Social Media and Your Kids - Tips to Help YOU

As a parent of a tween/teen you will get mixed feedback on social media and your kids! None of it really makes sense, but you are expected to be an expert.  

The first time I realized my child's social media was out of my control was when her school set her

up with a Google account "for school purposes only" but being a veteran social media user - I knew that was just the beginning of her online thumbprint.

Social media is scary - I know - when I was 16 the biggest thing we had going was email - now I am trying to raise children in a society that speaks 140 characters or less, followed by #coding aka #hashtags that increases our presence.  

I sat down this weekend and listened to another teen/tween's mom pour her soul out to me about her fears of social media - and no worries Momma, I have those same fears.  

It is no lie social media is dangerous, but it can also be productive - so while it seems like the devil working (and it can be) there are ways to help prevent the hellstorm (yes I spelled that I wanted it) before it happens. 

What YOU can do as a parent:

Know the law, we do not have to go to law school to know we are responsible for what our child does online, in text, over the phone, and in person.  We as parents sign an invisible contact that we will and are responsible for our children - that includes their online presence.  

Know what accounts your kids have - now here is the trick since you are "legally" responsible for them (even if you only have joint custody) you have the right and really the OBLIGATION to know what they are doing online.  They cannot tell you that it is none of your business - unless of course they plan to get a job, pay rent, buy food, pay for that electronic device, and....pay an attorney to help them become legally emancipated.  Don't worry they won't and any sane judge won't grant it.  

Make them give you all passwords, see in my house I am the password dictator - if I don't know your password, pin code, ...yada yada yada - I will pull the plug, all the way down to the charger cord. You will follow my rules or you will not enjoy the simple pleasures. 

Know your kids can lie online , kids can lie to you even on social media - if you click over to Becky Davenport on Facebook you will see I lie to people daily, it shows I have 0 friends.  I am an adult and I believe the people that follow me deserve privacy so I hide my friends - so if I can lie, so can your kids can too!  

Know the privacy settings on your kid's page, realize some may have them full public (not good) and some may have them private, but block you from seeing individual post.  Yes you should stress about this!  If you can't see everything they are posting - then they should not be posting.  

Learn a little online slang, I get tickled at my father-in-law who has no clue what a #TomSelfie is - that is because he does not know what a hashtag is and really has no need to as he is 80 and just fabulous! However, as a parent you should know what hashtags are and understand their meanings.  I once saw a bright young girl post the tag #420allthetime - she had no clue that meant she was thought smoking pot all day was cool - nor did her parents.  This could lead to job loss, career failures, and loss of friends all because of lack of social media education. 

Know how to DELETE and where to delete, there are times you just need to wipe clean and say my bad or their bad!  DELETE is okay. 

Know what apps have visual memory and what apps have virtual memory; oh the love of Snapchat - until some man realized that naked selfie he just sent is saved on some virtual server - and if his wife is smart enough she can recover it - remember nothing is truly secret.

Know their locations settings, do not and I repeat again DO NOT let your kids "check in" places - until they have left.   As a blogger I get paid to say I am at places, but my safety is sooooo much more important than the someone making money.  It is okay to say you were at a place, but wait until you are gone before doing it.  Also know that once you write a review of place or check-in at that location people can read your comment and see your profile - so this could lead to strangers seeing your information/page.

Know their friends, I have this shameful embarrassing story that happened to me (a social media expert) several years ago.  I was popular online, I then lived in a semi-small community, and lots of people knew who I was.  This young man with no profile picture began messaging me and liking my photos - I was in the middle of going through a divorce so the kind words were refreshing.  This young man who I had no clue what he looked like said to me "I saw you tonight - you had your hands full at homecomers" ....I was a bit creeped out and kind of snapped on the young man.  A few minutes later the young man came back and asked me to let him explain.  I gave him a few minutes of my time - only to find out I did know the young man - except he was not a young man he was an older married man in my then community that did a lot of volunteer work - he knew me from the gym, but was too scared to come up in person and talk to me, so had created a fake online profile to talk to me.- needless to say he should have been scared considering he was married.
However, if this could happen to me as an adult, imagine what could happen your child.

Know how to track your child's social media behavior.  When I said there is an app designed to see everything your child does online - other parent's jaw hit the floor.  Well pick it up, because there is lots of apps that help track their online thumbprint.  You can google social media tracking for parent's and come up with a list of good ones - the best I have seen in use is Socially Active  - it gives a pretty good run down of their virtual presence.

Do I think as a parent you should delete all their accounts, yell and scream at them for the social media mess ups?  NO - I think we have to remember they are kid's their brains are not fully developed and we are parents that know nothing - I know I already here those words.  As a parent what you can do is educate yourself, download the apps, find out what kids are doing, and get up in your kid's business! 

How to Pin Photos from Instagram to Pinterest

A small miracle happened in my world today - I discovered I could pin photos from Instagram to Pinterest, both on my computer and on my mobile phone.

This could be earth shattering for me - I use to hate Pinterest, mainly because I could not intertwine my Instagram photos - without a huge headache.

NOW - I could very well fall in love with Pinterest.  

How to pin your photos from Instagram to Pinterest.  

Instagram is still a mobile app - since most people use it on mobile I am going to first show you how to pin your photos via the mobile apps first.

First post a photo on Instagram , use one that you have already posted, or you can use these tips to pin someone else's photos like I have done here.

Go to the Instagram the photo and you will see this: 

You need to click on those 3 dots that I have circled in red, when you click this will pop up.  

Magically more options appear - to pin the photo you need to Copy Share Url - you do that by just tapping it.  

Once the URL is copied you will get a green notification (link copied to clipboard) that looks like this:  

You are ready to now pin the image on Pinterest!  First you need to open you Pinterest Mobile App, when you open it you may see something in blue at the bottom of the screen - if you do, click it.  It will automatically take you through the steps of pining.

If you do not see the blue line, you will need to do a manual upload from a website, so you will go to the + symbol. 

You will need to select the web option (world image) then you will be taken to this screen: 

Simply paste the URL of the Instagram Image you would like to share.  Then you will be taken to this screen: 

Now I have noticed this screen stalling, or going blank, or not appearing - if it does, just re-paste your link and try again.   Once Pinterest finds your image you will see this screen: 

Obviously you will pick your image - there should only be 1 image.  Once you have selected your image you will be brought to this screen:  

This will be where you select what board you choose to pin this photo to - please note if you belong to group boards, know their rules for pinning photos.   

Once you have selected your board you will be brought to this screen: 

Now you are either done with the photo or you can Edit the description: 

That little pencil inside the circle will give you the option to edit the description, change your URL (in case you want the photo link back to an article), and add location.  

You may want to at least give a better description of the photo - and if it is not your photo - give credit the person whose photo it is.  

Now Pinning from the Web: 

Many people do not realize they can view, comment, and follow people on Instagram from their PC - ironically the only thing you cannot do on the Instagram website from your computer is upload photos.  

To pin photos from Instagram there is 2 options. 

1.  Click the photo you want to pin and then use your pin button from your tool bar - that is probably easiest. 

2.  Copy and paste the URL into Pinterest, just like you would do any other website you are pinning from. 

Then click over to Pinterest and click the upload button: 

From there you have the same steps as you do in mobile; selecting boards, editing pin, and sharing over other social networks.  

Happy Pinning you all - if you have any questions feel free to ask!  

Let's Talk Wisdom and Social Media

I talk a lot about social media, especially here in rural Missouri.  I spend time helping small bloggers/media, businesses, and people build their influence - and much of this I do for free.  I know I am destined to be broke, but at least I love.

Social Media is the 1980's party line of today - yes I know what a party line is - I shared a phone line with my beloved GaGa and the neighbors down the road - we knew everything about everyone for miles around.

Screwing up social media is worse than telling the wrong person your dirty little secret - SERIOUSLY.

One wrong word on social and you are doomed to be attacked and even worse if you are brand you are then labeled to be a hater.

I have seen some royal screw ups - I have made some royal screw ups - but at the end of the day we learn from our mistakes, and often other's mistakes.

Here is my tips to helping you avoid royal screw ups -

- Do NOT hire a college educated social media specialist - anyone can learn to build twitter followers, share photos of Instagram, and post snazzy updates on Facebook - but NOT everyone can learn humanity.  Humanity you are born with, you are then taught from an early age how to use that humanity quality.  People laugh when I say I do not have degree in marketing - that is correct I do not - I have a background in Social Work - which opened my already open mind - to something new and works for me when I am connecting with my followers.

- Be Real - following trends does not always pay off - I could be famous if I tried, but frankly being famous seems time consuming and exhausting - so I do not jump on every bandwagon social, political, and emotional train and ride it out - I just be me.

Social Media is NOT about numbers it is about people - I cannot preach it enough, every profile has a person behind it - unless they are computer generated, but that is totally different - every person has a story, an emotion, and an opinion.  Think about that when you are posting - yes it is your feed, your brand, your company - but it is your responsibility.

Ask for Help - arrogance is the worst - Having the opinion that you got this it dumb - no it is IGNORANT - I know you are intelligent, but there is no way possible any person knows everything.  Every day I am emailing someone asking for advice, how to approach something, or just sharing my thoughts - find your network and go with it.

Social Media Strategist, Blogger, Reviewet, Traveler....You got it, I do it all!

\

Yesterday while I met with one of my clients, he told me that I should advertise what I do.  Fact is I stink at trying to get business....I would like to say I am humble, but in reality I can sell for those I work for, but cannot myself.  #Fail

I did decide this morning (while in the  shower) that I could write a post and tell all the services that I offer, unfortunately I did not have my computer with me (in the shower) at that moment and it totally slipped my mind what I was going to say.

So here is my attempt at telling you.

Image via CrunchBase

Social Media Strategist - I run Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest....any social network you can imagine for you and make you look COOL.  I will disclose here I am NOT an expert, but I am real.  I am not an executive with a masters in business sitting behind the a fancy desk in a snazzy suit.  Nope, I am a Mom, I often work from my rocking chair in my sweatpants and flip flops.  The difference is I am REAL, you have access to see my social media accounts, you can look at my Facebook page, you can friend me, get to know me, and understand I am HERE FOR YOU.  When you meet me chances are (unless we meet in a fancy restaurant) I will be decked out in a t-shirt in jeans and talk to you about REAL things.

My goal is not to line my pockets with extra money, it is to make your business, organization, town, community, church...you get it I work with all kinds, look as GOOD as you ARE.

I offer Social Media Services in two different manners:

• I run it for you, I will set it up, run it, write the content, communicate with your clients, and make you look snazzy. 
• OR, I help YOU understand your Social Media even while I am running your Social Media.  I don't want you lost in the mix of it all, I want you to feel comfortable with what I do.   I also teach classes on Social Media, and I will take the time with my clients to sit down and show them how to READ their STATS, how to communicate with their followers, and how to establish their brand.  My goal is not to have a long term relationship with you (although I will if need be), my goal is to educate the community on how to use Social Media to their best ability.  I am here for my clients, they have my personal phone number, email, and I will answer their questions, take their feed back, and listen to them.  

Note I did say I teach Social Media and Blogging Classes....Stay tuned, I have some upcoming classes!  

Travel Blogger / Event Promoter

Many know I LOVE to Travel and I LOVE the State of Missouri, I also write for TravelingMom.com as The Missouri Traveling Mom.   I love to share with others how fabulous it is to travel, where to go, and the best way to travel there. I also often get asked if I travel outside of the State of Missouri...YES I do, I love to Travel....however, due to financial restraints I often stay closer to home.  I do accept press invitations, will work with communities of all sizes in all areas.

The other side of being a travel blogger is a Social Media Promotion, a little secret is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, is one of the BEST ways to draw attention to your event, locations, or what you are needing promoted.   I offer Social Media Promotion along with travel blogging....to put it in basic terms:  Are you having an event?  Invite me to the event, I will help draw attention to your event on social media.  I tailor this uniquely to each event and will work my hardest to help you get your word out.

Product Reviews 
Something that I do, but don't do as often as many other bloggers is product reviews.  I will review your product, share my true honest opinion, and tell over my social media, blog, and in person my experience. I am looking currently to do some outdoor product reviews including camping supplies...if anyone has any tips, or products I could share with my readers, let me know.

Now just in case I have intrigued you and you want to chat more, feel free to reach out me via email adventuresamongus at gmail dot com.   or you can find me on Facebook at Becky Davenport (I did say I share my life with my clients.  :-)

Relationships Change as Fast as People Change their Facebook Profile Picture

So for the second time this week I have logged onto Facebook and suddenly noticed that a friend of mine

has changed their profile picture and there is a NEW MAN in the pic.....

I am not talking about them suddenly getting a boyfriend, I am talking about them going from one man in the profile picture to a new man in the picture.

This sometimes really CONFUSES me....maybe I am simple minded, maybe I am behind times, heck I don't know what I am, but I am confused.

The simple fact is you cannot jump from one relationship to another, it just don't work...you have to have break between men/women.  Your heart has to heal!

What I don't understand the most is how someone who has a beautiful family, can suddenly drop everything and walk out the door for someone else.....In the past year I have watched other families fall apart, people fall apart, and lives be destroyed for "lust".....what is sad I have not just seen this in one or two families, I have seen this in numerous families.

I can assure you men and women the grass may be greener on the other side, but the cow is often fatter, and the shit is deeper....it is as simple as that.

If you marriage or relationship is falling apart, STOP what you are doing, PAUSE your life, and take a look at reality.   Some relationships are not salvageable, I get that, but maybe your marriage or relationship is not able to be saved, but the damage you do while you are ending it can be stopped or lessened.

Personally I feel that couples should be required to go through counseling prior to divorce or custody cases....I know this seem far fetched, but as a mother that shares custody with the the father of her children, I can say it would have been a whole lot easier to do if I did not have to mull through the pain of the what he did, what he didn't do, and oh shit his new girlfriend is in the car with him...I'm not ready for another woman to be influencing my children....

You see parents, in the long run it is not about you, it is about your kids.  It is about bridge or GAP you build between the family.....so the next time you go to change your Facebook profile picture/relationship status, STOP think about who it is going to impact, see if there is any way to slow down the pace, stop the damage, and salvage what bonds you have with your last profile picture/significant other.

~Becky

Changes Changes Changes...Leaving the Past BEHIND US....

Over the past few months I have been playing things around in my brain, well last week without my knowledge, and a fail of my domain host, my original blog domain was sold out from under me.  This left me frantic and scratching my head and then reality sunk in....my life has CHANGED so drastically so in the past year I need NEW, FRESH, and a ME VOICE.

My life is no longer about weekly adventures, road trips, and things to do with your kids.  I do still travel and have adventures, but now my life is much busier and full of new things...I spend my days chasing chickens, canning pickles, learning to hunt, going fishing, and surrounded by good ole country folks.

I am going to say this is a "God Thing' this is a "new adventure" or just a chance to start over.....I am RE-BRANDING myself as The Missouri Mom.  I already write as the Missouri Traveling Mom for TravelingMom.com, so I decided that I would just take on The Missouri Mom as my title.

I am leaving Adventures Among Us live, because I do have so many hits and faithful readers, but I am slowly going to transition over my stories along with sharing my new stories here.

The Missouri Mom will and is about MY LIFE in Rural Missouri, My Travels throughout Missouri and beyond, Events in Missouri, family, parenting, HUNTING, and everything in between.

I feel strongly that leaving Adventures Among Us behind will be the final healing process and a close to the devastation divorce brought me.  I have now surfaced began a new life with new people and want to share our life without the negativity of the past.

I pray my readers will stay with me, follow me wherever I go, and will enjoy our new life.

God Bless!

~Becky, Lesse, D-man, & ..............................(we will fill in the blanks later)

Should I hire someone to handle my Facebook Page....

I was recently asked by a local businessman asking me why he cannot get as much interaction on his Facebook page as I can on mine and if he should consider hiring a marketing firm to handle his social media.

I quickly explained to him that social media should be handled by someone that is dedicated to your business,  you need to think of social media as your personality being presented to your customer 27/7.... I think I had the poor man scratching his head...so I later emailed him a list of answers to help him out!

I feel for small businesses in today's time, especially those owned by an older generation and are trying to stay up with the newer generation.  There is the risk of being to "hip" for your older clients and not hip enough for the younger generation.

Here is what I later answered the local businessman:

Marketing firms are great, I think they could get your Facebook page up and going, but I would look closely to who you hire.  I would want someone that would be at my beck and call, someone that would take the time to sit down and explain how to use Facebook, someone that would spend some time in your business getting to know YOU and YOUR CUSTOMER!

I then told him to consider this for his Facebook Page:  his business was located in a town with a population of less than 900, his local school more than likely had a business club or something of that sort.  Look for a teenager that is pursuing a career in marketing, media, or just loves to be on Facebook.   Get with them, talk it out with them and see if you can slip them some money for helping you with your Facebook.

No Luck there....then look for a local blogger, or social media guru (like me), someone that he (or his wife) follows on Facebook  and talk to them.  Many folks love to make a few extra bucks and lets face it running a Facebook Page is not that hard (I secretly admin several).

If still no luck, look within his own business, maybe he could purchase a book on Facebook and someone with his own business could take control over his Facebook.

Then I explained if all else fails then I would consider hiring a marketing firm to handle his Facebook account.

Of course this left him standing with tons of questions, like how much to pay, what do I have them post, how do I know if they are doing a good job.

Pay for Facebook????  Everyone charges a different fee, some charge by the month, some charge by the post.  I personally charge both ways depending on each individual page I am running, some pages are high maintenance and some just want me to look over the page and make a few post here and there.

What do they Post????  Here is the real trick to Facebook, what do they post.  The key to success with

Sample Post I did for the Town of Marquand, Missouri.
To see video click here:  http://youtu.be/7ro6VVXtRC0

Facebook is the person making your post has to LOVE your business as much as you do.  They have to be able to portray YOUR PERSONALITY 24 hours a day.   I have personally became so mad at local businesses for the sheer fact that they come off as buttheads in their Facebook post and I know they really are not....I often have to remind myself that someone other than the owner is running their Facebook Page.
When I am hired to work on a Facebook Page I take a few days to get to know the person I am working for, I then look back over their past social media presence, and then I begin to write some post.  My goal is to always put the business first, even if I know I am going to work harder than what I paid to work.  I know many local and small business owners don't have the money to put out in marketing that large companies do.  In fact many of them can barely afford a newspaper ad let alone to hire a marketing firm to do all their advertising.

Statistics for Visit Bollinger County -
A Facebook Page I started on 07/23/13

How do I know they are doing their job????  The first thing is to NEVER lose power over your Facebook, make sure they leave you on as an administrator and do not hire them unless they are willing to take the time to TEACH you how to operate and understand your Facebook including where to find your stats.  In your insights you will be able to see the number of people being reached, the number of likes, new likes, and interactions....Here is where you better be getting what you paid for.  If you are not seeing drastic changes in your Facebook after you have hired someone (especially within the first few weeks) then you better rethink your plan.  I have seen people hire someone and pay good money for them to run their Facebook and the page only increase likes by 10 or 15 over a few months time.....that is BAD.

My last and most important piece of advice is DO WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH.....your gut instinct it far more important than my advice.  I never want anyone to make the mistake of doing what they are not comfortable doing.

Have a Social Day :-)

~Becky

Should I hire someone to handle my Facebook Page....

I was recently asked by a local businessman asking me why he cannot get as much interaction on his Facebook page as I can on mine and if he should consider hiring a marketing firm to handle his social media.

I quickly explained to him that social media should be handled by someone that is dedicated to your business,  you need to think of social media as your personality being presented to your customer 27/7.... I think I had the poor man scratching his head...so I later emailed him a list of answers to help him out!

I feel for small businesses in today's time, especially those owned by an older generation and are trying to stay up with the newer generation.  There is the risk of being to "hip" for your older clients and not hip enough for the younger generation.

Here is what I later answered the local businessman:

Marketing firms are great, I think they could get your Facebook page up and going, but I would look closely to who you hire.  I would want someone that would be at my beck and call, someone that would take the time to sit down and explain how to use Facebook, someone that would spend some time in your business getting to know YOU and YOUR CUSTOMER!

I then told him to consider this for his Facebook Page:  his business was located in a town with a population of less than 900, his local school more than likely had a business club or something of that sort.  Look for a teenager that is pursuing a career in marketing, media, or just loves to be on Facebook.   Get with them, talk it out with them and see if you can slip them some money for helping you with your Facebook.

No Luck there....then look for a local blogger, or social media guru (like me), someone that he (or his wife) follows on Facebook  and talk to them.  Many folks love to make a few extra bucks and lets face it running a Facebook Page is not that hard (I secretly admin several).

If still no luck, look within his own business, maybe he could purchase a book on Facebook and someone with his own business could take control over his Facebook.

Then I explained if all else fails then I would consider hiring a marketing firm to handle his Facebook account.

Of course this left him standing with tons of questions, like how much to pay, what do I have them post, how do I know if they are doing a good job.

Pay for Facebook????  Everyone charges a different fee, some charge by the month, some charge by the post.  I personally charge both ways depending on each individual page I am running, some pages are high maintenance and some just want me to look over the page and make a few post here and there.

What do they Post????  Here is the real trick to Facebook, what do they post.  The key to success with

Sample Post I did for the Town of Marquand, Missouri.
To see video click here:  http://youtu.be/7ro6VVXtRC0

Facebook is the person making your post has to LOVE your business as much as you do.  They have to be able to portray YOUR PERSONALITY 24 hours a day.   I have personally became so mad at local businesses for the sheer fact that they come off as buttheads in their Facebook post and I know they really are not....I often have to remind myself that someone other than the owner is running their Facebook Page.
When I am hired to work on a Facebook Page I take a few days to get to know the person I am working for, I then look back over their past social media presence, and then I begin to write some post.  My goal is to always put the business first, even if I know I am going to work harder than what I paid to work.  I know many local and small business owners don't have the money to put out in marketing that large companies do.  In fact many of them can barely afford a newspaper ad let alone to hire a marketing firm to do all their advertising.

Statistics for Visit Bollinger County -
A Facebook Page I started on 07/23/13

How do I know they are doing their job????  The first thing is to NEVER lose power over your Facebook, make sure they leave you on as an administrator and do not hire them unless they are willing to take the time to TEACH you how to operate and understand your Facebook including where to find your stats.  In your insights you will be able to see the number of people being reached, the number of likes, new likes, and interactions....Here is where you better be getting what you paid for.  If you are not seeing drastic changes in your Facebook after you have hired someone (especially within the first few weeks) then you better rethink your plan.  I have seen people hire someone and pay good money for them to run their Facebook and the page only increase likes by 10 or 15 over a few months time.....that is BAD.

My last and most important piece of advice is DO WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH.....your gut instinct it far more important than my advice.  I never want anyone to make the mistake of doing what they are not comfortable doing.

Have a Social Day :-)

~Becky

Social Media Tips for Real Life

My Facebook Page

Most everyone has an online life even if you are not on “social networks”.  With Google stepping up search options and Bing, right behind them with their new mapping system you can search almost anyone’s name and find out some bit of personal information. 

For some this is a scary world we live in, for others (like me) we saw this change coming and prepared for it.  It is no secret that most of my life is public knowledge…I think of it as I have nothing to hide, so just make it public.  I am criticized daily for putting my life, my kids, and my personal information online well my response is if you don’t want to know then don’t read or look at it.  However, I also realize there is a danger to having everything public and years ago, I learned the hard way how just plain out ignorant people could be. 

When I first started blogging, I honestly thought no one actually read what I wrote, so I did not worry about referring to my family by name.  One day out of the blue, I received what I like to laugh about as “fan mail” somebody who read my blog actually took the time to find my mailing address and mail me a letter that basically said I was using my kids for popularity.  I have no intention of exploiting, using, or taking advantage of my kids…in fact if you look back over my blog, post they get a pretty good deals out of the work mommy does.  After the anger the letter caused passed, I started to think rationally and realized if one person could find me how many others could.  I had two options give up blogging (which I believe is what the “fan” wanted) or to learn how to protect the identity of my kids.    

Social Media has it’s perks and has its flaws, daily I login to read anything from Bible verses to who is sleeping with who today.  I suspect I have become immune to the negativity, because I am probably the only person that will argue that great things can be done through Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks if they are done right.  I am asked daily how it safe for me to post photos of my children and know they are not going to be turned into something nasty….well you do not, but there are ways that you attempt to protect your children on the social networks. 

Use alias names for your kids, I rarely refer to my kids by their real name.  One day the kids and I were walking through the grocery store and someone called my child by their alias name and I patted myself on my back for thinking ahead and realizing one day my kids could be recognized.  Be cautious about labeling your photos with your kid’s names.  It may seem silly, but someone could recognize your child just by a photo.  I also rarely call my friend’s kids by name or list their names with photos, it seems a little over protective, but those are not my children and I know there are dangers with social networking.

Turn the GPS locator off on your social networks, I am often required or asked to “check-in”, and live tweet when I am traveling, this is similar to live reporting.  Locally I will also often check-in to give local businesses some extra media attention.  However, my secret is I rarely check-in at a location until I have left I also rarely check in at places that I regularly visit unless they are a place that I am well known and feel completely safe.  I also refuse to check into a place close to my house or disclose where I actually live.  It annoys me to see other people check in at their house and then post pictures of their children….HELLO are you asking for a kidnapping????

.

Follow Facebook age guidelines, this has been an argument for Lesse and I for over a year.  I refuse to allow her to have a Facebook or Twitter account.  The rules say age 13, giving that at age 13 she will not instantly have free run of Facebook, but I think 13 is an age that she can connect with her family and friends.   Until then she is not old enough to understand the dangers and responsibilities of social networking.

If your child has social networks, require them to give you their passwords and access to their social network accounts.  Social network bullying has been a problem in the past and I feel it is important to be able to monitor your child’s social network accounts. 

Talking about personal life on social networks, this is where I have been criticized the hardest.  For the past year “people” have stated you should not be talking about your divorce online, well, the fact is that is what was going on in my life.  It was not something I was choosing to live through, it was not something that was going to just go away, and it was something that I knew if I talked about, I could help others.  I have received numerous messages, comments, and emails from readers saying I am so glad you talked about your pain it made me feel like I was not alone.  Others have said your kids may one day read what you have wrote and become mad at you, well my kids have lived through this past year with me.  They have witnessed me dealing with situations I should have never had to deal with, they have seen me cry, seen me smile, and sat right beside me as we bowed our head in prayer for guidance to get through that storm.  I do not think talking about it publicly will harm my children anymore than what they have seen firsthand from situations I could not control.  My full theory behind talking about life on social networks is if you are hiding something then that is why you would not want it to be public.

Keep social networking positive, I have started a “trend” here locally with sharing positive remarks.  Many may not even realize that they are following the trend, but I have seen the change in their online attitudes.  Staying positive, posting real life, but not hateful statements, can influence others.  I do often put up funny statements from my kids, post photos of our crazy, but fun life, and share things that really happening.  I see others share my statements, comment, and even ask questions about what I have said. 

Social networking should not be a burden or scary for people, yes gossip happens online, but gossip happens at the local grocery store.  If you navigate through this world online or offline you will find someone who disagrees with your opinion, so just play social networking as your real as you are in person, protect your kids, and enjoy your life. 

~Becky

The Social Media Rebel

Using Social Media in your neighborhood....

I hate to tell someone to ditch all the expert advice, because truly all social media specialist have good advice, but does that advice completely fit your needs. 

I was bombarded with questions last week by a fellow blogger that was asking how to get readers to their blog post.  To be brutally honest, I had no clue what to answer back, I have learned that I must process everything to have a true solution. 

To my fellow blogger, here is what might help….

It is not what you say, but how you say it!  Unless you are bitterly angry, person negativity is normally not, what you want to hear.  So watch your tone on your social media post! 

Do you have conversations with your readers?  I keep my both personal and business Facebookpage public, so readers feel they can communicate with me.  The key to my success is being there for them, I get email, messages, and comments all the time asking for advice. 

Know your target area! I cannot SCREAM this enough, know your target audience.  If you are local and are trying to reach local readers, understand that local readers do not always enjoy the same conversations as folks 1000 miles away.  This is where you have to be very careful about what “advice” you take from the experts.  I follow many social media and blogging experts; I read their post and many I agree with.  However, I also believe I have convert that advice to reach my readers…..I am local and must speak like a local.  (note…I love my local people).

Do you know how to tag people in your conversation?  I giggle at this, but I have seen so many post and think why didn't they tag the business they are talking about in their conversation?   On Facebook to tag a business page you must first LIKE the page and then use the @ symbol to tag the page.  Example you want to tag my page:  Go to my business page Adventures Among Us, LIKE my page, then in your status type @Adventures Among Us in the status and my page should be highlighted.  NOTE…this CANNOT be done through a scheduling app; you must do this on Facebook.  Business pages can tag other business pages, but must first LIKE the page as their business page. 

Tweet, Tweet, Tweet….Do you have a #hashtag?  I have probably been asked a billion times what #TMOM stands for, well TMOM is the hashtag that TravelingMom.com uses to trend on Twitter.  I am the Missouri Traveling Mom, therefore I tweet my travel related post with the #tmom hashtag.   I encourage people that want to trend to either find a hashtag that fits them or create one.  #justmakessense

Keywords!  I have this pretty easy, I write about Missouri Traveling, therefore, my keywords are usually the place I am talking about.  However, if you are just writing about random things you need a focus set of keywords. 

Last but not least…Give it some TIME!  I have been blogging off and on for 7 years, but I really got into blogging a little more than 2 years ago.  Getting readers to your page can be frustrating, but with time, if you have “interesting” content then you will find people landing on your page. 

~Becky 

Using Social Media in your neighborhood....

Image via CrunchBase

I hate to tell someone to ditch all the expert advice, because truly all social media specialist have good advice, but does that advice completely fit your needs. 

I was bombarded with questions last week by a fellow blogger that was asking how to get readers to their blog post.  To be brutally honest, I had no clue what to answer back, I have learned that I must process everything to have a true solution. 

To my fellow blogger, here is what might help….

It is not what you say, but how you say it!  Unless you are bitterly angry, person negativity is normally not, what you want to hear.  So watch your tone on your social media post! 

Do you have conversations with your readers?  I keep my both personal and business Facebook page public, so readers feel they can communicate with me.  The key to my success is being there for them, I get email, messages, and comments all the time asking for advice. 

Know your target area!  I cannot SCREAM this enough, know your target audience.  If you are local and are trying to reach local readers, understand that local readers do not always enjoy the same conversations as folks 1000 miles away.  This is where you have to be very careful about what “advice” you take from the experts.  I follow many social media and blogging experts; I read their post and many I agree with.  However, I also believe I have convert that advice to reach my readers…..I am local and must speak like a local.  (note…I love my local people).

Do you know how to tag people in your conversation?  I giggle at this, but I have seen so many post and think why didn't they tag the business they are talking about in their conversation?   On Facebook to tag a business page you must first LIKE the page and then use the @ symbol to tag the page.  Example you want to tag my page:  Go to my business page Adventures Among Us, LIKE my page, then in your status type @Adventures Among Us in the status and my page should be highlighted.  NOTE…this CANNOT be done through a scheduling app; you must do this on Facebook.  Business pages can tag other business pages, but must first LIKE the page as their business page.