A hashtag is a word or a phrase prefixed with the symbol #. They have been used for some time by Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Chris Messina was the first to introduce them to Twitter. Searching for a hashtag will bring together all entries containing that word or phrase.

Image source: Matt Hamm, Flickr

Facebook have now introduced clickable hashtags and in their recent news post describe them as a way of adding context to posts and means of sharing public conversations about a given topic.

Hashtags are just the first step to help people more easily discover what others are saying about a specific topic and participate in public conversations. We’ll continue to roll out more features in the coming weeks and months, including trending hashtags and deeper insights, that help people discover more of the world’s conversations.

How to use them in Facebook

Add the symbol # directly before the word or phrase with NO gaps between and include this in your post. So for example “I am baking a #chocolate cake” would convert #chocolate in to a clickable link.

Searching for hashtags 

You can search for hashtags in the regular search bar, or just type in your browser: facebook.com/hashtag/xxx (replace the x’s with the tag you want to look up). The public posts containing the hashtag will appear in an order decided by Facebook’s algorithm which is based on popularity (like top stories) and as yet can’t be changed to date order.

The search will bring up the top 6 results. You then can choose to select one of them or see more results. This seems to list pages to ‘Like’ and not posts. However if you select the #chocolate Hashtag (second entry) you get to see posts containing the hashtag.

You can also see posts containing #chocolate via your browser: https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/chocolate (replace chocolate with the hashtag you wish to search for).

Privacy concerns

Mari Smith (Facebook expert) posted this entry outlining concerns you might have about hashtags, which she openly asks people to share:

“Lots of confusion flying around about #hashtag #privacy. This brand new feature is rolling out to all users. Here’s the scoop on privacy: 

* Hashtags work on personal profile posts, fan page posts, group posts, event posts, and all comments.

* As with all personal profile features on Facebook, privacy settings prevail.

* If you publish a post on your profile to friends only, and the post contains a hashtag – yes, the hashtag will be clickable and open up to display all other posts on Facebook containing that hashtag.

* But, ONLY friends can see friends-only posts that show up in hashtag searches.

* Public posts—with or without hashtags—are public.

* Private (friends-only) posts—with or without hashtags—are just that: private and visible to friends only.

*Even when friends include hashtags in comments on your friends-only thread, your post is still private and visible just to your friends.

*With hashtags shared in private groups, that clickable hashtag will open to show public posts with that tag (along with any friends’ posts with that tag), but posts from the private group would only show to members.

*Individual comments on threads do not surface in hashtag searches; just posts show in searches. 

Make sense? Please share with your friends! Thanks!
Mari Smith”

How will you use hashtags within Facebook?

Recommendations

LinkedIn recommendations are used to give a colleague or business partner that you have personally worked with or a service provider, a recommendation of their work. There is also the option to recommend a student, but I personally would use this only where you have worked with a student. For example on a research project or where the student was an intern. A recommendation is different to a character reference.

You can also ask request a recommendation from someone you have worked with. Both recommendations received and those you give, can be seen by those connections viewing your profile. However you can edit the visibility of recommendations you have received yourself and are given the option to accept or decline when they are made.

Below are examples of what recommendations look like on a LinkedIn profile. The name of the person recommending you will appear first, then the statement they have written, followed by the date it was made and the name of the company at which they worked with you.

To give  a recommendation:

1. Move your cursor over Profile at the top of your home page and click Recommendations.
2. Click the Sent Recommendations tab and scroll down to the Make a recommendation section.
   • To recommend a connection, click “select from your connections list” and click a name.
   • To recommend someone who’s not a connection, enter the first name, last name and email address.
3. Click the button next to Colleague, Service Provider, Business Partner or Student and click Continue.
4. Complete the recommendation form.
5. Click Send.

Endorsements

Endorsements are situated in your Skills and Expertise section within your profile. When any of your connections visits your LinkedIn page they are given the opportunity to endorse any of your areas of expertise. They can also recommend new ones to add to your profile. It is a way to publicly validate the skills of connections.

To receive endorsements you first of all need to add skills and expertise to your profile

1. Move your cursor over Profile at the top of your home page and select Edit Profile.
2. Scroll down to the Skills & Expertise section and click the pencil icon in the upper right.
3. Type the name of a skill and then choose it from the dropdown list that appears. If your skill doesn’t appear, completely type in the skill name.
4. Click Add.
5. Click Save.

You can add up to 50 skills to your profile. Skills with the most endorsements will be listed first. Skills without endorsements are displayed according to when they were added. You also have the option to hide any endorsements you do not wish to be visible.

Below is an infographic created by LinkedIn to celebrate the huge milestone of 1 billion endorsements given by 18 million people.

Infographic image source

LinkedIn icon image source

Aside from the Twitter web page, there are a number of different ways you can view tweets. Two of my favourites are:

• curating tweets to produce a digital style newspaper and
• showcasing tweets as a back channel that can be viewed publicly at an event 

Creating a digital newspaper view of tweets

If you have created lists for your Twitter feed (see my previous post on Creating lists on Twitter) you can choose to select one of these to populate your ‘digital newspaper’ with just the tweets from that feed. This is a great way to focus on a specific topic. You can also choose to select just the tweets with a specific hashtag or keyword within them. Once created you can share your newspaper with an auto tweet. Readers can then choose to follow or share your newspaper.

Here are a selection of tools you can use to publish a newspaper style collection of tweets:

Paper.li will automatically sort tweets into groups, for example business, education, stories, photos and videos. Below is an example of a paper.li using the search term #socialmedia.

Other examples include the Tweeted Times and My Tweet Mag.

The Tweeted Times

My Tweet Mag

Creating a back channel

If you are using a hashtag for an event or activity (see my post on Twitter hashtags explained) you can use these tools to publicly display all tweets containing your chosen hashtag. This can provide a visual and live update of those tweeting; potentially encouraging those not yet tweeting to get a feel for what it is all about.

Within Tagboard you can display your chosen hashtag in Twitter and also where users have included hashtags within messages on Instagram, Facebook, Google+, Vine and Google+.

TwitterFall collates tweets using either a hashtag or from one of your Twitter lists. There is also the option to include multiple searches. So if you wanted to include #socialmedia and #highered, you would see tweets containing these words. The nice thing is that each would be colour coded so those including one hashtag would be coloured differently to the other. As new messages are tweeted they will be added to the top, each displaying the users avatar, user name and the tweet containing the hashtag.

Visible Tweets also allows you to use any of the Twitter search operators (see further down for the full list). Your chosen selection can then be animated and displayed word by word, as rotating tweets or as a tagcloud.

Search Operators

Using search operators or advanced search enables you to really maximise the search facility with Twitter and locate tweets that are relevant to the topic you wish to explore.

There are so many time saving keystroke tips and tricks around and yet many of us (including myself) have either simply just not picked them up or along the way forgotten what they are!

David Pogue talks about some really useful ones in his TED talk. These include:

• Tap the space bar to scroll down a whole page and Shift + space bar to scroll up
• Use the tab bar to move between boxes on a form
• View a web page in bigger text by pressing + with the Ctrl key or - to decrease
• Simply tap the call key on your mobile to dial the last number keyed
• During a PowerPoint presentation tap B to black the screen and repeat to resume the presentation (or use W to white the screen)

Social Media Shortcuts

You might also like these keyboard shortcuts that can be used on Twitter and Facebook:

Twitter Shortcuts Cheat Sheet is an infographic that was produced by mycleveragency

Facebook Shortcuts Cheat Sheet is an infographic that was produced by mycleveragency

Do you have any more to share?

Below is an excellent article written by Shea Bennett on the 5 Stages of Getting Twitter. I am sharing her 5 Stages (in its entirety) as it is such a good summary and one that even the most prolific Tweeters will be able to resonate with. Having had numerous conversations on the topic, I know that many colleagues have also gone through these very stages. Those that have persevered and reached stage 5 now have a valuable resource at their finger tips. The key thing to remember is that Twitter is what you make of it. Follow people, companies, groups or brands that interest you. Do look at who other people follow and then if their tweets also interest you, then by all means follow them too. It’s a personal choice and will depend on the interests you have. If you only follow celebrities but are not interested in what they say, your Twitter feed will be meaningless.

5 Stages of Getting Twitter by Shea Bennett

Stage 1 – Denial (“Twitter is a waste of time.”)

Denial is the first thing that most people feel about Twitter. They’ve decided that it isn’t for them. They’re far too busy, and Twitter is a waste of time. They’re already on Facebook, after all – and they hate that, too. And look what happened to Myspace. Why make the effort?

Stage 2 – Anger (“Why would I care about what people are having for breakfast?”)

Twitter, Twitter, Twitter. That’s all the newspapers ever talk about! Who cares what some celebrity said to another on Twitter? Who cares what people are tweeting about when American Idol and The X Factor are on? Who cares that Twitter broke the news before anybody else (and that several people took on-the-scene photos, too)? Twitter, Twitter, Twitter – enough already!

Stage 3 – Bargaining (“I’m only signing up because my friends are on there.”)

Finally, they cave, and begrudgingly open an account, mostly to appease friends, or perhaps because Twitter is being mentioned a lot where they work. Yeah, I’m on Twitter, they say. Often they’re very active for 24-72 hours. And then completely ignore it for the next few weeks.

Stage 4 – Depression (“It doesn’t make any sense.”)

For many this is the worst stage. They’ve finally made the effort and signed up, and now all their fears are confirmed. They were right – Twitter isn’t for them. There’s nothing to see or do. It’s like talking into a vacuum. Who are these people following me? Why are these people following me? Who should I be following? Where are my friends? Who cares what I have to say? How come I can only write tweets about what I’m eating for breakfast? What the heck is a hashtag!?

Stage 5 – Acceptance (“I get it!”)

Many people don’t get to this stage, abandoning their Twitter accounts somewhere between bargaining and depression. But for those that do it’s totally worth it. They keep plugging away, keep reading, keep learning, keep asking questions and keep doing it. Suddenly, the light bulb goes on. Nobody can tell you what Twitter is, because Twitter isn’t any one thing. You have to find out for yourself. Then, suddenly, it’s your Twitter. You own it. You shape it. And you get it. It’s a beautiful moment. And often those who were the most resistant, and the most critical, become the biggest evangelists.

Shea Bennett: http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/getting-twitter_b9660

One of the features of Google+ is having a ‘Google Hangout‘, which is very similar to Skype. However the added value is that it is free for you to hang out with up to 9 people and have a private discussion or meeting AND be able to see each other. Using Skype for a group chat you can only hear each other unless you subscribe to the premium option.

The other feature is Google Hangouts on Air. This allows you to have a group conversation in the same way but it is opened to the public to view and listen in to. The hangout is also automatically recorded and uploaded to YouTube. This provides unlimited opportunities to share public conversations, debates, Q&As etc. Below are just a few examples of some Hangouts on Air.

President Obama Hangs Out With America

Reinventing Education with Khan Academy and AI Class

The Muppets

David Beckham

Preparation

Before using Hangouts for the first time, Google make the following recommendations:

1. Check out the system requirements to make sure you’re using a supported browser and operating system, and that your processor and bandwidth are sufficient.
2. Download and install the latest version of the plugin.
3. Make sure you have the latest drivers for your webcam.
4. For the best video quality, make sure you’re well lit from a light source that’s coming from behind your camera. Webcams don’t work well in low light situations.
5. Connect your head set to your device! Headphones with a built in microphone will dramatically improve your Hangout experience.

To start broadcasting:

1. Go to Hangouts.google.com.
2. Give your Hangout a name and invite the people you want to join you in the Hangout.
3. Select the option to Enable Hangouts On Air.
4. Once everyone’s in the Hangout and you’re ready to go live, click Start broadcast at the top of the screen.

Once you click Start broadcast, you’re officially “On Air” and the public will be able to watch your live Hangout.

Further resources

This website contains all the information you need to find and take part in Education On Air sessions on Google+:

• Live Hangout Schedule- List of upcoming live sessions and detail about how to register and participate
• Past Recordings- Videos and information about past Hangouts On Air recorded in 2012
• Presenters- Names, websites & contact information
• Social Media- Conference and session hashtags
• FAQs- Frequently asked questions
• Feedback- Your feedback on the conference

What the Plus! by Guy Kawasaki is a great start to get to grips with what Google + is all about. Whilst up there with the likes of Facebook and Twitter in terms of number of registered users, many still struggle to find how they can make the most of what it offers. Kawasaki refers to Google+ as the network where people can share passions, for example you may have friends on Facebook but on Google+ you could join a community sharing a special interest such as photography.  This book is now available as a free PDF so take a look!

More information is available on my Google+ page 

If you are thinking about creating a LinkedIn profile or have one but have not looked at it recently, the following tips may be useful.

1. Go to the privacy settings and options
   Make your profile private during the time you are completing the different sections. Why? Because whilst it is public, whatever point you leave it at can be viewed by others. Should someone search for your name your LinkedIn profile will rank highly and chances are will be looked at. Be sure that it is how you want it to be seen.
2. Add a photo to your profile
   Research has found that people are more trusting of profiles if a photo is included. It is considered preferable to an avatar or company logo and most certainly the default image.
3. Complete your whole profile
   Providing just the minimum of information is not going to give others a true reflection of your professional expertise. If you are going to have a profile it is in your interests to share the most relevant information about yourself AND update this as things change.
4. Include relevant keywords
   It is very important to consider the kinds of words people may use if they were looking for expertise in your field. In 2012 5.7 billion people searches were undertaken within LinkedIn alone. Be sure these keywords are included throughout your profile.
5. Edit your headline
   When you set up your profile, your headline that appears to the right of your photo will default to your current job title. However you can edit this and add further relevant key information.
6. Customise your public profile URL
   This appears underneath your photo and unless edited includes additional numbers and letters. In edit mode you can customise this to remove them. Add this URL to your email signature, business cards and bios on other social sites as a quick link for others to  visit your profile.
7. Add skills and expertise
   Within this section you can select the skills you wish to others to see. The added value is that your connections can now endorse these skills, which validates your expertise.
8. Ask for recommendations
   Reach out to people you have worked with and ask them to give you a recommendation. LinkedIn suggests you seek a minimum of three to complete your profile.
9. Make connections beyond your immediate work colleagues
   Take a look at who your connections are connected to. There is great value in expanding your network and this can be done by connecting with 2nd or 3rd degree connections. You can do this by asking your connections for an introduction.
10. Join relevant groups
    There are now in excess of 1.5 million groups to choose from. The excellent search facility within LinkedIn can help you find groups that match your interests. You can also create your own group and invite others to join it. Within a group you can engage in discussions and share expertise.

The Slideshare below is a summary of these ten tips to help you develop your LinkedIn profile. Remember though that to get the most value it is in your interests to review it, adding new skills, accomplishments along with any changes to your role. As already mentioned people regularly use Google or other search engines to find information and this also includes information about individuals. When they do this and see your LinkedIn profile, be sure it represents to the image you wish to portray. It is better to not have a profile at all then present a poorly or half hearted completed profile!

Kickstarter is a new way to fund creative projects. It is a platform where anyone can launch a project and seek funding. The project creators set a funding goal and deadline for their project. Projects only get funded if the funding goal is met. If people like the project they can pledge money to help make the project happen. In 2012 over 2 million people pledged just under $320 million, resulting in 18109 successful projects both in the US and UK.

What do they get in return you might ask? Well each project is different but typically the project creator may offer different gifts dependant on various levels of funding pledged. Gifts might include a free limited edition, the inclusion of their name within a cover sleeve or free merchandise. It is a powerful way to connect with a community interested in creative work. On each project page visitors can share using Twitter and Facebook extending the reach of the project to more people. Some projects use the site to promote their work and are not looking for funding. Either way the project creators keep total ownership of their work.

Creative Areas include: art, comics, dance, fashion, film & video, food, games, music, photography, publishing, technology and theatre. You can search for projects in these categories, by city or those featured by Kickstarter.

Creative works were funded this way for centuries. Mozart, Beethoven, Whitman, Twain, and other artists funded works in similar ways — not just with help from large patrons, but by soliciting money from smaller patrons, often called subscribers. In return for their support, these subscribers might have received an early copy or special edition of the work. Kickstarter is an extension of this model, turbocharged by the web. – Kickstarter

The video of the Landfill Harmonic project really caught my eye. It is a truly inspirational and moving story of how instruments are being made from recycled trash in Paraguay. Instruments include a cello made from an oil can and wood that was thrown away in the garbage. This has then opened up the opportunity for children in this area to be able to own and learn to play a re-cycled instrument and become part of an orchestra. Pledges start at $1 however this project will only be funded if at least $175,000 is pledged by Wednesday May 15, 6:10pm EDT.

Some other examples of successful projects are below, but this is just the tip of the iceburg! I would definitely recommend you visit Kickstarter and take a look for yourself to see what is being achieved.

You can follow Kickstarter on Twitter, Facebook and updates on their blog

audioBoo is a free app that allows you to easily record, tag and instantly share audio. You can record from your desktop, by using the app on a smartphone or by uploading as an audio file. There’s a 3 minute limit for the free plan, but you can upgrade for more. You can share your boos with Twitter and Facebook or embed in blog posts or your website.

audioBoo Channels

Audioboo also has a selection of channels you can listen to that are well worth exploring. These include audiobooks and blogs, as well as categories such as the BBC, Business, Charity, Community, Culture, Entertainment, News, Radio and Sport. Some examples include Brian Blessed, Bletchley Park and the Guardian. Follow @AudioBoo on Twitter to get updates on recommended boos.

A video introduction to audioBoo

Intro to Audioboo from Mark Rock on Vimeo.

There are many reasons why people choose to blog. This blog was originally set up by me to introduce my students to blogging and other social media tools. I therefore chose to make the blog public, so that all of the students could access it. However there are two other options. One where you can make your blog private and the other where you can choose who may view it via invitation by entering their email address.

Image source: http://www.paintbits.com/

Private blogs

Having a private blog can provide a useful space for reflection and developing your writing. Many use a blog as a diary, a collection of ideas or as a means of organising information to refer back to. A semi-private blog where only those you invite to read can provide a space to share ideas and build upon them by inviting the readers to leave comments.

Public blogs

If you are writing a blog and wish to share your posts publically, then there are a number of simple things you can do to increase your readership.

• Add an email subscription box so that readers can click to subscribe to your blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
• Connect your blog to popular social networking sites and automatically share new posts with your friends.
• Add sharing buttons to your blog and allow your visitors to share posts with their friends.

Other things to consider are making it easy for others to find your blog and posts within it.

• Give your blog a meaningful name
• Craft the titles of your posts to include words people might use to search for that topic
• Complete an about page to give visitors an outline of what you are blogging about.
• When adding images make sure you give each one a useful descriptive name but also complete the Alt Text box to give it a description.

Alt Text

Complete the Alt Text box when uploading images to add to your blog

The alt attribute should describe the image. Once completed it will serve to help any search engine identify the image but also help those who are visually impaired and using a screen reader.

When you hover over an image on a website where the alt tag box has been completed, the description will be displayed.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

The tips above include some of the simple things we can do to optimise the chances of our blog posts being found in a search. The video below is an introduction to understanding SEO.

Source: Lee Lefever, Commoncraft

You may also find the one page Google SEO tips sheet useful or the more in depth Google SEO starter guide.

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