That Instafamous Guy

Your friendly neighborhood IG Supehero

Jan
29

By

Maybe Google Plus Doesn’t Suck as Much as you Think

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , , , , 13 Comments

I’m gonna come right out and say it – my first year of social networking, google style, was a lot like going to Prom without a date.  My posts seemingly went unnoticed and no one was circling me.. It wasn’t much fun at all. But fast forward 6 months later and boy oh boy; it’s amazing how quickly things change when you start doing it right.

Many people still buy into the Google Plus Sucks hype based on their 2011 experience. NEWSFLASH: I’m sorry to break it to you, it doesn’t suck as much as you thought.

You’ve probably seen the original version of this meme on Facebook.   You might have even been one those who piled on with the “Google Plus Sucks” or “Nobody is on Google Plus, It is a barren wasteland” comments… Let me tell you, though, if your experience there STILL looks like that, you’re doing it wrong!

This new and improved meme wannabe is just a small taste of all the flavor I get on G+ every day.  And, as you’ll see in the graph below from Global Web Index, Google has ascended to become the second most active social platform just this past month.  Now that we’ve clearly established Google+ isn’t a ghost town, let’s talk about a few ways to spice up your Google Experience!

G+ isn’t Twitter or Facebook

In my observations, it seems as though folks want to carry over their existing networks to Google Plus.  What those folks may not be considering is that most of their existing network is too busy playing on Facebook or Twitter to be active on G+.  You need to find some fresh meat in order to find your way here (more on that later).

You may also have to adjust your posting style because, remember, you’re not on Facebook or twitter anymore.   Don’t get me wrong, you’ll see a few short status updates and mindless ramblings, but most people post with a purpose on this network.  One great way to attract new plussers and broaden your audience is through trending topics.  Similar to twitter, just tag your posts with an associated trending topic.  The difference is, aside from Twitter Chats & Community tags, people are actually looking through the trending stream and sharing posts!

Make your small screen debut

You can’t hide forever if you want to “make it” in Social Media.  Even if your SM aspirations aren’t that high video is such a cool way to have fun with your previously “picture only” friends.  Trust me, when you see what someone’s face looks like when they’re laughing instead of a typed lol next to their avatar, you’re really making a connection.  The combination of YouTube being part of Google equates to a small screen monopoly… the hangout capabilities simply can’t be matched by other networks.

Case and Point – I’d like to highlight two WONDERFUL women who are getting their respective video grooves on.  I’ve known  Jessica Northey for a little over a year now.  We originally met on her legendary Country Music Twitter chat (#cmchat).  Not only is she one of the foremost Social Media authorities when it comes to Country, she’s also one smart cowgirl for recognizing the momentum video was generating.  A few months back, Jessica started doing Twangouts  She still uses the twitter tag to promote fan interactions

Pioneer of Girlfriend Social  and recent Hogwarts graduate, Amanda Blain  is in a league of her own.  People joke that I’m instafamous on Instagram with 90K+ plus followers. That’s cute and all, but Amanda is bigger than Justin Bieber in these parts. She knows the power of the small screen,  You always see her in hangouts.  Coincidence? I think not

Fresh Meat for Your Great Escape

It’s time to go all cliche and save the best for last. The main reason behind my renewed Google Plus fervor was simple, I found some new blood to inject into my feed. Believe it or not, there’s a bunch of hipsters who actually call G+ their home. It wasn’t until a conversation with the coolest person in the world, Krystyn Chong, that I decided to give Google another go. She clued me in about many of the things I shared with you. A few other interesting folks I might not have come across on other networks are  Dirk Talamasca, Bobbi Jo Woods, Cliff Roth, J.C. Kendall  and Shawna Mac. Add Peg Fitzpatrick  into the mix, and you have a solid foundation of 9 plussers whose posts are ALWAYS buzzing.

For those still not convinced or unwilling to try something new, I have just one question.  Don’t you ever get bored with seeing the same people in your facebook feed over and over again?  I can’t be the only one who wanted to get away from “the game” and have a meaningful interaction on days which it wasn’t my birthday.  If that sounds like you, give Google+ another try.

What are you thoughts, Plussers… what makes Google+ great?  And you, the one over there who’s shaking their head in disagreement… Why don’t you like about the platform?

 

Nominate Tony Bennett for a social media award in the Shorty Awards!

Help an Instagram Superhero out and nominate me  for an Instagram Shorty Award!

 

 

Jan
5

By

Let the Instagram Games Begin!

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , , 5 Comments

You may or may not know that I ran an Instagram contest last week for the chance to be featured in my upcoming “Sky Candy” calendar.

First off, allow me to thank ALL who tagged their entries. In a matter of 3 days, we had OVER 6,000 entries. The path to the final three was incredibly difficult because there were do many spectacular shots. It’s why I love Instagram, despite the new terms, as it’s one of the largest communities of content creators on the planet. Yeah, we rock!

I proudly present to you the final three entries of the contest.

Gustavo’s rays over the sea
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Bernt’s Winter Wonderland
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Gunn’s Nordic Sunset
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Cast your vote below! Voting ends at Midnight on Sunday, January 6th.

Good Luck!

Aug
6

By

Funny Story, I used to blog before Instagram came out on Android

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , , 50 Comments

Give me a few seconds to dust off my keyboard.  My last post was over 60 days ago… back in May… can this possibly be true?  Yeah, time stamps don’t lie(usually).  You MIGHT have thought I gave up on blogging, but no. Let’s face it, this isn’t a top 10 social media blog or anything.  It’s not like you’re depending on this site to get your social media fix.  At least I hope not, because you’d be a desperate junky at this point, it’s been 60 days for crying out loud.

The fact of the matter is that I’ve been busy catering to my most engaging audience.  It’s almost as if the people I’ve met on Instagram REALLY do depend on me for their daily dose of skycandy, vintage landscapes, and pretty butterflies.  I only have so much time to devote to social media and I’m no fool, I am drawn to the network where I’m most in demand.  Conversely, it’s been SO rewarding to see something that you created be applauded and praised by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people daily.  Look at the real-life reactions that I’m getting and tell me this isn’t what I was born to do.

As for the future of this blog, it’s still up in the air.  Maybe we switch gears to a photo blog, not entirely sure.  The purpose of this post is two-fold – 1.) To thank those who have fueled my passion over the last 3-4 months and 2.) Give a sample of my work so others not on Instagram can see it… After all, I do have a website, I might as well use it for something, right?

A brief history lesson… I come from a line of immensely talented artists, on my Mom’s side, pre-dating the 1900′s in Italy. From my Great Grandpa, whom I never met, and my late Grandpa Gino whom I adored, to my Aunt Marie – I’ve always been surrounded by sculptures and oil paintings.  Truth is, I always thought this beautiful gift had skipped a generation.  Oh, but it didn’t skip over me after all. It just laid dormant for my whole life up until Instagram drug it out of me!  It’s furthering the notion that this is meant to be.

Now, it’s one thing to snap a great picture.  Many people are competent with that skill.  However, during this short journey, I’ve been able to exercise my vivid imagination through editing photos.  These two before and after snapshots demonstrate how the mind really is a canvas.


That’s why this isn’t just photography for me, and many others, it’s art.  It’s a way to express oneself and connect with others. As one of my friends said “Images go beyond art, it’s a way of communication that knows no language barrier.”  This is so true, and I’ve embraced my interpretive style.  Take a look at these sunsets – some are edited with my trademarked “Van Gogh effect,” while others are just naturally beautiful.  Either way, these are generally my biggest hits.

 

       

        

      

Here are some other samples of cityscapes, landscapes, and wildlife shots as well.

    

     

     

Well, there you have it, almost.  I’ve been working in financial services for the better part of the last decade.  My sales skills will always be with me but, quite frankly, my talents are being wasted in this current line of work.  30 is a little young to go through a mid-life crisis, I definitely intend to live past 100, so I’m only a 1/3rd of a way through this gig.  Maybe I’m just a lil crazy – but all the great ones are, right?  What do you think, am I delusional or is this something I should pursue?

Thanks for visiting!

 

May
30

By

Don’t be that Guy… Yeah, THAT guy

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , 40 Comments

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I’m a patient person by most people’s standards. I try to be easy-going, understanding, and positive but someone’s gotta put their foot down and put a chokehold on THAT guy.

You’ve seen THOSE guys, not to be confused with #usguys, in action. Regular spam methods just aren’t good enough for that guy(or girl). That guy has to sauté it, bread it, and deep fry it before personally delivering it to your newsfeeds and timelines. That guy goes above and beyond to make you feel uncomfortable, annoyed, and suspicious of their motives. I’ve always been of the opinion that relationships are a two way street and deals should be made based on a win-win premise… but those guys obviously see it differently.

So this is going to be short and simple – if you value the meaningful relationships that develop through social media, pay attention.

DON’T BE THAT GUY WHO

- Creates a Facebook group for the sole purpose of promoting their own agenda, and then add their whole friend list to be part of it.

- Suggest I like your Facebook page if you don’t know me or never had a meaningful conversation with me

- Contest and Charitable causes aside, perpetually asks for likes and/or retweets; it looks desperate

- Snatches someone else’s photo, status, or infographic and front as if it’s your own

- Doesn’t respond to commenters or reply to tweeters because you’re worried about your Klout score

- Drops into a tweet chat, talk it up like you actually participate, and then bounce 5 minutes later

- Talks smack behind peoples back; social circles are too tight knit, they’ll find out.

Wow, I feel 132% better now that I’ve got that off my chest.

Please help and add to the list. What else does THAT guy do that annoys the hell out of you? Was I wrong/overly lame on any of the above examples?

May
18

By

uniQue, inQuisitive, and uneQualed – @mQtodd is the Quintessential friend

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , , , , 29 Comments

Aside from the fro’d out green hairdo, the Q was the first thing that jumped out at me when I met Michael Q Todd on Twitter. I mean, how many people have a middle name that starts with Q, right? After getting to know him a bit better, I finally popped the question (No, not THAT question… I’m already married). Admittedly, I was expecting the answer to be Quentin or another somewhat obscure name but his response took me by surprise.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE Q

The Q wasn’t a name given to him by his parents, remember, Michael is uniQue. He bestowed the Q, short for Qi, upon himself after an expedition to China that likely saved his life, or at least how he lived it. Qi 氣,by its ancient Chinese roots, is translated as life force or energy flow. You see, he was diagnosed with Reiters Syndrome (a debilitating, acute arthritic disorder) and was told by a top NYC rheumatologist that he would never walk again in 1996. But if you know MQT, you know he didn’t take that diagnosis lying down.

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While most would have succumbed to their Doctor prescribed fate, Michael traveled to China sought out masters of Chi Gung (Qigong 氣功) in an effort to heal himself. This practice has been existence for over 4000 years and is a method of aligning one’s body with their mind through extensive coordinated breathing and rhythmic movements. If you’ve seen any of Michael Q’s video’s, you know that he is fully healed. Talk about inspiring!

A LIVING LEGEND

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Usually, these awards are heavily based on accomplishments in Social Media. In the case, though, the Living Legend award is a reminder that there are things WAY bigger than social media. If you’ve had two near death experiences like Michael has, you deserve some recognition!! One of the most endearing aspects about MQT is how unwaveringly positive he is. Now that you have better knowledge of his back-story, you can probably understand why he is so upbeat. He doesn’t sweat the small stuff. He is now devoted to giving back, and is particularly chivalrous when it comes to the environment and sea life. Bottom line, you’ll be hard pressed to find someone more deserving of karma than him.

Since his network is so large, there’s a strong chance you already know Michael. That’s great! Make sure you share how much he means to you in the comments below. If you’re not familiar with him, or don’t know him that well, here are a couple links to get closer to him. He did all the work for you – check out his XeeMe profile to connect with him on ALL of the different platforms. Then, click here and subscribe to his blog… or at least bookmark it. After all, he is probably one of smartest social media minds on the planet. We here at The So Genius Blog would also like to extend our deepest gratitude for all the support you’ve given us as well. Thank you for all that you do, Michael.

May
8

By

So When did P’s and Q’s become F’s and U’s?

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , 6 Comments

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Forget writing about Social Media Manners… we need to get back to the basics. Common Courtesy is officially on the endangered species list and, in some segments, it’s seemingly already extinct. Fortunately, I do have many friends who carry themselves with class and dignity. If only I could say that about everyone…

Between my daily commute, watching the news, and observing the interactions of others, I’m disgusted with the lack of respect shown for one another. People are more likely to start an argument about someone else’s ignorance than say thank you to the person that held the door for them. Can we please stop the madness? I’m forced to write this rant because acting like immature school kids is not a good way to roll.

I thought this was common sense, but I’m clearly underestimating how far our etiquette has fallen. So please make sure you adhere to this list – we don’t want you to be labeled as one of “them”

TOP SEVEN TIPS ON HOW NOT TO BE A JACKASS

7.) Wave to say thank you when someone let’s you exit onto road during traffic.
     7a) Give people room to pull onto the road
     7b) Nevermind, we could do a whole post on driving etiquette.

6.) People are big enough germaphobe’s already so cover your damn mouth when you cough or sneeze – Don’t give anyone a reason to complain

5.) When you’re not in a dance club, turn down your LMFAO ringtone when you’re in a bank or quiet place. Most phones do have that new function called vibrate

4.) Don’t post personal questions/comments for someone on their facebook or twitter timeline. PICK UP THE PHONE or private message them.

3.) ALWAYS hold the door open for people, especially if they’re a woman or elderly.
     3a) Say THANK YOU when the door is held for you

2.) Stop blaming other people for what sucks in your life – YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE for the outcome

1.) Never take someone’s feelings for granted because you never know how much courage they took to show it

This is a totally hodgepodge potpourri list that I wrote on the fly. Is this really too much to ask, though? I don’t think I’m alone in my cry for a return of common courtesy. What other pet peeves would you add to this list? I’m sure we can add a good number more.

May
4

By

OMG – Be as Popular as a Teenage Girl on #instagram

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , , , , 19 Comments

Here’s the big unveiling of the newest Instagram strategy – act like a teenage girl by doing the following:

1 Be attractive so you get lots of boys hollering at ya and girls saying “you’re so pretty” in comments

2 Take pictures of your fingernails painted up all pretty; it’s an easy 1000 likes for the good ones.

3 Dress in scantily clad outfits or bikinis so you can get horny old men worked up, you’ll make the popular page

4 Be rude, don’t reply to most other commenters, and fill your feed with annoying shout outs of other “cool” people.

Follow this advice and you’ll be a Instagram super user in no time!

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Wait, what? You can’t implement any of these foolproof strategies?

Oh gosh, I forgot, those tactics only work for teenage girls and there aren’t too many of those in the So Genius audience. People might laugh at us if we tried any of that crap… although I know we have plenty of attractive readers here! It’s ok, you don’t have to flaunt it because I’ve got a few other tips and ideas on how to build an engaging instagram fan base.

Tools of the Trade

Vincent Van Gogh only had a paintbrush and a canvas. Let’s face it, we’re not VVG! I’m by no means a professional photographer, but with the help of editing apps, I’ve been able to create some wicked awesome scenes. I highly suggest dropping $3-$4 on a “pro” app because you’ll get effects and editing power not found in most freebies. My two favorite Android apps are Pic Say Pro and Pics Play Pro (eerily similar names, I know). Look at some before and after shots, I was amazed at what could be done.

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If you’re not willing to skip your Starbucks Latte, there are a few adequate free ones, as well. Little Photo, Pics Art, and Be Funky can all add some pizzazz to your photos. Since I’m not a cool kid with an iPhone, we’re asking the apple readers to help by adding suggestions in the comments below.

Tag, You’re it

The first thing you’ll notice on Instagram is that it’s more tag happy than even Twitter… and some of them are even awkward! Did you think you’d ever tag #skyporn or #cloudporn to anything, ever? I didn’t either, but if some people get their jollies from sky shots, I’m happy to help provide material for them. The one group and tag(s) I’d most recommend revolve around the #gang_family. For a full breakdown, visit their website here. The concept is really cool. There are a number of different tags to suit your style, some more popular than others, but a great way to get exposure when you’re starting out. My favorites are #skystyles_gf #landscapestyles_df and #floralstyles_gf. Also, there are contests and daily themes run through #gf_daily and the other affiliated groups. Oh, and btw, the actual member photos will blow you away.

Attract Followers

Once you’ve got the hang of tweaking your photo’s and feel their “like-worthy,” you’ll want to develop a follower base that appreciates this. While I can’t say this is an original strategy, any variation of it is rather effective. It stems from a post I read on Paul Steinbrueck’s blog about the plan Steve Bretzke implemented with his IG. You can read the post here for FULL breakdown, but here are the cliff notes. Steve goes to the popular page, finds similar themed photos to his own, and then follows 50-100 of the igers(Instagramers) who have just like those particular photos. It’s a sound idea, because you know they’re active and online. Then I spoke with a spectacular photographer in his own right, Ryan J. Zeigler, who altered it just a bit. Ryan targets commenters on the popular pics because he’d rather have engaging followers – makes sense to me! You’ll get some riff-raff and you’ll probably end up unfollowing quite a few annoying accounts. But when it’s all said and done, you need as large of a follower base as you can get if you want to get noticed.

Cue the LMFAO Music

Everyday I’m Instagrammin! Forget the shuffling… I love IG. It’s probably not for everyone, especially if you don’t appreciate art or you’re not a teenage girl (j/k). DON’T FORGET iPhone’rs; please add your favorite editing apps for apple devices. Now it’s your turn. Are you Instagrammin daily? Is it as cool as I make it out to be or overhyped? What other ideas can we add for Instagram Success?

May
1

By

The Only Thing Better than #SocialMedia is Using it for #SocialGood

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , , , , , 23 Comments

Have you heard this passage before?

“Work for a cause,

not for applause.

Live life to express,

not to impress.

Don’t strive to make your presence noticed,

just make your absence felt.”

This quote so fitting because the author isn’t even credited for creating it.  It’s attributed to “unknown” and odds are, he or she wanted it that way.

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

In this look-at-me world, especially in Social Media, we’re all pre-occupied with ourselves.  Whether we’re pushing our own agendas or surveying how we stack up against the competition, our natural instinct propels us to worry about things like…  “Did my Klout score go up or down today?”  “How many likes did I get on that post?”  “Ughh, only two people retweeted that last tweet”  “My blog is so much better than Spin Sucks, why don’t I get as many comments” … but really, in the grand scheme of things, it’s all BS.  In the past 10 days, after being a part of a couple group efforts promoting other people’s causes, my outlook has been changed forever.  I didn’t organize these events, wasn’t in the forefront, or get any publicity from it.  I had no skin in the game aside from my tweeting prowess – but that’s the beauty of it.  It made those previous questions meaningless.

#BEWBLUV

It feels good to help other people, even if It’s as simple as bringing a smile to someone’s face.  Because of the power of using Social Media for good, most of Twitter now knows about Brandie MacCallum’s world famous bewbs.  I can’t get into the “secret” details, but Margie Clayman & company played the role of Paul Revere and gathered the troops to support one of our finest soldiers, Brandie (aka @lttlewys). Despite all the Debbie Downers saying that “you can’t MAKE something trend” a group of hundreds (maybe thousands) did, in fact, get the #BewbLuv tag trending in 5 countries and 7 US cities.  Read more about Brandie kicking cancer’s ass and the story of BewbLuv on her blog.

#PROJECTFORGIVE

The other campaign that caught my attention was #ProjectForgive.  You probably know the story, but in case you don’t, here’s a quick synopsis.  A father’s choice to forgive the drunk driver who killed his family has touched countless people.  It’s a really powerful story, you can read more about it and help make the planned documentary a reality on their website Project: Forgive.  It’s another, now “classic”, case of using social media for good.  Two friends of the So Genius blog actually spearheaded the Social Media efforts in fundraising for this project. 

TWO  COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS

Jackie Bigford and Kimberly Reynolds hit their marketing campaign out of the park and reached their Kickstarter Goal of $100,000 much more quickly than anticipated.  I’ve gotten to know Jackie fairly well over the past year and she dedicates her life to helping others.  Whether it’s the dolphins, the Global Village Foundation she volunteers for, or her friends; we know that we can count on Jackie in a time of need.  As for Kim, she’s certainly a rising star in social media and an established entrepreneur.  I almost feel that this will be Kimmy-overkill since Michael Q Todd just featured her on his blog and the UK Digital Business journal did a write up on her, but what the heck, she’s worth it. So, to celebrate their accomplishments and to give best wishes for their new partnership, Savvy Media Marketing, we’re proud to present dual So Genius Awards for their achievements in Social Media.

Yeah yeah, we’re In the social media world, and the projects I wrote about were “old news” because it happened over a  week ago.  But you know what? There’s no expiration date on helping other people. If you haven’t yet used your powers for good, what are you waiting for?  After you’re finished giving props to Jackie and Kimberly, think about some causes you’re passionate about and start donating your Social Media Prowess for good.

Apr
18

By

Don’t kid yourself, SIZE MATTERS, but we’re not talking about sex here

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , , , 32 Comments

Ha, what did you think I was talking about when I said size matters? Wow, you have dirty minds! We’re talking about blogging here, not sex.

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I’ve heard a laundry list of recommendations regarding the length and girth of a good blog post. Most suggest keeping it under 500 under words while some guides say 300 words is a good marker. 700 has also popped up as the line in the sand that you should never exceed.

The first question I had is what do these people have against even hundred numbers? Are 400, 600, or 800 so much more inferior? Yeah, that really popped into my head. Back to the land of the normal, I did come to a painful conclusion. Shorter likely is Better for maximum pleasure.

By The Numbers

There was no official survey done with previous posts published here, but I’m willing to bet that not a single one of them was less than 500 words. Even worse, there’s a very high probability that say 30% of them breached the 700 word point of no return. Fooey.

I set out with a mission here to make this my shortest blog post but it’s already 200 words for crying out loud. If you have the wordsmithing skills to deliver something tangible and impactful in 300 words, you are freakin awesome. I can’t do it. I’m a story teller. I like to paint a picture and then deliver the message. I think it’s working, but this blog will be taking more of a simplicity is genius approach. Here are a few suggestions why your blog should be a lean, mean, sexing, err I mean writing… machine.

People Scan, They Don’t Read

As much as I’d love to think you all read every word I write, I stopped lying to myself. People read the beginning, the bullets, and the end. Give them something to scan and do your best to draw them in

Avoid Looooong Paragraphs

The only thing worse than a 1500 word post is a 1500 word post broken up into 3 paragraphs. How dreadful would that be? It’s a touch tricky when you like hearing yourself talk and think you have to keep those 7 sentences together to prove your point, but do your readers a favor and break it up.

The Net is caffeine fueled and ADD Riddled

I have ADHD, so I’m allowed to make fun of it, right? Look there’s a flower. People are busier than ever, whether it’s by choice or by necessity. Fact of the matter is that takes half the time to read 500 words than it does 1000… and that’s if they actually read it. They want to finish what they start so they can move on to something else, like the butterfly that just fluttered by.

Screw it, hard-wired rules are for the birds. This post was supposed to be under 500 words but I want to do a conclusion. Hope you’ll be able to survive an extra 30 words! And don’t worry, I’ll still be able to live with myself despite the fact I’ve never written a post under 500 words. Are we in agreement that shorter is better? What length structure do you approach in your writing? Thanks for stopping by!

Apr
13

By

Ain’t no Party Like an #usguys Party cuz the #usguys Party Don’t Stop

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , , , , 23 Comments

Four Score and Two Years ago our social fathers brought forth on this Twitterverse, a new nation, conceived in intelligent conversation, and dedicated to the proposition that all tweeters are created equal. The brave men, and women, who tweeted here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The blogosphere will little note, nor long remember what I say here, but Social Media will never forget what do did here. Yes, #usguys community is so cool that they get their own Twittersburg address, and moreover, we’re proud to bestow our first group So Genius award to them.

PROBLEM SOLVED

The whole #usguys community was born during a Twitter conversation between Thomas Moradpour @tommoradpour, Patrick Prothe @pprothe, Cristian Gonzales @galactic, Jason Mikula @mikulaja, and Chase Adams @realchaseadams. If you’ve ever discussed something with 3 or more people on Twitter, you quickly realized that your handles turn 140 into like 40 or 60. To combat this and promote character conservation, they had the bright idea of adding a tag so everyone could follow along even if they weren’t mentioned. Thus, the #usguys movement was born.

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NON STOP ACTION

Who would have known that a hashtag started by Five Guys (no burgers and fries) would evolve into a 24/7 twitter party? Seriously, if you’ve never heard of this community, test me on that statement. Because of its global appeal, the #usguys stream doesn’t go more than 5 minutes (a way conservative estimate) without a tweet. There’s no specific topic, just daily fun and comradery. If that, for some reason isn’t enough and you need some structure, there are often impromptu and planned #usguyschat sessions.

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THE CREAM OF THE CROP

While there are quite a few Social Media Superstars, like Josepf Haslam, (sorry, had to do it, you’re my favorite to banter with) who grace the #usguys stream, it’s the everyday contributors that really make this the best community on twitter. I’m not an “official member” of the tribe, the bell has not yet been rung for me, but I am on Stephen Caggiano’s #usguys pinboard so that has to count for something!! But that’s the incredible thing, you don’t have to be a member to be recognized and responded to. Whether you have a question that needs answers or a blog post that needs feedback, someone will be happy to help. Another endearing quality of this twitterhood is their unwillingness to accept a superficial response, it’s SO refreshing. It’s the collective intelligence they possess that makes you think about what you tweet. I was going to do a list and give some shout-outs because I’ve made so many virtual friends from this group, but I’m bound to leave a few out, and it would make it far too easy for our readers.

Congrats to all of you, you’ve earned this award. While #usguys is the best twitter community in my eyes, I’m not yet a twitter veteran and may have missed some other groups. What other communities do you participate in on Twitter? Any worth checking out?

P.S. #usguys are doing a meet up tonight in NYC. That’s how you know this is one tight-knit crew! May all of you have a good ol’ time and be safe in your travels. Lastly, don’t do anything stupid because you’ll regret the drunken pictures on FB & Twitter tomorrow :D

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