Introducing... Junkk Male TweeView, too!

And, at present I have zero idea how I did that.

Zippy. Nada. No.... clue.

I know what it is meant to be.

I vaguely remember toying with a a few buttons on the host site.

But how the heck this epic got produced... beats me.

There appear to be topic headings I chose, and most seem pretty OK.

However it's also clear a bunch of things are getting hoovered in according to basic default settings I have never seen before.

So, Dr. Frankstein gets jiggy with Dr. Jekyll.

So long as it doesn't drop me in it, fine. Seems OK so far.

But have to say that a magazine with a bot as an editor is freaky.

One day I'll remember the passwords and figure out how to get in the back end, much less actually figure out what the thing is up to.

Still, in the absence of a Junkk Newsletter for half a year, I'll live with it for now.

When in doubt, reuse!

I have not written for a while.

So easy to say... 'so much to do; so little time'.

Not really true, but when push comes to shove, you prioritise.

For some reason I am happier in the shed (there is also the slim possibility of a money-making opportunity being created), especially with the sun shining.

And twitter seems to fit in with that better, though she is also a demanding mistress, if not a seductive, addictive drug. If a I miss a few hours' worth, I can convince myself I am missing the seam of gold I search for daily.

That is actually possibly accurate, but a route to madness.

So in penning this rather short post to an infrequent blog series (will try and keep the ideas topped up more, and hope the efforts are being noticed), I now practice what I preach and share this heartfelt posting, with which I fully empathise:

All change!

It is not easy, but it can still be worth it. But sometimes you have to look into the mirror, and after No.1.

Strategic Thinking

As I write ( I may post later to let the last entry have an 'outing'), twitter is 'down'*.

Actually, it's down, out for the count and the towel is on the ring floor.

It is busted. An ex-medium. You get the picture.

I am sure it will be back, of course, but my trust factor in its reliability is further dented.

No biggie in the great scheme of things, and churlish to get too snitty about a free service, but it has set me to thinking.

Quite a lot of creative content eggs in a few baskets that I don't own, and have no control over. Not just when it comes to accidental issues, but also more direct policy ones: if the guys who own the pitch take exception, you lose not only the future, but also a ton of blood, sweat and words & images from the past.

And while twitter has inspired this introspection, I am well aware that what I am writing this via is pretty much in the same boat. And at 4,000 odd pages of thoughts and wisdom over several years, that is sobering.

Now I know that there are back-up options out there, and I really should start trying to figure out the best and engage asap, but my ITiocy does intrude.

Plus that gosh-darned laziness thing. Because, in addition, I am thinking that all source material should start at the website and radiate out (preferably automatically) from that. At least I own i, and can blame no one but myself if things get lost on its watch.

*Mashable Explains

TWEET ME SEYMOUR

The problem with online experiments is that the positives can be matched equally by the negatives.

So for all the advantages of speed, ease of creation, etc, there is that slight worry that the minute you hit 'send', it's out there, for all to see, with its flies open.

And one thing I have discovered is that few in the blog, and especially twitosphere seem of a mind to sidle up and say 'Psst... actually, this doesn't really work [for this reason....]. Maybe time to think of a wee review?'

Anyway, nothing ventured, etc.

Following some truly appreciated support, I am beta-testing (ok, trying out) a new twitter regime.

Basically, I am going to use the new twitter retweet button to scoot throught what comes my way, morning, noon and night. And as the system permits no comments, I can't and hence won't. So if the content delights... or enrages... with luck the twitocrats will realise that to get context they need to follow the trail, to bouquet or brickbat the authors accordingly for their <140 masterpieces.

Meanwhile, the plan is for me to go back over the day (if I have time... most likely next morning) and do a quick review of those that tickled my fancy.

Working title: TWEET 'N LOWDOWN (see who salutes:)

Well, that's the theory.

Ta twit, ta woo

I am a twit... erer. @JunkkMale:)

Jury's out still, but I can't fault the access I now have via those I follow to useful info, links and, on occasion, 140 characters or less of worthy philosophy.

And I also share. Not as often as some, but more than others. I hope those that read value what I post.

Also bearing in mind that, thanks to the aggregation software kindly loaded in here, this post will pop up on Twitter within 24hrs.

Anyhoo, as one still finding my feet, I value useful ways to improve, and even the odd critique to spot things to avoid:

RandyGage.com - The Twitter Manifesto Remix…

Sometimes, 140 characters is not enough

I have come to Twitter late.

And... but, I am loving it.

Though I am also coming to dread it.

For all the great tweets, comments and links, this morning's scroll was 10 pages... and 2hrs! Just checking, reading and replying. Another hour at least topping up to now through the day.

Maybe it is because I am not using it right, but then few of those I appreciate do either.

My understanding is that it was/is designed to be social and personal, but I really cannot be too bothered with the 'good mornings' and whether so and so likes their mate's new shoes (almost put dress, which might have riled the sexist community, who in turn could be accused of an 'ism' by the transgendered one).

Frankly I wish I could delete these, that I deem major clutter, even as the time waste is moot.

But I love, and try to contribute to the shares. The occasional considered ponder, but mainly awesome links. And, in following those, finding other great tweeters to follow.

But it is getting out of control. I have yet to figure out the FF's (for Follow Fridays) when along come various Mention Mondays and Who-hoo Wednesdays, and of course RT's (Re-tweets). I appreciate being a beneficiary, and have tried to respond in kind, but one guy I follow did his whole follow list in batches, and filled a whole page of twitter up. Who is going to read that? Or him, much more, if he keeps it up.

And the whole admin side is becoming an obsession. I am so worried about missing one, or losing the archive (when I came back after 2 weeks hols, the thought of not going back to see all I missed was too horrible to contemplate, but not doing so caused real angst. Especially when, even though I probably would never try to re-read, I dread the archive falling off the back end. My Mac has a pretty nifty search capability now where I can access 'internal' stored references quickly).

I am sure there are training tips and even bolt-ons to assist, but who has the time to search and learn?

There's also the small matter of relevance. I use JunkkMale, currently, for everything.

Now that is great if a followee pops back and sees a post on green if that is their bag, but what about my interests in music, design, invention or the ad world? I think I am going to have to split and run complements. But that suggests a danger of Xx2hrs each morning... and counting as I add more.

But even if you focus, just how does a guy with 20k+ followers, especially one who follows back in kind, engage? They have to be purely on transmit, which means they are possibly missing so much new and useful. But, practically, they are I guess prioritising as best they can.

Currently I check each follow to see what they are up to before following back. I want to read their stuff, and get back when it's good. Or share.

It is all so exciting, but overwhelming. Better than being boring and underwhelming, I guess.

PING, and, with luck, no pong

Taking e-life into hands here. 3rd (and last) test of social posting networking service http://ping.fm. Now my blog, having tried character limited outlets such as twitter and LinkedIn. Let's also see what it does with a long URL:

http://ping.fm/03qUd

If this all works, I am impressed!

Currently, twitter has worked; LinkedIN MIA, though I may be looking in the wrong places.

There is also a danger of overlaps, so sorry for any duplicates until I suss out the default settings.

ADDENDUM

Looks promising, and a definite time saver.

I do not that, of course, you do not get a Title added ( I have now done so, manually), or any Labels (ditto). Easy to follow up.

I think I'll let it simmer awhile on the few tests (Blog, twitter & LinkedIn) to see what happens over the net 24hrs by way of duplicates as the automated aggregators do their thing.

Newsnight - Send your questions for the Twitter CEO -

How on earth do I manage all the deluge of tweets I get now I am, often as a courtesy, following those who follow me in addition to he just plain worthwhile? I see Yoko Ono manages. Do she have a horde of 'people', cloning tech, a time machine... or is just a very polite, awesomely multitasking lady who needs no sleep?

At the very least how can you go through and zap all the 'Good morning's, just brushed my teeth..' to retain in archive just he nifty ones with useful info/links?

Those latter I am finding very useful.

Quantum leaps

There's no feeling quite as satisfying.

You take an age shuffling the chequers around the board, and then with one final move... whammo... a veritable hop, skip and jump over a bunch of obstacles that propels you to the next level.

This is how I feel today... now... having spent a long, exhausting, but ultimately hugely rewarding day with IT specialist James from the West Midlands National B2B Centre initiative looking at every aspect of the Junkk.com site and this blog, with a view to not just improving each in its own right, but then integrating them to make more than a simple sum of the parts.

Yet even despite this marathon, we barely scratched much of what the agenda had planned, and so here's hoping for another, equally rewarding session soon.

So what did we achieve? Well, let me count the ways...

Oh, Blogger, How Art Thou?

With all due deference to Larry and Sergey, Google may have some nifty kit, but they don't make it easy to use it all. Especially for an IT padawan like me, so it was almost reassuring to find James struggling on occasion, too. It was almost ironic, if reassuring, that he had to use Google to find forums that explained stuff waaaay better than Google Help or Forums did.

Several Easy Pieces

But persevering was worth it, as we managed to effect several, and better yet automated links between this blog on Blogger, my new Twitter feed, and also FaceBook.

With luck, and a fair wind, posting this will result in a version on both.. no hands!

At the moment it looks like it might be going to my personal Facebook rather than the Group, but James is sussing out a fix on that.

Doing 'Da Biz

Of course we are not just looking at the civvy end of the street, but also the B2B one, too. So now we have also created a complementary Linkedin Group: 'Here's One I RE:made Earlier'. This I am hoping to complement the networking I need to do with the business community with Junkk.com and RE:tie, as the others serve the public audience. Top of the list for working on tomorrow!

And I am hoping it is a happy coincidence rather than potential for clashes, that another B2B network I'm on, Plaxo, has now hooked up with LinkedIn, too.

So in theory, so long as I keep the content useful, informative and entertaining, there is a good chance of reaching out, capturing and growing audiences via greater blog outreach too.

Direct To A Screen Near You

Speaking of which, it's now even easier to opt to get these various pearls of wisdom delivered fresh and toasty via either a feed or emails... your choice. Just check the new icons top right.

And, Finally, What A Site!

We even got cracking a bit on some additional functionality on the main Junkk.com site, too, though there's no way round what is a rather venerable, and hence creaking back-end system.

Most immediately, I have discovered how at least attach blog hyperlinks on some key areas, so readers who think that not much has happened since Emma sadly moved up in the world a few years ago might discover a veritable cornucopia of info has continued on since in complement here on Blogger ever since. And, with luck, the new activity this creates will help web crawlers log more activity. Try this. Mind you... memo to self... a link back to the site page!

And as computer guru David of sound-i, who inherited our system and keeps trying to coax another web 3.0 app out of a web 1.0 skeleton, has just failed to say no (though his 'Yeeeess' did seem to have a slightly furrowed brow attached), it seems there may also be functionality we can soon add to install better updated feeds, plus.... customisable ad management.

This latter will be a real plus if it can be done, enabling us to truly prove the flexibility of the ad system, especially in complement to the postcode location facility.

Hence we may soon realise my dream of being able to offer, say, an Autogas national brand ad on the LPG master category page, but then see individual postcode specific 'classifieds' for local converters appear as the viewer surfs on and is immersed in all the site can offer.

Exciting.

Nothing like jumping on a bandwagon

Especially when it's already hurtling past!

Having signed up for Twitter yonks ago I promptly did b-all by way of anything more.

Anyhoo, prodded by my missus I went back and found I had a group of chums already there who I rather rudely had ignored by not knowing they were there (I think I need to read up on alerts).

So now, in addition to this blog, a few other blogs, my stalled Facebook/MySpace group pages and and some other pressing stuff, I now have to tweet with the best of 'em. Hey ho.

It might help if I first figure out how it all works, but I am guessing a precis of this blog might be a good start, but maybe only the gossipy stuff.

I'll start a social networking contacts page (and link it in the nav bar when I do, soon) but for now, should you be so disposed...

http://twitter.com/JunkkMale

Actually, from my too long lost ad days it might be a good discipline. I once saw a poster that said something like 'Great copywriters have to do it in 8 words or less'. To which I penned my own: 'Don't know about great, but this writer has to do it in less than 3o seconds (and twice that number of words)'.

140 characters should be a doddle:)