Hanging By a Thread

Baby Steps: Learning to be Patient with Our New Endeavors

The best laid schemes of mice and men, go oft awry.

        ~From the poem, To a Mouse by Robert Burns

 Change is Good

At the end of winter and the beginning of spring this year, along with melting and budding and greening that the changing of the seasons brings, our household was making changes too. Dear Husband, Will, was forced to start looking for a new job; a new career. After a bit of searching, both on the job boards and in the soul, and a whole lot of brainstorming and praying, he decided to make a business plan and start a social media consulting business.

In May of this year, he opened the doors, so to speak, by launching his website for Open Door Consulting, Inc. Each day brings ups and downs in this new endeavor. We are ever hopeful, optimistic and yet realistic too. As with every new business, each step taken is a baby step ...hopefully, a step in the right direction.

We did not plan to open a business. We did not mean to both be self employed, but life happens and we must be resourceful and creative and learn to cope. Little by little, Open Door is gaining momentum.

The Written Word

This week, Will launched Open Door's Blog, The Key Word. His goal is to write interesting, informative, key posts on social media topics that run the gamut from online networking, analytical tools, social media tips in general to specific social media platforms, tricks of the trade, business blogging, Will's own experiences, opinions and practices.

Will intends to post 3 to 5 times per week. And guess what? Yours truly will be helping out by posting once or twice a week over at The Key Word. While these posts will specifically be aimed at businesses using social media, anyone using social media platforms for work or play or a little of both, will likely gain some insight and some know how from these articles.

My first post at The Key Word is up today. So, please go check it out and find out why every business should be have a blog. And feel free to drop Will a line of encouragement over on Open Door's website.

The Scoop

Do you have a business? Do you use social media? Do you hire someone to help with social media? Talk to me, folks. Over and out....

Anna

You might also like:

Blowing Bubbles in the Wind: Giving Ideas a Chance at Life

Twitter 101: Engage, Build Relationships, Reply...

Motherly Advice: Choose Faith

Practice Makes Perfect: Teen Drivers’ Inexperience Can Cost Us All

It Takes a Village

I don't have teens yet, not even by a long shot. And I realize many of my readers don't have teen-aged kids either. So, why should you care about teen drivers and the shocking number of crashes involving these drivers?

Those teens are driving on the same highways that you take on your way to work or to the zoo with your kids in the morning; those teens are driving down the same streets your little ones are riding bikes and trikes and that you are running on; those teens are driving home in the dark on the same roads your family is driving on after having dinner with friends.

We all need to care about teen drivers and whether they are safe, supervised and following the law. Parents of teens should ensure that their teen and his or her friends follow the law regarding when teens are allowed to drive and who and how many can ride with a teen driver.

Open Line of Communication

Parents should talk to their kids, of all ages, about the dangers of distracted driving and instruct their kids that using a cell phone while driving is NEVER acceptable. Parents must remind their kids that it's important to make sure every passenger is buckled up, with a seatbelt, booster seat or car seat. And as always, parents must remember to always be an excellent role model when driving.

My Darling Boys are just as passionate as I am about safe driving. They are just as relentless in their reminders of buckling up and not talking or texting. My almost 5 year old won't even let me eat while I drive. They are this hyper-sensitive about distracted driving because we talk about it often.

There will always be distractions and teen drivers will have to learn to drive under less than perfect conditions, but it's all about gaining experience little by little. That is what the Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) programs are all about; allowing for more and more unsupervised driving over time.

The Stats

These statistics are astounding and sad:

12, 479 male drivers and passengers ages 15 to 19 were killed in crashes from 2000 to 2006;

6,579 female drivers and passengers ages 15 to 19 were killed in crashes from 2000 to 2006;

Teen drivers ages 16 to 19 have a fatality rate four times the rate of drivers ages 25 to 69;

Sixteen-year-old drivers have a crash rate three times more than 17-year-olds, 5 times greater than 18-year-olds, and two times that of 85-year-olds;

One in three teens who text say they have done so while driving;

The estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 was $40.8 billion in the United States just in 2002;

Crashes involving young drivers claimed the lives of nearly 3,300 other people in 2009 alone; and

The risk of crashing is highest during the first year that teens are eligible to drive.

Source: www.CDC.gov & www.saferoads4teens.org

For every one of these deaths, there are two parents; parents just like you. Let's stop these needless deaths by educating our youngsters and ourselves about the dangers of inexperienced driving and driving with distractions.

Safe Driving Resources

Here are some insightful resources for parents and kids on the topic of safe driving, dangers of distracted driving and teen drivers:

• Safe Roads 4 Teens
• Department of Transportation's Distraction.gov (there are some graphic & convincing videos, but be aware of the graphic nature when viewing with young kids)
• Consumer Reports
• CDC.gov

The Scoop

Have a wonderful, safe weekend. If you are looking for Motherly Advice, it came early this week, and you can find it here: {Special Thursday Edition}. Over and out...

Anna

You might also like:

 Walking a Fine Line: Social Host Laws and Underage Drinking

Challenge Reissued: Simulated Distracted Driving & Teens

Phone Down; Eyes Up: Distracted Driving Statistics Update & Driver Challenge

Why I stopped Watching the News

Bad News

I used to watch the news on TV. Then, I moved on to reading the news online. And then I stopped altogether. I listen to Minnesota Public Radio for local breaking news. I check weather.com for weather updates. I see bits and pieces and links to news in tweets. And I read The Week magazine back to front for news from around the world.

Last night when I was thinking about what I was going to write about this week, I decided to check a national news website for inspiration. I found out that a teenage boy had been lured to a home by other teenagers and viciously murdered in Florida. I learned that a young, female, real estate agent in Iowa was found shot in a model home and later died at the hospital. I read about a mom and her daughter who were found murdered in their apartment in New York. One story always leads to another similarly bloody, terrible story. I saw a headline about a bomb and a mall and a suspect in Colorado, and then I left that site.

I decided that the local news must be better on Easter Sunday. On a local Twin Cities news site, I read about a girl in critical condition who was accidentally shot by her father when his gun jammed while shooting targets and he was attempting to fix it in the home. I found out a woman was sexually assaulted while jogging early Saturday morning in an up-scale suburb. And then, I remembered why I stopped reading the news.

Irrational, but Comforting Reasoning

I hate to read these stories of tragedy, picture the evilness unfolding and see the happy, smiling photos of the now murdered, missing or broken. And yet, I read these stories... every single one I see a headline for or hear about and look up online. I read these stories searching for any detail that I can find to set me and my family apart from the victim of the story. I read these stories to know how the person attacked, taken or killed came to be in this situation.

If they live in a different area of the country or live in a bad neighborhood or run with the wrong crowd or are involved in drugs or commit crimes or have relatives who did these things or work in risky industries or this or that then they are not like me and these things won't happen to me. Irrational? Yes, but it gives me a bit of peace while I try to protect my family from the wolves of this world.

And what if they are not unlike me? What if I can relate to these victims? What if the crime occurred too close for comfort or happened to a mom, a dad, a kid or a whole family? Then, I scour the article for details spelling out exactly how this crime occurred so that I can try to ensure I'm never in this situation or so that I can warn my kids to never do this or always do that, etc.

An Intense Imagination

These stories fuel my imagination, are forever burned into my mind's eye and tug at my heartstrings. Until I became a mom, I could handle it better. It always bothered me, but there were years that I watched all the crime shows and TV news magazine shows, like Dateline and 48 Hours. I was consumed by these issues during law school years and when I worked in the courts, but often it was not hard to differentiate myself from the persons involved in these violent crimes.

I tend to be an empathetic, passionate, analytical person and these traits have only become sharper with the births of my Darling Boys. If you aren't an intense, passionate, type-A personality you're probably shaking your head, perplexed by my paranoia, or laughing at my methods; and that's OK. As the saying goes, to each his own. But if you are like me, you know what I write of.

The Scoop

I send up prayers of sadness and hope for the aforementioned people and their families. I send up prayers questioning why these horrible things must happen. I send up prayers of thankfulness that my family has safely made it through another week.

For now, I'm going to stick with MPR and The Week for my news and shield myself from these horrendous stories. Am I alone in these thoughts and feelings; or can you relate? This week's schedule is crazy for our household. So, it's going to be a week of variety on Motherly Law. Over and out...

Anna

You might also like:

The Cautious Approach to Life: Tips for Teaching Your Kids Gun Safety

When Staying Isn’t an Option: Tips for Identifying an Abuser and Leaving an Abusive Relationship

There but for the Grace of God, Go I: Tips and Websites for Keeping Your Child Safe In and Around Vehicles

Ultimate Blog Party 2011: 2nd Annual BYOB {Bring Your Own Blog} Party at the Motherly Law Domain

Welcome to my blog, Motherly Law! I'm so glad to have you here. I'm a mom and an attorney, and I write about legal issues that affect families and offer tips and resources that pertain to those issues. On Fridays, I provide a bit of Motherly Advice; and when I'm inspired to write something totally unrelated to law, I do that too.

I've come a long way since Ultimate Blog Party 2010. Back then, I had just launched my blogging career and had about 12 posts under my belt. That seems like eons ago. I now post just about every day, actively participate in Twitter and Facebook, have attended BlogHer 10, Minnesota Blogger Conference and Blissdom 11 and have actually met many of my online friends!

I accidentally stumbled across the hashtag for Ultimate Blog Party last year and followed it back to www.5MinutesforMom.com. I quickly wrote a post, linked up and started party hopping. This year, I had it on my calendar. I have been monitoring the hashtag to ensure I don't miss out on any important #UBP11 information.

And now, it's here. So, I straightened up my site, put some shinier, prettier Facebook and Twitter buttons up, cleaned out the cobwebs {it is the World Wide Web, right}, and made cookies for the party.

Now here's the thing about the cookies. I was going to make something from scratch. I really was, but then time got away from me. I got busy and ran out of time. So, these cookies are slice and bake chocolate chip, but they're still yummy...and straight out of the oven.

I'm reading an advance copy of Becky Beaupre Gillespie's and Hollee Schwartz Temple's Good Enough is the New Perfect, and I have decided I fall in the "Good Enoughs" category; and I'm OK with that. So, no homemade cookies, but they're warm and freshly-baked. So, enjoy a few with a big glass of ice-cold milk or hot coffee and keep reading!

What I love about social media is the having the opportunity to meet and connect with so many wonderful, inspiring people across the country. I love hearing from readers that I have informed, entertained or made some kind of impact through a post. And I love to write!

I've covered distracted driving, estate planning, bike helmets, stalking, food regulations, toy regulations, pool safety, bullying, family law, car seats, gun laws and numerous other subjects. In the near future, I plan on tackling education, vaccines, child care, adoption, etc.

So, click on a few of the linked posts or go through the archives, but take your time, relax and enjoy. I'm from Texas, where people are friendly, and I live in Minnesota, where people are nice, which means I'm a gracious and kind hostess; and I would love to have you back as often as you would like to visit.

And last bit of information: I have a fantastic giveaway going on thru Sunday, April 3, 2011; $50 in shop credit from Circle Line Studio. Be sure to check out that post and enter to win!! Over and Out...

Anna

Divine Designs: Circle Line Studio Giveaway

Spring Cleaning

Looking for an easy way to spruce up your interior this spring without paying a bundle? I've got just the thing for you... a $50.00 Shop Credit Giveaway from Circle Line Studio. Connie Norsworthy's vinyl wall decals are chic, fun, interesting and adorable!

Aren't these examples just fabulous?

If you aren't familiar with Connie's designs, please go right away and check out the endless possibilities for making each room in your house uniquely yours, whether you rent, own or like to frequently change the décor.

Contact the Artist

You can access Circle Line Studio by clicking on the ad in the right sidebar or going to http://circlelinestudio.bigcartel.com/ or http://www.etsy.com/shop/circlelinestudio. You can find Connie on Twitter at @Circle_Studio.

How to Enter

To be entered in this Giveaway, you can:

Leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about this week;

Follow Motherly Law on Facebook;

Follow @MotherlyLaw on Twitter;

Subscribe to a RSS feed for Motherly Law {in the box on the top, right sidebar}

Follow @Circle_Studio on Twitter;

Tweet about the Giveaway; or

Post on Facebook about the Giveaway.

Just be sure to leave a comment for EACH of the things you do to be entered multiple times for this Giveaway!

On Sunday at 7 PM CST I will pick the winner of the $50 Shop Credit to Circle Line Studio using www.random.org. Good Luck! Thanks, Connie, for sponsoring this Giveaway!

Anna

Life After Death: Your Online Digital Legacy

On Death & Dying

By the sound of the posts this week, I'm dwelling on death lately. I'm really not any more than my over-active, paranoid brain usually thinks about what would happen if...{fill-in-the-blank with any horribly sad newspaper headline ending in "leaving behind a devoted husband, two small boys, two giant dogs and three aging cats."} Regardless, these issues of estate planning must be attended to during our active lives to make everything easier on those who we leave behind if....

An Online Presence

I can count on one hand my friends and family members who don't have at least a Facebook account. Yet most have Facebook, Twitter, maybe an old MySpace page, a YouTube account, a blog {or two}, a Flickr or Tumblr account, a LinkedIn page and/or a host of lesser known social media networking sites. And I am going to venture a guess that just about everyone in this country has an email address; even my 87 year old grandma checks and sends email daily. Many people have e-trade accounts with passwords that change frequently or simply do all of their banking and bill paying online, etc. The list of online accounts is endless. We are one big online community.

To which of these groups do you belong? Do you have your accounts and passwords written down somewhere safe? Does your spouse or significant other, parent, child, friend or sibling know your passwords to these accounts? Your answer is probably no. More than likely you keep the passwords in your head and have shared them with no one.

So, what happens if you go to bed and don't wake up in the morning; or on the way home from work, your car is struck and you die? What will happen to your online digital legacy? Will your pages and accounts remain open and online? What do you want to happen to your blog(s) or other online writings, photos, etc.?

Last Digital Wishes

These are issues that have not traditionally been addressed when getting your estate plan in order, but these are now important issues if you have any online accounts. You might want information and photos from Flickr, Tumblr, YouTube, a blog, Facebook, etc. to remain visible and public for friends and family to continue to view, remember, feel close and mourn, but perhaps, you want an investment account, LinkedIn and a PayPal account closed.

On the flip side, if you don't record your wishes regarding your digital legacies, your family might think they should remove all online accounts, pages, etc. immediately. Yet, friends and family, especially those across the miles, may feel doubly sad and lost, losing all written and photographic memories of your times and experiences together.

Regardless of what you wish to be done with your accounts, you must record the information, share it with someone or use a service that will store, back up, secure, get rid of and/or notify loved ones with pre-written letters or videos, etc.

There are several services that have multiple levels with various price points depending on what services and the number of accounts you have. Here are a few to check out: Legacy Locker and Entrustet.

The Digital Afterlife Experts

Evan Carroll and John Romano run the site The Digital Beyond that is dedicated to all things regarding online digital legacies. They recommend naming a digital executor to handle all of your online information. A digital executor must understand the technology involved and that may not be the executor of your estate. Carroll and Romano further suggest making an inventory of the name of the account, passwords, etc. and what you want done with each of the accounts. You could use my free Financial and Legal Documents Records Book download for this purpose.

Terms of Use and Privacy Policies Regarding Death

It's important to review the terms of the online platforms you use to ensure your directions to your digital executor or other pre-designated arrangement upon your death do not violate the Terms of Use of Privacy Policies. For instance, you may not be able to transfer some online accounts to another person.

Twitter and Facebook do have policies handling the death of a site participant, which have some good points and are lacking in other ways. Facebook apparently allows for a memorialized page, but based on the number of comments from distraught family members of deceased Facebook users whose profiles have suddenly been removed or locked, Facebook needs to revisit its policy terms on this subject. The Digital Beyond lists other sites and their policies here.

Other Resources

This is a developing area of information. In the last few months there have been a number of articles written about this topic:

After Death, Protecting Your 'Digital Afterlife'

Digital Estate Planning: The Importance Of Giving Access To Online Accounts

Cyberspace When You're Dead 

2011 is Heating Up!

If you are concerned about digital information left on computers, but not online, such as financial records, photos, articles, drafts of literary or scholarly works, etc. read this article from the Wisconsin Lawyer by Nathan J. Dosch and Joseph W. Boucher where they address property rights, transferability, copyright issues and other matters concerning digital records stored on a deceased computer.

The Scoop

All in all, the moral of the story when it comes to estate planning is to, well...plan ahead. So, be prudent in how and where you list account numbers, passwords, user names and PINs, but do provide an inventory whether it's a list left with your attorney, in a Financial & Legal Records Book like the one in yesterday's post or through an online service, as referenced above.

It's a relatively simple process, but it does take time to keep it up-to-date and involves more than a pen and a stack of post-it notes stuck around the house {which is my preferred method of reminders and bits of important information}. Although 1 or 2 post-it notes left in strategic locations reminding you to take care of your online digital legacies is probably a good idea. Over and out...

Anna

And we interrupt this program with an important announcement from our sponsors...

I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to my lovely advertisers on Motherly Law. I now have 6 ads on the right sidebar {one is mine that leads you to my advertising information page}. I love the variety of goods and services represented here.

Erin and I Photo. As I wrote in a past post, these two sisters, Erin and Andi were great working with our family to get fabulous shots of all of us, but particularly the Darling Boys. We really enjoyed our photo shoot and got some wonderful photos. If you are in the Twin Cities be sure to check out their site {by clicking on the ad}. And contact them next time you need to update your family's photo album. They are creative and affordable.

Krazier Designs. Micah is a work from home dad of two young boys who juggles the demands of his web design business with that of fatherhood on a daily basis. Micah has designed several of these ads for Motherly Law's use. While Micah is located in the Twin Cities, he's able to work with clients in any location to build new websites or improve existing websites. Click on the Krazier Designs ad to contact Micah to discuss your design needs. I am eternally grateful for his generosity in offering design guidance for several Motherly Law and related projects.

Circle Line Studio. Connie Norsworthy designs fabulous vinyl decals. Until I came across Circle Line Studios when I heard the term "vinyl decals" what I pictured was the tacky decals for baby nurseries that could be had at BabiesRUs. Well, if that's what you picture, think again {and quickly click on her ad}. Connie's designs are super chic and fun at the same time, but NEVER tacky! I'm totally taken by these products. Click on the Circle Line Studio's ad to check out these room transforming designs. In fact, next week, Connie will be hosting a Giveaway on Motherly Law. So, if you like what you see {& you will} be sure to come back next week for a chance to win shop credit at Circle Line Studio.

Fabuliss. Sasha Westin is the woman behind this style assistance biz. Fabuliss offers wardrobe revamping, personal shopping, style and color consults, etc. Sasha assisted me with shopping for a suit for my two recent panel engagements and was a huge help in making my shopping trip successful and efficient. You can read about my personal shopping experience and the results here. Again, Sasha is based in the Twin Cities, but does do remote style consulting from photos, etc. Check out the Fabuliss site by clicking through the ad and get signed up for the Fabuliss Email Newsletter full of great style tips and information.

401(K) Recovery Program. If you lost ANY money with traditional 401(K) programs in the past several years, you should take a minute to check out the K Plan Retirement Advisors site. This is a new product that uses annuities instead of stocks to fund an account. There is no risk of losing any money. I know this is all true because this is my Dad's business and this product was developed by him {and he's a genius... I mean it}. No matter what your age is and no matter how much or how little you have to invest, this product is worth the time to learn more about it and decide if you are ready to stop risking losing your money again with the unpredictable stock market. Don't be the last person to realize the brilliance in this investment plan...click through and learn more.

The Scoop

I do need to tell you that while I truly think these advertisers have great businesses and/or products, I was either paid or exchanged goods and services with these advertisers for the ad space.

I still have more ad spots available. If you are interested in advertising with Motherly Law, please click through the "Your Ad Here" ad and go to my advertising information page for additional information and contact me at motherlylaw@yahoo.com. Over and out....

Anna

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure: Tips for Selling on eBay, Craigslist and Amazon

When to Let Go

The dilemma: Whether to get rid of every piece of baby and tot gear, toys and clothes. Yes, the Darlings have outgrown these items; yes, we don't have the room for it in our home; and no, we are NOT having any more kidlets. So, clearly the reasonable answer is, yes.

I'm really not the type to get sentimental over the baby bed {my Darlings rarely slept in their baby beds despite our best efforts} or the pack & play or strollers, etc., but there are a few outfits, blankets, books and toys that I will be putting away for safe keeping. I don't really know why, but for now I'll hold on to a few things from those sweet days of babyhood.

I recently read that people are prone to price items too high for resale whether it's for a garage sale or eBay, Craigslist or other venue because we over value certain items when there's an emotional connection to that item. This is probably very often the case when it comes to baby gear and family heirlooms.

Tips for Great Ads

So, how do you get your online ad to stand out, attract buyers and sell? Here are a few simple tips:

1. Choose the right online classified platform for you: eBay, Craigslist or Amazon, in general. Do a bit of research to learn about the best items to sell on each site, the fees, if any, pricing, additional requirements, etc.;
2. Read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of the site you choose to ensure your ad will conform with their policies;
3. Write a detailed headline and use keywords in the title that will help your item reach the top of the list when similar items are searched;
4. Write a detailed and accurate description of the item to be sold. Remember to be honest regarding the amount of use, condition, etc. Be sure to include brand, model, size, color and other such information;
5. Provide a number of good quality and detailed photos of the item(s) to be sold. If there's no photo, many people won't even bother to view the ad {and I'm one of those people};
6. Proofread your ad {several times}. An error regarding a detail in the description, price, payment or shipping could cost you; and
7. If you will be shipping the item(s), offer reduced or free shipping. This will help you stand out among other sellers with similar items.

These few simple tips can help you succeed in selling quickly and making a profit, regardless of which site you choose.

What Not to Sell

But is there anything you should just throw away or donate rather than list online to sell? Yes. Each site has a list of items you are prohibited from selling; for Ebay’s list click here and for Craiglist list click here.

Additionally, this U.S. News and World Report list written by Amy Lu details the items you should never buy {or sell} used:

1. Cribs and children's furniture
2. Car seats
3. Bicycle helmets
4. Tires
5. Laptops
6. Software
7. Plasma and HDTVs
8. DVD Players
9. Digital and video cameras
10. Speakers and microphones
11. Camera lenses
12. Photo light bulbs
13. Mattresses and bedding
14. Swimsuits and undergarments
15. Wet suits
16. Shoes
17. Hats
18. Makeup
19. Pet Supplies
20. Vacuum cleaners

For the details as to why this is a list of no-nos to buy and/or sell used, click here for the whole U.S. News and World Reports article.

The Scoop

Tis the season for spring cleaning...I've found that sometimes it helps to have someone with an independent, unattached opinion on hand when going through a pile of discarded items in the basement and pricing these items for resale. Plus, it takes less time if you recruit a friend or family member to help out. I'm still trying to figure out the best option for our gently used goods. Over an out...

Anna

You might also like:

Alphabet Soup: Food Safety Standards; USDA, FDA, HHS & Now FSMA

The Overly Cautious Traveler: Must Read Pool Safety Tips

Distracted by Technology: Are Hands-Free Devices in SYNC with Safe Driving?

Twitter 101: Engage, Build Relationships, Reply...

What's the Big Deal about Twitter?

If you're a Twitter addict, have you ever watched someone's eyes glaze over as you launch into the benefits and positive attributes of Twitter and tried to explain how you have friends all over the country that you've never met...and probably never will?

If you're new to Twitter or you've never even been on the site, have you ever been thoroughly confused about what the heck someone is talking about with references to @this and @that, #s (hashtags), 140 characters, DMs, shortened words and acronyms thrown in for good measure? And you probably think it's all mundane useless chatter and "who cares that @soandso is having baked chicken and green beans for dinner or that @suchandsuch is watching Glee and doesn't like what Lea Michele is wearing."

My Experience with Twitter

Long, long ago in 2010, I was just starting to learn about social media. I had read I should definitely get a Twitter account if I was going to blog. So, I did; one more thing checked off the list. How Twitter worked remained a mystery. I also figured out how to have my posts automatically go to Twitter. Great, no need to even go over to Twitter, I thought to myself.

So, I launched Motherly Law in March and kept feeding my post titles to Twitter. Then, in mid-April I met with the only blogger I knew in real life and she sat me down and pointed me in the right direction, which led me directly smack in the middle of a slow and trickling Twitter stream.

All of a sudden, the sun was shining, angels were singing, Twitter made sense! Haaaalllllleeelllllluuujjjaahhh! I spent several whole afternoons following people, engaging in conversations and tinkering around on my page. After time, I had regular conversations with the same people; little by little I increased the number of people I follow and follow me; and I actually met local bloggers and tweeters and started to talk to them on Twitter too.

Not a Big Deal on Twitter

Since I'm now an experienced Twitter user, I have started to get frustrated about how so many people and business entities miss the point of Twitter, just as I did when I first started out in the Twitterverse. Additionally, I see a lot of new users struggling to figure it all out and truly engage with Twitter. So, I decided to give you my two-cents on the subject.

I want to be clear that I'm certainly not claiming to be a Twitter expert. If that's what you're looking for, the person closest to that description is @Unmarketing, Scott Stratten. I'm just a girl who uses Twitter on a daily basis and has finally figured it out and made some awesome friends across the country through tweeting.

My Twitter stats:

• 5042 Tweets
• 1418 Following
• 1601 Followers
• On 115 Lists

And changing everyday... What do these numbers mean? Absolutely nothing. I could follow 5 people and have great conversations with only those 5 people or I could be followed by 150, 000 with every one of the 150,000 people hanging on my every tweet {OK, that would be fun}, but the point is that Twitter is what you make it. You get out of it what you put into it, which is the case for most things in life.

Twitter 101

I have most certainly committed these egregious Twitter sins, but I have seen the light, repented and made better choices:

1. The Point of Twitter

   Many new users, nonusers and business entities miss the point of Twitter. Twitter is about finding folks with similar interests and exchanging news, information and tips; supporting and encouraging those people through words during difficult times; having someone to chat with anytime of day or night; and building friendships where distance, schedules and locations don't matter.

    

   Twitter is not a place to simply repeat your message over and over and over. No one will listen to you and you will think Twitter "doesn't work."

    

2. Spend Time on Twitter

   In order to really "get it" and understand how the site works and where these new relationships will come from, you must spend time on Twitter in the beginning finding people to follow, sending tweets, tinkering with your profile and generally getting comfortable with the platform.

    

   In the beginning of really participating in the Twitter stream, I would spend 4 or 5 hours at a time a day or two a week in order to find people and start having some meaningful conversations.

    

   Don't feel compelled to follow back every person who follows you. It's OK to block and report for spam. I do it every day. There's a lot of junk out there too; so, beware that not everyone is who they say they are. After a bit of time on Twitter, it will be easy to spot a spammer though.

    

3. Engage

   Engaging means having actual conversations with people; I saw a wise tweet the other day telling a Twitter Newbie to remember Twitter should be a dialogue. This is so true. It's not a matter of simply pushing your message over and over; it's about building relationships with people and businesses, as I've mentioned.

    

   Engaging means replying to people's random tweets for which you have a response; it's about responding to those who retweet (RT) your tweets, @ you or # something about which you are interested in, promoting, etc.; it's about spreading other's relevant, touching, funny, interesting information with a retweet; it's about sharing what's going on in your life; it's asking a question and getting an answer from people who have been there and done that. It's like having a lifeline to tow all day and all night, every day of the year.

    

4. Don't Send Auto DMs

   This one annoys the heck out of me. Please don't send a Direct Message to thank me for following you and directing me to check out your site and "Like" you on Facebook. I see that as junk mail. Feel free to send me a tweet @MotherlyLaw saying hi, but please don't clog my DMs with junk mail. I'm apt to unfollow you just as quickly as I followed you.

    

   I was guilty of doing this when I first started using Twitter because I noticed people doing that to me. I was learning by watching others and I thought that was proper protocol. And I did it. My only blogging/Twitter-using friend at the time told me in no uncertain terms to stop immediately; and I did.

    

5. Use Your Manners

   You should also remember that hundreds of thousands of people could potentially see your tweet, far beyond your own followers streams. It could be RTed over and over; or be picked up by one of the many bots that seeks out Twitter streams. So, be careful what you say! Don't be rude; don't defame; don't use profanity. Before you hit Tweet, be sure the 140 characters speak the truth and do not harm another.

    

   This is not to say that Twitter doesn't have a sarcastic side; sarcasm is prevalent, but be sure you aren't tweeting something that could potentially be construed as libelous and lead to a lawsuit as it did for the AP Sports Reporter regarding a tweet about an NBA Ref during a MN Timberwolves game in January.

Twitter Apps

There are systems that can help you manage your Twitter account by scheduling tweets, automatically following back those who follow you, delete spammers, etc. I think it's fine to use these applications as long as you also truly engage with the people you are following. I would discourage you from auto-following though. You mustn't feel that you have to follow anyone. You should follow who you want to based on interests, professions, locations, etc.

The Scoop

Are you participating in Twitter and reaping the benefits of engaging? Are you new to Twitter and confused by it all? Or are you a business entity that never follows anyone and neither responds nor engages in a dialogue?

If you don't engage you risk your message, whatever it is, being lost and ignored as static quickly disappearing in the ever moving stream. Don't let that happen. If you're on Twitter, please drop me a line @MotherlyLaw and say hey.

Tomorrow I'll have a guest post from Attorney Kara Jensen Zitnick regarding the importance of trademark registration in regards to online endeavors. Over and out...

Anna

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Phone Down; Eyes Up: Distracted Driving Statistics Update & Driver Challenge

A Funny {or not so funny at the time} Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Travel Distractions & a Focus on Things Learned

Social Media by the Numbers: Fill(ed)-in-the-Blank Statistics

Fair Warning

If you are thinking of starting a blog, be warned. These statistics are fairly grim regarding the number of blogs, blog abandonment, etc. Most of this data comes from 2010 information. The last several years has shown a significant increase in online activity, with the advent of the "smartphone" being a prime reason for this.

A Test of Social Media Knowledge

Below you will find sentences with blanks. If you look further down, you will see words and numbers to use to fill in the blanks. See if you can put the correct answers in the blanks. I will post with the answers filled-in later today. This is an open book test, you may you use the links provided below. Good luck.  (I have now filled in the blanks for you)

Blogs

There are approximately 400 million {English language} blogs, as of 2010, floating out in the blogosphere. 60 to 80% are abandoned after a month; 1.09 million blogs have been abandoned after one post. According to a study done a few years ago, approximately 132,000 blogs are abandoned after 1 year. Most active blogs are updated 2 to 3 times per week; 33% of bloggers update once a day. 63% bloggers spend more than 3 hours per day working on their blogs.

Blogger Demographics

1/4 of bloggers have an annual income of $100,000 per year. 63% blog as a hobby; 21% are self-employed; and 1% are corporate bloggers. Women make up 1/3 of bloggers, with males comprising 2/3 of that group. 40 to 60% of blog readers are women. The state of CA has the most blogs, with 15% of the blogs in the U.S.; NY comes in second with 8%. The ages between 21 to 35 are responsible for 53.3% of the blogs.

Facebook & Twitter, Etc.

There are more than 400 million active Facebook users. When it comes to consumer influence, Facebook (49.7%) is/are slightly more popular than blogs (47.1%). Twitter has over 24 million unique visitors per month. There are 500 million tweets per day, with 600 tweets per second. 78% of bloggers use Twitter with a primary goal of promoting his or her blog; and 87% of bloggers have Facebook, but only 34% have a separate Facebook page for his or her blog.

According to TopRank Marketing, the most effective social media sites to promote blog content are Facebook (28%) and Twitter (26%) followed by LinkedIn (4%) StumbleUpon (3%) Flickr (2%) and YouTube (2%).

Resources for Statistics

Mashable

Graphics MS

E-Junkie.info

Top Rank Marketing

The Scoop

To the Newbies: If you are feeling brave and confident, go for it. To the Experienced Crowd: Have you ever abandoned a blog; or even thought about abandoning a blog? Why do people abandon blogs? Lack of time or interest; or maybe both?

Who knows, but it IS hard work and takes dedication, regardless of whether a person blogs as a career, to promote a fledgling business, to keep Grandma updated on Junior's growth, personality and cutie pie pictures or for the sheer reason of writing a developing a readership. I spend at minimum 30 hours per week on Motherly Law and that number doesn't count my time spent on Twitter & Facebook. It takes dedication, perseverance and love of writing to keep going day after day.

This information will be relevant for the next several weeks of posts. I'll be referring to it. Don't forget to stop by yesterday's Giveaway post to enter to win $52 worth of fabulous skin care products from Mary Kay Cosmetics! Over and out...

Anna