Courtney Engle

iBooks Author reviewed

Courtney Engle — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:28:02 +0000

This morning Apple announced three new tools for educational users: iBooks Author, iTunesU app, and iBooks 2. iBooks Author is in the OS X App Store now, so I did a quick review:

iBooks Author reviewed

Social Media Account Dilemma: Personal Account vs. Brand Account

Courtney Engle — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:13:36 +0000

When creating a social media account, people still get confused if they should use a personal account or a brand account.

The social networks where you must have a company profile and where to create:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pages

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/pages/create

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/add/show

If you violate these terms of service, your profile can be taken down without notice. It would benefit you greatly to straighten out these issues as soon as possible. You can’t necessarily move your followers automatically from personal profiles to business pages. In Facebook, simply changing your name to be your actual name is easy. The other places aren’t as easy, so get it over with as soon as possible.

Social Networks that don’t require business pages:

Youtube, Flickr, Pinterest, and most others.

The exception?

Twitter. Twitter just announced that they will be integrating brand pages. As an example, see JetBlue’s Twitter account. Twitter hasn’t made it clear yet how business brands can get this brand page feature and seem to be rolling things out slowly.

4 Reasons to Love the New Twitter (socialnomics.net)

Want to connect further? Find me online: Google Profile & Online Activity
Want Social Media, Local SEO, and Mobile Marketing training? Social Mobile Local Marketing Pros - SMLMP
Want WordPress training? GFYD Member - Go For Your Dream
Have a tech question? (hardware, software, & web) Ask Courtney for help
Need official work done? Contact Courtney

Social Media Account Dilemma: Personal Account vs. Brand Account

Mobile Site vs Mobile App vs. Mobile Landing Page

Courtney Engle — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Do you need a mobile site or a mobile app, and landing page, all of the above, or none of these? It really depends upon your business, but most likely you need at least to make your website mobile ready. Earlier, I shared how to check your website on mobile devices and how to make your WordPress website mobile friendly. If you are using Google Analytics to track your website traffic, you can see how many of your existing visitors are using mobile devices. At the very least, you need to make your website display well on mobile devices.

However, if you have some unique value in mind, such as customer loyalty rewards, or want to send push notifications (pop-ups on Smart Phones much like Text messages), then an app may be the thing you want to focus on. Apps that are primarily functioning only as an app version of the website usually aren’t worth the work or expense to launch. However, if you think of an innovative feature to offer users that extends beyond what a mobile website can do, it just might work. For example, Renegade Radio Nashville has a website to play their radio station live online. They also have an app for Apple and Android, as the mobile site doesn’t easily support live streaming music.

Mobile Landing Pages are a different creature than either a site or an app. Landing pages are terms used in the marketing industry that are the place where after searching or clicking through on some link, a visitor lands on your site. It has compelling information and a call to action (sign up for the newsletter, buy stuff, or other actions). Mobile landing pages are pages designed to only be accessed from a mobile device, say from someone scanning a qr code. They scan the pixelated box, it takes them to a mobile landing page, and they take action.

In review, mobile sites are versions your full site generally just able to resize itself automatically for many mobile browser formats. Mobile landing pages are only accessed from a mobile device with a call to action. Mobile apps offer features that integrate with mobile devices that extend beyond what your website can do.

5 Awesome Landing Page Lessons From Real Life Examples (hubspot.com)
4 Simple Steps to Get Ramped Up With Mobile Marketing (hubspot.com)

Mobile Site vs Mobile App vs. Mobile Landing Page

Google changes Search Engine Results – What it means for you

Courtney Engle — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:13:13 +0000

Google has introduced a new feature on search engine results pages called “Search, plus Your World“. These features may have significant impact on how you view search results and how your website displays for others.

Look at the two images below. The first is a typic search result for “WordCamp“:

Compare that with the new search results page with the social features enabled (like to full-size here):

What does this mean for you?

First, as a person browsing the web, you may choose to turn results off if you find that it results in better quality. I’d suggest testing that depending upon what you are seeking. If I’m hunting for advanced research, I’d likely turn the results off, and perhaps even go so far as to log out of Google and browse in Incognito mode to get the most pure results.

Secondly, for your website to be ranked more highly by those with personal results enabled, it will drastically help to have your online presence thoroughly complete. Claim and integrate services that work for you, whether blogs, microblogs, photo sharing, video sharing, slide sharing, or an assortment of other places. Next, claim your Google Plus profile and connect it to your social media accounts. Finally, get networking in Google Plus. The more people that are following you, the more likely your content will display on their search results pages.

Since joining Google Plus six months ago, I’ve connected with more people and brands than at all my other social networks combined. Early adopters stand considerable advantage when a network does explode. While Google Plus may not be as established as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, it does have a lot of activity happening there. More importantly, your profile and connects are impacting search results already. More will be coming I believe. Don’t wait any longer.

Google changes Search Engine Results – What it means for you

How to Brainstorm, Project Manage, and GTD

Courtney Engle — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:13:35 +0000

I love when creativity strikes, leading my into a time to brainstorm, project manage, and get things done. To get those ideas drafted out and implemented, I use a variety of tools. First, I brainstorm ideas in a mindmap, like MindJet Mindmanager. Then, I schedule out tasks in Things. Finally, I review the calendar using BusyCal. Best of all, all of these things work from my Mac and iPhone.

GTD Times: Cool GTD tip for tracking Waiting For items in Outlook (gtdtimes.com)
Mindjet’s 7-Step Process for Effective Team Collaboration (mindmapblog.com)
Mindjet iOS apps now free, cloud service around the corner (tuaw.com)

How to Brainstorm, Project Manage, and GTD

What has permission to access your social media accounts?

Courtney Engle — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:27:39 +0000

Do you know what sites and applications you’ve given permission to access your social media accounts? You could go digging through the settings of each platform (which I’ve been known to do), or you could just visit one website with a link to the top social media platforms permissions pages: MyPermissions.org.

After logging in to websites like Digg, IFTTT, Pinterest, and more using my Facebook account, I figured it’d be worth a review. Likewise, you should also scan your permissions and delete anything you don’t recognize or no longer use. How often have you read entirely what you’ve given permission for each app or website to do with your account? It’s better to be extra safe about this than sorry later.

Learn how to use MyPermissions:

Have 2 Minutes? Check Out Who Has Access to Your Social Media Accounts (mashable.com)

What has permission to access your social media accounts?

How To Organize Google Plus Circles

Courtney Engle — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:31:49 +0000

To get the most focus and value out of Google Plus, organize your circles. The same could be said of Facebook and Twitter lists as well. There are a few approaches to what works best for you, but I’ll share how I get the best use.

Create one circle encompassing your main area of focus. For me, that’s all things tech. I add in people and brands that are tech bloggers or podcasters, WordPress related, social media oriented, mobile marketing, and location based SEO. These are the people I’d follow professionally no matter if they engage with me or not.
Create a few circles for a variety of purposes. I have Family, Friends (people that I hang out with), and Acquaintances (people I’ve networked with), Clients, Prospects, and Networking Organizations. If I have a specific purpose to post something that isn’t “public”, it’s usually for one of these circles. Only they can see it. I hope eventually to lure my family in as I live 10 miles from my parents but in opposite hemispheres from my sister. One hangout shared among us would be great. I also keep these circles small so that I can see everything these few have shared with me.
Circles for sharing – If I want to share all the great Googlers I follow or WordPress developers, I have them already in my techies circle but need to narrow that down to a specific interest for sharing. Additionally, my techies circle has just under 2,000 people in it – far too many to share. Sharing circles is capped at 250 people per circle.
Engage – I use this circle to follow back the people commenting or interacting on my content or that I’ve bumped into during a hangout. I want to connect with those reaching out to me.
Random – I have a catch-all circle for people I’m following that don’t fit the other circles yet. If they interact, they’ll get bumped into another circle. If not, they are the ones to be uncircled when I am close to my 5,000 following limits.

Do you have any tips for organizing your circles?

Google+ Now Allows You To Share Whole Circles With Friends [News] (makeuseof.com)
Seven ways to use Google+ at work (macworld.com)
How to Optimize Your Google+ Business Page [Free Ebook!] (hubspot.com)

How To Organize Google Plus Circles

What Choices Hold You Back?

Courtney Engle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:51:07 +0000

I love the start of a new year. I also love starting new things. Just… finishing them can be a challenge for me. At this time of year we have our minds set on a fresh start, a new beginning, or a clean slate from last year and have resolved to make changes that we belive are good for us. But – what choices hold us back from achieving these things?

There are things I know that will greatly enhance my life, yet I fail to do them. Here are a few:

Upon waking, taking my morning vitamins and supplements. When I do, I really do think more clearly and have more energy. I notice this effect within just 30 minutes. I don’t bother taking any synthetic imitation junk, but I really find value in the ones I use. Yet – I forget and haven’t made it a priority enough. I end up in a fog mentally and find that I’m just not as productive or creative when I skip out on this valuable action.
Music, reading, and meditation can fuel my spirit, yet I skip out on this and stumble around the internet instead on a quest to know all the latest breaking news and help others figure out what to do with it. Don’t get me wrong, I love helping people keep up with technology and get adjusted to it so that it improves their business and life. But – these things are temporary. My spirit is eternal and yearns for more.
Creative releases can be playing my violin or mandolin, learning guitar, drawing, crafts, knitting, or graphic design. Yet – I stay stuck in the rut of checking in on social media. I don’t make time for these activities.
Exercise needs to be more than sitting at a desk typing or pacing the halls while waiting on my cup of coffee to reheat. I need to get up and dance, stretch out in some yoga, and break a sweat. I feel better afterwards, I sleep better, and I have a better self-image. Yet – there I sit.

So – why am I stuck? Well – I hold myself back. I know the right choices to make, and feel good about making them or carrying them out. It is mostly about setting a pattern for success. Success comes by pursuing it, not avoiding the things that we fear. My fears have held me back. I’m taking deliberate action to overturn that. I could just do one massive overhaul, and just may in some areas, or I could take small steps daily that keep me going – like taking my vitamins this morning. As a result – I had an idea to write, a series of blog posts in the works, and some great time digging into some inspiring reading today.

Tomorrow’s choice: start with some music first thing upon waking and read what fuels me. That isn’t social media. I’ll check back in to let you know how that goes.

What about you? What’s held you back? What choices do you know you should make and even want to make them but just… havent?

What Choices Hold You Back?

Changing Times

Courtney Engle — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:51:54 +0000

Last night I was struck by just how much we are in a place of changing times. I was watching the rerun of Downton Abbey on PBS. I love this series for showcasing a period of time that we seldom see. The opening episode involves news of the Titanic sinking and the end of season one shows the start of World War 1. What makes this so unique though is that aristocracy is fading fast. Rather than people being primarily occupied with managing an abbey or any large estate and all the employment that provides, the shift is becoming more towards employment in the business marketplace.

I just couldn’t help myself from looking ahead to show descriptions for season two, which has already aired in Great Britain but not yet in America. Depictions of World War 1 are on their way, along with the nuances of caste systems marrying. The importance of finding an heir to governing the Downton Abbey estate weighs heavily upon the family, but in the long-run it may not be as important as culture would expect.

While watching, I was struck but just how much change was happening during this time period. Aside from the caste system of the aristocrats becoming substantially less important; electricity, telephones, and automobiles coming to wealthier homes, America was settling in on new territories and battling prohibition. There were many changes all within this short span of time happening on a global scale.

Fast-forward 100 years. In the past decade we’ve seen the internet give way to social media. This is a global scale. Not just the wealthy can access our new technology, but many people that have skipped land-line phones are now connected globally through their mobile phones. Revolutions are happening in northern Afica and the Middle East.

While we live through these changing times, I do believe we are seeing many powerful technologies drastically changing the way life unfolds. In 100 years, will people be watching movies depicting our current times and the changes? Will people look back and point to a few key pivotal factors that brought about global transformation?

Changing Times

My 3 Words – 2012

Courtney Engle — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:03:54 +0000

Spiritual father Bob Highland at the beach house by the fire

For several years, Chris Brogan has led the way in setting the tone for the year ahead by picking 3 words that are the focus of the year. Rather than making resolutions, or resolving changes to improve our lives that we seldom see beyond the first two weeks of January, this approach is more focused yet broad.

Like many others, I’m glad to see 2011 fade behind. It was a year full of changes. I became engaged at the stroke of midnight a year ago, which was an amazing blessing and has been throughout the year. I finally launched that social media course I’ve had in my heart for many years, but I still have a big goal for membership there not yet attained. I’ve built stronger connections locally, and am building business with clients in my town. Many of my current projects are carrying over into 2012 and hopefully beyond. I feel that I’ve endured 2011 in many ways, but am ready to enjoy 2012 with more passion, energy, and focus than any other before.

Play

While there is something to be said about working hard, I’ve realized how very little I allowed myself to relax and enjoy 2011. I am rejuvenated by vacations, board games, reading books, playing my violin or mandolin, and getting together with friends. I make time not “working” a priority for the year ahead. It brings creativity and detaches me from hours spent “working” but getting nothing done. I have intentions of getting into more video games this year as a way to enjoy time with my fiancé as well. Play then carries over into work. Read up on it in Fish! Tales: Real-Life Stories to Help You Transform Your Workplace and Your Life .

Balanced

I tend to give myself 100% to one thing at a time. While I’m an avid multitasker online, in maintaining a balanced life, I am either spending long days doing little else but sitting at my desk. While play is one part of balance and likely the most needed, I also need to bring balance into these areas too:

Nutrition
Physical exercise
Spiritual studies and meditation
Relationship with mentors
Networking
Customer satisfaction
Business studies
Personal development

Success

Just the other day I was reading a post by Seth Godin that served as a wake-up call. The point I took away wasn’t really the focus of the article, but summed up a struggle I’ve had for years. Am I avoiding failure or pursuing success? I jumped ship into my business at an alarming rate without many plans on making it work. I lost a lot of the comforts of life and let my hasty choices take its toll on myself and loved ones. I’ve since improved many things in the past few years, but I’m not yet where I want to be. I’ve sunk into avoiding failure versus really achieving what I am capable of. This doesn’t just reflect finances, but what I want out of life. My entire passion and reason for being in this world must be reignited and fueled. Avoiding failure won’t do that for me.

To keep things moving along, I’ll take a note from Fitarella and break down one thing per month to do. Making commitments to myself builds confidence, produces results, and is a great way to try things out.

For the month of January, that first thing I commit to doing each day is blogging. You see, I get all revved up and last for a whopping 14 days. I will push through this because blogging is fun, it’s beneficial for my work, and it’s a way to organize my thoughts. To break it down further, I’ll be using 31 days to build a better blog and incorporating a variety of multimedia into my posts.

What about you? What are your three words for the year, goals per month, or other major mental shifts you are making in 2012?

Three Words for 2012 (christopherspenn.com)
My Three Words for 2012 (suzemuse.com)
My 3 Words for 2012 (chrisbrogan.com)

My 3 Words – 2012

Courtney Engle

iBooks Author reviewed

Social Media Account Dilemma: Personal Account vs. Brand Account

The social networks where you must have a company profile and where to create:

Social Networks that don’t require business pages:

The exception?

Related articles

Mobile Site vs Mobile App vs. Mobile Landing Page

Related articles

Google changes Search Engine Results – What it means for you

How to Brainstorm, Project Manage, and GTD

Related articles

What has permission to access your social media accounts?

Related articles

How To Organize Google Plus Circles

Related articles

What Choices Hold You Back?

Changing Times

My 3 Words – 2012

Play

Balanced

Success

Related articles