Keep Your New Year's Resolutions Using Social Media

Whether you're looking to make a big change, or just tweak a few little things, the new year gives you the perfect opportunity to reflect on your behavior and resolve to do better going forward.

Of course, it's one thing to say you want to tackle a typical resolution like get in better physical shape, get in better financial shape, of like many of us who work on the web - get your social media presence in order. It's another thing to actually accomplish those big, broad goals.

SO this year, instead of making your goals big and broad, why not take a page from the web world and use analytics to pinpoint the specific stuff you want to change? And, by the same toke, why not use data tracking to hold yourself accountable for keeping all those resolutions too?

Physical:
Try keeping a food and exercise log. Foursquare actually lets you see your entire check-in history and, if you do a quick search, you can find it so you can easily see whether you're really been going to the gym or frequenting your fast food runs.
Similarly, there's a site called weeplaces that lets you turn your Foursquare, Facebook Places and Gowalla check-ins into graphic visualizations.
Google Maps also lets you search your own history, so you can get a visual reminder of the places you've been searching for and start picking up on trends in your own behavior.
Then, once you establish things, you still need to track those changes. Apps like LoseIt, Weight Watchers and LiveStrong let you log calories you eat and calories you burn via your smartphone. Fitango prescribes personalized plans to help you get in shape, and gives you a forum for sharing milestones you meet with your friends. Similarly, Phitter is like a fitness-focused Twitter stream where people share weight loss tribulations and tips to help keep each other going.

Money:
To help you get a fresh financial start, you should turn to a site like Mint.com. Mint aggregates all of your various accounts, including credit cards, bank accounts and assets, and then turns your spending habits into easy-to-read charts and graphs that show you where you're spending and where you could be saving. It even lets you compare your shopping and spending habits with other people in your area, so you can see how you stack up.
Once you've nailed down how your money is going out the door, you can start figuring out ways to keep ore of it in your wallet. Again, this is where tracking will be key to actually keeping those resolutions. First, you can establish your financial goals via an online calculator, which lets you figure out exactly how much to start saving. Once you're figured out your goals there are more than 50 great, free mobile apps to help you track your spending. On Facebook, the BillMonk app will help you keep better track those tricky situations where you're sharing a bill with your friends, and you need to make sure everyone knows what they owe. XPenser lets you record your expenses from any divide, including via tweet and e-mail, and TweetWhatYouSpend gives you a forum for sharing your expenditures with everyone on Twitter, so your friends can help hold you accountable when you blog your budget shopping those post-holiday sales.

Social Media:
Since you're reading this blog, you've probably already established yourself in the social media world. However, there probably are changes you can make to your profiles to better your social media presence.
Turn to Top Words app to figure out the topics you talk about most on Facebook. Klout tells you which topics you talk about the most on Twitter, and all sorts of other stats that will help you pinpoint what it is about your social media presence that you may want to change.
BackType analyzes your Twitter profile and tells you what percentage of your tweets are replies, retweets, links, etc. Like Klout, it also tells you who you're influencing and who your influencers are. And, it shows you your most shared sites.
Finally, ViralHeat gives you in-depth analysis of the sentiment around your various social network profiles, which really lets you hone in on how your social media behavior is being received by your followers on Facebook, Twitter and across the web.
If your resolution involves blogging more often, there are plenty of apps to help you do that on the go, right from your phone. Another way to remind yourself of things you want to blog, tweet or post about is by using a service like TwittRemind, which lets you tweet yourself reminders to do things throughout the day.
Once you've established what you want to change, set up alerts through ViralHeat, Klout, BackType and Google Alerts to track all the activity around the various topics you want to cover.
To make the most of your many profiles, consider setting up a hub page via a service like about.me, which lets you showcase all your profiles in one place. Or, sign up for a social network aggregation service to make it easier to make changes on all your profiles at once. You also might want to consider setting up a targeted Twitter list of friends and followers who can help you hold yourself accountable and focus your social media efforts so you can minimize the number of relationships you're managing and maximize the return you're getting from all these changes.

Happy New Year 2011!

Ex-Husband Charged with Reading Ex-Wife's Email

When thinking of marriage, most people remember the famous quote, "What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours" that seems to hold true, however not when it comes to emails apparently! Leon Walker of Rochester Hills Michigan is facing felony charges for reading the emails of his then spouse, Claire Walker.

While the couple was in the middle of a divorce, Walker discovered by reading his wife's emails that she was having an affair with her second husband who was said to be abusive. The couple was indeed living together when he decided to do his "research" within the email of his wife on their shared home computer. When Leon Walker found out this information, he informed his wife's first husband for the safety of the children that were involved in both marriages. The men deemed it necessary to then go to the courts with this information.

It was said that once the emails were given to the courts, Claire notified the police, and now Leon Walker is being charged with a five-hear felony by the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. Walker was outraged by this prosecutor's decision to press charges for him simply protecting his children.

The couple is now divorced, and Walker will go to trial in February.

What do you think? Should it be illegal to read your spouse's email?

Holiday Hours Extended to 24 Hours... Is It Worth It?

Over the month of December some stores have been in "we never close" mode. Target and Wal-Mart having been staying open until midnight and Toys 'R' Us and Macy's have been keeping the lights on all night for holiday shopping procrastinators.

For the first time ever, Toys 'R' Us will stay open 24 hours a day from now until Christmas Eve, when the doors will shut at 10p.m. They retailer's five temporary Toys 'R' Us "Express" stores in the Twin Cities and its Babies 'R' Us are not included in the frenzy.

The Macy's at Rosedale Center is one of a dozen of the chain's stores across the country to go 24 hours. It's the second year the store in Roseville has offered marathon shopping. Although Macy's won't share its sales numbers for the 83 hours of selling marathon, Macy's store manager at Rosedale, said the overnight blitz attracts hundreds of customers from around the area each night.

Sure, there are a few procrastinators, but mostly these people are people who have different lifestyles and different work schedules. When you shop at 2 in the morning, there's really a need. There are a ton of individuals in their working uniforms, third-shift workers, husbands and wives who work opposite schedules and come in when someone can watch their children. And then there are groups of women who went to a late show and came shopping after wards.

So, is it worth it? Retailers say staying open the extra hours are worth it. Experts say only two costs go up with the 24-hour concept: labor and utilities. If merchants can grab extra sales on the graveyard shift, it may be worth it. However, workers say different. They are just feeling more burned out leading up the holiday.

Hey, John Boehner: Quit Crying

Is there a difference in how crying is seen between men and women? I say yes. John Boehner, the incoming Speaker of the House, the most powerful Republican in Washington, and a man who is a matter of days will be second in line for the presidency, has twice had an opportunity to introduce himself to the American people. And, on both of these occasions, has cried a lot.

There is a tradition of politics crying in American and it often ends with getting beat at the polls. However, already some of the incoming speaker's supporters are getting worried that the Ohio Republican's penchant for showing his emotions makes him look weak. On the other hand, others have champtioned Boehner for his willingness to be real.

Some have suggested there is a double standard. When Republicans cry, they are "compassionate conservatives" but crying women and Democrats furthers the stereotype that they're weak. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic woman who Boehner will replace has never cried in public. "For men, it is a sign of compassion. For women, it's a sign of weakness. it's the double standard that worries me," said Democratic strategist and ABC news consultant Donna Brazile. When Hillary Clinton cried briefly at a campaign stop in New Hampshire in 2008, she was criticized for manufacturing the tears as a way to appeal to women voters.

Regardless, it's something to think about. I believe that anyone can cry and should cry to work through stressful times or to deal with sadness. I think it's ok for even leaders to show emotion and compassion during a hard time. However, in a professional situation, you need to keep it together most of the time. You can't start crying all the time otherwise people are going to wonder why you're in control.

The Most Powerful Tweets of 2010

Twitter started as a place for users to share thoughts and feelings using only 140 characters. However, over the recent year more celebrities, government officials and PR professionals are using Twitter and share some very exciting and influential news.

Here are the most influential tweets from 2010 according to Twitter:

Ann Curry: @usairforce find a way to let Doctors without Borders planes land in Haiti: http://bit.ly/8hYZOK THE most effective at this.
After the massive 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, Doctors without Borders flew in a team of physicians to assist the wounded, but they were unable to get clearance to land the plane. Reporter Ann Curry used this tweet to convince the U.S. Air Force to allow the flight to land.

White House: Welcome to @twitter President Medvedev! RT @KremlinRussia_E: Hello everyone! I'm on Twitter, and this is my first tweet.
When Russian president joined Twitter, this White House immediately reached out and welcome him to the Twitterverse. Obama quote: Red phones no longer required.

Leigh Fazzina: I've had a serious injury and need help! Can someone please call Winding Trails in Farmington, CT tell them I'm stuck bike crash in woods.
Twitter to the rescue: When she crashed her bike in a fores with no cell phone reception, a gravely injured triathlete saved her own life when she tweeted out a desperate call for help.

BP Global Public Relations: Catastrophe is a strong word, let's agree to call it a whoopsie daisy.
After the Deepwater Horizon platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing one of the largest oil spills in history, it was a parody account, not BP's official Twitter account, that defined the discussion -- spoofing the company's attempts to improve its public image. "Gulf Oil Spill" was the #1 Trend on Twitter in 2010.

Presidencia Ecuador: Gobierno declara estado de Exception #Ecuador #30S
In late September, civil unrest in Ecuador increased dramatically after a new law cut benefits for public servants. President Rafael Correa accused opposition and military forces of a coup attempt, and used Twitter to declare a state of emergency in a tweet. Leaders across Latin America and the world tweeted response to show their support for the people of Ecuador.

Clarence House: The Prince of Whales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton - www.princeofwhales.uk.gov
In a royal first, Clarence House, the Prince of Whales' private office, created a Twitter account to announce Prince Williams' engagement to Kate Middleton. Now how Henry VIII did it.

Johnathan Schwartz: Today's my last day at Sun. I'll miss it. Seems only fitting to end on a #haiku. Financial crisis/Stalled to many customers/ CEO no more.
When the CEO of one of the most high-profile technology companies in the world announced he was stepping down, he kept his resignation letter to 140 characters. Johnathan Schwartz left the Sun Microsystems with this simple message.

John M. Foster: Congratulations to Raul Labrador on a hard-earned win, and best of luck as Idaho's next congressman.
Twitter was a powerful campaign tool during 2010 U.S. Midterm Elections, and Election Night results often broke first on Twitter. Demonstrating how quickly the world of political communications is changing, Idaho incumbent Walt Minnick's campaign manager issued a concession tweet.

Carles Puyol: Gran ambiente en la rua!!! orgulloso de ver a tanta gente feliz. http://twitpic.com/24qkg5
The FIFA World Cup final represented the largest period of sustained activity for an event in Twitter's history: during the final game, people from 172 countries tweeted in 27 different languages. Twitter put fans in direct touch with teams, players and commentators - and when Spain celebrated it's big win in the Final, Charles Puyol captured the zeal with a Twitpic of the scene from his perch at the victory ceremony.

Does the New Microsoft Store Image Work Or Are They Just a Bad Copycat?

It looks like an Apple store; employees wear bright color T-shirts just like Apple employees and there are all sorts of gadgets spread out for customers to try, just like in an Apple store. But, it's not an Apple store - it's the new breed of Microsoft stores. But, do the new Microsoft stores work as successful as Apple stores? Some say no.

I went shopping at Mall of America a few weeks ago and noticed that right across from the popular Apple store there was a store that looked just like it with a different logo - it took me a moment to realize it was a Microsoft store. I walked through and wondered how well this new image was working for them, copying their largest competitor's image. Personally, I thought it was odd.

Apparently others feel the same. People say it looks like the Apple brand, but doesn't feel the same. They say it doesn't have that same 'cool' factor that Apple's brand has. The main reason it has been decided was because the main difference between the two brands is that Apple products are exclusively sold at Apple stores. You can't find them anywhere else. And secondly, Apple stores only sell Apple products. Compare this to the Microsoft which sells a variety of product brands.

What do you think?

The Early Show Makes Drastic Change: CBS Fires Whole Team

Last week every single member of the CBS Early Show was let go. Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez are out, even the weatherman Dave Price. The decision was made after the announcement that the morning show again placed last in the rankings, coming in third behind the number one spot the Today Show and second place Good Morning America.

Sean McManus, the president of CBS News said it was important that the network do something 'dramatic.' So instead they brought in the team hosting the show the other part of the week, Chris Wragge and Erica Hill, who are on "The Early Show" on Saturday. CBS doesn't think the change will make viewers want to check out the new guys, but it will start something different.

Broadcast television is a business built on habit - no more so than in the morning, when viewers mindlessly flip the television on with their first cup of coffee. The inertia is profound and cuts both ways. An object in motion, in this case the Today show, with nearly twice the viewers of The Early Show will remain in motion. It will get the hot bookings, the big guests and the tune-ins.

My question though, is if CBS wants to do something different, why keep the show the same and just change the players? If broadcast behavior is built on habit, CBS will need to do something bigger because I'm not sure this change will do any good. Here are some great ideas from a reporter at the New York Times for the producers at CBS:

Make a show for people who have not reproduced. Instead of running after the other networks and going after the American housewife on the verge of her impossibly busy day, why not try a show for young, new viewers. Something that showcases young talent and goes beyond family issues.

Move around. Where is it written that the three morning shows aim at Middle America must emanate from the same 10 blocks around Times Square? Booking traditional guests might be a problem in Chicago, but The Early Show is not getting that worm as it is. Look at Oprah.

Take a lesson from failing sports teams and hoard your draft picks and plan for the future. Make something truly Webby. "ABC New Now is a test project for a network that is trying on some digital and social media approaches to news, albeit with not many resources.

Create a more hybrid version of a morning show, something that is more portable, more adaptable to the Web and mobile devices. This would be a nice muscle to develop going forward.

Palin's 'Sarah Palin's Alaska' Is Interesting PR

I've been holding back writing about this because I'm not a fan of Sarah Palin or her family, but I think it's time to address the PR her show, Sarah Palin's Alaska (8 p.m. Central Time on TLC), is doing. It's clear that Sarah Palin is not going away, even though I hoped after the 2008 election. Instead of falling off the earth, it's obvious that Sarah Palin is running for the 2012 Republican party's presidential candidate nomination, especially with her book launch, public speaking events, tea party leadership and now a reality TV show.

The show was created to build up Sarah Palin's public relations efforts. She's been beaten up many times in the media, and this TV show is suppose to help change that goofy, disrespected image of hers. It allows Palin to work with a controlled media outlet and show the American people what her life in Alaska, and outside of politics, is really like.

The show is a hybrid of adventure travel, in documentary style. Despite Palin's protests, reality TV - the eight-episode series follows Mama Grizzly encountering brown bears, Sarah Barracuda hauling in freshly caught halibut, and Caribou Barbie mingling with moose, bison and caribou.

The show is about halfway through the series, but you can still tune in and check it out. What do you think? Is it a good PR idea for Sarah?

Want to feel sexy? It's all in the bag, study finds

With the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show airing last night, I'm feeling a little more sexy than usual... Is this true though, can a brand change the way you feel about yourself?

If you feel a little snobbier when driving a BMW, or feel a little more outdoorsy if you slip on your North Face, or feel a little more hip when you use your new MacBook Air - you're not alone. It's widely known that a product's brand image has a profound impact on your own self image. It's even been proven in a recent study by the University of Minnesota, that now we actually sometimes change our own personalities to match a brand we want to be associated with.

"For example, if you want to be conveyed as adventurous you may buy a Harley-Davidson motorcycle or wear casual clothes from stores such as REI," says Deborah Roedder John, a marketing professor at the U of M and one of the authors of the study published in the December issue of the Journal of Consumer Research. (You can find the full report here, but a subscription is required.)

Brands are like badges - For one part of the study the U of M researchers recruited about 100 volunteers at a mall, all women between the ages of 18 to 34, and asked each of them to carry around a shopping bag of their choice for an hour: Victoria's Secret, Old Navy or Limited Too. Everyone chose the Victoria's Secret bag. When they came back an hour later they were given a survey about how they felt about themselves. The survey results showed that the 'personality of Victoria's Secret' is sexy, glamorous and feminine. (No word on whether or not the bag made them feel like a 15 year old.)

The same researchers did a study with a pen with the MIT logo on it. The results came back similar saying that they felt smarter when using the MIT pen.

This idea is called "entity theory," and it means your the type of person who seeks our products to make you feel a certain way about yourself. But, if you're not a type of person who is affected by a brand you buy, you really won't feel anything at all during a study like this. The second theory is called the "incremental theory"

So, maybe this theory will help shoppers this holiday season save money. You really don't need to buy the brand you believe makes you who you are. All you really need to do is be associated with it and you'll still feel this same benefit.

What do you think of this idea? Have you experienced it or do you think it's full of crock?