We know that the web is a fast-paced and ever changing environment. Social media, in particular, is constantly upgrading and adapting to the demands of those who use it. This week, I decided to give a short overview on some remarkable stories and tools that social media has today.
Facebook now has #hashtags
Our favorite social media network rolled out an interesting change again last week – implementing Twitter’s infamous #hashtags into the Facebook feed. Users can now add hashtags to their posts and can click them to search for similar posts.
It’s one of Facebook’s most interesting updates yet, although feedback from users has been mixed. Some are saying it’s messing up Facebook’s feeds while others see it as an easier way to find relevant content.
From an advertising perspective, this move is foreseen to bring better opportunities. Companies can choose to advertise with hashtags, but Facebook has yet to confirm when this is will roll out (many predict that it will happen soon).
A look back at your Foursquare history
Are you a big fan of Foursquare? We are! Foursquare recently rolled the Foursquare Time Machine – a feature that shows your past check-ins in an interactive and visual way. Your stats (check-in locations, most visited place, etc.) are easily available. It also shows you stats that you may have not known, including whether you frequent more bars than cafés, the total distance you’ve travelled and where you have checked in the most during different times of the day.
Free tool for getting those important Twitter stats
Monitoring the performance of your Twitter account is important. There are plenty of tools out there ranging from simple to very detailed. One tool I find particularly interesting is Twitonomy. It is a free web service that allows you to view twitter statistics in one dashboard. All you need to do is sign in with your own twitter account.
You can view useful figures (retweets, mentions), an analysis of your followers, and learn which of your followers are the most influential. You can also compare your statistics with other accounts to see how you fare against the competition. It’s definitely worth having a look!
Twitter for events? Try Live Tweeting
The potential for harnessing both online and offline engagement for events is massive. There are plenty of online tools available that will allow you to follow Twitter conversations using hashtags. The Live Tweet App, proudly designed in Belgium, is a tool that allows you to monitor and moderate event tweets and beam it on your event monitor. With its simple and clean interface, it’s a tool fit for everyone. Check it out for your next event!