The BritMums Blog

How much social networking is too much?

This weekend everyone was talking about Google+, the internet giant's social networking raspberry at Facebook. People pleaded for invites on Twitter from those lucky enough to be let into the inner sanctum of the field beta.

The thought of building it all up again on Google makes my head spin. I've just mastered how to create a Facebook fan page, have spent hours building up friends, and keep trying to stay on top of Facebook's ever-changing privacy setting. I'm a busy working mum and all this networking stuff takes A LOT of time.

It begs the question: how much social networking is too much?

Coupled with the news a few weeks ago that Facebook numbers have dropped recently in developed countries, it makes you wonder perhaps people are opting out in favour of more niche social networking sites (and less privacy headaches??). 

Thoughts? Are you fed up with Facebook? Do you have time for Google+? Are you spending more time on more niche sites?

How much social networking is too much?

(Thanks to mtjam for the inspiration for this post)

-Susanna (A Modern Mother)

Google+ vs. Facebook, what do you think? #britmums

The Google/Facebook rivalry continues!

Google+, their social networking tool, is now in invite-only beta testing. Apparently if you really want one you can buy an invite on eBay for $20. The reviews I've read so far are very favorable, especially when it comes to use for women.

There's some great commentary by Virginia DeBolt on BlogHer, Bloggers react to Google Plus. Make sure you check out the video tour by Adria from But You're a Girl.

Video tutorial: How to create facebook fan page welcome tab - Part 2 of 2 #britmums

Here's Part 2 of Janis 's (ReallyKidFriendly.com) video tutorial on how to create a welcome tab for your Facebook fan page. Grab a cup of tea, sit back and make it full screen!

 

Video tutorial: How to create a facebook fan page welcome tab - Part 1 of 2 #britmums

Want to know how to create a Welcome Tab for your Facebook fan page? Take a look at this video tutorial from Janis from ReallyKidFriendly.com. (Part 2 coming tomorrow)

 

Convenient or creepy? Facebook's new auto tagging feature

Facebook may recognise your friends before you do! The social media giant have introduced new software  that automatically recognise users' faces and suggests friends to assign or "tag" to the pics.

Not sure about you, but I find this slightly creepy.

Then there's the issue that Facebook didn't tell users this would happen -- resulting in an outcry from angry users that think they should have been told prior to the feature going live.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologised, saying that the software was meant to help speed the tagging process.

Oh dear, what will Facebook do next. Open our front doors for us?

-Susanna (A Modern Mother)

Like me on Facebook-- not in France!

The French love to be different, even when it comes to Facebook and Twitter.

Read this article by Jamey Keaten of the AP to enlighten yourself.

Apparently, broadcast advertisers can't ask viewers and listeners to "follow us on Twitter" or "like us on Facebook". It breaks a 1992 ruling for secret and unfair advertising. France's guiding authority, The Superior Audiovisual Council, or CSA, said instead they can use a generic term like "social media".

It just rolls off the tongue, non?  

Follow me on my social media, darling!

You go France! I was going to say something snarky about having their head in the clouds, but, never mind!

-Susanna (A Modern Mother)

Photo credit: Slava Baransky

Guest post: Facebook's updated competition rules

Facebook recently updated their competition rules when it comes to "liking" a page. If you run comps on your blog and promote them on facebook, you probably have heard the rumblings. Jax (aka Making it up) recently took a look at the new rules, and this is her take:

 We're all into using social media to promote our blogs - tweeting posts on twitter, sharing thethrough facebook. Many of us have run competitions on blogs, and some on Facebook, and there's been plenty of furore on blogs about facebook voting competitions in the past. On Twitter a few weeks ago I saw a link shared by one of the compers (friendly name for people who enter competitions as a hobby) I follow, saying that Facebook has updated its promotion guidelines - you can read them here.

It kicks of with some stuff about legal obligations (important to be aware of but not my main focus at the moment) and then we get to the bits that I think are most likely to affect bloggers running Facebook pages to promote their blogs. 

3. You must not use Facebook features or functionality as a promotion’s registration or entry mechanism.  For example, the act of liking a Page or checking in to a Place cannot automatically register or enter a promotion participant. 

5 essential Facebook tools for bloggers

Do you have a Facebook fan page? You should! Facebook fan pages are among the most effective ways of connecting with your audience, and of gaining new readers for your blog. Janis Curry, founder of Really Kid Friendly has put together these practical tips on how to use Facebook fan page tools for bloggers, brands and businesses.

 1. Automatically post blog updates to your Fan Page wall

RSS Graffitiis a popular and easy to use application which allows you to automatically post your latest blog updates on your Facebook Fan Page wall. This is an excellent way of gaining new readers from outside the blogosphere and outside of Twitter. One of the best aspects of RSS Graffiti that you don’t see with similar applications is that you can update your wall with content from multiplesources for free. That means you can promote content from your partners or sponsors, your favourite blogs, or other RSS feeds that you feel will strike a chord with your audience.

How to hack your Facebook Profile

Want to customise your Facebook profile and make it look fantastic? CyberMummy partner Sian To is a closet geek and Facebook whiz that revels in figuring out just this kind of thing! Here's her step-by-step guide.

 

I have to admit I hated the new Facebook profile and it's taken me ages to get used to it but then I hated it last time they changed it too. Which means I'm either stuck in my ways or that I've been on Facebook for way too long.

Then I came across a French artist called Alexandre Oudin who started the craze for customising your profile page to make it look like one large single image. Have a look at his Facebook profile to see what I mean. 

I love it and have spent this afternoon tinkering around to try to re-create the effect. After loads of errors I worked it out - and being the nice blogger that I am, here is my step by step guide on how to hack your profile page too!