Are you in a Triberr tribe? Have you looked at Triberr before and kept away as you don’t like automating Tweets? Either way I am sure you will be interested in the recent change to Triberr which has resulted in the automated feature being removed.

My initial reaction to the change, which was made to comply with Twitter TOS, was that this would be the end of Triberr as automation was one of the main reasons why people joined tribes in the first place (Although for me it was initially a reason to stay away!).  On reflection though I have changed my mind and I think that I will in fact find it a better place to be and a stronger part of my social media strategy.

Here are my reasons why;

1. I instinctively don’t like automating anything. I made an exception with Triberr and only automated people I know well and trust but it still felt strange to me seeing my Tweets being RT’d in the stream when I hadn’t yet read the content being shared.

2. Having to go into Triberr to approve posts manually should mean that the content is actually read before sharing, I have always done that anyway. That will give us all the opportunity to connect and engage with our fellow tribe members which was absent with automation.

3. Visiting and reading posts will allow more opportunities to add comments, something that can benefit both the author and the reader.

4. I have always visited my Tribber stream regularly to see what is going through and to approve posts manually, that takes time and commitment, two things I think are important if I am going to enjoy and get the most out of my social media experience. I will be able to see if others are prepared to make the same level of commitment and that may change my relationship with them.

5. I like to share good content in other places too such as Google+ or StumbleUpon, I am more likely to do that if I am reading the content. Triberr have actually introduced the ability to share content on these platforms more easily which I think is a positive step.

6. The removal of automation and the additional commitment needed will I think ‘weed out’ people who are just there to promote themselves or who just see Triberr as a content distribution channel rather than a place to connect and engage.

I think that a number of people will stop using Triberr and of those who remain will find that if they are not sharing others posts then their own content will not be going far! It will become much more of a give and take community.

7. For all these reasons tribes will become more tightly knit and stronger and more meaningful relationships are likely to be built within them.

A friend recently said to me “I’ll never join Triberr, it’s all shopping and games” and while I did have some sympathy with this view I could see the benefits and was prepared to ignore my automating prejudices to join in but still retaining a degree of control opting to approve much of the content. I am really happy to be on manual however and hope the benefits will be even greater.

You may say that Triberr is now nothing more than a glorified list or circle however I think that, as long as you connect with the right people and are prepared to make some commitment, it could have a very useful role as part of my social media strategy. Note that I say part of, it’s still vital to find content from many sources and to share it in many different ways.

So if your initial reaction was ‘Triberr is no longer for me’, have a think about my reasons for staying committed, I am willing to give them another chance and you never know, it may just turn out to be a better place to connect, engage and build quality relationships.

I would love to hear what you think! Are you a Triberr person and do you share my thoughts or is it no longer for you? Will you look again at Triberr now that you can have a greater degree of control? What do you feel about automating in general, is it something you do and is so what methods do you use.

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*Image credit

Approved Key – renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

My dear old friend Twitter, I feel I owe you an explanation and an apology!

You had noticed that I hadn’t been seeing as much of you these last couple of weeks and I have to admit that the reason is that my head has been turned by that new Google girl who just moved in down the road. I realise now that I have been spending far too much time with her and neglecting you.

She undoubtedly has considerable charms, which attracted me to her in the first place and while I can’t give her up completely, I wanted you to know that you will always remain very dear to me and that you will be seeing more of me again in the future.

I was lucky enough to be one of early adopters of Google+ and I have to say that I immediately found it easy to use and a comfortable place to be. However, as you will gather from the apology, although my time has been dominated by the new toy, I have come to realise that my old friend Twitter must remain as an integral part of my social media strategy.

In fact I think the two can work well together as their diverse personalities and features offer different ways to communicate and network. Here are my reasons why I think Twitter still has a lot to offer, why they might make a good fit and indeed how they might actually complement each other.

1. Twitter has been really good to me and has allowed me to build an amazing community and I would be a fool to turn my back on that.

2. Not everyone in that community will like and use Google+ and there would be a real danger of losing touch with some people who I value.

3. Twitter is more firmly embedded with all the other social media platforms and is such an easy medium to use to share material direct from the content. I know that Google+ will develop in the same way over time but I do think I will still be using both for the other reasons I have described.

4. I am connecting with new people on Google+ who I might never have found on Twitter and by cross-pollinating them across both platforms that can make my community even stronger.

5. Twitter provides a different, snappier, short form of communicating and avoids the annoying repetition of having to see gif posts shared multiple times in the Google+ stream.

6. Google+ allows me to share in a different way, which means that more of the content is visible up front, which can be more beneficial with certain content, for instance something with a more visual appeal.

7. On the other hand Twitter retains the mystery of wondering what is on the end of that link with an interesting description (remember to be careful what you click though!)

8. Organised use of #Hashtags, Circles and Sparks can allow me to monitor and share good quality content and make connections with new people across the social media spectrum.

9. I have more potential content for the blog, which will appeal to either or both communities adding to the ‘cross-pollination’ effect. For instance my 10 Practical Google+ Tips for New Users post has been popular on Twitter and in future I can do both Top Twitter People and Top Google+ People compilations

10. They are both fun places to be and after all – variety is the spice of life!

You may wonder why I am not including Facebook in this analysis. Well although I do have a presence there I haven’t found it as easy to interact as on Twitter, where I do feel really at home so that provides a better comparison for me, maybe the Facebook/G+ discussion is one for another day!

So what do you think? Will you still be using Twitter as well as Google+ and do you think they can compliment each other in the ways I have suggested, how will you be integrating Google+ in to your social media world? Please do let me know what you think.

This article by Tony first appeared as a guest post on The Nicky Blog and has been reproduced here by the kind permission of Nicky aka @rocksstar10. You can read the original post and the comments it attracted here.

Many thanks for visiting The Top 10 Blog. If you like what you see I hope you will share with the world, if you would like to connect with me you can Subscribe, Follow, Like and Add to your Circles on Google+ using the buttons at the top of the sidebar.

*Image credits

Handshake by permission of Nicky

Shake hands -  Digitalart at Freedigitalphotos.net

3D Handshake -  digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Friday 22nd of July 2011

Following last weeks very successful experiment with Google+ and news that the new platform is approaching 20 million users, and soon to be open to all, I thought it was time to move away from focussing on Twitter alone with my Top People lists. After all I do think Twitter and Google+ can work together for me and indeed complement each other, you can see my reasons why on my guest post for The Nicky Blog.

So welcome to the first compilation of interesting people that I have come across in the broader social media world over the last week, based largely on Twitter and Google+ but with influences from many of the other online places that we frequent.

The people that I feature may have been around for a while and have many followers or they may be new to the social media world with few connections. The numbers are not important, what matters is what they are bringing to the party whether it’s facts, fun, friendship or inspiration.

I am pleased to present, in no particular order, my first Top Social Media People of The Week compilation, please click on the images to pay them a visit!

@janetcallaway

Janet is a very active Tweeter and connector who always shares entertaining and informative content in her Twitter stream. Add in her excellent Janet Callaway blog and in Janet you have a must follow lady!

+Chris Pirillo

I really have to include Chris for his amazing energy in producing content on Google+, his interaction with other users and his all round contribution to the first few weeks on G+ and to the social media world in general.

@CatherineAdenle

Catherine Tweets about career issues, social media and a great deal more. She blogs about the same subjects at Catherine’s Career Corner where you’ll find some excellent advice and resources on finding (and keeping) a job.

+Kim Sherrell

Kim was one of the first faces I saw on Google+ when I first joined as an early adopter and has been so active and supportive of other users since then that I think she deserves special mention. Always sharing great content and stimulating good conversations.

@RockTheReTweet

I know Kevin has featured here before as @MySOdotCom but I think all the support he gives via his #RockTheReTweet community deserves special mention. Why not complete the set by following on @FixedOpsGenius too!

+Kim Beasley

Kim is another one who has been embracing Google+ enthusiastically sharing helpful information and starting lively conversations about the new G+ world.

@Jake_Allan

Good fun, good content shared, good interaction and an excellent blog at Jake Allan.

+Amanda Blain

Amanda, who is the woman behind Girlfriend Social has embraced Google+ with a passion sharing informative content to help us all to get the most out of the platform and usually to be found getting involved in a ‘Hangout’ with old and new friends.

 @OurTownMagazine

You just have to love Carolyn’s enthusiasm, positivity and support for other Tweeters.

+Biljana Petrova

Biljana shares entertaining and informative content on wide variety of topics on Google+. Provides good advice too such as checking how many times something has already been shared before sending it round again – I agree with that one!

I hope you enjoy exploring all my Social Media recommendations, why not connect with them on both Twitter and Google+ to get some ‘cross pollination’ going and strengthen your on line community.

Of course I do realise I am only scratching the surface of the social media spectrum so please do let me know who your top people are, you never know I might just include them next time! And please also let me know what you think of this new idea!

Thank you for visiting The Top 10 Blog, if you like what you see I hope you will share and if you would like to see more you can Subscribe, Follow, Like and Add to your Circles at the top of the Sidebar.

* Image credit

Social Media - Sean MacEntee Flickr

If you are looking for footballers to follow on Twitter then you will enjoy this compilation of some of the most active Tweeters from Jordan, the man behind the Footballers on Twitter website. You can find out more about the site by clicking on the image below and you can also connect on Twitter @findafootballer.

Please click on the images to connect on Twitter!

1. Rio Ferdinand

One of the original footballers on Twitter, regularly converses with fans, celebrities and other footballers.

2. Jack Wilshere

Although he only made his breakthrough into the Arsenal team last season, Jack Wilshere has already accumulated a large number of followers.

3. Darren Bent

Bent was one of the first footballers to use Twitter to try and engineer a transfer, when he left Tottenham Hotspur for Sunderland in 2009.

4. Michael Owen

Although his tweets aren’t the most exciting, Owen is very active and has had some very interesting arguments with Piers Morgan.

5. Wayne Rooney

Rooney famously used Twitter to post images of his hair transplant earlier this year. He is one of the most active footballers on twitter.

6. Joey Barton

A controversial figure on and off the pitch, Joey Barton uses Twitter to voice his opinions on a range of topics.

7. Rafael van der Vaart

Van der Vaart regularly tweets pictures from his social life and training, making him one of the most interesting footballers to follow.

8. Cesc Fabregas

Cesc tweets in Spanish and English, and promises to be an interesting footballer to follow as his transfer to Barcelona rumbles on.

9. Dirk Kuyt

Kuyt uses Twitter to keep fans updated on his progress throughout the season, meaning he’s a must-follow for Liverpool fans.

10. Wesley Sneijder

Sneijder uses Twitter to hold competitions and chat to other footballers.

Many thanks to Jordan for sharing his compilation with us. Please do let us have your comments and any other suggestions of footballers who you feel might have been included.

Thank you for visiting The Top 10 Blog. If you like what you see I hope you will share and +1, if you would like to see more then you can Subscribe, Follow, Like and add me to your Circles at the top of the sidebar.

*Image credit

Golden Football – kanate / FreeDigitalPhotos.net (in Excerpt)

Friday 1st of July 2011

Welcome to the latest in my Top Twitter People series where I highlight some of the most interesting people who have crossed my Twitter path over the last few days.

The Twitter people I feature may have 1 follower or 1 million, the important thing is what they are bringing to Twitter whether it’s facts, fun, friendship or inspiration. Just click on the images to pay them a visit.

This weeks Top Twitter People in no particular order.

@CarlaYoung

Carla, founder and editor of the excellent MOMeo magazine is a fun lady to follow for her informative links, positive tips and lively engagement with the people she connects with.

@Andjelija

Andjelija is great fun, a great supporter of others and always has something of interest to add to the Twitter stream.

@MartyMcPadden

Marty shares information and links about photography, technology, social media and a lot more. Be sure to pay a visit to his very readable Marty McPadden blog for some excellent articles on the same topics.

@Journeywoman

Evelyn is an enthusiastic Tweeter and connector and the woman behind the excellent Journeywoman magazine.

@UltraLinx

Topical Tweets and links from Oliur about Android, technology and design and some great articles reviews and resources at the UltraLinx Blog.

@DebraMeiburgMW

First class wine advice from Master of Wine Debra presented in her ‘tongue in cheek’ style with her Tweets and at the entertaining and informative Debra Meiburg, Master of Wine.

@Ramikantari

Always something of interest going on in Rami’s Twitter stream with an amazing variety of links, quotes and Retweets on all sorts of topics.

@carpathia16

Carolyn is a lady who shares her love of personal technology with her Tweeting and at The Wonder of Tech blog where she will ‘sort through the tech world and let you know all about personal technology in plain English’.

@RedheadWriting

If you like following someone who is direct, irreverent and not afraid to say what she thinks then Erika is the lady for you with a lively Twitter stream and the thought provoking Redhead Writing Ranting Blog.

@GeoffTalbot

Interesting stuff from Geoff with his creative blog where all posts are constructed in Seven Sentences.

Why not let us all know who your Top Twitter People are! Just add a comment below waxing lyrical about why you love them and then send them a Tweet with my #TTPOW hashtag.

Many thanks for visiting and I hope I will see you again soon. Why not subscribe using the shiny buttons at the top of the page to make sure you don’t miss out on anything.