Thanks for reading the NotSoSoccerMom Beginner’s Guide to Twitter.

http://notsosoccermom.com/2011/04/15/notsosoccermoms-top-ten-tremendous-twitter-tips/

Our Lesson Continues:

*) Once you are set up with an account and following people, get involved further in the conversation by commenting on trending topics (column on the right).  #HappyEaster  These topics can be on the right hand column, something you find universal #fitness or something you make up to … #imjustsayin

*) Reader Beth asks:

“let’s say I want to follow Julia Roberts (really not, just came to my head).  If I go search for her, a gazilion Julia Roberts come up and I don’t know which one to follow.  I’m trying to remember who I did that for and I’m not sure.“

Best way to figure it out is by amount of followers, if it’s a ‘verified’ acount (Twitter will verify certain ‘celebs’ or psuedo-celeb’s accounts) If you follow someone and it’s NOT who you thought or they don’t have content you are interested in, Unfollow. Is very simple.

*)  There are many sites to find people in your area of interest to follow.  Twellow.com is among the best.

*) Finally, my secret key to breaking through and getting further into the ‘Twitter conversation’, was simply going to the site more.  Nothing trickier than that. The more you do, the more followers you will get, people you will get to know.  To some you this may seem like ‘just another thing to keep up’.  I would wager the pay off of new leads/ friends/ breaking news & contacts will end up outweighing the concept of “I’m too busy for another thing.”

Jill

#ff is “Follow Friday”, a way to encourage your followers to follow someone you do.

It’s not tricky.  Just try it.   I literally can not thing of ONE SINGLE person I know above the age of 17 that could not stand to benefit from being more engaged, making new contacts & spreading their message/ skills/ talents or joy.

I’m turning 40 soon. I’m focusing on getting myself all spruced up for that day. Got me some eyelash extensions, a nice facial.

But I feel it.  I’m more tired than I used to be.

Who said “Kids keep you young.”? They can come over and babysit while I NAP.

The TWO YEAR OLD who is—-the ONLY boy, Daddy’s namesake & 11,10, & 7 years younger than his siblings—- rolls through this house and leaves a path of destruction that makes a Spring tornado in Oklahoma seem like a gentle breeze from a handheld fan.

Why, I’m writing to you through green magic marker… ON MY MACBOOK PRO.  Last night he was removed all the poop from his diaper, put it IN the toilet with his bare hands, flushed… then returned to dinner… naked.   At 4:30 am he wanted to get up and play.    So we did.

The lash extension, designed to make eyes look bright and fabulous, are having to work overtime.

When we had our first couple toddlers, we did everything right. They never got a sip of soda, were potty trained early, knew their physical and behavioural boundaries.

I would make him a steak dinner on a bed of Reeses cup & serve it to him while he watched Elmo for 13 hours  in a row while picking the hardwoods off my floor if he would stay in that damn crib!

My lifecoach Leah (Aside: You reallllly should get a LifeCoach. A) You’ll get more done and B) sounds fabulous to say at a cocktail partys “My Lifecoach was saying to me…” )— So my lifecoach is helping me to finish the NotSoSoccerMom book.  It is wonderful to have someone believe in you!

This time 2 years ago I had nothing going on. Now I have 3 ‘day’ jobs, 2 websites, 2 radio shows and of course, Mom responsibilities & all the running around and upkeep that goes with them.  But, it will happen. Maybe not by my 40th birthday,  (5/5— I suggest placing your QVC orders by 4/27 in case shipping is slow…), but SOON.

Jill

My birthday list, (fictional) party details, a Vlog with details about the eyelashes,

a Zumba blog for www.ZumbaPanaMama.blogspot.com & chapter of the book coming soon.

Gotta go: Patrick is trying to put hot pink socks on the cat…..

(Should I save Patrick or the cat?)

Hmmm, who affords me the most sleep these days????????

10) Set up an account. Takes 3 minutes.  Pick a name that is easy and simple. Example: ‘NotSoSoccerMom’, ‘ JulzofYuma’, ‘momsthoughts’.   The @ is how you address people within Twitter.  I’m @NotSoSoccermom   When Tweeting, include it.

9) Put a picture up and have a 2-3 sentence bio. People want to know with whom they are communicating.

Start by following.  Go into the Search and search ANYTHING you are interested in from “Argentinean Wines to My Little Pony to Zumba”.

7) I was scared to Follow people at first.    It felt creepy.  Follow away.  It is not at all as much of a commitment as requesting someone as a Facebook ‘Friend.’

6) Tweet away. Many are scared of being branded as on OverPoster on Facebook. (I AM one, but I’m over the stigma. I own it.)  With Twitter it’s so the opposite. Say things.  Twitter gives you 140 characters.   I cannot stress this enough for Twitter to become valuable and fun for you– you must jump in.

5) TwitterSpeak. OKAY, class. These are a few of my recent Tweets &  diagram them.

Tweet 1 *HOW many times a week do you mention @Twitter and get this: blank look….then “I don’t GET #Twitter.” #amwriting blog on this now

Explanation: I used the hashtag– (that’s this #)   to mention #amwriting    You can also create your own.

Tweet 2* @kimpirrella @momsthoughts @lisanewengland Help @celebbuzzz & Kelly Tell everyone to text KELLY in all caps to 44686 #captainmorgans

Explanation: I’m talking to some Twitter friends directly by mentioning their Twitter handle (name) with an @.  You can see when people @ you in your Twitter profile by checking Mentions column.

Tweet 3 *Do yerself a favor- download #oldskool #taylordayne song Original Sin to #workout to. #fitness. #jimsteinman epic

Explanation: Again, hashtag #, for concepts, people, thoughts that I might not Follow but might be universally known.

4)  Most online sites & articles have Share This buttons. Here’s one of my Tweets where I linked to my own blog piece that was recently published. It makes it easier and uses less characters than copying an entire URL.

*NOT. A. BLESSING. – American Pickers http://nblo.gs/fYxi2

3) ReTweet. This is your endorsement of a Tweet. You can ReTweet ANYTHING, even if you’re not ‘in that conversation.’    I ReTweet things I find funny or want to help spread the word about. You can also add your own commentary to the front of a ReTweet.

2) TwitterSpeak for ASKING your followers to ReTweet— much like we used to FWD a funny or cool email—- is RT   Example:

*http://www.popmuncher.com/ TEXT KELLY -all caps 44686 to Vote in the #CaptainMorganBracketMasterChallenge!!! RT RT Help our @Celebbuzz

Also an #FF is Friday Follow when you encourage your followers to follow friends.

Tweet Example: #FF  @OnlyMattMartin @carrielaz @beneboy1986  @momsthoughts 

1) In closing I will say, I have a full email list, roughly 1600 Facebook friends, a tv, a Skype account, a family and a life so you would think– why bother with ONE more thing to do!?

But I see great value in Twitter as a way to publicize my radio shows, Zumba classes, get Personal Training ideas and talk up my website….

BUT MORE THAN THAT!!! And Listen closely here:  I have found some great friends, entered into a great 140 character ongoing conversation, learned breaking news before it breaks, connected with really cool people and …….Gotta go Tweet… what was I saying?

Jill

Hopefully that helped?   Tweet me and let me know.

@NotSoSoccerMom

@RaiseYourGlass3

This years’ Nap Bowl, the cherished & hard-fought American sporting event, proved to be one of the most epic battles in years.  Young upstart Patrick was pitted against seasoned Veteran Jill.

The Nap Bowl venue was one steeped in tradition~  the car.

What Patrick lacked in years of skill & practice, he made up for in finesse and shear heart.  His desire to NOT FALL ASLEEP was apparent in the first few minutes of the car ride.  His first scoring play was incorporating self-stimulation.  ”Boats! Trucks! Water. Beep Beep!.”

Jill answered his crafty move with a 20 minute extension to the drive and a slip of a pacifier.  ”You get this if you go ni-ni.”   Some called it an illegal move. After reviewing the tape, the line judged called the play fair.

It looked like the game was over.

Remarkably, this is when Patrick made a come-from-behind rally that is one for the history books.  Jill admitted that she had made a terrible strategic move. “I drove by a tractor place.”

“Beep Beep! Tack-tah!!  BEEEEP!”   It became more apparent that this young, inexperienced pugilist had all the makings to become the proverbial welter weight champ.

Many miles and minutes passed.

Jill, beaten up and shocked at this turn in momentum, turned to the last grenade in her arsenal by extending the car ride yet ANOTHER 10 minutes, puting on talk radio and cranking the heat to 85 degrees.  ”This move simulates Junior High- you’d come back from lunch all tired & the teacher drones on about Civics or something & the room is hot because you’re in those cheap portables with no air-conditioning.”

Patrick fell asleep in 3 minutes.

He may have lost this Nap Bowl, but here’s a contender that we’ll be seeing around for a long time to come.

As you may know, the NotSoSocccerMom corporate offices are for sale and will soon be relocating.  Nothing says “Shows beautifully” like traces of a 2 year old….

Here’s Patrick to tell you all about it:

“This wall looked boring. This is during my purple marker phase.”  - Patrick Picasso

“You see a plain white wooden six panel door. I see a pencil sketch canvas.”

-Patrick Cezanne

“She how the toilet bowl cleaner creates a subtle, yet beautiful abstract contrast to the carpet?  Isn’t it mural-y?”

- Patrick Rivera

“And my mom and dad will not even be charging EXTRA for this house even though all this original artwork stays.”