Tim Bursch

I DO.

What is Glue?
They say, “Glue enables you to connect with your friends on the web around the things you visit online.”
I say, “A social tool that helps me share the web and find new stuff.”

Another tool? Yep.
Let’s say your looking at a really cool website and you want to share it on Twitter. Just hit Glue in your browser and a nifty box pops up with options. You can enter a tweet about the site and they fill in the link. Nice. Want to save the page your on? Click Glue and save to Delicious.

What’s unique?
-Saving and finding more of the things you like (aka: semantic web)
-Hearing about what other people like (books, movies, music, etc)
-Putting some of my favorite tools in one spot (tinyurl, twitter, delicious)
-Getting awesome customer service and help for what you need

What is your favorite social web tool? Be heard.

Tags: social web.

I joined a conversation by Liz Strauss on listening. It got me thinking.

I’ve had this belief that it takes work to pay attention. But then again, listening could be easier than I think.

Have you relaxed and listened lately? Speak up and I’ll kick back.

Image credit: nugun

Tags: attention.

Hope you are having a good weekend. These were some of my favorite reads this week:

Kathryn Jennex aka @northernchick talks about listening and watching on Twitter.

Tara challenges us to sit with our questions.

Chris gives away a huge resource on overnight success.

Enjoy!

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I have read most of Seth Godin’s books. One theme I enjoy is “remarkability.” If you have a boring product (car parts, bread, paper) can you make it remarkable? I think so. Make the service so kick-butt that the customer thinks they got a Mercedes not a Mazda. Make the package design (physical or virtual) so cool that the customer tells 11 friends.

See, I don’t think it matters if I think something is boring. It’s up to the customer. Is my email engaging and compelling or dry and spammy?

So, how do you know if you’re average or awesome? Just ask. Ask your client what they think of your service. Are you getting referrals? Are people talking about you and your product? Are you remarkable?

You might also like: 5 Ways to Start Building Your Personal Brand

Image credit: dan taylor

Tags: anti-mediocrity.

Part 3

Document Management
Do you used .docs or spreadsheets? Most work requires working with MS Office-like apps. Enter Google Documents (GD). (Does Google do everything?) GD has a similar feel to Office. The main reason I am starting to aggregate my documents is access. I can access via the web on any computer. If you collaborate in your work it is convenient to share and start Groups on Google.

A few other highlights from my command center:
-Remember the Milk Tasks (easier to use than Google tasks)
-Chat- I am using Twitter more for conversations, but sometimes Google chat is quick for working through a task with someone.

How do you manage your digital world? Let me know if I can help. Be heard.

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Part 2- Information Flow

Are you an on-line reader? Are you part of a business or organization and want to know what people are saying and writing about? Then Google Reader (GR) is your friend.

SET-UP
Go to GR here to set-up your preferences. When you find sites you like add their subscription. One easy place to find good reads is Alltop. I skim a lot of blogs and read about 20 daily. You can manage your subscriptions to your preference.

TRACKING
I like to know what is going on with certain topics, keywords and names. You can go to GR and set up to receive information by RSS or email. If your topic is really broad you might want to limit your intake to one email a week.

LISTENING
Do you care about your brands? I set up a Google Alert and Twitter Search for my personal and business brands and feed them into Google Reader. This will let you know what is being said out there.

SHARING
GR allows you to share and email articles you think friends or colleagues might be interested in. Links are at the bottom of each post in GR. If you are passive aggressive it’s a great way to just give hints. Ha, not really.

So, GR is a great way to filter incoming info. How do you handle information overload?

Tomorrow  - one last tip on setting up your Google Command Center.

Further reading:

Google Command Center Part 1

Thinking About Starting a Blog?

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Do you have email on one platform, calendar on another, and save documents in yet another app? I used to. They’re all good, just all over the place. I am on my way to managing my digital life in one place. At least for now.

Keep reading for more on creating your own Google Command Center.

PART 1 - EMAIL
I have multiple e-mail accounts and it’s not easy to get to inbox zero. I would suggest aggregating all of your email into a service like Gmail. It is easy to set up and manage. You can label, sort, file, and search through all your mail. Handy. Also, with a new feature all of your sent mail will come from the correct e-mail account.
Once you have all of your emails in one place, be sure to make a signature and also label incoming e-mails for easy searching.

More tomorrow on Information Intake in your Google Command Center.
What do you think? Be heard.

Tags: attention.

1. TWITTER - My personal choice to connect and network with people. Check here for a Twitter tip or two.

2. LINKEDIN - The social networking standard for business and professionals. If you’re not on Linkedin you don’t have a complete resume. Excellent tips here and here.

3. BLOG - Do you have one? Why not? I agree wholeheartedly with Shannon and Terry. It is one way to start a conversation with people about something you care about. For tips on how to start check here or start reading Liz Strauss.

4. GOOGLE - Set up your personal connection command center (more on that soon). Use Google to track, read, and stay in touch.

BONUS TOOL: VALUE - In all of the tools out there you need to give away some value. That could be a resource, sharing your humor, introducing your network, or listening to a new friend.

What tools are helping you connect? Be heard.

Image Credit: Kyle May

Tags: tools.

Muhammad Yunus is well known in the social entrepreneur community. He has used business skills to make a huge impact in many people’s lives. His definition of a social business can be found here.

I think social enterprises (think Kiva and Donorschoose) are on the leading edge of positive social change. But what about business? A lot of the news is greed and corruption. Can a bank have social impact? What about a grocery store? Why not?

I believe social business can be any company, of any size, that intentionally integrates a social mission into their business. This could take many forms of investment:
- a coffee company giving to at-risk youth.
- a new way to do classifieds that connect people and benefit communities.
- an investment of profits in a Kiva project.

Business can help change the world and tackle social issues like poverty, racism, the digital divide, and hunger. I know people and business are doing this. Tell me what you see?

Further Reading:

Spotlight: Zack Steven

Where is Poverty?

Tags: change, social business.

Have an idea that is burning inside of you? Want to change the world? Now’s your shot to share and help start this town on fire.
Ignite Minneapolis is an opportunity to be heard.

April 22nd, 6:00 PM

Solera, Downtown Minneapolis

You going?

Tags: Ignite, Minneapolis.