Countdown to the Post's re-launch: talking digital
As you can imagine, things are pretty busy at Birmingham Post Towers as we all gear up for the launch of the brand new Birmingham Post on Monday.
There has, unstandably, been much talk of changes to our print editon, but there also going to be a few tweaks and upgrades on the digital side too.
We hope the website will get a new coat of paint and there is also the new mobile site to look out for in the coming week.
However, whilst others are doing a fantastic job communicating the changes to our newspaper to our online community, my focus is telling our print readers about all the exciting things we are building up online.
So, over the past 24 hours (as those who follow my Twitter account might know), I've been putting together a list of things people might not know about the Post online.
It is supposed to target print readers who may have little or no knowledge of social media sites like Facebook, but may be curious enough to get involved.
It's not going to be an exhaustive "step-by-step" guide, just an introduction to what these online tools might do.
I've tried to make this as clear as possible, but things can always be improved. I'd be interested to know what you think!
Twitter
What is it?
- Twitter is a networking service that allows users to send and receive short text updates.
- The updates are up to 140 characters long so you can send them by logging into the Twitter website, or by sending a text message.
- You can sign up to any user's profile page on Twitter (called "following") and see their updates.
Did you know?
- Twitter is a great way to get news alerts on your computer, email or mobile internet.
- The Birmingham Post has four Twitter accounts providing updates on West Midland News, Business, Culture & Lifestyle and Sport.
- Twitter is also a great networking tool - you can add any users who you are interested in to your profile.
- You can reply to someone's update by putting the @ sign at the start of their name in your message. If they add you as well, you'll be able to send them a private, direct message.
- Keep an eye on who your contacts are following - by browsing their list you might find someone else interesting to add.
- Famous people on Twitter include Stephen Fry, John Cleese, 1990s rap star MC Hammer and tennis player Andy Murray.
- Barack Obama's campaign team and No. 10, Downing Street have Twitter accounts.
- You can also find many Birmingham Post journalists on Twitter including Post Editor Marc Reeves, Executive Editor Mike Hughes, Public Affairs Editor Pale Dale and Political Editor Jon Walker - see what they are working on and send them your feedback.
How?
- Go to www.twitter.com and click on the "Get Started - Join" button.
- You can then check if any of your email contacts are already have accounts with the Twitter search function.
- If you search "Birmingham Post" in the "Find People" section you'll see a list of our Twitter profiles. Just click on the "follow" button to add them to your profile.
Some links to get you started:
Twitter home page:
http://www.twitter.com
Birmingham Post News:
http://twitter.com/birminghampost
Birmingham Post Business:
http://twitter.com/postbusiness
Post Editor, Marc Reeves
http://twitter.com/marcreeves
Political Affairs Editor, Paul Dale
http://twitter.com/paulmdale
No. 10 Downing Street
http://twitter.com/DowningStreet
What is it?
- LinkedIn is a website that can help you build your business contacts.
- Users add contacts they have made "in real life" to form a network.
- This network can then be used to find jobs, people and business opportunities, get answers to business questions.
Did You Know?
- LinkedIn isn't just about adding people you already know; it's also a fantastic way to meet new contacts and potential customers.
- People on LinkedIn are worth knowing: Senior executives of at least 96 of the FTSE 100 companies have LinkedIn profile pages. In the US, all the Fortune 500 companies have executive level presence.
- If you're ambitious then it's also a good idea to get your profile on LinkedIn. The website is used as a headhunting tool for a number of major recruitment firms, including Hays.
- LinkedIn also allows you to ask questions which are then answered by members. You can also build your profile by answering questions asked by others.
- A great way to get to build business contacts on LinkedIn is by joining groups.
- The Birmingham Post has its own group on LinkedIn. Joining up will help expand your West Midland contacts and also give you access to the group forum where business issues are discussed.
Editor Marc Reeves also provides sneak previews and exclusive information about up-and-coming events at The Post.
How?
- Go to www.linkedin.com and fill in the "Sign Up" section of the homepage.
- When you've filled in all the required forms you will then be taken to your profile page where you can search your email addresses for contacts that might already be registered.
Some links to get you started:
LinkedIn homepage:
http://www.linkedin.com
The Birmingham Post LinkedIn Group:
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/78814
LinkedIn Answers
http://www.linkedin.com/answers
What is it?
- Facebook is the UK's most popular social networking website.
- Facebook allows you to add your friends and share pictures, videos, links and events with them. You can also send messages and chat.
- Facebook allows you to join groups or create your own.
Did you know?
- One-in-six people in the UK now have Facebook profiles. This means it's a great way to get connected to a large number of people.
- Because Facebook allows you to do so many different things it is a one-stop shop for letting people know who you are and what you are up to.
- Facebook has power: This year Cadbury's re-introduced the chocolate bar Wispa after 14,000 across several Facebook groups petitioned for its return.
Cadbury's said it was the first time "that the power of the Internet played such an intrinsic role in the return of a Cadbury brand."
- Facebook is not just for friends - by altering the privacy settings you can have different access levels for friends, family and business contacts.
- If you add The Birmingham Post as a friend on Facebook and invite it to events, they will be automatically promoted on the Post's Events Diary (www.birminghampost.net/diary) and may also appear in the newspaper.
How?
- Go to www.facebook.com , fill in the registration form and click the green "Sign Up" button.
- You will be asked to complete a security check and to confirm your email address. Then you can search your email contacts to see if they are already on Facebook, or choose to skip the step.
- Once you have filled in your profile details, you can then start adding and searching for friends.
Links to get you started:
Facebook homepage:
http://www.facebook.com
Birmingham Post's profile:
http://www.bit.ly/birminghampost
Social Media Café Facebook Group (supported by The Post):
http://www.bit.ly/smc
RSS
What is it?
- RSS is a tool that will deliver new content from your favourite websites directly to you, rather than you having to browse online to find it.
- You "subscribe" to RSS by adding the feed to an RSS Reader - This is a piece of software that checks the feeds and lets you read any new articles that have been added.
- Many websites now have RSS Feeds, which are usually indicated by the orange RSS button.
- RSS Feeds are in a format called XML - this makes the web page easier for computers to read it.
Did you know?
- There are many RSS Readers that you can use for free. You can choose one you access from your web browser or one that you download to your desktop.
- Popular web browser readers include Google (www.google.com/reader) and Bloglines (www.bloglines.com). Downloadable readers include FeedDemon for Windows (www.newsgator.com/Individuals/FeedDemon) and NewsFire for Mac (www.newsfirerss.com)
- The Birmingham Post has a comprehensive list of RSS Feeds so you can get the news that interests you as soon as it is published. Categories include business sectors, such as finance and law; West Midland news and culture. You can even sign up to your favourite columnist.
Visit http://www.birminghampost.net/sitemap/ to see the full list.
- Birmingham Post offers RSS feeds to track the names of many West Midland organisations and individuals featured in The Post?
Just use the search on Birminghampost.net and look for the result marked "Tags". Clicking on this will bring up an RSS feed.
How?
- First, sign up to the RSS reader of your choice.
- Then find the orange RSS buttons on your favourite websites and click on them.
- Copy and paste the url in your browser's address bar into your RSS Reader.
Some links to get you started:
Birmingham Post RSS Feeds:
http://www.birminghampost.net/sitemap/
Tagged search for Ian Austin MP:
http://www.birminghampost.net/tags/ian-austin/
Tagged search for Jaguar:
http://www.birminghampost.net/tags/jaguar/
Tagged search for Warwickshire County Cricket Club:
http://www.birminghampost.net/tags/warwickshire-ccc/
Business Diary
What is it?
- The Birmingham Post Business Diary will help you keep up-to-date with events in the West Midlands.
- Search events from a whole host of business organisations including Birmingham Chamber, CBI West Midlands, Federation of Small Business, Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future.
- Readers can also submit their own events by emailing birmpost@gmail.com.
- Use the diary to see what might be of interest and to avoid clashes when planning plan your own events.
Did you know?
- The Birmingham Post Business Diary is run using Google's free online calendar application.
- If you have your own Google Calendar, you can add Birmingham Post diary events with just one click.
To add the whole diary click on the "+ Google Calendar" button on the bottom right of the calendar.
To add individual events click on them and select the "Copy to my calendar" link.
- If you use another calendar, such as Microsoft Works or Lotus Notes, you can add the whole Birmingham Post diary by using iCal. You can do this by adding this (very long) address to your calendar: http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/birmpost@googlemail.com/public/basic.ics
- If you want to get Birmingham Post diary events direct to your RSS Reader you can add the diary's RSS Feed which can be found at http://bit.ly/diaryrss.
How?
- Browse the Birmingham Post Business Diary at www.birminghampost.net/diary
- Sign up for your own Google Calendar at www.google.com/calendar
- Email in your own events to birmpost@gmail.com
Birminghampost.net
What is it?
- Birminghampost.net provides a host of tools to help you keep track of the information that matters to you.
Did you know?
- As well as constantly updating news stories, you can keep informed of latest developments via our free e-newsletters. As well as daily news bulletins, there are weekly sector-specific updates including finance, law, technology & innovation and commercial property.
- Birminghampost.net offers an archive of thousands of stories, reviews and comment pieces for you to search. Great if you have to do any research.
- Our site search is powered by Google so you can find exactly what you're looking for when you want it. Our search may even suggest sections of the website where you might find other stories related to your interests.
- You can keep track of the most popular stores on our website. Keep an eye on the "top rated" and "emailed" section on the right of each news story.
- You can browse page-by-page through all our major supplements. Find them all - from the Company Guide, to Who's Who in Construction to Post Property - in the supplements section of the website.
- You can participate in debates on news, business, lifestyle and sport with our bloggers - a mixture of editors, reporters and business people.
How?
- Log on to www.birminghampost.net and get going!
Links to get you started:
Birmingham Post website:
http://www.birminghampost.net
Registration page for our free E-Newsletters:
http://bit.ly/newsletters
Birmingham Post Google Search:
http://www.birminghampost.net/search.cfm
Supplements:
http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/postsupplements/
Blogs:
http://www.birminghampost.net/newsblog
http://www.birminghampost.net/businessblog
http://www.birminghampost.net/lifestyleblog
http://www.birminghampost.net/sportblog
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Marc Reeves - Editor of The Birmingham Post
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I can't find MC Hammer on Twitter :(
PS All that useful stuff and user zooms in on the bloody out of date celebrities. Typical.
Very interesting...although I tried LinkedIn and immediately fell asleep!
Hi Katchoo and Stuey,
Thanks for you comments. I still stand by LinkedIn being a very useful network for professionals!
Also for Katchoo, here is the link to MC Hammer's Twitter profile: http://twitter.com/MCHammer
Nice one. A few comments:
Twitter: you refer to "following" someone, but say that they might "add" you. Consistency (on your own page, and with Twitter's terminology) would be advisable.
Don't recommend Titter's "find friends by e-mail" function - it teaches users to divulge their passwords to third-party sites, which is stupid.
Why is the Post a "person" on Facebook, and not a "page"?
Andy,
Thanks for suggestions - I will make those changes.