If it’s August, it’s time for another 30 Day Challenge from Ed Dale. And, once again, I’m scrambling to learn all about the neat new high-tech social media gadgets. I really wish they would do this program another month, when I’m not traveling, but at least I’ll try to at least check in and pick out the gems that are worth learning right away.
And, I know I can count on the Thirty Day Challenge Team to keep all the video tutorials online for when I can spare the time to learn how to use the tools.
In previous years, I learned about and shared the following must-have social media tools:
- Why Twitter?
- Fly With The Flock Browser
- Google Reader
- Market Samurai on Why Should Writers Care About Internet Marketing?
This year, there is still “no charge for awesomeness”, but the program has a spiffy new name, The Challenge. And, to keep things interesting, it’s no longer a month-long program. No siree. No, now, it’s one week on, one week off. I kinda like it it, but still can’t commit to putting that much time during August. Anyway, here is what I’ve discovered so far:
- Chrome Browser – I’m not sure yet if I’m going to like switching from Firefox to Chrome. My Firefox browser is all set up with the extensions and toolbars that I like, but I’m giving Chrome a test drive. So far, it’s fast, and The Challenge video shows you how to add some of the best extensions available.
- Twitter – In the past year, my use of Twitter has sputtered almost to a dead stop. Mostly, this is because I’m following so many people that I can’t keep up with what they’re saying, and I don’t get much feedback from all these folks. Ed Dale is now wisely recommending not following more than 150 folks, and he shows you how you can use Twitter’s list feature to do research. That list features is also a handy way to keep up with what people are saying within a category, which lets you you keep in touch with experts without having them clutter up your Twitter stream.
There are still five more weeks of training to go, and I’ve only scratched the surface of what has been presented so far. If you’d like to check out the awesomeness for yourself, click on The Index of Awesomeness.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my, you are such an ambitious girl!
I’ve decided that there is no way I can keep up with it all, certainly not while traveling with crazy wifi. I bow down to you!
Thanks for the fab info and great links ( as per your usual) . One of these days I might have a few moments to check them all out.
Waving to you and yours from Provence and wishing you a happy summer…internet, social media or not. 
.-= soultravelers3´s last blog ..Darling Dordogne- Vacation Holiday in France =-.
I’m with you on not being able to keep up with everything. Really, I don’t even try because it’s too stressful. I just have catch up days where I focus on one area or agenda item, but even then, I don’t expect to be caught up even in that one action item.
Plus, I’d rather read about your travel adventures than social media expertise!
.-= Sandra Foyt´s last blog ..Social Media Training with The Challenge 2010 =-.