changes in YouTube’s format. The home page and user channel pages have been given a new look on YouTube, and the social sharing options have been changed as well.
When you log into your YouTube account settings, you can link your Facebook and Twitter accounts, and then not only can you automatically share your videos to those accounts, but you can also share comments about the video.
I think this is a very cool feature. When you respond to a comment about your video, not only will that comment be posted on Facebook & Twitter (if you have enabled those settings), but the video will be displayed there as well. Here’s an example from my Facebook timeline:
This feature can expose your videos to a whole new audience that may have missed the video when it was first uploaded.
For more social media and SEO tips, please subscribe to my YouTube channel: gloriarandvideo.
Social Media Blackout Day May be in Works as a SOPA Protest
By Gloria Rand
What would you do with yourself if you couldn’t log onto Facebook, check into Foursquare or… perish the thought… Google anything?
You may find out sooner than you think, come Jan. 23 or thereabouts. That’s the day before the U.S. Senate is scheduled to debate the Stop Anti-Piracy Act (SOPA) bill. And it’s the day that some people think a coalition of web companies plan to launch a blackout in protest of SOPA.
ExtremeTech reports:
There’s been no formal decision on the matter, and the companies in question obviously risk consumer anger and backlash over any suspension of services. There is, however, safety in numbers — and a few simple sentences identifying why the blackout is in place will ensure that the majority of the rage flows in the proper direction.
SOPA makes the streaming of unauthorized content a felony, and many people think the vagueness of its language could harm free speech on the Internet, as well as stifle online business development.
The companies reportedly involved in the possible blackout include:
- AOL
- eBay
- Etsy
- Foursquare
- IAC
- Mozilla
- OpenDNS
- PayPal
- Wikipedia
- Yahoo!
- Zynga
Somewhere up in heaven my big brother Rick is smiling. January 23 would have been his 65th birthday, and he was always a bit of a rebel! Happy b-day bro… 
If this blackout day happens, will you support it?
© Copyright 2012 Gloria Rand
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? To publish this article in your ezine or website, please include the following:
Gloria Rand is an Entrepreneur, Speaker, Copywriter & Marketing Consultant who works with entrepreneurs and small business owners to implement SEO strategies and social media marketing for online visibility, profits and success. Leveraging her background as a writer and producer for the award-winning PBS news program, “Nightly Business Report,” with her own experience as a small business owner, Gloria helps professionals turn great ideas into cash cows. Link up with Gloria at www.gloriarand.com or www.fb.com/gloriarandcopywriter.
Gloria Rand’s Top 10 Blog Posts of 2011
What a year 2011 has been. The U.S. economy seems to be improving. Social media continues to thrive as a medium for businesses to connect with their audience. And for me personally, I’ve been blessed by the fact that my business has grown, and I’ve added new followers on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ — as well as adding as new subscribers to this blog. For that, I owe you all a big THANK YOU!
Before we move forward to new and exciting challenges in 2012, let’s take a look back at my most popular blog posts of 2011. Just like in 2010, the articles that resonated the best with you involved (you guessed it) Facebook!
iFrame App Alternatives to FBML for Facebook Pages
Creating custom Facebook tabs became a little easier after the switch to iFrames, especially with the introduction of these useful apps.
How to Tag Your (Friendly) Fans on Facebook
This article generated a ton of comments since Facebook kept changing the rules on how to tag, and I had to keep updating to stay on top of the changes!
How to make the most from LinkedIn Company Pages
LinkedIn’s company pages may not be as popular as Facebook, but they can be a powerful marketing tool when used properly.
When to post on Facebook for best engagement
The answer to the Facebook timing question ultimately depends on your audience, but this article gives some great clues on optimal times to post.
My top 5 free keyword research tools
The key to good search engine ranking starts with finding the words and phrases your audience uses.
3 ways your business can strategically use the Facebook tag
Facebook pages can’t easily tag people as we’ve seen, but tagging other pages can be a good marketing strategy.
Facebook deals and places
A first look at Facebook’s attempt to allow local businesses to offer “Groupon-style” deals.
3 new Facebook changes that benefit marketers
Facebook made a few tweaks in May that improved engagement.
Facebook to end discussion and review tabs for business pages
This article offered solutions to companies who want to continue offering discussions and reviews on their Facebook page.
New Facebook page changes – the good, the bad and the ugly
My initial reaction to the Facebook page format change at the beginning of the year wasn’t that positive, but I like it now. (I wonder when pages will get the “Timeline” makeover… Any bets?)
What was your favorite blog post of 2011?
How SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) Can Cripple the Internet & U.S. Business Innovation
Have you heard about Protect-IP (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) currently under consideration in Congress? If passed, SOPA will require Web hosting companies like 1&1 and GoDaddy to police websites in order to prevent them from communicating copyrighted information on the internet.
GoDaddy initially supported SOPA, then backtracked and came out against it. But the damage was done. The company has lost more than 72,000 domain registrations through Dec. 25 and today, it may lose more thanks to an effort by a Reddit user proclaiming Dec. 29 “Dump GoDaddy Day.”
Hosting site looks to cash in on GoDaddy debacle
1&1 hosts my website, and sent me an email today touting their opposition to SOPA. They also “graciously” offered its services to anyone who was not satisfied with their hosting company. (A not so subtle dig at GoDaddy!) Here’s 1&1′s quote from the email I received:
“At 1&1 we support you, our customer, and an open internet. If you find that
you are supporting a company that encourages SOPA and wish to drop them as
a provider, please follow the simple instructions contained on the website
linked below.”
I’ll admit that I hadn’t heard about SOPA until this GoDaddy news came up. But now that I have, I am deeply troubled by it. I urge everyone to contact their legislators in Congress to stop this bill from becoming law in its present form. A website has been setup to help concerned citizens get the word out: http://fightforthefuture.org/
The following video explains how SOPA could wind up crippling the Internet, stifling U.S. innovation and even put companies like Facebook out of business.
Why it Pays to Take Risks in Business
By Gloria Rand
My mother used to tell me, “If you want something, get it now, because it may not be there later.”
She learned that lesson the hard way. I remember her agonizing over whether to buy a piece of jewelry, but ultimately deciding not to. Then, she’d have a change of heart and go back, only to be disappointed that the item had already been sold.
My mother may have been indecisive when it came to buying nice things for herself, but when this woman wanted to do something significant in her life, she went for it.
Like the time she ran for a seat on the county school board. She lost the election. But she tried. That’s more than most people do!
Or the time she drove from Michigan to Florida with only her 7-year-old daughter (me) along for the ride. This may not seem significant now. But in 1971, it was a pretty big deal.
But the biggest risk my mother ever took came when she was in her 50s.
That’s when she learned how to fire a gun and became an officer for Wayne County Juvenile Court. If you’re not aware, Wayne County, Michigan is better known for its largest city, Detroit. Now you might not be able to tell from this picture, but my mom was only about 5 feet tall. (For years, she insisted her height was 5’2″ until I passed her by!) So picture this petite, middle-aged woman, dressed in officer blues, complete with badge and handgun in a holster, escorting teenagers that stood a foot or more taller than she from lock-up, to the courtroom and back again. Can you say fearless? I can!
I may not have grown up to be a court officer, like my mom, but I have taken some risky steps in my professional life. And I know that I’ve had the courage to do so by emulating her.
One risk was the decision to quit my job writing for the PBS show, “Nightly Business Report,” to produce a business show for a startup cable network. What made that decision particularly gutsy was leaving my husband behind in Miami while I moved to Tallahassee to take that job with our 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son in tow!
My latest risk was the decision to launch my own copywriting business. Not only did I have to get over my shyness to give the ubiquitous 30 or 60-second “elevator speech” at networking meetings, but I’ve gone even further – conducting in person workshops and webinars on search engine optimization and social media marketing.
Unfortunately, my mom didn’t live long enough to see me in my new role of entrepreneur. But I’m sure she’s proud of me. And I thank God every day that she showed me how much is possible in life, if you’re only willing to take a risk and go for it!
A Thanksgiving Poem
Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already
have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
Author Unknown
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