Ok, so this has to be one of the most useless innovation’s that I have EVER seen, and I mean like ever! but, hats of to the Huggies marketing team as its got them some great exposure around the tinterweb today. Now, I would loved to have been the fly on the wall when this one was pitched. So, what is Tweet Pee, well the name kind of gives it away. Its a small censor which is found within your child’s nappy, and yup, every time your little rascal decides to have a quick piss it will sync with the app that you can download from the app store and let you know all about it….

P.S. Look out for Tweet Shit comming soon!

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It’s been 3 months since Instagram decided to pull its Twitter card support, removing the ability to view images within a tweet itself, and driving traffic back to Instagram.  Digital Network Agency created this fantastic infographic explaining exactly what happened back in December , and the impact that it’s had on brands using Instagram. The data gathered from the top 100 brands using Instagram,  shows engagement with brands has actually grown 35% over the past 3 months and follower counts were increased by 41%. With Instagram and brands coming out on top maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all….

The post Twitter Vs Instagram appeared first on mmarley.com.

On Monday evening Twitter announced in a blog post that it will be discontinuing its Tweetdeck mobile app’s and its Adobe AIR based desktop app, with the mobile clients being pulled from the app stores at the beginning of May. According to the blog, the company will now move its focus to other services including its “modern, web-based versions of TweetDeck”.

So, with its demise many users have been left scrambling now to find a new client that will support their social media activity. Luckily, there are plenty of the great social media management tools to choose from, both paid, and free.

In this post we will look at my favorite social media management tool Hootsuite, I have always recommended Hootsuite to both clients and friends and with with more features being added on a regular basis its the perfect replacement for Tweetdeck, for both personal and professional use.

Multiple Accounts

The Hootsuite dashboard makes it easy for users to manage all their social profiles from the one account, Including, Twitter, Facebook, Facebook Pages, Google+, Foursquare and Linkedin allowing you to listen, communicate and measure all from one simple web based interface.

Scheduling

One of the most useful functions of Hootsuite is the ability to schedule updates. Whether you’re looking to establish your own personal brand or grow your business, maintaining a constant social media presence can be demanding. Luckily, Hootsuite can help ease that challenge giving users ability to schedule their social media updates across multiple platforms. Or, you can automatically queue messages within the dashboard allowing the AutoSchedule feature to determine the optimal posting times for your favorite social networks making sure your content always reaches the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

Monitoring

Social monitoring is a vital process for any business that’s embraced social media. Using Hootsuite’s advanced monitoring and listening tools businesses can easily set-up search streams which will allow them to monitor what’s being said about their brand, product, services or competitors across multiple platforms in real time, and if required allowing to respond to positive or negative comments.

Analytics

Hootsuites Social Analytics provides users with a custom solution for measuring your social media and website site performance all in one place. With its integration of Google Analytics, Facebook Insights and Twitter users can quickly generate custom reports from within the dashboard that include everything from the number of “Likes” you have received, follower growth on Twitter, to the number of clicks your recent blog post received.

Collaboration

As you develop your organization’s social presence online, it’s important that your internal teams are able to collaborate, especially if there is more than one person managing your social media accounts. With Hootsuite’s collaboration functionality you can easily coordinate your social media efforts including the ability to set permission levels, create multiple teams, add team members and assigning tasks.

Apps

And, If all those great features weren’t enough Hootsuite even comes with its very own app directory that includes a selection of apps and extensions that users can add to their dashboard to create their own customised experience. Some of the most popular apps include YouTube, Instagram and Tumblr, making it easier  for users to find and share content across their social networks without having to leave Hootsuite.

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about Hootsuite then please feel free to leave a comment below or you can contact me directly.  If not, why not sign up for your account today http://hootsuite.com/plans

The post Hootsuite – The Perfect Tweetdeck Replacement appeared first on mmarley.com.

Pretty cool video where The Verge’s Joshua Topolsky catches up with the product team behind Google’s Project Glass. Here is what he had to say after having a chance to go hands on with the product.

“The design of Glass is actually really beautiful. Elegant, sophisticated. They look human and a little bit alien all at once. Futuristic but not out of time — like an artifact from the 1960’s, someone trying to imagine what 2013 would be like. This is Apple-level design. No, in some ways it’s beyond what Apple has been doing recently. It’s daring, inventive, playful, and yet somehow still ultimately simple. The materials feel good in your hand and on your head, solid but surprisingly light. Comfortable. If Google keeps this up, soon we’ll be saying things like “this is Google-level design.”

In another Project Glass news its also been reported that the specs will be available to buy this year. According to people close to Google, the development is running well ahead of schedule, and the release has been brought forward from 2014. There has also been several reports that the RRP will be much lower than the $1500 that Google I/0 attendees paid last year for the opportunity to get their hands of them first upon release.

Personally I’m very excited about Project Glass. If its anything like what we have seen in the demo videos then I really think this could be one of the biggest innovations that we have seen come out of Silicon Valley in many years. This year could be a very very big year for Google, they may have just found their iPhone!

Will be you buying a pair?, I know I will be!

The post Google Glass Hands On With Joshua Topolsky – Video appeared first on mmarley.com.

If you’re a blogger, or do any kind of writing then I’m guessing you’ve come across good old writers block at some point or another.  Maybe these methods which Incidental Comics posted are just what we all need to get those creative juices flowing . Although, I wouldn’t recommend taking a sword to the laptop!

The post Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Writers appeared first on mmarley.com.

We all start the New Year wit h the best of intentions; whether we pledge to lay off the chocolate and swap it for more fruit and veg, or whether we’ve promised ourselves that this year we will budget and we will stick to it – Now, I wonder just how many us have declared to stick to the latter…

But, it seems that no matter what we do, we always seem to fall at that pesky best-intention-hurdle within the first month of the year. Wouldn’t it just be nice to have a helping hand that’ll help us stick to them along the way? Well, get out your mobile phones, because they may just be able to help with that.

If you’re looking to have a more financially successful year for 2013, then here’s my rundown of the top finance apps that’ll help you to finally see your best intention right though until the end of the year, once and for all:

1. ShopShop (Free)

It’s a common problem for many of us when we’re looking to keep track of our finances; losing sight of the goal and accidently splurging on whole host of items that we really don’t need…

Well, if you always seem to fall victim to this and need keeping on the straight and narrow when it comes to spending your pennies, then ShopShop may just be able to help you.

This shopping list app helps to make sure you stick to the buying only the essential items when out doing your grocery shopping. Now, I know that offer on your favourite biscuits looks extremely tempting, but you really don’t need them and they really will end up costing you more!

To help you, ShopShop remembers the same items listed from your previous shop, so remembering what you need is easy. All you need to do is stick to your list every week and you won’t fall into that nasty unnecessary spending trap.

2. PocketMoney (£2.99)

PocketMoney is a handy little app that helps you to keep track of everything you spend, so you can see exactly where your outgoings are going.

You can sync all of your savings, accounts, investments and maybe even any cash loans direct you have outstanding, allowing you to easily and effectively keep track of every transaction you make, or are due to make.

And, with a useful little reports deck, the app even creates a summary of what you’re spending, so you can easily see exactly where maybe you’re going wrong!

If you’re not entirely convinced just yet, then the app does offer a free tester version to help you get to grips with it.

3. Vouchercloud (Free)

If you’re looking to save money, then you can’t fail to ignore the tactic of searching for offers when doing so.

And, apps such as Vouchercloud help you to do exactly that. Using your iPhones GPS system, Vouchercloud helps to hunt out what stores around you are currently offering their customers money off on their next spend.

Whether you’re looking to save money on your next dinner out, or you’re looking to save money on the latest fashions, simply type in what you’re looking for and you’ll be given a list of offers currently available for that particular company. It’s the easiest and simplest way to save money.

Ella Mason, an experienced freelance writer, wrote this article. Ella specializes in writing useful and informative technology advice to others.

The post Top Finance Apps for a Better 2013 appeared first on mmarley.com.

Angiolotty recently put together this awesome Infographic and kindly asked me for some input. The infographic looks at how tech-savvy our children are and features three predictions as to where children and technology will be in 10 years time.

The Infographic was also featured on the Guardian website last week!!

How tech-savvy are your kids? Where do you see children and technology being in the next 10 years?

Is it good or bad that are kids are now tech-savvy? Let me know you thoughts in the comments below.

The post How Tech-Savvy Are Our Kids? appeared first on mmarley.com.

If you own an iPhone, you will want to fill it up with plenty of great apps. The iTunes App Store has many for free that you can get to keep you in the loop socially, for entertainment purposes and for a variety of other reasons. If you are an avid skier or enjoy snowboarding, there are some great free apps you can get in that vein that can come in very useful when you want to hit the slopes. Some of the best of these should be explored.

Ski and Snow Reports

Ski and Snow Reports is free and provides you with a comprehensive report of all the snow action in known ski areas. You can view ski facilities by resort name, state or via map. It includes over 450 known resorts in North America and provides real time information that is updated regularly. It is a great tool when you are planning on a ski trip and need to know about the snowfall and other conditions.

Download the app here.

Ski Buddy

Ski Buddy is a great free app that includes great features you can use while you are actually skiing or snowboarding. It has an odometer, altimeter, talking speedometer and a clock. With the voice feature, you can ask it a number of questions regarding your skiing such as your speed or altitude or even something as simple as the time. Ski Buddy will also speak to you voluntarily about your progress while you are traveling over the slopes. Download the app here.

SnowBomb – Ski and Snow Conditions Reporter

SnowBomb – Ski and Snow Conditions Reporter is free, doesn’t contain any ads and is ideal for skiers and snowboarders. With it, you can check the snow conditions on various ski resorts and slopes throughout North America. You can also get great discounts on tickets to your favorite ski resort. Download the app here.

Skigo

Skigo is a free app that should be downloaded by skiers want quick and accessible instructions on the easiest and proper way to apply wax on their skis. There are also great tips on how to best maintain your skis so that they can stay in top condition. Download the app here.

Skiline

Skiline is free and provides you with a great way to record your own skiing experiences. To use it, you should register at skiline.cc. You can shoot your own SkiMovie or compete in skiing contests with other skiers. You can also record your progress while on the slopes, including your distance, altitude, how long you have skied and more. The app will record a diagram showing you your overall progress. Download the app here.

Claire Jenkins has worked in the snow sports industry for the past 5 years, working at various resorts in Austria, Canada and France. Shpe in Britain.e is currently working with Chill Factore as a freelance writer sharing her experience of snow sports. Chill Factore is the largest indoor ski slope

The post Top Free Apps for Skiers and Snowboarders appeared first on mmarley.com.

So, it’s the start of a brand new year. And, aside from a new year signifying the official end to the festive season, for many, it also signifies something much more important – a time of reflection. The end of an old year and the starting of a new is often a time when we reflect on the past year gone by and the events that have occurred, and weigh up the things we wish we’d done, or perhaps the things we wish hadn’t of happened. And, it’s through these that we make resolutions for the New Year, in order to try and make it our best year yet.

And, if you’re a business owner then it’s pretty likely that you’ll think about these things in relation to your business, too. After all, it’s fair to say that in this current time of financial hardship, the business world has evermore become a dog-eat-dog world – and because of it, many businesses are falling at the weigh side as they’re struggling to stay at the top.

So, if you’re looking to turn over a new business leaf for 2013 and want to make sure you start the year at the top of the game, then here are a few ways that’ll help you to do so. And, what’s more, you can do them from the comfort of your home, on your tablet, smartphone or laptop!

1. SEM Calculator

Available from the App Store, the SEM Calculator app helps you to analyse every aspect of your Search Engine Marketing. It’s a particularly useful tool for businesses that use affiliate marketing, Adsense or online buying of banners, as it helps you to calculate the cost per impression for many of your marketing campaigns. So, it’ll effectively show you which of your campaigns are working well, and those that aren’t – so, you can start 2013 knowing where your new marketing budget would be best spent, or where it’s most needed!

2. HootSuite

Social media has a huge influence on SEO and marketing today. After all, most people have it, use it, or follow it in one way or another. So, whether you’ve decided to use Twitter, Facebook, or Google+ as a way for gaining backlinks for your website or blog, HootSuite allows you to stay ahead of your social media management by managing all of your social networks on

3. Klout

So, you’ve sorted the management of social media marketing strategies with the help of HootSuite, but now you need to measure them. Klout holds the ability to measuring, analyze and score your social media influence wherever you go. It works by measuring the size of your network with the content you’ve created for all of your social media platforms, and uses that information to measure how social media users are interacting with your content.

Giving you an overall ‘Klout score’ of between 1 to 100, the higher score you achieve, the greater strength of your online influence – so, you can see how your own social media marketing campaigns are fairing compared to other businesses all over the world – whether it be against a marketing company in the States, or whether you want to see how you’re doing against companies providing SEO services in Ireland!

4. Wildfire By Google

Wildfire is a social marketing app that offers solutions for all of your social marketing needs. It works by letting you promote your business via your social media pages. You can choose single or multiple campaigns, including sweepstakes, ads, and promotions to your customers via your social networking sites, ultimately allowing you to get your message across to large audience, quickly!

5. Stay In Touch

Although marketing is very much about trying to grab the attention of new customers, many often forget that an important aspect of the marketing mix is actually about retaining the current customers you have managed to grab. Stay In Touch is a brilliant app that is designed to help you maintain those already-formed business relationships. It allows you to set reminders to follow-up contact with your clients either weekly, fortnightly or monthly. All you need to do is choose the reminder time, and the app will send you a prompt to call, text or email that particular client. With its ability to store as many contacts as you like, you’ll never forget about any of your customers ever again! And, if one of your own personal New Years’ Resolutions is to keep in contact with your friends and family more, then you can even set reminders for them too!

Ella Mason, an experienced freelance writer, wrote this article. Ella specializes in providing useful tech advice for businesses and other users.   

The post The 5 Best Marketing and SEO Apps for Your Business appeared first on mmarley.com.

Just want to say a big thanks to the guys over at Hootsuite for the t-shit and other goodies that they have sent me. Looking forward to being part of Hootsuite envoy team here in Scotland, watch out for some great events happening this year! I’m also looking  for all you Hootsuite users who are based in Scotland to interview for a blog post that I will be putting together over the new few weeks.

Please let me know if you’re interested and would like to get involved.

Matthew

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