The Tools I Use
I was proposed by a friend of mine, Andres, to make a post for students about the tools and services I use that are best for any student in any stage of personal branding or social media marketing.
Twitter Tools
Hootsuite
My prime online web-base Twitter manager. The ability to control various profiles, set up columns, team management, and best of all the speed at which it runs is absolutely amazing. I have used other tools, AIR based like TweetDeck, and Seesmic (online also), but HootSuite by far has won my approval as my Twitter manager.
search.twitter.com
The easiest and simplest way to search Twitter and get optimal results by filtering through the noise. search.twitter.com is just as quick in its updates as is the online web stream from the Twitter homepage. The best way to use Twitter Search is by using the operating filters. Go through the list and understand the ways that those operators help you.
Example; Social Media AND Case Study filter:links – This will return Tweets with both “Social Media” & “Case Study” with a link available.
Tweet Grid
Tweet Grid was coded by a friend of mine @jazzychad, and I have used it since the day he launched it. I love this site because it allows you to open up one browser window with a grid size of up to 3×3 and 1×10(scrolling) to control your own feed, Direct Messages, and searches. Great for big screens if you want to up the grid size, and amazing for small screens at the 1×3 setting.
Twitter RSS Results
With Twitter Search, you have the option of saving the search as an RSS feed. Now as a student the best thing is being able to “just read it later”. Well by saving a search as an RSS feed, you do have that ability. Once you have entered your search query, on the top right corner there will be an RSS icon save/import that feed into your RSS reader and you’re good to go!
ReFollow
ReFollow is a tool that allows you to see, who you’re following, who follows you back, who you’re following that isn’t following you and other combinations. Allowing you to follow whoever you choose to, or to unfollow if the user has been too inactive. With all the options in ReFollow it’s the best tool for me to manage followers.
Blog Tools/Plug-ins (WordPress)
Networked Blogs
An application for your blog to connect with Facebook with statistical tracking. Also allows you to follow other blogs. Networked Blogs is great for bringing in your blog to Facebook without losing traffic to the Notes section of Facebook.
All-in-one-SEO Pack
Easy to run SEO plugin, changes meta data and optimizes urls for search engines. Download the Plugin here.
Disqus Comment System
Manageable comment system integrating Facebook and Twitter logins. The plugin is simple to use and you can find your comments through your blog website, or the Disqus website.
Yet Another Related Post Plugin (YARPP)
Adds related posts to the end of the current blog posting. Based on tags, meta data, and context of the previous posts. Download here.
Reading
Hopefully to give you more insight on what I skim through on a daily basis to find blog topics, ideas, and keep up on research that happens every day in the online world. Probably the most integral part of developing a brand and learning social media marketing, reading is the Number One way to learn new ideas and strategies.
See my shared RSS feeds.
My Social Media and Branding Feed.
My Business Feed, (includes Harvard Business Review & Inc.com)
My Tech Feed, (includes TechCrunch, Mashable, et al.)
I hope this gives you a clue to what I use and how you can use them too. Suggest any that I might not know, leave a comment I’ll check it out!