Online Content Matters - How You Can Improve Yours
I’m reading a lot about social media strategy these days and how important it is to have one. SEO is another buzz words when it comes to getting your message out on the Web. Big corporations hire specialized agencies like Razorfish to strategically manage their brand online - according to the 2009 Razorfish FEED report the future will be about consumer engagement. As a matter of fact, according to the FEED report we (the consumers) already actively engage with a brand online. We want to experience a product, not just buy it.
Let’s Talk About Content
All that talk about strategics, SEO tactics, link building and social media marketing is good and important - but let’s talk about content for a second. What if you are a small sized company or a freelancer and you can’t afford an expensive digital marketing agency? What if you have to manage your social media presence on your own? Can you even succeed without expert advice? Yes, you can. The first thing you need to remember is that all these social media strategies are not working without good quality content. It all starts with good content, and we tend to forget that sometimes. To easily do we get carried away with thinking about the details whereas all we should do is concentrate on the basics. Without compelling content, the audience won’t come. Without the bait, the fish won’t bite. 
Two Basic Tips to Creating Great Online Content
1. Take care of your content. If you have a website or a blog, don’t neglect it. Update your website and write new blog posts regularly. The same holds true for your social networking presence: In order to tap the full potential of your Twitter account or your Facebook page make sure to contribute regularly and engage actively. Maintaining and cultivating your content online is your first step to a better Web performance.
2. Think before you post. Before you hit the publish button for your new blog post, re-read what you’ve written. Planning on sending out a media release via one of those free online services? Take the time to proofread your release before you put it out there. You’re upset about your boss or your neighbor or your friend? Think twice before you tweet emotionally laden messages. The Web has a long memory, and you want to make sure you’re sending your best content on its journey through social media space and time.
A List of Online Resources to Help You Improve Your Content
Here are a few links that can help you with the creation of your Web content:
- AP Stylebook Also called “the journalist’s bible”, the AP Stylebook is available via online subscription, as an iPhone app or as a classic spiral bound book.
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary This free online dictionary even features so called “Ask the Editor” videos. The videos address issues regarding etymology and usage, words in the news, frequently-asked language questions and other diction related questions.
- The Writing Docs Online Editing and Proofreading Services
- Men with Pens help with all things website copywriting and web design.
- Copyblogger gives copywriting tips for online marketing success.
- mediabistro offers a variety of online and offline courses and seminars covering various genres.
- WriteBoard is a collaborative writing software online that let’s you write, share, revise, and compare your documents.
- Reference.com This website includes an encyclopedia, thesaurus, dictionary, and translation tool.
- WordReference.com Online dictionary that helps translating English words into several languages
- Big Huge Thesaurus Look up synonyms, antonyms, and rhymes, even get blog post ideas at this site.
- Killer Flagship Content - Free EBook to Download Blogger Chris Garrett introduces the concept of Flagship Content and provides vital information to create, package and promote compelling resources that attract more attention to your blog.
Of course, there are hundreds of other great resources out there and my list is nowhere near complete. So, please if you know of any other great websites and tools that can help small companies and individuals to up their Web content quality, feel free to share your tips with us. I’m looking forward to your comments!
Communications Series - Part 2: How to Communicate Better by Following American Virtues and Values
In the first part of my Communications Series I looked at how we can communicate better by following German virtues and values. This time I want to take a closer look at the values Americans live by and see how those can possibly help improve our communication skills. I take L. Robert Kohls‘ monograph “The Values Americans Live By,” written in the 1980s, as a guideline for what exactly American values are. Kohls, a former director of training for the U.S. Information Agency and the Meridian International Center in Washington, wrote this monograph to help foreign visitors to the United States avoid potential cultural pitfalls. Being a German living in Los Angeles, I am influenced by both cultures - and my communication practices have been influenced by principles that are common on either side of the Atlantic. The good thing about living in 2 cultures is that you sometimes can pick the best of both worlds and implement them in your daily life. It’s like eating pancakes for breakfast and schnitzel at lunch!
So, how can we make use of American values and virtues in our communication?
The following list of tips will show you how you can improve your communication and change your habits with a few easy tricks.
Communicate Better with a “Can Do” Attitude
Americans are known for their optimism and their belief that anything is possible - if you just put your mind to it. So why not instill some American confidence into your next conversation and communicate with a “Yes, I can” mind-set. Hey, Barack Obama won the presidency with this approach, so why shouldn’t you be more effective in your communication using the same method? Once your attitude changes towards a positive position your audience will experience a confident speaker and a genuine communicator.
Communicate Better with Equality
In America, equality is considered an important civic and social goal. Why not using the concept of equality in our communication? Communicate by applying the same manner and choice of words to any group of people or individuals. By paying respect to your listeners you will earn their respect in return. 
Communicate Better with Productivity
Have you met an American who’s not busy with something? Americans are highly productive and use their time wisely to manage their different tasks, jobs, and activities. We can improve our communication skills by keeping in mind the concept of productivity. Are you maybe preparing a speech? Plan your speech not only according to your audience but according to time. Keep it short, keep it simple and fill it with helpful advice and information. Or are you writing for the Web like me? In that case, productivity can mean resourcefulness and links.
Communicate Better with Uniqueness
Americans love their individual freedom. People strive after uniqueness and individuality. In the US, it’s not only ok to have something exclusive and unique to offer - it is desirable. So, why not be unique as a communicator. I’m not saying not to follow any rules. I’m saying to follow the rules in your own distinctive way. Do you have an accent? Embrace it, instead of trying to get rid of it. Do you have a particular sense of humor? Don’t hide it. A little wit works wonders, even in business communication. All I’m saying is: Let your personality shine through the next time you’re communicating. It’s the most valuable quality you have to offer.
Communicate Better with Competition
In Germany, we have the saying “competition is good for business”. Americans take it a step further in believing that competition brings out the best in individuals and businesses. Competition can also make us better communicators. How’s that? Competition can spur us on in writing a better novel or creating a more effective marketing email than our competitor. A friendly rivalry can boost our ego and motivate us to become a better communicator - whether we’re talking, writing or communicating in pictures or sound.
Now, go out and be a better communicator - and let me know how it goes! Can you think of any other American values that would help us become better communicators? I’m looking forward to reading about them. Leave a comment or drop me an email! Until then, tschüs and bye-bye!
SNTUQM2ZARAT
XING Becomes App King - And You Can Be Queen!
If you’re on XING, like me, you will be happy to hear that the platform just launched a number of handy applications. Oh, hold on - for those of you who don’t know what XING is? XING is like LinkedIn with a cool European flair… Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, the online business network counts over 7.5 million members (and yes, there are many Americans on XING, too!) who use XING in 16 languages to do business, find jobs, and pursue a career.
16 Applications and 13 New Partners
Now, back to the applications that XING launched this month: A total of 16 applications from XING and 13 new partners from seven countries have been launched on the XING platform. XING presents us with a wealth of business-related apps developed by partner companies. New tools are coming from Huddle.net, Doodle, Dopplr, Deutsche Welle, MindMeister, SlideShare, spreed, travelload, Tungle, sueddeutsche.de, Wallstreet:Online, WELT ONLINE and ZCOPE. From news and project management through to travel planning and data sharing - the new apps can be installed free-of-charge at and will be available to all XING members, in addition to the existing features on the XING platform.
What the CEO of XING Had to Say
Stefan Gross-Selbeck, CEO of XING AG, said: “Working together with our partners, our overriding aim is to make XING even more valuable for our business community. With this goal in mind, the requests and requirements of our members will form the key focus of our efforts as we develop the XING Partner Ecosystem further and select new apps on an ongoing basis.”
Sounds exciting? Yes, indeed! And it was about time that XING spruced up its platform…you don’t want to trail behind your American competition (psst, I’m talking about LinkedIn). And with all these tasty apps, XING is surely leading the pack of online business networks.
Here’s a summary of the first new partner apps. More to come…says XING.
Social scheduling:
Doodle
Doodle is a leading online tool when it comes to find the right time for a group of professionals to meet. It takes away the pain of email volleys and calendar notes and closes the gap between personal calendar systems. On XING, Doodle is enhanced with social features, e.g. you can see meeting polls in progress in common with your contacts.
Doodle on Xing
Tungle
Tungle.me, a first in click-to-meet technology, is the simplest way for professionals to make meetings happen. Tungle.me enhances a user’s profile by allowing XING members to view their availability and quickly schedule a meeting by proposing multiple times. When the meeting is booked, everyone’s calendar is automatically updated. Tungle syncs with Outlook, Google Calendar, Apple iCal and Entourage for Mac.
Collaboration/project management/workspaces:
Huddle Workspaces
Huddle Workspaces offers XING members secure workspaces to privately share information and work together with their connections. Users can store and share files, collaborate on documents and create private discussions. With Huddle Workspaces, documents can be created and edited online, users may also post comments and request approvals. Tasks, whiteboards, phone and web conferencing are available upon synchronising with a free, full Huddle.net account.
MindMeister
MindMeister brings mind mapping to the web, using its facilities for real-time collaboration to allow truly global brainstorming sessions. Users can create, manage and share mind maps online and access them anytime, anywhere through the award-winning web interface. Mind maps are highly useful to brainstorm and share ideas, manage meetings, structure documents and plan projects the easy way.
ZCOPE
ZCOPE is an easy to use project management tool for networked teams of all industries working together from remote locations. It follows the agile method and is focussed on the essential in managing projects. Using ZCOPE, teams can share version-controlled documents, communicate via project blogs, and collaborate on tasks.
Tungle on Xing
Collaboration/web meetings:
spreed
spreed is a web-based solution for organizing web meetings, online conferences and presentations in Europe and around the world. Using spreed, XING members can hold free-of-cost web meetings and telephone conferences, give presentations, distribute documents, or simply meet online with attendees.
That means: they reserve a meeting room, invite participants, and present themselves and their ideas to the audience, live on the Internet.
Sharing:
SlideShare
SlideShare allows XING members to upload PowerPoint presentations, Word or PDF documents, share them with other members, and to find expert presentations on a wide number of topics. XING members can use SlideShare to embed presentations or documents into their profile, and show off their expertise, product, or service to their network: yet another way to get even more business leads.
Travel:
Dopplr: Where Next?
Dopplr is an online service for smarter travel. It helps you share your travel plans privately with friends and colleagues. It spots co-incidences and helps you make more of your trips. For example, it can tell you that three people you know will be in Tokyo when you are there next week. Dopplr’s Social Atlas helps you discover good places to eat, stay and explore while traveling.
travelload
travelload helps frequent travelers organize their trips, manage itineraries, and more. Create a personalized route itinerary, and post it on your XING profile, or download essential trip info onto your smartphone or mobile device, and take it with you wherever you go.
News:
Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle is Germany’s international broadcaster that produces television, radio and online content in 30 languages. Its unique mix of news, background information and cultural highlights offers European insights to international issues to people around the world. The “DW News app” offers XING members the possibility to integrate current news from Deutsche Welle into their profile. Every member can adjust the settings to meet their needs. Besides selecting a language, it is also possible to illustrate subject headings in different ways.
wallstreet:online
For the numerous XING members in the Finance industry, the wallstreet:online app is the ideal accompaniment to a XING profile. wallstreet:online is the largest and most active financial community in Germany. Users can create virtual portfolios and watch lists, read news and view detailed analyses and opinions. By linking stock details to the latest community postings, the wallstreet:online app puts detailed market info just a mouseclick away.
WELT ONLINE
With one of the largest circulations in Germany and a broad range of press coverage, the online news portal WELT ONLINE keeps XING readers up-to-date and in-the-know on a daily basis - extensive background coverage and topical stories. Users can filter news accordingly to their own interests and view these news items directly on their start page. They can also find out what other people are reading, and share views on specific issues and current affairs with both the XING and WELT ONLINE communities.
Edutainment:
sueddeutsche.de - CareerCamp
XING users can check their career opportunities at the sueddeutsche.de CareerCamp by taking tests on a variety of subjects such as etiquette, general knowledge or personality. Users can also see their ranking among all participants, or just their contact network. The app also features news and links to interesting and most latest articles on sueddeutsche.de, the online portal of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany’s largest daily quality newspaper.
My Social Homes
