Just over 3 years ago I sent my first tweet.  Today, I sent my 2,000th.  In recognition of this benchmark, I posted today on Blackbaud’s NetWit’s blog a new article on the 10 Things I Learned over 2,000 Tweets.  I hope you’ll give it a read, and share it on Facebook and Twitter!

Thanks!

Did you know that between 40-60% of your website visitors are getting to your website via search engines? Of those, not all are new visitors, either. People will often search for websites they’ve been to before because they forgot the URL or have become accustomed to it using Google (or maybe Bing?). There’s also the possibility that they’ve started using an integrated browser toolbar or features such as Google’s “I feel lucky.” No matter how they end up there search is the most powerful tool you’ve got to drive traffic to your website. How are you leveraging search as part of your website strategy?

Read my entire blog post on Blackbaud’s NetWits ThinkTank Blog!

Do you enjoy searching something on Google, clicking a result and having the opening page surprise you with some loud, often annoying, instant-play audio or movie file?  Having had no warning of said media file I couldn’t adjust my volume to the appropriate level given my environment; headphones, office cubical, coffee house, etc.  And now I’ve actually started leaving my volume completely muted when not needed, so as to protect me from these very sites.

Do you want the first impression of visitors to your website to be annoyance?  I would think not.

Instead, allow me to load the page in peace and quiet and encourage me to listen and watch at my leisure.  Let me press play and pause, and generally control my listening/viewing experience… it is, after-all, my computer.  I promise, you’ll lower those exit and bounce-rates and make everyone happier–the audio/video lovers, and me.

Location-based social media is all the rage, and Foursquare is in prime position to be the next Twitter.  Possibly even the next Facebook.  Here’s my quick list of 5 things I feel Foursquare should do–some MUST do–in order to take it to the next level.

What’s Foursquare?  Oh, good question.  For those not playing, it’s a social networking app for your mobile device that allows you to “check-in” at various locations (businesses, public spaces, and even moving targets like cabs).  Foursquare uses your phones GPS to determine location and list nearby places, or you can add new ones.  You score points, notify friends of where you are and can even become the Foursquare “Mayor” of a location.  Some businesses offer discounts or freebies to mayors, too!  And of course, you can use in tandem with Twitter & Facebook to share your happenings beyond the Foursquare friend circle.

So why does it need improving?  Everything needs improving!  But Foursquare is still a young startup and has some issues, too.  For example, employees and businesses are taking over Mayor opportunities. Other suggestions are things I feel would be enhancements to the software. So let’s get started.

1) Employees & Businesses are Taking Over Mayor Opportunities
Did I say this already?  Yeah, it bugs me.  First, it was people lying about where they are, and everyone knows the best way to ruin in game is to cheat.  Well now we have employees and businesses checking in daily at locations, thereby becoming mayors.  The first is understandable, they’re people playing the game and they spend a lot of time at their place of employement. Great.  The later, however, is a method of advertising… for example, the mayor of many NYC airports (LGA, JFK, EWR) are now Car Services, under a business name, looking for business.

I think the answer to both of these dilemmas is by creating relationship and profile types.  Businesses can already claim a Foursquare location as their own, however what if you could identify yourself, or be identified, as an employee?  We can even expand upon the Mayor idea and have different reward levels for different players… President anyone?

Businesses abusing the system to advertise themselves is a slightly different issue and I think can be handled in one of two ways… a) an abuse/report button, and b) more open advertisement opportunities.  Let them buy ad space, support Foursquare, and leave the game playing for the users.

2) Friend Details
I have a slight issue with accepting friends, because I can’t tell if I actually know them or not.  How about providing more profile info within the app… actual names would be nice, but even allow for the entry of a brief profile and additional links beyond Twitter & Facebook.

3) Friend Lists
How about some lists so that I can organize my friends?  Then give me more list based functionality, such as only notifying certain lists when checking in or allowing different lists to have access to different profile info.

4) Friends Listing Order
By default, Foursquare opens with a list of your friends, most recently checked in first.  While this is great and makes sense, it’s not the only way I care to see data!  How about sorting options, such as nearest to me or by lists?

5) Maps
I’d love if there was a local Google Map that plotted all my local friends on it, ala Loopt.

So there you have it… my short list, for now.  What would you like to see added?

Google Analyics Annoations

Whilst reading an article on Google Analytics announcing the forthcoming App Store for additional functionality and customization, it read;

Apps are available in 12 categories, including business intelligence, campaign management, content, data collection, e-commerce, email marketing, mobile marketing, phone tracking, reporting tools, SEO, site auditing and widgets and gadgets.

and a chill came over my body. It was at that moment, that moment of pure excitement that I would get to see new angles or views and visualizations of the data representing the online experience of thousands of users and how to use that data to better the experience that I suddenly realized:

1) I’m a geek at heart,
2) That I love the intention of relationships, and
3) That I’m addicted to Google Analytics.

And with that said, go over and check out Google Adds App Store for Analytics on Mashable.  Great article!