Addison Clark Online – Blog

Aaron Wilson, of Clipix.com called the office last Wednesday wanting to discuss the blog that I posted last week concerning the similarities of Pinterest and Clipix. Wait–is there coincidence that the president’s name is Matthew Wilson– thus making Aaron the president’s little brother? In any case, he proceeded to explain that Clipix manages a different audience and a very different category that is all about sharing. Since his phone call assumed that my original post was inaccurate, I decided to review their website again. Here are some of the differences I have found:

According to Aaron, Clipix provides “a user friendly custom thumbnail with custom text to describe the article,” whereas with Pinterest, if there is no image, you have nothing to pin. That thumbnail that you then provide will still link back to the original URL and go back to the main article that you wanted to clip to begin with.

No matter how many times it’s re-clipped, or “been through the wash,” as Aaron stated, it will maintain the original URL watermark, so if you’re looking to steal pictures, it’s going to be awkward for you to try to re-blog it or post it somewhere else and depict it as your own.

            This is probably the one thing I find most interesting: Clipix will allow users to upload word docs, excel docs, and PDF’s, on Clipix— you can’t do that on Pinterest. So, it’s got a file sharing concept as opposed to just pictures and articles.

You can also scan a barcode, which you cannot do on Pinterest. As for QR codes, Aaron stated that they will be adding that option soon, as they are “hoping to expand” due to the rapid growth that has been seen with the use of QR codes.

If you like using these types of apps from your phone, install the mobile safari on the Clipix app on your iPhone. By doing this, you can “clip” directly from your phone. Pinterest has an app for the iPhone, but not for the Android market, and you definitely cannot pin straight from your browser on your cell phone. With Pinterest, you can only take a picture and pin that.

An Android app does happen to be available for Clipix, but it has been a process of developing, and they have taken much of their feedback into consideration in the creation of it. Clipix reports that they are very happy with it now; both apps for Clipix are free to both markets.

The aspects that separate Clipix from Pinterest: I found these originally from this source:

(http://iphone.ulitzer.com/node/2214980) <– but is this opinionated due to the fact that their PR firm is Edelman (an awesome company in the public relations field)?

• Privacy controls –Clipboards can be saved as private, friends only or public.
• Legal concerns – Clipix has been very proactive steps to protecting image owners’ copyrights –something that Pinterest has been under fire for.
• File uploads – Users can upload pictures and files such as Excel, Word or PDF’s –on Pinterest it limits you to only images and links that you choose to pin from the web (or re-pin)
• Custom thumbnails – On Pinterest, if you want to pin an article from a website and the website provides no image, then you are left with a blank image, which is going to look amateur. On Clipix, a custom thumbnail can be created, instead of only having the option to use an image from the site
• Multiboards – Users can bundle clipboards under one main category, for better organizing if you have similar boards that you want to group together (This could be great for all you women planning your future house or wedding).
• Syncboards –While other sites may allow for cooperative sharing, Syncboards allows users to share relevant content and collaborate in real time privately with just the other people they choose to add to the board– I see how this differs, you can have group boards in Pinterest, but no privacy feature has been enabled for that yet. All you can really do is block someone.
• Mobile devices – Users can add or manage clips on the go with the Clipix application for the iPhone and Android devices (pinterest only offers the iPhone app)
• No invitation – All you need to sign up is an e-mail address, Twitter or Facebook account … there is no invitation or waiting list.

I joined Clipix and this happened to be the one of the first few things I found on my feed.

Clipix tells me: You don’t have any friends. (Thanks for the reminder, dude.)

To see a better view of the pictures, click on the images.

After being on Pinterest for about five minutes, I was hooked. At this point, I sort of expected Clipix to be the same. However, after creating my account on Clipix (which was relatively easy since all I had to do was activate it through Facebook), this is the page that it took me to.

This is where I slowly began to lose interest, seeing as I consider myself guilty (along with the rest of my generation) of wanting “instant gratification.” Being user friendly is something that any website needs to accomplish before it can expect to become successful. In the web design world, it’s a known fact that people will quickly lose interest if they can’t find the information they need in a short space of time. Navigating a website shouldn’t be an intelligence test, it should be easy for any demographic that you may want to reach out too. I can say that my Pinterest boards had nothing to begin with too—but it didn’t take me to a blank page filled with empty boxes. Pinterest gave me categories of interests to choose from, and gave me options to other boards, people, and pins pertaining to what I would like. Pinterest was catering to my  interests, not theirs. I did not get any of those options with Clipix, but nonetheless, since my Clipix boards have nothing on them, I continued to poke around in hope that it would still catch on and I would become “hooked.”

I eventually figured out that if I click on “Community,” after some time it takes me here…

Nevertheless, who are these people? I have never seen them on Facebook, and seeing as I used my Facebook account to login, I assumed maybe there was some connection there. Is it just a general front page that everyone gets as soon as they join? I joined again under another name so that I could see what the differences would be for that start-up board. I got the same thing- almost identical. They said Clipix is more than just pretty pictures… well I’d have to say that I agree. It’s boring words that take me to long, time-consuming articles. On Pinterest, I like the pictures. I like the summary under the pictures. If I’m interested, I’ll read more. I don’t want to read five pages of an article only to discover this isn’t anything close to what I was looking for before.  Pinterest also contains a category at the top that will allow me to shop for gifts as well, ranking products from lowest to highest prices. Clipix doesn’t include these categories.

Here is where I stumble with Clipix. One of the most distinguishing features that sets Clipix apart from Pinterest is that any user can clip word docs, PDFs, et cetera… but if I wanted to do that, why wouldn’t I just resort to Google docs, or e-mail someone with the document directly? What if everyone I want to share my document with doesn’t already have a Clipix account? I then become that annoying friend by asking them to create yet another account for them to share stuff on. I mean, how many people do you need to share a document with anyway? If your answer is no one else besides yourself, then okay, you might decide to go for the privacy option so that only you can see it… well what use is that, aren’t I supposed to be sharing? Hmm, maybe it will work in the way that the cloud works. I’ll store every document here as a back-up plan in case my computer crashes. Except, at this point the owners of Clipix probably hate me so they will probably destroy my account right after they blow up my computer.

Overall, I just spent three hours of my day researching and trying to figure out why I should like this website more than Pinterest. I really wanted to find something, but until Pinterest goes down due to some copyright issue that they can’t adjust or fix already, I’ll be sticking to Pinterest. At least on Pinterest I can pick the category that I want to browse, and I can do it pretty mindlessly. If I want to browse through on Clipix without any particular interest in mind, I either have to find someone’s boards to go through, or go to the search box and think of something to look up. I bet that is one of the top reasons that people are spending 60+ minutes on Pinterest, as opposed to the generic 10-15 minutes on other social platforms. Not to mention, all of my friends are already there.

As for Pinterest, they still don’t have an android app (get it together Pinterest!) and there really is no form of privacy except for the fact that you can block someone and it is possible to make sure your name does not appear in a search engine. The other frustrating thing about Pinterest is that you do have to be invited or register which can be frustrating for those who want to pin now… but don’t we humans like some form of exclusivity/things we can’t have? (For example, if you don’t believe me: Put a box on your front porch and write FREE on its side; I bet no one takes it. Put that same box on the porch and label it $5; I bet someone steals it.)

However, here is the thing. You don’t have to listen to my opinion; the statistics speak for themselves. If you want to see for yourself why Pinterest is still booming, check out this awesome info-graphic:

http://thechrisvossshow.com/the-power-of-pinterest-infographic/#utm_source=feed

Pinterest is almost tied with Twitter is referring users to websites. Users spend on average of approximately 80 minutes on it at a time. Are you still not convinced why Pinterest might be good for your business yet? Read this article I found: (p.s. I found it on Clipix… Thanks Aaron!)

http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2157198/pinterest-b2b

Pinterest has approximately 1.36 million users daily and over half of the users are women. Clipix says they are aiming for a different demographic, but I think it’s going to take hard work for them to aim at setting themselves apart, and to prove that their differences aren’t minimal. They have to demonstrate that they are beneficial for a different type of user– and define that audience clearly. My advice for them? Go for the college or business scene, Clipix. Incorporate universities and colleges into Clipix and you might find that students take more to the private sharing tools (for group projects per se). Add a feature where you can bunch together the articles and pictures and make them into a slideshow (for example, for a presentation). Find companies that could put you ahead, and collaborate with them if you really want to be different. Partner with Blackboard, or Prezi. Get out of the demographic that Pinterest is stuck in (nearly 80% women), and load your website full of content that men and women want to see. Find a way to join forces with other businesses so that they find your website more useful than Pinterest.

As for me, I’ll most likely stick to my Pinterest account. I’ll be monitoring Clipix to see what kind of changes they have coming up, but if I already have plenty of boards started with my friends, people and companies that I like to follow, and a good standing of followers for myself, I’m not going to go through the work of moving all of that to another website just yet.

Until next time….

Written by: Heather Via

The New Pinterest or Just a Duplicate?

               While many have fallen into the addictive world of Pinterest, many others are finding that they like Clipix just as much, but what’s the difference?

Clipix is working with the same philosophy as Pinterest… grouping and providing categories for you to compile ideas and photos into organized files on a website. Whether its shoes you want, recipes, gifts for mom, or vacation ideas, you can save articles, pictures, and websites and store them away under your account.

Advertised as “your one-click, save-anything, send-it-to-anyone-anywhere secret weapon,” Clipix offers a way to “organize your life.” While Pinterest has a Pin It button that you can add to the tool bar of your browser, Clipix offers a “clip” button tool that you can drag onto your bookmarks bar. When you find something you like, i.e. a pair of boots that you wish to purchase later, you can clip it and save it to the file in which you choose. Eventually, you have built up a couple clipboards of categories, just as you would have bulletins on Pinterest that serve the same purpose.  I suppose it varies a little, in the sense, that you can choose to “lock” a board, but I’m sure you could probably find options under the privacy settings on Pinterest that would virtually block people from seeing one of your boards if you chose to do so.  There is an app for it on the iPhone and on the Droid market.

You can opt to have a syncboard, where you share ideas with others who care about the same topic, but you can still do the same on Pinterest… the only difference is that it’s called a group board.

After poking around between the two sites, I think the most obvious difference from a first glance is that you don’t have to have an invite to sign up, or attempt to get put on a registration list.  It advertises that it’s a free service, but then again so is Pinterest.  I love trying new social media, but if it’s serving the same purpose as a website that has already been created…I’m most likely going to stick with the original. Plus, if you already have a following, group boards, and companies that you can connect with on one website, why transfer all of that information to another website, just to do the same thing? Granted, you might see different references and things that people are “clipping,” versus “pinning”, which could make it interesting… but honestly, it looks like a Facebook vs. Google +. Google + didn’t have much to separate it from Facebook the first time around. Granted, it may be picking up now that it has some different features, it still hasn’t taken off because it began as a duplicate. Until I find something that sets Clipix apart from Pinterest that really interests me and can drive many people in as quickly as Pinterest did… I think I’ll stick to Pinterest.

Pinterest- 1, Clipix- 0.

Dear Diary Facebook…

               What would you do if you were asked to share your social media user log-in and password during an interview? Many might say that this violates privacy laws– but it is in fact, completely legal, and now, Virginia State troopers are being asked to share this information during the interview process.

It’s somewhat understandable for someone who is about to be a public figure, but this process has raised concern in other areas. Should employers be allowed to investigate an applicant’s social media accounts?

As for the State police, they are not technically required to provide their username and password, however, they do have to log into any existing social media account that they may have, so that an investigator can review the contents as a part of the department’s extensive background-screening process.

The department claims that this sort of background check is on the same playing field as calling and talking with former teachers, employers, and neighbors, and conducting criminal history and credit checks on potential officers. Some counties are not requiring that you log in with the investigator present, but that you “friend” the investigator, so that they can then view the profile which otherwise might have been private.

“There is no way the public or public interest groups would tolerate the hiring of an individual with, for example, prejudiced or racist commentary posted on a personal social media site,” said state police superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty.

Requiring access to an applicant’s various social media accounts is becoming more prevalent among public agencies in the Richmond area, although some companies have claimed that they do not and will not ask for access to a person’s private account. They have said that they may look at an account if it is public, but the applicants are not required to provide their password or usernames. What do you think about this? Is it circumstantial, or is it too much?

Source

Everything you need to know for your Business/Brand Page

Facebook Timeline for Business and Brand pages has been a highly anticipated change for Facebook users. Many dates have been speculated for the takeover of Timeline to pages since it was introduced to profiles, but Facebook finally announced that each page will change to Timeline in a site-wide rollout on March 30th. However, you can choose to publish your Timeline anytime before then.

Many people have rejected the Timeline takeover to the personal profile; but we think that Timeline will be an asset to business pages.

Timeline will essentially help your business in the long run with enhanced visuals, and the ability to have private and direct messages with customers from your brand site. No longer will you have to send a message from a personal profile or try to get your client’s personal information just so you can take the conversation out of public view–you will be able to speak on behalf of the company. However, before you go and start making changes, there are a few things you should keep in mind while setting up your business timeline. Let’s get to the basics.

1. Update your Cover Photo and Profile Picture–

You should make this photo unique and eye-catching. It’s the first thing that people will see when they come to your page. However, making your photo unique doesn’t mean throwing a bunch of colors and words together. Your cover photo should express what your business is about, and you will most likely want to adjust its size and layout a few times in another program before you save it to the page. It might take a few times to get it right, but try to avoid letting it become pixilated. The photo might look to be the perfect size, but when you upload it, you may find that it doesn’t fill the entire space. If it is off center, you can drag it and reposition it. We have been setting our cover photos to be 852 pixels wide by 315 pixels high. If you aren’t sure what to use as a cover photo, check out a few good examples that we have found: Coca-Cola, The Hodges Partnership, & Mashable.

Your profile photo can probably stay the same, but many businesses will focus on using their logo as the profile picture. Using the logo as your profile picture will look professional and make your brand recognizable.

2. Gather your history–

The next thing you will want to do is go to the right-hand side bar and input information about your business by year. When was your business founded? Timeline will allow you to enter the exact date, or just the year if that’s what you decide. If you have a picture from where you were first located, post it. Facebook gives you the option to feature a picture under your “Founded” link on Timeline. You will also want a short bio on how the company was established, and it might be wise to include what your company has grown to become today. This part of Timeline is quite useful, because you can use it to tidy up old photos and hide them from the public view, or even hide posts. You can make specific stories stand out by “Highlighting” them. Use the star to “highlight” a story, and the post will become wider across the screen. Using the pencil mark next to the star is beneficial if you want to pin a story to the top of your page. It will stay there for seven days, unless you choose to un-pin it, or pin something else in its place.

3. Goodbye Tabs, Hello Navigation Bar–

One feature that will be diminished is the “Tab” section. No longer will you be able to direct fans to a “Welcome” tab or a featured promo tab. However, the Navigation Bar will replace “Tabs.” Your navigation bar is located right below your cover photo. It houses what the tabs previously held before; for instance, your about, likes, and photos, etc. will be located here. You can rearrange these, delete, or add favorites to this bar. Most importantly, you should keep your “likes” and “photo” tabs, as long as the photos are still appropriate. You will also want to hang on to tabs designed by your company, or personalized tabs that you can design on your own. Many of these tabs have transferred into Timeline form, so you can assign a picture to be the visual on the navigation bar.

When you’re done…

It’s useful to use the preview form of Timeline while you are editing so that you can get used to the format before you publish your page. Once you have published your page, look towards the upper right hand corner to locate your Admin Panel. This is the panel that will allow you to direct message clients, view insights on your page, view likes and notifications, and manage your page. When you are finished, you can click “Hide,” and the page will appear as it does normally.

We hope this helps you out as you make the transition to Timeline. Don’t forget, it will switch over automatically on March 30th– and if you are too swamped with work and deadlines, give us a call… we can do it for you!

Written by:

Heather Via

804.864.9190

www.addisonclarkonline.com

Ideas for Social Media Content and Engagement

Social Media is buzzing right now… so where do we go from here?  Don’t just “be there,” engage!  It’s always important to start off with a strategy.  Knowing how to go about social media can create a buzz about your business… and not just within the walls of cyberspace.  We can give you some guidelines, but it’s up to you to make the moves!

First and foremost, get yourself a plan!

Planning requires knowing what you want to accomplish out of social media.  Do you want it to be a site where customers can address their opinions?  Well, it’s always good to have feedback, but that can lead to negative feedback pretty quickly if not handled with a quick and honest approach.  P.R. is all about two-way communication– so while you need to listen to what your customers want, you can also use it to your advantage!  Finding your key audiences and learning how to address them can be very important as well. We found this great excerpt from prdaily.com– Click here to see the full article:

“Ask yourself these questions, and perhaps even poll your customers or members to get clear answers:

• Is my intended audience already on Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn? This question will become especially relevant when you’re deciding which social media channels your company should use. Chances are your customer base is using LinkedIn, so that should be a no-brainer. It gets a little trickier with Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. It’s even trickier to determine whether your customer base will want to find you in emerging social media sites such as Pinterest and Instagram.

• How is my audience using different social media channels? This takes the previous question a step further. Your customer base may be using Facebook and Twitter to connect with friends and family, but are they also using it for networking or professional reasons? If your customers are on Facebook, but most are not using it to connect with companies for business purposes, that social media avenue may not be a priority. That’s not to say you shouldn’t be there; it’s only to say that you should prioritize the spaces your customers are using for professional reasons.

• What are my benchmarks for success in social media? We establish our benchmarks by taking a look first at how like-minded organizations are succeeding in social media. If we’re trailblazing, our goals will be less number-based and more anecdotally focused. We’ll want to listen first and make adjustments as we go. Eventually, our benchmark may be that our Facebook page is the first point of contact for the majority of our consumers—whether they’re inquiring about products or reaching out for customer-service purposes.

• Do we have the ability to effectively measure our success in the social space? If you don’t have the metrics to tell you how you’re performing against the benchmarks you’ve set for success, it will be difficult to justify increased spending on social media. You should measure more than just “likes” and “follows” month over month; you should be measuring engagement.

• What are the potential negatives to using social media? If your company is a magnet for controversy and backlash because of the industry you’re in or some other reason (maybe your CEO made a fool of himself on “Undercover Boss”) then you will want to seriously weigh the implications of playing in the social space. You can potentially set yourself up to become a sounding board for the disgruntled. Keep in mind that by adding a social media channel to the mix, you’re adding a layer of complexity to your crisis-response plan. “

Those questions are some great stepping stones in determining how to create a plan and utilize it.  From there, it’s all about making sure you keep your profile up to date, and post frequently.

Stay Up-to-Date!

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t be posting just to post! Use posts to your advantage; create a marketing plan that will offer deals and incentives for your customers to come in and become more engaged with your page.  If your customers are interacting on your page, you have more chances of creating new customers in the process.  Many times, people will be more willing to try a product or a business simply because a friend recommended it—it’s now considered just the same when someone re-tweets a company or publically “likes” a company on Facebook.

Add some flavor

Varying the content of your posts is also imperative.  If you are posting the same thing day after day, people come to expect the same results.  Eventually, they will stop looking at it, or read over it when it pops up in their newsfeed.  It’s important to be interactive, but also important to have a little flavor when posting.  You also don’t always have to sound so business-like or professional; many people prefer a company that seems real instead of a company who is just looking for more business.

Have a little fun with your social media account. Opportunities await you in the social media world.  How will you create the buzz for your business?

Written by: Heather