I’m sure most of you have heard of Twitter by now. It is a social network that helps people connect and keep in touch by sharing information in the form of Tweets, or little bits of information at a time. You are limited to just 140 characters per Tweet to tell people what you’re doing or share some information you’d like them to know about.

Like most social networks, it is used and was created for individuals to connect, but businesses have also jumped on the bandwagon to get information out about their products and services. This is accomplished by posting tweets that contain information that followers will find interesting. In addition, they are able to include links to their websites or blogs in their tweets that can be followed to direct traffic to their sites.

The key to using Twitter to help your business lies in making sure that the information posted in the tweets is interesting and engaging. The goal is to attract followers who will see each and every post they make. If the post is interesting enough, followers will be likely to retweet the message to their followers. This extends the reach of the message greatly.

One advantage to using social media in this fashion is that it provides a source of free advertising. The message reaches a potential audience much larger than could be achieved with local or television advertising and the cost is negligible.

Once a following is built up, the number of people who click through to a business’s website or blog increases exponentially. This gives the advantage that these people are already interested in what the business has to offer, making them that much more likely to purchase whatever product or service is being offered. This makes the ROI for using Twitter go very high when compared with other forms of advertising.

All forms of social media hold the potential for high returns on investment. Twitter is just one of many sites that exist with this potential. Its advantage over the others is that it has one of the widest reaches and takes the least amount of time to generate content. Due to the limit on the number of characters one can use, they have to keep their messages short and succinct. They must catch the attention of potential customers quickly and convince them to follow up by clicking on the link in the post.

Of course, there is one mistake that many businesses make that causes their attempts at using Twitter, or any other social media, as a means of advertising to fail miserably. That mistake is making overt attempts at selling. People are looking for interesting content, not advertising, when they use sites of this type. One can slip in a short sales pitch occasionally, but effort must be made to provide something of value to readers in addition.

Using Twitter to help your business can be one of the best ways to advertise on the internet. However, one must remember that this site was not created to provide free ad space. That is simply a side effect that can be made use of by smart businesses.

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Getting away for a relaxing vacation with the one you love can be easier than booking an expensive cruise or a lengthy international flight. Staying local and spending time with each other can be just as romantic as booking a vacation abroad while allowing you to save money and travel time. A change of scenery in a hotel or cabin you’ve never been to is sometimes all it takes to make your holiday seem like an exotic adventure.

Escaping the City

When your day to day life is the hustle and bustle of the city you probably don’t want to check yourself into a hotel room that offers the same view as your downtown apartment. Depending on where you live, driving an hour out of town could put you into a drastically more rural area where you’ll find quaint bed & breakfasts or charming cottages available to rent.

If you live near an ocean, booking a beach house for a night or two can be a relaxing change of pace from the noise and traffic you’re used to. Local lakes often have cabins available to escape to for the weekend as well. Or if hanging out by a body of water doesn’t suit you, driving up into the mountains for a couple of days of hiking and camping can be a fantastic way to get some time alone together in the quiet and beauty of the wilderness.

Downtown Getaways

Living in an area where you already have all the peace and quiet you could ever want may leave you with the need for a little more excitement. Heading to the nearest big city and checking into one of the nicer hotels in the area can provide a welcome contrast to your everyday routine. If you have a few extra dollars to spend, book the penthouse suite and unwind in a luxurious Jacuzzi while sharing a decent bottle of champagne.

Staying downtown can give you access to a wide variety of dining and entertainment options you may not always have. Before your vacation, check out what live shows are going on in the area and surprise your partner with some tickets. Reading reviews of the local restaurants and making some reservations in advance can also take the worry out of deciding where to eat when you should just be relaxing.

Most cities can surprise you with what they have to offer when you don’t take the time to be a tourist in your own town. For more ideas on exciting things to do in your area, pop into your city’s tourism center or go to your local tourism website to take a look at your hometown from an outside perspective.

Read More at ChangingMyStars.com Travel Blog …

Aside from the obvious colour differences, red and white wines can vary in numerous ways. The differences in their composition can affect their taste, the foods they should be paired with, and their ability to age. Different types of grapes may be used for each type of wine, but in some instances the same grape varietal can produce both a red and white type with contrasting flavours and bouquets.

Fermentation Process

The first difference to be mentioned regarding red wine and white wine is the way they’re made. Red wine will generally be made form black grapes while whites can be made from black or green or a combination of both.

When making red wine, the manufacturer leaves the skins, seeds, and stems in the fermenting vat with the juices to allow the extra tannins to leech into the liquid. For white wine the juice would first be extracted from the skins, seeds, and stems then fermented on its own. Blush wine is produced by removing the skins part way through the fermentation process.

Taste and Tannins

The tannins in wine that give it a more bitter flavour come mostly from the skins. Because red wines are fermented in a vat with the skin, they a have higher tannin content and generally have a more dry and bitter flavour. Whites usually taste fresher and crisper as their tannin content is lower.

Aging

The tannins in wine help to preserve it, so for the most part, red wines can be aged longer and will taste better with age as the tannins mellow. Some of the tannins can be removed to make the wine ready for immediate consumption, which is why white wines are usually ready to drink much more quickly as they naturally have a lower tannin content.

Flavours

Generally speaking, red wines will have a more bitter, mouth puckering taste while whites will be much smoother and sweeter. Reds may taste heavier and full-bodied and lights may be fresher and fruitier, but in some cases those characteristics could be reversed. Tasting as many wines as possible will give you the best idea of what to expect with each type and can give you a better appreciation of the differences between white and red wine.

Read More at ChangingMyStars.com Wine Lovers Blog …

Social Bookmarking

Because of the internet, it’s possible to gather huge amounts of information quickly. You can utilize search engines to gather this information, but it’s not necessarily the best choice. Social bookmarking is an excellent method of gathering information quickly, but not everyone understands social bookmarking.

I’m sure you have found websites that you thought were useful and have bookmarked it in whatever browser you use. That’s the way that social bookmarking works, except that instead of saving the bookmark to your web browser, you save it to a site on the Internet set up to save your bookmarks. Saving it to a social bookmarking site allows you to share your links with friends and family who might also enjoy the resource.

When you bookmark a site in this fashion, you can create public tags that identify the type of content that other users can expect. There are also websites that gather tags and rank sites based on user comments and tags. Tags can be a more useful and meaningful way to search than search engines when looking for information.

Some of the more well-known social bookmarking sites like digg, reddit, stubleupon, and delicious.com are used widely to bookmark and find information based on tags. As sites that are submitted to these bookmarking sites get more recommendations from their users, they move to the top of listings. So based on user popularity, for any topic there may be numerous listings, some with many recommendations and others with only a few. Obviously, the ones with the most recommendations will be the most useful of the listings.

You can also browse through information using categories on social bookmarking sites. There is often a way to sort the listings by most popular, recently added, or by the niche or type of site that it is, such as technology, sports, news, etc.

While social bookmarking began as a simple way to share links with friends and family, it has grown over the years and has become a very useful way to search for information. People often use these sites to stay current on topics that interest them. It’s easy to follow news and trends just by clicking on the categories that interest you and checking out the listings that will be shown from most popular to least popular.

Social bookmarking sites make finding information easier than searching through page after page of results that are often irrelevant in traditional search engines.

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Hearing that word “exercise” can frighten a lot of people and turn them off the idea of physical fitness. Don’t panic, because the road to good health doesn’t have to be unpleasant! Starting off slow and getting to know what exercise is all about could change your life and be possibly life saving. A few things may be holding you back from a regular exercise routine so take a look at your lifestyle and figure out what you can change to make fitness a part of your life .

Time

In this day and age, most people are too busy to take enough time for themselves. A lot of people are always on the go so trying to add a regular exercise routine into their lives may seem out of the question. Well your personal health is not worth that sacrifice! Taking a walk on your lunch break at work can get you at least 2 and a half hours of exercise a week. Spending time with your family can be turned into that gets everyone out of the house and off the couch for an hour a few times a week. Once you change your routine and get into new habits you’ll discover how easy it is to get in even just a quick workout everyday.

Money

A good work out routine definitely doesn’t have to be costly. Gym memberships can be expensive and buying a whole bunch of new exercise equipment may not be something you want to invest in immediately. You also don’t need to buy yourself a bunch of new supplement and vitamins to get started adding a fitness routine into your schedule. Going for a hike or jog is free and there are strength training exercises you can do from the comfort of your own home with no equipment. You can eat healthy buy just choosing the right food when preparing your meals. Especially when you’re starting off, there isn’t much you’ll need. You may decide to invest in a yoga mat or a few weights down road, but you can decide what you’ll need once you figure out what kind of workout routine works best for you.

Health and Well being

The benefits you’ll get from a healthier lifestyle aren’t limited to just looking better or losing weight. Being in better shape can have a huge affect on your mood and can battle depression. Having a regular exercise routine can also greatly impact your ability to deal with stress. If you’re already feeling down about yourself or need a lifestyle change, make a commitment to get started today! If you haven’t been active much (or at all) in a long while, then it might seem a bit rough at first, but it does not take long to get over that initial hurdle to a place where exercise becomes purely pleasurable. Give physical fitness a chance and you will be opening a door to an invaluable experience.

Read More at ChangingMyStars.com Ultimate Fitness Blog …

50 Powerful Twitter Tactics for Serious Twitter Users: #31-50 …

31. Mix it up.
Don’t just use Twitter as a promotional site. Try to keep a dialogue going, let people know what’s happening, and other things aside from over promotion.

32. Partner up.
It can never hurt to form a partnership with some of your fellow tweeters. Come up with a network within a network, and you’ll be amazed at the results.

33. Realize there are other avenues, and then expand on them.
While Twitter is great, don’t neglect your other social media sites, blogs, or your own website!

34. Take out the trash.
You can always “unfollow” people who are not posting positive comments, other companies who spam you, or “junk” Twitter friends. Don’t be afraid to clean house every once in a while.

35. Future tweets reap sweet treats.
You can now use tools that allow you to type up your tweets in advance so you can plan ahead, and then they will post to your account when you’re ready. A great time saver!

36. Automated Tweets can help you prioritize.
There are tools where you can select certain topics or sub-topics for notification, so that the topics important
to you will be delivered daily, or however you like.

37. Use the advanced search to your benefit.
Twitter and other tools related to it have advanced search options, so you can really find that niche poster or specified topic that you’re interested in.

38. Use links.
Never mention a resource without linking if at all possible, this way people trust your opinions because they’re backed up with real links.

39. Try not to abbreviate too much.
While Twitter only allows 140 characters and that can be tough to express yourself, try to avoid too many abbreviations.

40. Avoid offending people by using bad language.
While this seems obvious, a lot of people get carried away on Twitter. As a business, you want avoid foul language.

41. Be as thorough as you can …
… when explaining who you are, what your company does, and what you have to offer.

42. Stay away from arguments if possible.
Some people may get obnoxious or belligerent on Twitter. Try to avoid arguments by just ignoring them, otherwise you can dig your own hole and make yourself look bad.

43. Don’t be boring.
Do not talk about what you had for breakfast or the weather. Keep your posts fresh, fun, and interesting.

44. Counts don’t count.
Do not worry about how many followers you have. This can distract you from the quality of your posts.

45. Refuse spammers.
Keep spammers and spam emailers out of your Twitter feed or else they can ruin your page.

46. Ask and ye shall receive.
Don’t be afraid to ask others to retweet your tweets, or to link you to their blogs, etc. Most people will oblige if you just ask.

47. Open up to your audience.
Try to loosen up and have your other Tweeters do the same by being honest, intimate, and real with your readers. People will really enjoy the candid postings and stay enthralled.

48. Offer downloadable material.
You can always offer a PDF download or other material on your Twitter page for people to look at and get more information.

49. Use SEO to your advantage,
… and do not forget to implement important keywords in the Twitter posts.

50. Do not stop abruptly.
If you have to go on vacation, make sure you have a sitin tweeter to fill your post so your readers stay tuned.

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50 Powerful Twitter Tactics for Serious Twitter Users: #21-30 …

21. Digging for other blogs through Twitter:
Twitter is a great way to get some insight into other blogging websites such as Digg and other related sources. This can be a good way to not only find other peoples’ blogs, but link to them and inform other people about their content. By doing a search you can find tons of great blogs on the web that can be linked to your Twitter.

22. Contests are tons of fun on Twitter.

Host an impromptu giveaway contest on Twitter. You can do this every day, every week, monthly, whatever you choose. It’s a great way to get all of your followers to stay interested and engaged, and freebies are always a guarantee of new contacts.

23. Ask for feedback.
Don’t just tell everyone what you’re doing via Twitter, try to ask everyone for their opinion or feedback. It’s a good way to start a dialogue and open up a forum for new suggestions and changes that can be made.

24. Colors matter.
Think about the color scheme of your Twitter page, and try to make it appealing and something that will fit your business’ niche. For example, a NASCAR Twitter page wouldn’t use a pink and red color scheme! Choose colors that fit your message and your style.

25. Fonts are Important, too.
The fonts you use for the main Twitter page should also fit the theme of the business or page.

26. Make Twitter followers feel special
… by offering “Twitter followers only” specials and coupons. This encourages new purchases as well as new followers.

27. Offer more than just Twitter.
If you’re so inclined, let people know they can contact you outside of Twitter via email, text, or even phone. Open up the lines of communication.

28. Use behind the scenes tools.
Don’t forget to look at metrics and what people click on, and from where. This is definitely an invaluable tool.

29. Get into a routine.
Figure out a Twitter rhythm, and then stick with it. Once you get into the flow of posting, your readers will stick with you.

30. Participate as much as possible.
Contribute, and be a part of others’ Twitter pages as well. Don’t just stand in the shadows, or you might lose followers.

Stay tuned for 50 Powerful Twitter Tactics for Serious Twitter Users: #31-50 …

Read More at ChangingMyStars.com Facebook Twitter Social Media Blog …

50 Powerful Twitter Tactics for Serious Twitter Users: #11-20 …

11. Why email when you can Twitter?

Don’t send out short and sweet emails to your subscribers. Most people who sign up for emails from companies expect
a monthly and at worst weekly update that is chock full of information. They don’t want to open a short email with not much to go on. Save this for Twitter, where people hunger for the short sentences and blurbs. Then, you can compile all of these over the span of a month or so into one email for the others.

12. Use a cool “follow me” graphic.
There are now hundreds of different follow me graphics to choose from that will grab peoples’ attention. You can even customize your graphic if you want to, so people will see something distinctive about your page. Just like the template, the follow me graphics get you notice and entice people to want more information, so make sure this graphic is done well.

13. Keep it casual.
Remember that Twitter is a social site, so it’s got more of a casual feel than some websites might. Make sure the posts are generally light, with a touch of humor otherwise you might lose your core audience. The purpose of following others on Twitter is so that it’s entertaining. If you post too serious or heavy posts, it might turn some readers off.

14. Sub-divide your Twitter page.

You don’t have to just have ONE company page. Instead, try to come up with a page for all of your staff. This way, your customers get to know others on the team. It also adds a bit of diversity for the business, and gives people a cast of characters to follow instead of a faceless, nameless company. It also entices people to follow more so they stay connected to both you and your business.

15. Incorporate video into your Twitter page.
Many people may not know that now Twitter allows for multimedia additions, so feel free to include video plug-ins on your page. This makes it more exciting, and people will want to follow your postings more closely if there’s video included.

16. Divide and conquer.
You can actually separate your followers into different groups. This is actually quite useful, especially if some people are customers, some are peers, some are competitors, and some are personal contacts. This way, you only update the people who care about certain things with particular tweets, while the others don’t have to see those, and vice versa. It’s a good way to hone in on your audience’s interests.

17. Itunes, Iphones, and Twitter:

There are plenty of new tools available right now that incorporated into Apple’s applications. This makes your Twitter updates available to busy people who are on the go, and for people who access your
page solely on their Iphones.

18. It’s not just for Iphones any more:
Aside from the Iphone specific applications, there are plenty of other mobile Twitter-related apps out there you can use. Not only can your users download these apps and use them on their cell phones, but you can do the same and follow your friends and cohorts as well.

19. Inform your customers of stock status.
Twitter also has tons of great features and plug-ins that will notify your customers when certain items you carry are in stock, and when they go on sale. This is an excellent way to notify people so they can make it purchase. This is also helpful for you, so you can get a jump start on your suppliers and what they are offering for you.

20. Map it out.
Google Maps and many other map websites now integrate with Twitter. This can be fun to show your followers where you’re traveling, or just to show them where your business is located. It’s also handy so that you can find posters and look up where they are located.

Stay tuned for 50 Powerful Twitter Tactics for Serious Twitter Users: #21-30 …

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50 Powerful Twitter Tactics for Serious Twitter Users: #1-10 ….

1. Network with noteworthy business associates, competitors, and peers.

You don’t have to simply befriend every person you can that requests you or vice versa on Twitter. Instead, choose your networking buddies carefully. Look for fellow executives or business owners who work within your particular niche. Then, follow their progress, look for advice, and of course, throw in some of your own two cents as well. By befriending people who are in the same line of work as you, you’ll get an insider’s look at how their successes compare to yours.

2. Update your audience fairly regularly, but don’t over load them.
A lot of people are most likely interested in what you have to say, otherwise they probably wouldn’t have added you to begin with. This means you should be updating them on a fairly regular basis so they can keep up with what’s happening in your world or your business’ world. On the other hand, you don’t want to overload people so much that the feel of your Twitter site feels “spammy” and they turn away. Try to maintain the balance between good updating and overwhelming people with insignificant updates.

3. Use Twitterfeed to help people stay updated.
Twitterfeed is basically the website’s answer to an RSS feed, and it’s a great way to automatically keep your followers updated without them checking your page too often. It also allows things to be updated on their own, so you don’t have to spend extra time telling everyone you have an updated; it’s all done for you.

4. Use Twitter at conferences and trade shows.

When you’re out and about networking in the REAL world, don’t forget to use Twitter then as an
opportunity to update your customers and peers on what you’re seeing and doing. This shows them that you’re being proactive and it’s a lot of fun as well. You can tell them some funny things you might be seeing at the trade show, or maybe inform them of an interesting vendor you’ve hooked up with. By sharing your experiences as you go along, you’re garnering more interest in what is happening with your business.

5. Keep an eye on what people are saying.
Don’t forget that Twitter, like any other virtual conversation, is a two-way street. Pay attention to what other
members are saying, and see if they’re Twittering about you. If they are, you might want to use that as an opportunity to either thank them for a nice compliment, or to make good if they are posting a complaint. Remember that you’re never 100% safe from someone who might try to talk negatively about you, your website, or anything else on Twitter. Be sure to use this to your advantage in a diplomatic way.

6. Display your Twitter profile on business cards, your website, and in email signatures.
Remind people in other ways that you’re on Twitter. Some clients and customers might not know his until you pass the information along. Get a nice snapshot of your Twitter home page and then display it along with a link to the Twitter page on your actual website. Include the page’s URL in email signatures and you can even print this on a business card if you like.

7. Make Twitter another home hub.
Use Twitter to display your business growth, charts, statistics, and other factual data. This way, people who prefer to watch what’s happening with you on Twitter have the same basic information and access as those who usually just visit your website.

8. Promote Events.
Remember to not just update people on the comings and goings of your business, but also to get them hyped up for any big events you may have coming up. This can be anything from an appearance at a trade show to a huge seasonal sale or a launching of a new product. Always keep Twitter in mind when it comes to these updates, and remember that it can reach a lot more people than just your email subscribers.

9. Filter your traffic to other places.
You can use Twitter to also steer people to other resources that you use for marketing such as a blog page or website updates. The exchange of information through Twitter can go both ways, so keep that in mind. It’s a good way to get others moving to different resources that you have available that they might not know about.

10. Find a cool template that says who you are as company.
Twitter now allows users to customize the look of their home page. Use something individual and creative as your Twitter page. This can be the same graphics you use on your website, a company logo, or something you’ve customized just for Twitter. No matter what it is, make sure it’s appealing to the eyes and does not look too “busy.”

Stay tuned for 50 Powerful Twitter Tactics for Serious Twitter Users: #11-20 …

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