WordPress 2.0 App for iPhone

Posted on 10. Nov, 2009 by Zahid Lilani. View Comments

WordPress just came out with version 2.0 for its iPhone app. Few weeks back, I had deleted the older WordPress app from my iPhone as I never used it. I didn’t use it because of the complicated user interface and major flaws in features that I couldn’t do without like tags etc.

New WordPress app is better in my aspects. By the way, I am using wordpress right now on my iPhone to write this blog post.

- ability to save post as local drafts, drafts and published.
- ability to author multiple blogs.
- select single or multiple categories add new categories on the fly.
- select a publish date.
- add photos
- moderate comments for all your blog posts or just one post.
- preview your post.
- add new pages and edit current ones.
- add photos to pages
- mass edit comments

I am very much impressed with the new WordPress version. Even though I have Tumblr on my iPhone, I have never been a fan of it.

Of course I prefer blogging using the real thing but I think the app can come in handy if I ever have that sudden urge to write 200-300 words.

As you can see, there is only so much the app can do. I have some HTML knowledge and have been playing with WordPress for a while now. I know how to center a post, use paragraphs, make a text bold etc but it would be nice if it were possible to achieve it with a click (I am sorry if I am asking for a lot)

Nonetheless WordPress 2 is excellent blogging app and a must have if you blog.

Interesting Social Media Links Of The Week

Posted on 08. Nov, 2009 by Zahid Lilani. View Comments

Round up of Interesting Social Media Links Of The Week. These links are mostly newspaper and blog articles but may include occasional audio/video. The links below are handpicked and not computer generated.

Six Reasons to Embrace Social Media Today – Web 2.0 Journal

A Blog is a Better Social Media Hub Than Twitter – Social Media Today

Social Media: Banning vs. Blocking – Huffington Post

Teaching the Facebook Generation – BusinessWeek

3 New Social Media Studies Worth Reading – Social Media Examiner

Six social media trends for 2010 – Fierce CIO

How Social Media (and Revision3) Helped Catapault ‘Paranormal Activity’ to the Top of the Box Office – MediaBistro

How Social Media is Changing Charity – WebProNews

5 Ways You Can Get The Most Out Of Twitter

Posted on 06. Nov, 2009 by Zahid Lilani. View Comments

Twitter’s usefulness is still debatable but there is no doubt in my mind that Twitter is what you make of it. The generation I belong to still doesn’t seem to get Twitter, they are just happy with Facebook. Twitter is not Facebook, far from it. There are certain things you can do on Twitter that just might not be possible on Facebook.

Here is my list of 5 Ways You Can Get The Most Out of Twitter

1 – Networking

Take out some time to look for people who are popular in your industry and follow them in order to network. This doesn’t include people that Twitter recommends when you first sign up. Don’t be obligated to follow anyone who follows you, choose people you follow carefully. You will soon find few people you really like to monitor. Stay tuned for updates, respond to their questions, look for ideas, ask for advice. The idea here is to be an insider and to gain as much knowledge as possible. The only way you can do this is if you network among people who have the same passion, dream, and goals as yourself.

2 – Update Regularly and Listen

Keep your audience posted regularly, but don’t tweet excessively. People are following you because they are interested in what you have to say, you now have a responsibility. Try to maintain a high ratio of relevant and interesting tweets compared to insignificant details. If you blog, use something like TwitterFeed to update your Twitter stream.

You are not the only one using Twitter, it is a two-way street where people are moving at a fast pace. Observe conversations about brands, websites, products and keep an eye out for people who are talking about you. Never underestimate the power of observation, you might see something that others can’t and that will make you different from the rest of the bunch.

3 – Be yourself, keep it casual

Don’t make things up and force yourself to Tweet. Say what you feel and try to be honest, intimate, and real with your followers. People will really enjoy the candid postings and stay enthralled. Remember that Twitter is the most informal social media service you will ever come across. That’s what makes it so different from other social media sites.

4. Divide and conquer

With the advent of Twitter Lists, it is now easier than ever to keep up with people you really like to monitor. Not everyone you follow is your friend on Twitter, be selective when you create your lists. Create meaningful lists so that you and others who follow your list can get some value out of it. Remember to “take out the trash” once in a while. “Unfollow” people who are not posting positive comments, spammers, or “junk” Twitter friends.

5 – Mind your Language

What you Tweet can be used against you in the court of law, just kidding. Still, that doesn’t mean you lose control of yourself on Twitter and make it a dumpster filled with curse words and negativity. Be respectful to others, post positive tweets, engage in a meaningful debate and if it really has to get out of hands, take it off Twitter. You can never take your words back, same applies for Twitter. Don’t tweet something that you might regret.

Brizzly Is The New Grizzly of Web Based Twitter Clients

Posted on 03. Nov, 2009 by Zahid Lilani. View Comments

Brizzly is yet another web based Twitter client that lets you view content from Twitter as well as Facebook. It strives to give you a clear picture of your Twitter stream in the most efficient and simple way. When you first look at your Twitter stream on Brizzly, you will say to yourself “Did my Facebook just changed clothes?”

It’s true that its interface looks like that of your Facebook homepage but it is better, why? It is not Facebook, simple. Let’s explore:

Left

The usual suspects, Home, Direct messages, Groups and Saved searches. One thing that stands out is Pictures. It lets you look at all the pictures that you have posted using Brizzly, unfortunately, twitpic won’t work. I really thought a feature that allows me to look at all my Twitter pictures would be very cool. You can look at the pictures full size, not just a link.

Middle

The difference you will notice is in the middle section. Links have the entire URL, they are not coded in short URLs. Good feature because I have clicked on the same story twice many times because of different URLs. Your pictures will show up full size, same goes for the videos. No need to click and leave Brizzly to watch a video on YouTube.

Right

This really is the best section because if you have any new direct messages, you will see it here with an option to either view it or shhhh. Right below that you see news and trends that auto refresh always keeping you up to date on the latest trends.

I am a fan of web based clients more so than I am of Tweetdeck or Seesmic Desktop. It would be premature if I said Brizzly is better than HootSuite, my favorite web based Twitter client but I a seem to like Brizzly so far.

Brizzly is currently by invitation only, here is the link good for 10 people: http://bit.ly/2EUNvb. If the link doesn’t work, let me know and I will post a new one.

UPDATE 11/06/09: Brizzly now supports lists.

Interesting Social Media Links Of The Week

Posted on 01. Nov, 2009 by Zahid Lilani. View Comments

Round up of Interesting Social Media Links Of The Week. These links are mostly newspaper and blog articles but may include occasional audio/video. The links below are handpicked and not computer generated.

In airline industry, social-media marketing takes flight – Star Telegram

FarmVille becomes social-media powerhouse – SF Chronicle

Tweet Like you Mean it! Twitter Strategies for Tweeps – David Lee King

Tech Industry Leaders Speak at Campus Startup Conference – DailyCal

9 More Ways Restaurants Can Use Social Media – RIMag

4 Reasons Your Organization Should Embrace Social Media – CMS Wire

10 Tips for Creating Buzz With Facebook Events – Social Media Examiner

Google Versus Google — Will Social Search Tear the Company Apart? – Huffington Post