Social Media Tools Used For Handmade Homemade and More.
LilacsNDreams Welcomes you. Recent postings have been discussing a bit about Social Media, and Social Networking, and I would like to continue a bit more with this subject.
Today I will be noting some of the more popular social networks that are being used, and make a little note about them too. Please remember that these places mentioned are not all of them out there as there are so many of them. Just depends on your interests, your business, your personal thoughts and feelings, what your goals are, and so on. So, good luck to you in your choices, and please read on.
Social Media Networks to Maybe Consider:
Facebook: This social networking service allows the users to upload pictures, and allows text to be shared too. What use to be Facebook Pages, and is now the Facebook Timeline allows you to have followers, or rather people who Like you. With this they can better follow you for your business, and stay better up to date on specials, events, announcements, etc. A regular Facebook page is how many start off to socialize with. Some do not desire to have the extra page, and do quite well too.
Google+: This is another social network service which happens to be newer than Facebook also. Here you can also upload photos, text, and videos that you would like to share with everyone. When sharing such things they are done publicly, or you can also choose to only share with certain circles of your choice. Having a circle has been organized by you which are different groups of people that you wish to share with.
Google+ Pages: This is something that is organized by groups, some organizations, and some businesses that set up profiles for posting which will post information to other groups that would be interested.
LinkedIn: Another social network that focuses a bit more with business relations.
Ning: This is a social network that would be designed by you the administrator with the needs that you have in mind. This social network generally includes having a forum, photo galleries, blogs, some have live chit chat, and is a place for others to collect to that share some of the same interests, and same businesses too. It is a way to be active, and interact with others which can be beneficial, fun, and a learning experience for many as well. If you click on my Lets Get Social Tab at the to you can get an idea of what some of them do with some I have listed.
Pinterest: Has become another form of social networking which is quite popular now, and has grown pretty fast too. This form is done by using pin boards. You use a photo technique of things that you find of interest which might include vintage, collectibles, repurposing, upcycling, handmade, homemade, blogs, websites, and so on. Another great way to bookmark things you find of interest, for further reference, and also great in organizing some of your thoughts and ideas too.
Wanelo: This is another form of social networking using the pin board idea too. Here again you will pin, or save photos into collections that you have organized yourself. With Wanelo the difference is that you are openly allowed to do self promoting here too.
Please remember that these are the most used, or more popular social networks that have been mentioned. There is much more out there to see, and find. Some days I surprise myself when I come across yet another social network, and am reminded how the internet is such a big place.
Remember now if you would happen to know of more, or wish to bring more to the attention of all of us here you are more than Welcome to do so. Love to hear ideas, and more input from others that are willing to share with us. Don't forget to say Hi also so that if possible I can also hop over to visit with you. Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and see you again soon.
Social Media Social Networking, Connections, and What is It.
Welcome again to LilacsNDreams everyone. Social Networking, and Social Media can be done for fun, for pleasure, and for business too. Many things discussed today among many is Social Networking which can also be known as Social Media too. In order to get more of an understanding for defining these I had gone to Wikipedia for this.
Social Networking Services is an online service, a platform, or a site that builds and reflects from social networks, or social relations upon people. An example is from people who share the same interests and activities, and people with similar interest, activities, and backgrounds that make their own communities. These social networking sites allow people to share ideas, some activities, events, and some interests within their own little networks. If you visit Wikipedia you can read of what I have noted here, and of course a little bit more is shared too. Make sure to not just read the meaning they show, but to further follow down the page reading as well. Very interesting reading.
Websites that invite you to interact on the site, and with other visitors will fall into the definition of Social Media. Some of our first thoughts when seeing this word is of instrumental. As you read further you will also see how it relates to the issues of Social Networking too. I have found the definition for this at http://www.webtrends.about.com/od/web20/a/social-media.htm. Please visit to also read about this too.
Social Networking can be a great home for us on the Web, or the Internet. Helps you to connect with people, maybe connect with some old friends, reconnect with some long lost friends, and it can also help you with your business career by making some connections too. The Social Networks range from a friend based network like Facebook, My Space, Google+ onto some with movie networks like Flixster, and Last.FM to more of the business Social Networks like LinkedIn, and XING. I did find this little tidbit for this at http://www.webtrends.about.com/old/socialnetworking/u/list-of-social-networks-guide.htm.
Make sure to come back, and visit with LilacsNDreams. Keep in touch with Me, and also to watch the next few postings I am working on for Social Networks, and Social Media being used, some brief explanations for them of what they do, and so on.
Thanks for sharing your time with Me. Have a most wonderful day!
Blog Blogger Blogland is Part of Social Media Networking of Today. Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams!
At this time I know I am discussing a bit about Blog and Blogging, also your Seo, and Social Media Networking, but it is kind of coming together if you will bear with me everyone. One post will usually lead into another. That is sometimes, not all of the time. I try, and do the best that I can.
Why you may ask should it be covered. Social Media, and Social Networking is a growing thing, and still growing today. It is done in many forms. Everyone has places they are involved with, places they participate in, areas they like to work with, places they keep in touch with, and etc. Believe it, or not it is all helpful. Some of what you do with participating is really helpful to not only the sites, but also to you. It has been mentioned by many that doing all of this is good for those who do Online Sales, for Marketing, your Brick and Mortar Stores, and etc.
So, one of the questions is Why Blog, and should I be Blogging? Yes, there are many reasons that you should Blog. I will try not to bore you with all of it, and to keep it simple too. 1) Social Media or Social Networking is one reason for it. Blogging has become another form of Social Media which is like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and places like that. 2) Another reason to Blog is that is gets you published. Getting published is by working with certain things in regards to your SEO that get you noticed in search engine rankings, and etc. 3) Another reason to Blog is getting your message of what you want to share out there to others who would like to also read it, learn from it, and share with it too. Remember that there is no right, or wrong message to put out there. It just all depends on the message that you wish to share, and how you would like others to be able to relate with it too. 4) Blogging has become another way of sharing tips, questions, answers, and tutorials. 5) Blogging has also become a great way for Teachers, and Students to share pictures, class notes, and work.
Blogging is versatile also. It is not just for one form of a profession, but is for many forms. People who use Blogs as a form of social media, and networking is Online Sellers, Brick and Mortar Store Owners, Small Companies, Big Companies, Journalists, Photographers, Writers, Publishers, and etc. Many people have turned to the forms of Blogging as the Social Media Networking area keeps growing.
Choosing the right platform is something that you will have to do yourself. Consider which platform is best for you, your needs, and with your capabilities of the use of the platform too. The more popular platforms that you see many using is with Blogger.com and also with Wordpress.com. Another growing platform that some have found use in is with Tumblr.com. Choosing the platform that will work for you all depends on what you have in mind for using your blog for, your goals, and the ease in which you wish to have for your followers, and you to use too.
1) Tumblr is a platform with Social Media of simple, and quick posts. Some of the themes are free, and then there are some premium paid themes too. There are no additional plug ins used to add any additional features to your Blog. This is known as a nice place to use for your casual internet presence.
2) Word Press is another platform for a more serious blogger to use. There are 2 forms of Word Press that can be considered which is WordPress.org, and also WordPress.com. The .com of Word Press is the hosted service of software, and has the basic features offered for free. It does display ads on your blog unless you would like to purchase an ad-free upgrade. The .org is the home of software. You get complete control, and flexibility with this one. You could download the software that needs to be installed on a web hosting server for it to work. Such places like Go Daddy, Blue Host, and etc.
3) Blogger of course is another free service chosen by many as well. With Blogger you do not have to have certain plug ins in order to have certain features. You are allowed up to 20 pages with Blogspot, or also known as Blogger. They are static pages that you use. You are also allowed up to 100 blogs per account. Just like with Word Press there are pros, and cons to using this platform as well.
As is visual I myself am using Blogspot, or Blogger. I have a blog with Word Press also, but I favor the Blogger one more. I am use to Blogger because in reality I have had my blog since 2009, and worked with it more. I enjoy the ease of use of things, find it a little easier to navigate around with Blogger, and upon working with my Blog and things I can also make this show in search engines as well. Yes, wordpress does show too. It's all in some of the things you apply to everything you do which we are learning about a little at a time here.
Our holiday weekend is soon here. I wish you all well with the weekend by being safe, enjoying it, and having fun too. Take care, and thank you for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams! See you all again soon.
The American Flag Flies Because . . . Please Remember Today.
I found this little saying I am about to share with you on Facebook. It is a page that is going with many joining it. How true, and some words to think of too. Please read along.
The American Flag Flies Because . . . . .
The American flag does not fly because the wind moves past it . . . The American flag flies from the last breath of each military member who has died serving it. Americans don't fight because they hate what's in front of them . . . They fight because they Love what's behind them.
Again, while celebrations of today continue for all of us, and all of what we believe in. Please, take a moment to remember those men, and women fallen. Also, remember those men, and women who are still serving today too. Bless you all, and have a wonderful Memorial Day!:)
Have a Wonderful Memorial Day Weekend Everyone!!
It's Friday night, the weekend is upon us, and here is the holiday too. Please take a moment to remember those fallen on this special weekend. I wish you all well. Have a fun, enjoyable, and safe weekend everyone!:)
Take care from LilacsNDreams, and see you again soon! Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!
Photo Editing Options that are Offered Since Picnik had Closed.
Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! How many of you used Picnik? I did, and I sure do miss it too. Sad that it closed. They had the free version, no sign in, just go to it, and edit your pictures as you needed. I used them a lot to edit my photos for my venue listings, and also for pictures to show with other social networks too.
There are many places out there offered for you to use, and how do you know which ones are the good ones, the bad ones, the free ones, and etc. Takes time to search for these, and then to find one that suits you, and your needs. Not just because someone else is using it, but what works best for you. So, in this posting I am enclosing a partial list of some I have found, maybe heard about, or have seen others mention to try and use too. Remember, there is no right or wrong one to use. The one to use is the one that suits you, and that you find works for you. After reading this list if you know of others to be mentioned for some to look at, please leave a comment about it with the addy to it also.
Photo Editing Options:
befunky - apply photo effects, enhance, edit pictures photos online. . . I did not mind this one
picmonkey - this site is being noted as a replacement for picnik to use, and consider, some of the developing people with this site had also worked with picnik also. . . Yes, I played with this one too
pixlr - this is a free online photo editor with no registration
FotoFlexer - is the most powerful online photo editor, and it is free
Picasa - you can organize, edit, and share your photos with this one
PhotoShop - the free version of this allows you like 1.8 GB free to use, to me it can be complicating to use, but that is also due to the simplicity of others I have used
PhotoScape - this is another free photo editing software
Phixer - this one directly supports Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr along with others
ipiccy - loads pictures quickly, and this site has simplicity to work with. . . I have tested this one also, and found it to be better than I thought it would be too
Gimp - is an open source answer to Adobe Photoshop, and many have found they like this one once you got use to working with it
fotofuze - is a free to use online application, and I found this one mentioned at Etsy
I ask you to please remember that these are not all the programs available being offered. There are many more I have seen others use, and again it is up to you what you use, and what works for you. I have found that I enjoy working with befunky, picmonkey, and ipiccy because of their simplicity of use. ipiccy did load nicely with the pictures I had found too. Any other suggestions, or knowledge of others places please make sure to share them with all of us here.
Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and I hope that some of you have found this list to be of use to you. I wish you well, and much luck with all of your photo editing needs. Take care my friends, and see you again soon.
Your Online Yard Sale Theory to Help Achieve Traffic. Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone!
For those of us who sell online with different market places, maybe have a brick and mortar store, or maybe have your own websites you sell with, and well, you got the idea. Anyway, one of the questions we often ask ourselves, and others is how many items should we list. How many items is necessary to have in our stores to be offered for sale, or resale. Does it really make a difference the amount of items that we list, or have on the shelf for sale.
In theory, yes it really does make a difference. Think of it this way, with this example I will use. You wouldn't have a yard sale with only maybe like 10 items on your lawn, and expect to get traffic pulling up all day now, would you. So, in theory when thinking about this the more items you have for your shops the more people will stop, and spend time looking around at everything too. Makes sense, don't you think. I am that way myself when I think about it. Unless I am really interested in just the one item, I like to roam and look around, and when I go looking for one thing I generally end up looking at more that is being offered with the store too.
Another thing to maybe think about too is that some yard sellers are able to sell coffee, or even baked goods with their sales. Maybe, just maybe there is something that you too can offer of small, or inexpensive that people could also purchase. There is usually someone out there for everything we sell. It is just a matter of getting the traffic to our shops, and getting the attention to help with our sales.
I know you have heard this like a million times from many places, and many people. It's really true though. Don't put all of your eggs into one basket. It helps to get yourself out there, and also join some sites too. The more exposure you can get, the more people see your name, the more common it becomes to them that they will stop on by your place.
I had to throw this idea out there I thought of the other day. Kind of like a food for thought type thing, but makes sense when you think about it too. Gives you some idea of things to think of, and maybe apply to your own stores if you are not already.
Hey, thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you here, and happy to hear from you too. Always welcome to share a thought, or two with all of us. Take care, and have a wonderful Wednesday everyone. See you again soon.
