Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/PF4RPr

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Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/Vrzw9R

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Lucy

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Lucy http://bit.ly/PF4OTH

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Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/VrzuyN

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/PF4Mva

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/PF4Kn7

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/VrznmT

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/PF4Hrs

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/VrziQ9

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/PF4Fj8

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Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/Q1xfh4

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Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/SC8sCt

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Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Scrapbook 497, Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/Q1xd94

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/SC8rP4

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/SC8qul

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/Q1xcln

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/SC8nPd

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Ask Me Anything!

New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/Q1x99a

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New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/SC8mLa

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New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/Pf5PqU

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New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/Pf5Mf0

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New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/Pf5O6k

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New blog post from Rich on Tumblr! Ask Me Anything! http://bit.ly/QPog0R

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Why are none of my posts being received by Google Blogger?

One can see how many things used to be directed here, but it just doesn't happen anymore. Did somebody forget to pay the light bill?

We need an academic spring: Free Access but authors pay: this is not the Acade...

We need an academic spring: Free Access but authors pay: this is not the Acade...: mic Spring According to today's Guardian (16.7.12) the British government is about to 'unveil' plans to make science research free to access, but by tranferring costs to authors who apparently will have to pay an 'article processing charge' to publishers of about £2000 per article. This so beggars belief that I have written to The Guardian to check whether it is a misprint for £20 - and why should authors pay anything - they should be PAID to publish. If universities henceforward pay authors' fees, who will pay those of independent researchers, including those who have retired from teaching?  [copied from cited blog].

@NewageSounds: "#Enya – Caribbean Blue" ♫ http://blip.fm/~1bybhe

Twitter / officialAVGnews: News & Threats: Fake F http://ping.fm/UBh46

5 Ways Small Businesses Get Social Media Wrong

5 Ways Small Businesses Get Social Media Wrong

Nellie Akalp is the CEO of CorpNet.com, an online legal document filing service, where she helps entrepreneurs incorporate or form an LLC for their new businesses. Connect with Nellie on Twitter or visit her free resource center.

It’s hard to go anywhere these days and not be bombarded with social media. That’s because Facebook has 900 million active users, there are more than 200 million Twitter users, and then there’s Pinterest, the latest darling.

Given this reality, it’s impossible for small business owners not to feel a sense of urgency to master the social media landscape. But in the rush to join the social media party some small businesses are making critical mistakes. Here are five common errors that small businesses make when it comes to social media and how to avoid them.

1. Social Isn’t the Place for the Hard Sell

This might be the most difficult lesson for the small business owner. After all, we don’t have large marketing budgets to waste. Every dollar must count and we’ve been trained to close every potential sale. However, the social universe requires a subtler approach. This means no BUY ME buttons or blatant promotional copy.

In fact, if your social media strategy is just about marketing or sales, then you’re not approaching it right. Yes, you can use social media for marketing and you can increase your sales figures from it, but it can’t be your focus 100% of the time. As a general rule of thumb, only 5% to 10% of your social media activity (i.e. status updates or tweets) should be self-promotional.

Social media is all about building relationships and growing trust. This means answering questions, providing helpful information, and serving as a trusted resource. These activities should grow your bottom line, but it can be a slower, more nuanced, and potentially more fruitful journey than you’be come to expect. For this reason, it’s important to realize that social media shouldn’t replace all your other traditional marketing practices. It’s okay to ask for the sale, just not in social channels.

2. Social Isn’t About Self-Promotion

You know how painful it is to be stuck at a cocktail party, talking to that self-absorbed person who only talks about him or herself. Small businesses need to treat social media like a cocktail party among friends. To be liked, you’ve got to be gracious, genuinely interested in others, and not dominate the conversation.

What does this mean? Make it easy for people to leave comments on your blog. Engage with everyone who posts on your wall (within reason). Share great content from others in the industry. Ask questions and encourage participation. And most importantly, recognize that sometimes it’s better to talk less and listen more.

3. You Don’t Have to be Everywhere

There are two facts to keep in mind when it comes to social media and small business. First, there will always be a new network to get involved with. Secondly, a small business owner has a limited amount of time and money to devote to social media.

Fortunately, doing social media well doesn’t mean you need to be anywhere and everywhere. Instead, it’s about choosing one or two of the most relevant and effective channels for reaching your customers and focusing on them.

Remember that a neglected social media presence will reflect poorly on your business. It’s actually better to not have an account if you don’t have the time and resources to actively manage it and participate.

4. You Don’t Have to Keep up With the Big Brands

If you’re running a small business, you know there’s a big difference between your budget and that of Virgin America or Starbucks. That’s OK. Your small business doesn’t need to try to keep up with these big brands — particularly when it comes to contests and campaigns.

Creating giveaways and contests is one of the most effective ways to generate new likes and improve overall engagement. But small businesses often feel the pressure to offer flashy prizes that are well beyond their budget.

For example, for your small business, don’t give away a bunch of iPads if that’s not what you can afford. Instead, consider giving away one of your company’s services. It’s definitely not the sexiest prize and won’t generate widespread interest, but it’s more budget friendly and everyone who participates is sure to be interested in what your company does.

5. Social Media isn’t “Free”

Sure, you don’t have to spend a dime to join Facebook, create a Twitter account, or start a blog. That’s great news for the small business. However, social media is far from free once you factor in the blood, sweat, and tears it demands. Social media requires constant commitment, from keeping fresh content on your accounts to engaging your community.

Unless you consider your time (or the time of your employees) worthless, then there’s a significant cost involved with social media. For example, if it takes one employee approximately ten hours a week to manage social media accounts, you can assign a hard cost to the effort. The key takeaway is any small business owner needs to understand the numbers behind every campaign, and that means factoring in everyone’s time and effort.

Do any of these pitfalls look familiar to you? Have you struggled with or seen other social media challenges?

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, logorilla

You broke the Internet. I'm going to eat.

Search over 4 million UPC numbers - UPC Index http://ping.fm/rYZ8p

576723_10151033995630729_1815686175_n.jpg (640×640) http://ping.fm/2aAbJ

79th Anniversary of the First Drive-in Movie http://ping.fm/pT6Pl

Vissarion Belinsky, Russian literary critic http://ping.fm/yl3g7

Consumer Complaints for The Homeowner Defense Network - BBB serving San Diego and Imperial Counties http://ping.fm/uA1y9

BBC News - Facebook and banks behind flotation face lawsuit http://ping.fm/Pnhdf

How can Seesmic Ping replace Ping.fm if it doesn't work?

Drop Groupon, Hold facebook, buy LinkedIn.

Facebook blocks Snopes for being spammy, unsafe | ZDNet http://ping.fm/8HyHP

Amazon.com: Reading Sicily (in English) eBook: Stephen O. Murray: Kindle Store http://ping.fm/xKhGS

[http://ping.fm/a05hy ] IBM Marks 60 Years of Magnetic Tape Innovation; Verizon-Cable Deal Poses Internet Access Threat.

Deter. Detect. Defend. Avoid ID Theft http://ping.fm/oB9kq

[http://ping.fm/R5zcu ] Internet Hall of Fame: The Pioneers of the Wild Web; Kaspersky Lab Analyzes Mac OS X Security.

Satellite Bars | Liquor.com http://ping.fm/onOV4

Computational Complexity: I left Push Down Automata out of my class and learned some things!

Computational Complexity: I left Push Down Automata out of my class and learned some things!

My Empire Avenue Strategy and Tips - Chris Pirillo http://ping.fm/ycPid

Pauls Online Notes : Calculus I - Proof of Various Derivative Properties http://ping.fm/HGsfA

Is the Soup Done Yet? | Empire Rules http://ping.fm/Y3ATR

thescarletnumbers | http://ping.fm/SUX3o

Books about Terre Haute: Farrington's Grove - Historical Photos & Images of Terre Haute: Farrington's Grove - Arcadia Publishing http://ping.fm/V2yCP

Samsung Galaxy S III Alternatives: 10 Good Smartphones Available Today - Mobile and Wireless - News & Reviews - eWeek.com http://ping.fm/RImd8

dirty_remark.jpg (625×404) http://ping.fm/Ol3cP

I Guess We're Not Supposed To Ask

I Raff I Ruse http://ping.fm/JNmnQ

My Other Handsome Blog: Preview http://ping.fm/7gQns

Somebody flagged my MyYearbook account

Banks of Marble - by Pete Seeger - YouTube

Not much to say: But I blipped this with the tag, "This Sunday, contemplate where the real churches are."

From: http://ping.fm/Pqftj

This Sunday, contemplate where the real churches are. ♫ http://blip.fm/~1ba07c

Medical Tests You May Not Need - ABC News http://ping.fm/P1vEf

Never lose data again with the USB safety pin http://ping.fm/euSgU

Join me on Empire Avenue

http://ping.fm/u55jS

Russia threatens to strike NATO missile defense sites - Washington Times http://ping.fm/k3NSZ

Bath or shower?

That's it: Be subtle.

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

One World Trade Center becomes NYC's tallest building – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs http://ping.fm/9pTMH

Are you scared of heights?

Yes, when they are unaccompanied by lengths and widths. Dimensional isolation is very disturbing.

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

Do you collect anything?

Dust.

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

RITA ORA - How We Do (Party) - YouTube http://ping.fm/1b25A

If you could read one book for your entire life, which would it be?

If I could read one book, why could I not read another? Are they off limits? Are they written in other languages? I do read several languages. They say there are no stupid questions, but I fear you may have proven otherwise.

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

Do your socks always match?

Shut up!

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

@suga Lips ♫ http://blip.fm/~1b4z8g

@slicedgeek ♫ http://blip.fm/~1b4z6j

Stolen from @Bustinha ♫ http://blip.fm/~1b4z1w

FUNERAL DO RICARDÃO DICRO http://ping.fm/j68gH

I seem to have given klout.com a severe case of indigestion.

Do you wear stripes a lot?

You wanna talk about it out on the yard, or go on a potato diet?

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

What's the last thing you bought? Was it for you or someone else?

The farm. It was for my fans.

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

The Jataka, Volume I: Book I.--Ekanipāta: No. 136. Suvaṇṇahaṁsa-Jātaka http://ping.fm/J8d0b

Regular Expression Matching Can Be Simple And Fast

Today, regular expressions have also become a shining example of how ignoring good theory leads to bad programs. The regular expression implementations used by today's popular tools are significantly slower than the ones used in many of those thirty-year-old Unix tools.

This article reviews the good theory: regular expressions, finite automata, and a regular expression search algorithm invented by Ken Thompson in the mid-1960s. It also puts the theory into practice, describing a simple implementation of Thompson's algorithm.

From: http://ping.fm/A1qbh

If you had a free day with no work and no school, how would you spend it?

Like the resulting paycheck.

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Do you ever watch movies more than once?

Yes, but only simultaneously.

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

Excuses.com http://ping.fm/ESOtB

Last-minute tax filers face limited extended postal hours - News - Citizens Voice http://ping.fm/pMwRd

I just threw that last part in for laughs. talkintamuself

Why do you love me so?

Why do you love me so?

Answer here

Would you rather take a picture or have your picture taken?

How much does it pay?

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

Front, middle or back of the movie theater?

For what?

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

If you ran Formspring for a day what would you do?

I'd get rid of these unwelcome questions.

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

Where is your favorite place to relax?

I think the last time that I _truly_ relaxed was in my family home.

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Food Safety News - Global Food Safety News & Information - Home http://ping.fm/0yNVm

The Baobab Papers | unfolding interiors and unearthing universes http://ping.fm/o4Hfo

What's the best thing that's happened to you this month?

I went a couple days without your questions.

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What's your favorite way to workout? In the gym, playing a team sport, taking a class or some other way?

Cleaning house.

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*headbutts Toxic Elvis* talkintamuhself

Amy Winehouse Tribute Video Embed Code

I couldn't see this the day of the tribute because I was in the wrong country.
Our Day Will Come: Amy Winehouse Tribute - Closed-Captioned

Amy Winehouse | Myspace Music Videos

eWEEK: RIM's BlackBerry Is Dying: 10 Ways to Save It; Kelihos Botnet Still at Work http://ping.fm/eU5D8

Twitter makes me puke like Kate Winslet followinglimit

When was the last time you asked permission for something?

If you don't remember, then just take your damned knife and get the hell out.

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Are you the life of the party?

Up until they start to flee . . .

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How tall are you? Have you ever wished to be a different height?

Do you have some kind of a complex? You _do_ know that you asked twice, don't you?

Ask me about shifts and flip-flops.

Interesting Example of Creative Work http://rareswan.co.uk/