Twitter Stickers for Business

4 Good Productivity Tools For Smart Twitter Use

By Missy Diaz in How to 5 Comments


Want to know what you can get out of social media? It’s very simple, you get – what you put into it. If you put the time and energy required to make it succeed for you, then it will. If not, it won’t. However there are plenty of smart and free (or low cost) tools on the web which facilitate good productivity from Twitter.

If you wish to free up time to write, advertise, guest blog or promote your site on the web, then you might be interested in automating certain aspects of Twitter such as blog post site updates, status updates and so on. Or maybe you’re interested in managing several Twitter accounts all under one centralized roof. If that’s the case, then a solution that manages multiple accounts is what you’ll be on the lookout for.

With that in mind, we wanted to showcase and discuss a few good and free or low cost productivity tools for smart Twitter use. See our top picks below.

1. Twitter WordPress Plugins

(more…)

5 Comments on 4 Good Productivity Tools For Smart Twitter Use
Organize PDF files with Evernote

Organize PDF Files with Evernote

By Bes Zain in Tips 1 Comment


With so much data being processed by all of us (human beings) daily, our online lives are full of different kinds of information.

In today’s world, almost everything and everyone is going paperless. Or at least headed in that direction. Evernote helps with that goal: becoming completely digital.

Email accounts. Images. Saved pages. Bookmarks. Facebook messages. Tweets. Blog comments. Online accounts. Digital files. Photos. And more.

There are so many things we do online, we have a more massive amount of online information to remember on a regular basis than what we have to remember offline.

Evernote is simply the best life information organization tool and service out there, allowing you (and me) to manage all those digital pieces of information, and other things, more reliably and all in one place.

PDF files are one of the many things you can store and work with, awesomely, in Evernote. With Evernote, you can store all your PDF files in the cloud, and have instant access to them on any online device.

Let’s go through some of the things you can store as PDF files in Evernote, and see why Evernote excels at handling all your PDF files. (more…)

1 Comment on Organize PDF Files with Evernote
Google Drive has officially launched!

Google Drive is Here! The Full Specs

By Bes Zain in Reviews 1 Comment


After several years of rumors, Google Drive is finally here.

Google Drive is an upgrade and complete replacement of Google Docs, designed to help you store any of your files and folders online.

In addition to that, you can share your files and folders publicly or private. You can also collaborate with others on such shared files.

Some people say Google Drive is the Dropbox killer, while others say that it has arrived too late to the scene.

To help you decide whether Google Drive is for you, let’s go through the details and full feature list of Google Drive.

Whether or not Google Drive can fight Dropbox or other services successfully, one thing is for sure: Google Drive has entered the online storage market, and it’s going to stick around for a long time. (more…)

1 Comment on Google Drive is Here! The Full Specs
5 Instagram Alternatives for Android

5 Instagram Alternatives for Android

By Bes Zain in Reviews 4 Comments


Everyone is talking about Instagram these days. It’s the #1 free photo app on Android and iPhone that’s gaining more downloads every day than probably any other photo app in history.

Is it the only Photo App, though? No, it’s not. On Android, there have been dozens of alternatives.

You should have choices, so that you can figure out on your own what works for you, and why. While Instagram is cool, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that other apps have.

Instagram also does not have the simplicity of many other Android photo apps.

Here are 5 popular alternatives to Instagram that Android users have loved since way before Instagram ever thought of coming to Android.

Unlike Instagram, none of these apps collect any personal data from you. None of these apps require any registration or your email address, or name, from you either. (more…)

4 Comments on 5 Instagram Alternatives for Android
Ashley Barron - The Priyas @dcPriya - Interview

Ashley Barron Interview – The Priyas

By Bes Zain in Interviews 409 Comments


Almost everyone blogging or tweeting online thinks a lot before hitting the submit/tweet button. You probably do the same.

You are sharing a message and also showing your personality to the entire online world. You have to make sure you succeed with each try.

“Do my sentences look good? Am I clear in my message? Am I forgetting anything? Did I talk too much? Do I sound convincing?“

You want your writing to bring satisfaction to your life, both online and offline. We have a special treat today to help you with that.

One of the best things to do to thrive in the world of writing and blogging online is to learn from others who are good at tweeting, writing and blogging.

Ashley Barron is one such popular person, and we are lucky to present to you an exclusive interview we did of Ashley.

She is one of the most active Networkers on Twitter and many other platforms today. In addition to being a full-time writer and author, she also blogs, networks with other bloggers, and is writing another book which you will be able to find in bookstores soon. (tweet this)

Ashley Barron - Author and Blogger

Ashley Barron Bio

The interview covers many important topics like writing your first draft, the declining market of offline literary agents, self-publishing your book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, mastering your writing, blogging online, networking online via social media and with other writers, and more.

If you’re looking for writing or blogging advice from someone who writes and networks every day, this interview is for you. (more…)

409 Comments on Ashley Barron Interview – The Priyas
Pinterest - is it gold, or just another hype?

Is Pinterest the Next Big Thing, or Just Another Hype?

By Bes Zain in Questions 2 Comments


Pinterest is the most talked about social network today, along with (or after) Instagram and Facebook of course.

With more and more people jumping onto Pinterest, I start wondering about a very important thing.

Is Pinterest the next big gold, or is it just another hype?

Will everyone keep using Pinterest and make it last for a long time, like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook are thriving right now?

Or is it just another hype for 2011 and 2012, destined to fade away or become less important by 2013 like the dozens of other social networks popping up every month?

Let’s go through some of the great points of Pinterest, and some of the not so great qualities of Pinterest, that I think affect you, me and everyone else who uses Pinterest in any manner.

Yes, let’s!

You can decide in the end whether or not Pinterest will be your next online love for the next several years.

(more…)

2 Comments on Is Pinterest the Next Big Thing, or Just Another Hype?
Voice vs Text Chats - which one do you prefer?

Voice Chats VS Text Chats – Which is Better?

By Bes Zain in Questions Comment


In today’s online world, communication can be everything.

Whether you’re sharing an image on or asking for a Pinterest invite, uploading a photo to Instagram, or checking in on Foursquare, you’re communicating something to the online world.

With the increasing number of people and blogs, it is becoming more important than ever to realize what you prefer, and how to use that preference, in your online communication.

For many people, communicating by writing is the way to go. They prefer the text, and prefer the details and privacy they can accomplish through it.

For many other people, communicating by having voice chats is what they thrive on. They prefer talking and listening, and they prefer the direct offline element it brings to online communication.

Is one format better than the other, though? Do people who voice chat better than people who do not voice chat?

Let’s go through the different benefits of voice chats and text chats to see what you think.

To clarify, by voice chats, I’m referring to any kind of video chat, audio chat, webinar, podcast, or audio file through which someone can hear you talking.

By text chats, I’m referring to any kind of text messages, e-mails, chat messages, or any text writing in which someone reads what you wrote. (more…)

Comment on Voice Chats VS Text Chats – Which is Better?
Foursquare - worth using? or worth avoiding?

Is Foursquare Worth Using?

By Bes Zain in Questions 2 Comments


Foursquare is the small behemoth that stood against the big champions like BrightKite and Facebook, and so far has kind of won. BrightKite is no more due to incompetent management, and Facebook’s geo-entry called “Facebook Places” has been scaled down to Facebook Locations which you can use while posting stuff and photos.

Foursquare is here to stay for a while, even if major companies shunned it in 2010 and in 2011.

Except Yelp, Foursquare doesn’t have any other noteworthy competitors which have the exact mobile fan base that it does. And Yelp is actually a reviews site, which focuses mainly on reviews and only recently started offering the check-in feature also.

In fact, there’s probably nothing else out there, in 2012 at time of this writing, which has the same user base and focus as Foursquare where the only purpose of the app is to share with others which exact business or location you are at.

Even though it’s 2012, sharing your exact location with others most of the time is still considered a very touchy subject. While the subject tone may never change, users will eventually decide whether or not they will keep using Foursquare.

So the question today is: do YOU think Foursquare is worth using? Here are 4 reasons why I think Foursquare may rock, and 4 reasons why I think Foursquare may not. I do keep using Foursquare at the moment, by the way. (more…)

2 Comments on Is Foursquare Worth Using?
Pinterest Invites - Social Improve Giveaway

Pinterest Invites

By Bes Zain in Goodies 27 Comments


If you don’t know what Pinterest is, you’re missing out on the current big craze in the social media world.

Forget Facebook for the time being: everyone knows about that. Everyone is not talking about Facebook, though. Almost everyone IS talking about Pinterest.

Pinterest is the new social media sharing service which allows you to share images and videos in the form of pins which interest you or which can be of interest to others. Pinterest allows you to pin your life, or other people’s lives and work, for others to see. Pinterest is basically an awesome upgrade and the next version of Tumblr, without any of the porn or other annoying side effects.

That’s a good summary of the service. What makes the service stand out is that it’s very beautiful interface, and visually attractive profiles.

Pinterest is currently in an invite only mode, and everyone is on the lookout for an invite. Social Improve recently got an invite thanks to Janet and Clarence, so I decided to spread the love and offer invites to anyone who wants one. Tweet this

Get Your Pinterest Invite Now

(more…)

27 Comments on Pinterest Invites
Avoid writers block by talking about writers block

How to Never Run Out of Blog Topics

By Bes Zain in How to 3 Comments


There is a very easy way to avoid or get over writer’s block every time it happens.

Writer’s block, including the blogging version of it called blogger’s block, happens to people every minute of the day. It has probably happened to you many times too.

Running out of blog topics is not a new concept. Every time someone runs into a writer’s block, the usual reaction is to consider it a defeat and to try to run away from the block while feeling disappointed.

The feeling of thinking that one does not know what to think is more harmful than the concept of writer’s block itself.

You’ll run into people having writer’s or blogger’s block daily, because of not knowing what to write about, on sites like Twitter and Facebook.

While it may seem that there is no good topic you can think about at such times, think of this: you had the energy to write words to share your feelings about not being able to write.

How could that happen when you were having a writer’s block?

Why not always, when you have a blogger’s or writer’s block, turn your full energy and attention to the topic of the writer’s block itself?
(more…)

3 Comments on How to Never Run Out of Blog Topics
Use DMCA to Protect Your Copyright

How to Protect Your Copyright with DMCA

By Bes Zain in How to 6 Comments


One of the ways of having happiness in your online life is to know how to deal with people copying your work and using it without your permission. If you post a lot of things online, one day people will start noticing and start using your own without your permission.

Such events of other people copying and using your online work, without your permission, can make you upset or even affect your daily life. This is specially true if you do a lot of online things, like blogging, posting to Flickr, and so on.

There is an easy way to take care of such things, so that you can continue being more optimal. Simply file a DMCA notice with the company that hosts your work without your permission. This will allow you to try and protect your copyright.

You send a DMCA Notice, often called a Copyright Notice or Copyright Violations Notice, to the hosts of the websites where your work is being used or shown without your permission.

This will also allow you to simply keep doing what you want to do, without having to pause your focus or passion of writing online.

Let’s go through DMCA a little bit to help you get your DMCA skills up to date. Some real DMCA letters are also included below, that you are allowed to use for your own DMCA pursuits.

Jump to: What is DMCA? | Godaddy DMCA | HostMonster DMCA | Limestone Networks DMCA | Host Ignoring Your DMCA Notice? | Person Copying Your Work Replies Back with Non-Compliance? | Protect Copyright without Stress | Are You Protecting Your Copyright?

What is a DMCA Notice?

(more…)

6 Comments on How to Protect Your Copyright with DMCA

Can You Profit From a Digital Will?

By William Eve in Questions 4 Comments


Have you thought about your online assets? What will you leave behind in your digital world, should you die?

An asset is something of value that a person owns. There are different categories of assets, such as tangible, intangible and digital. Yes, digital was added to the asset list.

Tangibles can be anything from houses to bank accounts, even family photos. Intangibles are things like copyrights, patents, and everything else that is not physical, or that ‘brands’ you or your company.

Digital Assets

(more…)

4 Comments on Can You Profit From a Digital Will?
Grow your Google Followers

How to Grow Your Google Plus Followers with 3 Smart Tips

By Missy Diaz in How to, Online 2 Comments


Google Plus is the new social network in town and it has become the go to network already for many on the web.

Everyone from blog owners to business mavericks and lots more in between use Google Plus for outreach, marketing, content sharing and or to mix and mingle with like minded peers.

Whatever your reason for becoming a Google + fan, one thing is clear. Without followers you’re not going to have too much fun.

So the adage as is usual in social media is that the more the merrier. But how does one grow their Circles? How does one go from ten followers to hundred and more?

Below we present a few ideas and tips on how to do just this via a few simple methods and tricks.

1. Do Outreach From Your Blog

(more…)

2 Comments on How to Grow Your Google Plus Followers with 3 Smart Tips
Functions plugin or a theme functions.php

functions.php or a Functions Plugin – Your WordPress Functions

By Bes Zain in Questions 4 Comments


I recently came across yet another idea of using a plugin instead of your functions.php file.

It’s interesting reading such viewpoints, since many theme developers insist that you put all your functions in their theme’s functions.php files.

Your own custom WordPress functions allow you to extend WordPress in your own way, with or without external plugins or scripts.

Your WordPress theme functions.php file gets loaded at the same time as your site, so your functions get loaded instantly. The theme functions.php file is one of the most common venues to insert your own functions into WordPress.

I always put my functions in my WooTheme’s functions.php file, allowing me an easy way to manage all my custom code. That does make me depend on the current theme a bit.

Functions plugin or a theme functions.php

New Solution: Use a Functions Plugin Instead

(more…)

4 Comments on functions.php or a Functions Plugin – Your WordPress Functions
Use Tasker to trigger WordPress crons or visit websites automatically on your phone

Use Tasker to Trigger Your WordPress Crons

By Bes Zain in Tips Comment


WordPress Crons do amazing things. From allowing you to schedule automatic full or database backups of your WordPress to having posts published in the future, Crons allow you to do almost anything you can think of.

WordPress Crons, however, do require some visit to any public page of your main site to trigger the cron to run. That could create problems for many people, specially Multisite owners where Crons are set to run on a Multisite level for all sub-sites, and yet where the main Multisite domain may not get any traffic.

Among the thousand other things Tasker can do via your Android phone, Tasker can also easily visit your website.

I’ve been using Tasker for a long time, and since last week started using Tasker to trigger Crons on Multisites which don’t get much or any traffic. And it works beautifully.

Since you can use Tasker to visit any website at any time automatically, once or regularly, you can use Tasker to trigger your WordPress Crons. Here’s how to do it.

Use Tasker to trigger WordPress crons or visit websites automatically on your phone

What is Tasker for Android?

(more…)

Comment on Use Tasker to Trigger Your WordPress Crons
Get Free Email Updates