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Wishing EVERYONE a Happy St. Patricks Day!

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What is Facebook?

Facebook is a free-access social networking website that is operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people. Users create profiles that often contain photos and lists of personal interests, exchange private or public messages, and join groups of friends.
Setup an Account
1.    Go to Facebook and click the green “Sign Up” button.

2.    Fill out the form below to get started (all fields are required to sign up).
3.    Read and accept ‘Terms of Service’ and click “Sign Up” to continue
4.    An automated mail will be sent to your email account. Click on the confirmation link in the email to complete your sign up.
5.    That’s it. Your account is activated and ready for you to customize it.
6.    In the activation Page, you can find some of your friends who are already on Facebook by providing your password to your email or your AIM/Windows Live Messenger username and password. This is completely optional and can be skipped.

7.    Fill out some of your profile info like which company you work for, High School details, etc. This is another optional step. So you can skip.
8.    Enter the city you live in to try to join the network for that city. You can also skip this step, but joining a network can help you find your friends easily in your network.
After completing this step, you will be taken to your Facebook homepage. Your homepage displays your news feed, status (right), and added applications (left). Later, it will also display other useful links, such as friends’ upcoming birthdays, notifications, invitations, etc.

Update your Profile

1.    To add your picture, click ‘Upload a Profile Picture’ on left side of page and from PopUp menu browse for your picture. Facebook will update the profile pic with your uploaded picture.
2.    If you have a Web Cam, then click ‘Take a WebCam Picture’ from left side of page and upload snap on the spot.
3.    On the left side of Page you will find a link ‘Write about yourself’. Clicking this will present you a Text Box. Fill up to let others know about you.
4.    On the center top of page you can find ‘Info’ tab. This tab will let you change any personal details.
5.    Remember to click on the “Save Changes” button before you edit a different part of your profile or you will lose newly entered data.

Socializing with Friends
1.    Type a friend’s name into the search box in the top corner and hit the button to begin a search. The following page will show a list of matches with the name you entered. You can also search by network and group name. If you click on a name, it may take you to that person’s profile, or a small box may appear with some info about that person.

2.    Find the Add as Friend button, and confirm your request. The button is on a person’s page on the left column under their main profile picture, or on the right column if you are unable to view their profile.
3.    Wait for the person’s confirmation. When confirmed, a notification via email will appear, telling you that you are friends.
4.    Another way to add friends is during Sign-Up. While creating Facebook account, you are asked to find friends who are already members via your email contacts. This way you can follow steps 2&3 to add friends.
5.    Third way is to invite a friend whom you know. After joining facebook he/she can be added as your friend.

Adding Photos to Album

1.    Log into Facebook like you normally would. On the right hand side of the screen, under applications, click on “Photos”.
2.    You will now be prompted to enter Album Name, Description and set Privacy level. Underneath where it says “who can see this,” click on the down arrow, and you will have the following choices: Everyone; Friends of Friends; Only Friends; or you can customize your own personal settings. When you are done selecting your privacy settings, click “Create Album.”
3.    On the next page, you will either be asked to install a Java plugin, or asked to verify the page. This verification is safe, and your computer is asking you for security reasons.
4.    Allow Facebook to either install the Java plugin or verify the application.
5.    You will now be able to choose a folder/location of the pictures that you want to load online from your desktop. You can even select different photos from different folders.
6.    When you are ready, click “upload.” Facebook will begin to upload the pictures to your online photo album.
7.    When Facebook finishes loading your album, it will give you a confirmation message.
8.    On this next page you can also add captions to each photo and tag people in the pictures. You will have the option of selecting a photo to be used as the album cover.
9.    When you are done with your captions and tagging, click on “save changes.” You are now all done.

Deleting Photos from Album
1.    To delete the photos from album, navigate to the album by logging in your account and selecting “Photos” section from Applications.
2.    On the next page, go to “My Photos” link on mid-top left.
3.    Select the Album from which you want to remove the photo. You can delete entire album by pressing “Delete Album” link.
4.    To delete single photo click ‘Edit Album’. You will find a check box “Delete this Photo”.
5.    Select the check box and “Save changes” to the album. In the next page confirm the deletion.
6.    When you are done, the photo is deleted and control goes back to the main album page asking you to create new albums.

Tips and Tricks
1.    Be careful with whom you connect - Keep the network personal.
2.    Create groups in areas that are not saturated, and you can add value to the community
3.    Choose the applications you use carefully - check all the applications, but be very careful with the ones you keep on your profile.
4.    Invite your friends only to useful or fun applications
5.    Constantly review the groups you are member of, and engage in the discussions there. Be social here.
6.    Initiate discussion threads between your friends - but don’t spam them. This is a great way to create a conversation with your friends
7.    Make your profile interesting to read
8.    Use it as a part of your social media toolbox – mesh (connect) it up with your blog, share your posts and video material, etc.

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What is Google Adwords?

AdWords offers pay-per-click (PPC) Internet Marketing advertising, and site-targeted advertising for both text and banner ads. The AdWords program includes local, national, and international distribution. Google’s text advertisements are short, consisting of one title line and two content text lines. Image ads can be one of several different Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) standard sizes.
Setting up Account
Google Adwords provides users with either Starter Edition account or Standard Edition account. The Starter Edition and Standard Edition of AdWords have the same activation fee and the same self-service system of costs. Both editions allow you to set the amount you’re willing to pay for each ad and set a budget to limit how much you can be charged overall. In Starter Edition you set a monthly budget for your account, and in Standard Edition you set a daily budget for each campaign, but otherwise the budgets work the same way.

To start sign up go to Google AdWords and select “Start Now”.

How to Set up a Googles AdWords Account: Starter Edition

1.    To set up Starter Edition account select “Starter Edition” and click continue button. You will choose a country or region and then choose a language. This is to target your customers from specific location.
2.    Create the ad. Fill in the URL for your site. This is where the ad will link to. Users who click your ad will be sent to this web page.
3.    Create a headline and two lines of text for the ad, highlighting the benefits of your service or the product you are selling.
4.    Select the keywords that best represent your product. You can edit the keywords later.
5.    Set the pricing. This will be for both billing and payments. Choose the currency and amount of money you wish to spend for a monthly budget. Monthly budget plans start at $50 and go up to $250. The higher amount you choose, the more opportunities for clicks. You can even choose your own amount.
6.    In the next step, create an email address and password. If you already have a Google account, you can use it to set up your AdWords account.
7.    Activate your account. Log in and submit the billing information.

How to Setup a Googles AdWords Account: Standard Edition

1.    To set up Standard Edition account select “Standard Edition” and click continue button.
2.    In next step, create an email address and password. If you already have a Google account, you can use it to set up your AdWords account.
3.    You will next asked to choose a Currency. This is the currency you’ll use to pay Google
4.    Your new AdWords account is being created by Google. This may take several moments. You’ll be taken to the next page automatically when this process is complete.
5.    That’s it. Your account is created. You can now sign in to your AdWords account using the Google Account address and password you just specified.
6.    When you sign in, you’ll be asked to create your first online marketing ad campaign and enter your billing information to activate your account and start running your ads.
7.    Google will also send an activation email with more details to the address listed by you.

To change any profile settings you can do so by visiting “My Account” on the right top of Google adwords site.

Tips and Tricks
1.    Target The Right Audience: Target the right audience by selecting the language and countries that you want to target. For example, I exclude all countries where English is not understood by a large percentage of the population.
2.    Refine Your Keywords: Use square brackets “[...]” around your keyword/s (like [google]). Your ad will only show when the search is for the exact keyword phrase you have included within the brackets.
3.    Test Multiple Ads Simultaneously: Always test 2 (or more) ads simultaneously. Find out which one produces the higher click through ratio.
4.    Track the Return-On-Investment Of Each Ad: Google tracks the click through ratio of each ad. But it doesn’t track the conversion ratio.
5.    Include Targeted Keywords In Your Ad: Include the targeted keywords in the headline and the description of the ad. Google will highlight searched keywords in bold in the ad.
6.    Link to Relevant Landing Pages: If an ad is for a specific product or service, create a landing page for the ad. Include relevant and useful information to convert the customer.
7.    Remove Common Words: Remove common words, such as “a, an, in, on, it, of, etc.” Remove every word that does not absolutely need to be in the ad. Make every word count.
8.    Offer immediate benefits: Offer the benefits that your product will give the consumer because many times users are looking for those benefits and will be induced to your site.

Google support Center has some good links to help you in setting your ads and other handy information.

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What is Twitter

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users’ updates (known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length. Updates are displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them.

Twitter Features
There are many different uses for Twitter. Some of the most common are:

1.    Instant updates
2.    News
3.    Friends and family
4.    Quick Human Answers
5.    Business/Publicizing any product

Setup an Account
1.    Go to Twitter homepage and scroll all the way to hthe bottom. Click on the “Get Started” button.
2.    Fill in your Full Name and create a username and password. Twitter will automatically check the availability of your username. Once you find one that is unique, enter your email address and continue.
3.    After you create your account, you can manually see if any of your e-mail contacts are on Twitter. Just enter your e-mail username and password, and twitter will automatically import anyone it recognizes. You can skip this page.
4.    In the next step, Twitter will again present with an optional task where you can add your friends.
5.    Once done, Twitter will then take you to your profile page with message “What are you doing?”
6.    You are done! Start tweeting and follow people to get their tweets.

Profile Settings
1.    Set up your phone. The biggest advantage of Twitter is that you can update via text messages from your phone. Go to the “Devices” tab on your Settings page and then enter your cell phone number. A confirmation message will be sent to your phone, and then you’ll be able to make your first update.

2.    Twitter lets you add Picture icon to display it along with your tweets. To add picture, go to “Settings” and select “Picture” tab. Browse through the File dialog and add picture you want to upload. Click “Save” to Upload the picture.

3.    To invite friends you can enter friends email id. Any emails Twitter didn’t recognize; it will display on the next page. You will be able to check different email addresses to send invites to.

Following Tweeples
1.    To follow anyone on twitter, go to “Find People” tab on right top.

2.    You can search for friends by their Twitter Handle, on other networks, or Invite them by using contacts in email account or Twitter recommended friends.
3.    After searching for Twitter handles, click “Follow” button on left right side of their handle name.

Tips and Tricks
1.    Twitter to Facebook - Add the facebook twitter app at http://apps.facebook.com/twitter
2.    Twitter & Blog to FriendFeed - FriendFeed.com consolidates all your twittering and blogging and flickr and about 50+ other services.
3.    Twitter to blog with Twitter Widgets
4.    Use Global Search
5.    Follow to be followed
6.    Retweet incredible things and big announcements
7.    Links in a blink - Use Twitter to link to your latest blog posts, sites of interest, etc. Twitter will even shorten the URL for you.
8.    Tweet at the right time - Make sure the important ones go through during prime-time.

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Here are some Pics of my trip to Sydney Australia.

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What is Microsoft adCenter?

Microsoft adCenter (formerly MSN adCenter), is the division of the Microsoft Network (MSN) responsible for MSN’s advertising services. Microsoft adCenter provides pay per click advertisements.
Setting up Account
1.     Go to Microsoft adCenter homepage and click “Sign Up” to create a new account.

2.    In the next page adCenter displays the following information to create campaign.
3.    You are taken through step by step process to complete the above shown information.
a.    Target you customers – Select the language and Country for which ads are displayed.
b.    Create your ad – While signing, you need to create one ad. After you finish signing up, you can change or delete this ad, or create new ads.
c.    Enter your keywords – Here you are asked to give some keywords for which your ad will be displayed.
d.    Set your budget – In this step, you should specify a monthly budget and define Cost per Click for your ad.
4.    Next you are asked to fill in some personal details and email address.
5.    After filling this information you are taken to billing page. Enter your credit card details and complete the payment.

Tips and Tricks
1.    Separate Content Campaigns From Search Campaigns: In search, users are in information research mode; they’re looking for something in particular whereas in content, no queries are being made. As a result, the keywords you select, the bids you set and the ads you write for your content ads campaigns should be completely different than those you use in search and should be managed and tracked separately.
2.    Find the Right Keywords: Include the most relevant/best performing general keywords from your paid search campaigns. Include keywords about topics that users interested in your products read about online.
3.    Make Your Starting Bids Competitive: If your bids are not competitive enough to get you into the top 4 positions, you will never show and never get an impression.
4.    Remember to Keep your bids competitive from the start and establish a good CTR history to get the most out of adCenter’s content ads network.
5.    Keep Ad Copy Fresh and Enticing: Focus on including the unique selling propositions your product has to offer; what makes you different enough from the other ads and content on the page that you deserve the extra attention?
6.    Do Not “Set it and forget it”: Revisit and update your keyword lists and ad copy often, almost every 3-6 weeks.

Tags: social bookmarking

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What is Digg.com?

Digg is a social news website made for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the Internet, by submitting links and stories, and voting and commenting on submitted links and stories. Voting stories up and down is the site’s cornerstone function, respectively called digging and burying. Many stories get submitted every day, but only the most Dugg stories appear on the front page.
Setup an Account
1.    Click on the ‘Join Digg’ link on Digg.com’s main page (see the Resources section below).
2.    Choose a unique username and check for the availability of your user name during the registration process.
3.    Provide other details like password, email address and birth date.
4.    Digg.com will send you a confirmation email and to make sure you are of legal age to use the site.
5.    Read and the check the box indicating that you agree to Digg.com’s “terms and conditions”.
6.    Check your email for a confirmation message from Digg.com. This message will have a link you must click on in order to join.
7.    After you click the link, your registration will be complete. At this point, you will be given the opportunity to invite your friends to join Digg.com and fill in other personal information about yourself.

Profile Settings
1.    To change your Profile, click “My Profile” on right top of the Digg main page.
2.    Clicking on this will take you to your profile page. Here you can edit any information like:
i.    Display my full name to…
ii.    Display my age to…
iii.    Display my gender to…
iv.    Display my location to…
v.    Display URLs I add to my profile to…
vi.    Display instant messaging addresses to…
3.    You will be prompted with options ‘Anyone’, ‘My friends’ and ‘Nobody’. Change the options as per your requirements to personalize your settings.
4.    Digg also lets you change the ‘icon’ displayed to all along with your profile.
5.    To change the profile icon, click ‘Change Icon’ on the right center of your profile page.
6.    Browse for your Icon and press ‘Upload Photo’ button to add the selected photo.
7.    Note that you can also add caption to the picture.
8.    If the image size is big, Digg will present you with cropping tool and ask to crop image for their specified size.
9.    Once the changes are saved, your icon will appear on right side of the page.

Manage your Friends List
1.    Go to Digg.com and log in to the site with your login id and password.
2.    Look for the user names of people who submit content you like, or with whom you have built up a good relationship via commenting on their content.
3.    Click on the user name of anyone you wish to have as a friend on Digg.com.
4.    Click on ‘Add Friend’ on the right side in that user’s profile.
5.    You should see this person’s user name appear in the ‘Friends’ section of your profile within a few minutes after adding them to your friend’s list.
6.    Search for specific people to add as friends by typing their name, user name or email address into the ‘Add a Friend’ field in the ‘Friends’ area of your profile page.
7.    You can also search for friends from your contacts in Yahoo!, Gmail, Hotmail or AOL account.
8.    You can manage your friends list by deleting unwanted friends. If there is someone on your friends list who you no longer wish to have as a friend, click on ‘Profile’, then click ‘Friends’, and then click on ‘My Friends.’ You will then see a list of your Digg.com friends. To delete someone, click Unfriend’ next to their user name.

Digg your Article
1.    Go to Digg.com  and login to your account
2.    To submit your content click‘Submit New’ on the right top corner of your Digg page.
3.    Add the URL you want to submit and select the type of media contained in the link and press ‘Continue’.
4.    Digg will then ask you to wait for sometime until they verify the submission.
5.    After this Digg will request you to provide title and description for your submitted media. Describe the link appropriately to let others know the contents of page.
6.    Scroll down and click ‘Submit Story’ to dig your content.

Tags: social bookmarking

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Yahoo! Search Engine Marketing

What is Yahoo! SEM?
Yahoo! Search Marketing is a keyword-based “Pay per click” or “Sponsored search” Internet advertising service provided by Yahoo! Advertise your business in search results on Yahoo! and other popular sites. You can put your business in front of potential customers at the precise moment they’re searching for what you sell.

Yahoo! SEM Key Offerings

The key offerings of using Yahoo! Search marketing include:
•    Sponsored search options
•    Local advertising
•    Search submissions on multiple listing sites
•    Yahoo! Shopping portal exposure
•    Yahoo! Travel portal exposure
•    Directory submissions on Yahoo! directory
Setting up Account

1.    Go to Yahoo! “Search Marketing” for using the Pay per Click service
2.    To create new account, choose the option by clicking on the orange “Sign Up” button.
3.    In the next page you will be provided with these Steps.
4.    Locate the “Select a Market” and the “Select a Time Zone” drop-down boxes on right side of the screen and make your choices accordingly.
5.    Click on the orange “Get Started” button when done to move on to the “Target Customers by Geographic Location” screen.
6.    From the drop down box select “Entire Market” or “Specific Regions/Country/State/Province” to decide which market you want to target for your campaign.
7.    Then click on the “Next: Keywords” button to proceed to the “Choose Keywords” screen.
8.    Enter at least three keywords that relate to your campaign. Don’t worry about typing in an entire list; you can add more keywords later.
9.    Just enter a few to get started, then click the “Next: Related Keywords”.
10.    Add more keywords from the suggested list of related keywords, or leave your keyword list as it is.
11.    Click on the “Next: Pricing” button to proceed to the “Tell Us How Much You’d Like to Spend” screen.
12.    Type in the daily spending limit for your new campaign and select the “Next: Create Ad” button once to see Yahoo’s estimates and again to move on to the “Create Your Ad” screen.
13.    Input the Title, Description, and URL for your ad, then click the “Next: Review” button to proceed to the “Review and Activate Your Ad” screen.
14.    Enter the requested account information and click on the orange “Activate Now” button to launch your new campaign.
15.    The editorial team will review your campaign and your Yahoo! search marketing account will go live once approved.

Profile settings are same as that of Yahoo! Account. You can change password or any personal information by viewing “My Account” page of your yahoo account.

Tips and Tricks

1.    Make sure keywords are contained in your title tag
2.    Scatter keywords throughout your landing page
3.    Take advantage of ‘dayparting’ where you can run more or less ads during particular parts of the day
4.    Test different landing pages to see what works
5.    Use keywords in the landing page URL
6.    Take advantage of naming a domain name with high keyword rankings
7.    Outline specifically what you are looking for
8.    Monitor your progress frequently
9.    Adjust the program each month until you see some consistency

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There is a story attributed to Cherokee wisdom:
One evening a grandfather was teaching his young grandson about the internal battle that each person faces. “There are two wolves struggling inside each of us,” the old man said.
“One wolf is vengefulness, anger, resentment, self-pity, fear . . . The other wolf is compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, love . . .”
The grandson sat, thinking, then asked: “Which wolf wins, Grandfather?”
His grandfather replied, “The one you feed.”

—From “Harmonies of Liberty” (January 21, 2009 National Prayer Service sermon), The Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins

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