Technology Resolutions for 2011

Entrepreneur.com recently had an article on "Small-Business Technology Resolutions for 2011".   Whether you work for a small business, a nonprofit, or are a home computer user, these are wise tips to keep in mind.

Their four tips are listed below, but take time to read their full-post.

1. Change your passwords -- all of them.

2. Close down dud emails, business software and social networks.

3. Shred your documents.

4. Don't forget your mobile phone (security).

Getting started with your HTML newsletter.

At BarCamp last month, I attended a session given by Julia Anderson of Unmatched Style. She shared some tips for people who are getting started with HTML newsletters.  I've listed four of them below.

Have a goal in mind – This sounds simple but is often overlooked. Why are you starting an e-newsletter? What do you want from your readers?

Don’t forget your mobile readers – More and more people are going mobile.  In any e-news tool you use, you should see an option to make your e-news mobile-friendly so people can read it on the go.  In other words, include a “plain text” option. 

Include a call-to-action – What should people do when they finish reading your e-newsletter? Make a donation? Volunteer? Visit your website? 

Use text for important information – Images will drop off in some email programs or if people choose not to view them.  It’s a good idea to include vital information, such as your organization name, as text instead of an image.

There’s a lot more to e-newsletters than these steps, but hopefully I at least conveyed a few of her key points. And of course, I have to make a shameless plug for a newsletter starting in February from the Palmetto Technology Hub.  If you're interested in nonprofits and technology, make sure you check it out.

How many times a day should I tweet?

People getting started with social media often ask me how many times a day they should tweet.  Although there are no "rules", I'll share my opinion.  Chances are you'll get a slightly different response from anyone you ask, so listen to different suggestions and do what works for you.

The number that seems reasonable to me is a maximum of 5 - 7 times per day in four different categories.  

1) One or two of your tweets can be self-promotional, meaning you're driving traffic to a specific landing page on your web-site or talking about an upcoming event.   

2) Provide tips that are not directly about you.  For example, as a nonprofit, you clearly want people to give to you, which is where the self-promotional tweets come in.  However, to be helpful without promoting yourself, provide general tips about charitable giving. 

3) Include some re-tweets, which is promotion of other people and their work.  

4) Try to answer questions.  When I can find some extra time, I'll do a search for questions I can answer from any twitter user, regardless of whether or not we're following each other.


With these guidelines in mind, I suggest spacing out your tweets.  No one wants to see a steady stream of just your account.  Also, know that some of your readers may only view tweets occasionally.  If it's a different time of day than when you're sending multiple tweets, they may miss everything you send which is another good reason to spread it out.