Some of the other features are the ability to embed individual Tweets into your site with Blackbird Pie. For example:

Interesting, isn’t it? I knew you’d be excited.

Better still, Twitter is starting to roll out more business specific features, and I’ll be able to answer some of your questions at my seminar, “What in the Heck is Twitter?” this Friday, May 14th from 12p to 1:30p.

More details are on the way so stay tuned…

Here are the basic steps:

1. Sign into Twitter in one tab or window of your browser.
2. Sign into Facebook in another tab or window of your browser.
3. Now go to www.facebook.com/twitter and click the big green button in the middle.
4. Select your page and click the “Link to Twitter” button. If you manage more than one page, you will see all of the pages listed. If you want to link different pages to different profiles, make sure that you are signed into the appropriate Twitter account.
5. You will be directed over to Twitter to authorize the link. Double check that it is the right account, then click the “Allow” button.
6. You will be bounced back into Facebook and you should see the message “You are now sharing your Page updates on Twitter as hyermish,” or in your case, your Twitter account name.
7. Select the options for posts to Twitter (status updates, photos, etc.) and click “Save Changes.”

That is it! Post a status update on the Facebook page, then check Twitter to test, and you should be all set.

Update: If you read my previous post about automating your status, this is the actual exception. Posts to Facebook Pages are typically broadcasts out to your network. People generally don’t “lifestream” on Facebook pages. Just make sure that you are listening on Facebook and Twitter.

No wonder they feel overwhelmed. Here are two quick tips to make this simpler.

Don’t Try to Drink from the Fire Hydrant

Whether it is Facebook or LinkedIn or Twitter, don’t try to read every single post there (a.k.a. Drinking from the fire hydrant). Yes, you will miss things, but that is okay.

If you are on Facebook, just scan down the latest news feed and check your inbox for messages, notifications and updates. The first time it might take 10-15 minutes, but then you are caught up and it will take 5 minutes. I typically do this twice a day, once in the morning and once before the end of the work day. I usually update my status once a day, although sometimes more from my iPhone if I’m early for a meeting or stuck somewhere. I like to post comments to other status updates

On Twitter, just scan down the first page or two of posts for people that you follow. Remember that Twitter is “real time” and once something is more than a day or even a few hours, the value drops. I also use Twitter search to follow particular keywords about my interests.

Use a Timer

Whether it is a desktop widget or a kitchen timer, set one. And while this may seem very simple and you will give me the, “I’m too smart or disciplined or whatever to use a timer,” line, this very simple solution will help you enjoy the social networks without feeling like you are flushing your time down the drain.

Here is the simple strategy. Set the timer for 10 minutes. Open Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn. Go to town until the timer rings and immediately close the browser (tab) when the timer goes off.

So no more excuses. Use the social networks to build your connections between people, but don’t drink from the fire hydrant.

My short answer: don’t do it.

If is not that you can’t, but the two are for different purposes, at least in my view.

Consider Lifestreaming

Lifestreaming from Wikipedia:
Lifestreaming is the practice of collecting an online user’s disjointed online presence in one central “location” or “site.”

The idea behind lifestreaming is that you let people in your network know what is happening in your life: what you are doing, what is on your mind, etc. Both Facebook and Twitter (and LinkedIn for that matter) allow users to post their status to their page. Why does anyone care? This could be the biggest debate for people that are not on Facebook or Twitter. For me, it is a way to deepen the connections between people in my life.

But the key is that you want to choose either Facebook or Twitter (or something else) to be your central location for everything.

Why Twitter shouldn’t update Facebook

Facebook: “What’s on your mind?”
Consider Facebook status as connected conversations about anything that your friends might find interesting in any aspect of their lives. It’s like a party line that is suspended in time. Conversations, comments and such can go on for days and weeks. The size and activity of your network and your friends networks are the only limiting factors.

When Twitter is updating Facebook, people get very confused especially if you are a heavy user. Replies (@hyermish) don’t make sense on Facebook. Even worse, if you are having Twitter update Facebook, you probably are paying attention to the conversation on Twitter and ignoring the conversation on Facebook. So if someone from Facebook comments in Facebook, you are asleep at the wheel and miss their comments.

Even worse, an active conversation on Twitter will completely clutter the Facebook news feed. People will start tuning you out on Facebook.

Why Facebook shouldn’t update Twitter

Twitter: “What are you doing?”
Consider Twitter status as disconnected conversations in the open where people beyond your friend networks can and will eavesdrop and perhaps join the conversation. And Twitter recognizes this, showing global trends as part of its interface; the more popular the conversation, the more people will join in. Twitter is really about right now, not what happened yesterday or before.

The difference is subtle, but important. Often on Facebook, I post things that I specifically want certain people to pay attention to; I would never post this way on Twitter. And on Twitter, I post things that I want someone to find useful, even the @ replies directed at a certain person should be useful beyond just them. On Twitter, the posts are there to stimulate the conversation now, this instant.

When Facebook is updating Twitter, people on Twitter lose the connected conversation. Simple. And if you are paying attention to Facebook and ignoring Twitter, any @ replies on Twitter will be missed.

Compromise

I agree that there are some things, many things that work well on both. Often these are things that are shared from something else entirely, like your blog, social bookmarks or Flickr feed. And there are tools that will allow you to have all of your blog posts automatically show up in Facebook or Twitter. (Like this one probably did.)

And you can use TweetDeck to write a post and selectively choose which network (or both Twitter and Facebook) to update. It isn’t automated, but since you are paying attention (except for the Facebook comments on the status update) on Tweetdeck, it will save you a few keystrokes.

But my point is simple: Twitter and Facebook are different. So the posts should be different.

And the reason not to automate is that you won’t be around to have the conversation when it happens. And the point of the social networks is to create and deepen relationships with other people, and that you cannot automate.

Then we returned to reality. And this is an important lesson for social media. Actually, two lessons.

Lesson 1: You might be a Twitter expert, but you cannot repair the transmission in a 1998 BMW 7 series.

It is true that on Twitter anyone can say anything. But if you pretend to know more than you actually do, or try to beat up on someone just because you can type, you are going to strike out. Yes, the Internet “democracy” is such that the “crowd” can determine your fate.

But if you step up to the plate against Roger Clemens, chances are that the 7-time Cy Young award winner will strike you out. Unless you are Jimmy Rollins.

Lesson Learned: Regardless of the context, you are who you are, no more, no less.

Lesson 2: Stake out your social media real estate.

And if you dawdle, you might find that RogerClemens.com is a spam site and @RogerClemens (Twitter) is owned by a Roger Clemens hater. Oops.

And she has a good point.

For businesses that are short on time, perhaps focusing on conversations on Twitter is more valuable than developing readership on a company blog.

But of course, there is a downside.

Twitter is about the moment, the “right now.” In three months, Twitter posts have lost their power and relevance. And Twitter posts don’t help significantly with search engine optimization.

So take a step forward. Rather than Twitter replacing the blog, let Twitter inspire the blog.

If you are short on words for your blog, here is something to try:

1. Go to http://search.twitter.com/ and search for your Twitter ID or keyword.
2. Browse through the list and click some of the “Show Conversation” links.
3. If you are inspired, pick the key Twitter post, take a screen capture, and post to your blog.

Do you already do this? Share some comments and links. And thanks to @coreyfreeman, @DanteExplorer and @darkolives for the conversation.

Just because you can join Facebook or Twitter, doesn’t mean that it is appropriate for your business.

Instead of the typical bandwagon approach, take two steps back and gain some perspective.

• Who are your customers?
• What are the conversations around your product or service or expertise?
• Where are the conversations happening?
• How can you shape these conversations to benefit your customers and your business?
• Why will your actions be relevant to your business?

Knowing the basics does not equal doing the basics. So talk with one of your favorite customers and really focus on listening. Let them direct the conversation and you might learn where the opportunities really are.

Then you can start developing your social media strategy.

“I’m not sure yet. What should I write?”

She answered, “I don’t know, but tell them I said hello.”

And that prompted a quick experiment on Twitter…

And within a few minutes, a bunch of people waved.

Download the full Interview with Lisa Dilg

Tips from Lisa Dilg, PerkettPR

@pprlisa – http://twitter.com/pprlisa

1. Find people that you respect and see who they follow. Click on those profile pages, see if anyone is interesting and engaging in conversations, and follow. Make sure to introduce yourself.
2. Watch for a while to see what people are talking about, and then jump in.
3. Monitor your brand using Twitter Search and address any issues publicly so people can see you fixing problems in public.
4. Answer every @ reply and engage in conversations.
5. There are so many reporters that are asking for information for the media, so use Twitter Search to find relevant conversations.
6. Share ideas and ask for advice with other professionals in your industry.
7. For companies, make sure that you are not just talking about your news. Don’t talk at people, talk with people. Participate in the conversation.
8. Remember that everything that you post on Twitter can be searched forever.

Special thank you to Lisa for sharing her knowledge and her time. Make sure to post your comments below or send me a reply on Twitter @hyermish.

• Who are you? And why should I follow you?

In a nutshell, she wants you to be real. She believes that social networks should be based on human responses to human conversations. Just because you are typing on a computer, doesn’t mean that you can hide behind it. And if all you do is promote and not create a conversation, why should she care.

I couldn’t agree more.

But something has shifted over the last 10 years. The customer demographic is more technologically savvy than the business owner demographic.

So how do you tell someone who has brilliantly run a business for 30 years that online social networks are relevant to his or her business? And to make matters worse, they still aren’t totally sold on the effectiveness of the Internet.

Seriously, how do you help someone who is brilliant see the online world through a 27-year-old’s eyes?

Post your suggestions below, or @hyermish me on Twitter.

Networks like Facebook or LinkedIn require that connections be mutual. That is to say if I want to connect to you, you have to accept and then connect to me. So when I “friend” someone or “connect” it is a two-way street.

Twitter is different. On Twitter, you can follow anyone. (At least anyone that has a public profile.) If you want to follow my “tweets” you simply click the “follow” button and you are set. I’ll receive a notification that you are a new follower, but I don’t have to return the favor.

The results are interesting.

Guy Kawasaki and Merlin Mann both have very interesting Twitter streams: useful and fun. Guy followed me back, Merlin didn’t return the favor. But it doesn’t matter. I still like reading both.

There are people who follow my Twitter stream that I don’t follow back. But if there is an opportunity to have a conversation, I will follow back. I’ve even dug into some other interesting conversations to “meet” new “friends” on Twitter.

I’ve had some fun, interesting, educational, goofball conversations with people from the Twitterverse. And some of these conversations have spawned communication beyond Twitter, both email and phone conversations.

But once the conversation becomes two-way, you realize that there are a lot of very good humans out there.

And this “Not a two-way street” that is Twitter has spawned new friendships and even some new poetry.

• Build Your Network Before You Need It

Enter Plurk.

I have to say, the experience of Plurk is quite good. I really enjoy using Plurk – it is actually quite fun. And the timeline interface is a great way to browse through the plurks of others. But after the “work” to get over the hump of Twitter, attracting followers and following interestng people, do I want to start over?

Post your comments below.

Now onto my experience. After receiving my private invitation to the service, signing up with BrightKite was simple.

Finding Friends

With any social network application, the overall experience gets better as more friends participate. BrightKite is no exception. Fortunately, they have developed a tool to discover existing friends from your Twitter network. During the private beta, you have a limited number of email invitations available for sharing. (Let me know in the comments if you are interested in trying it out as I have a few extra invitations available.)

Searching for Locations

Searching for locations was quite easy as you can put in an address or a business name in your search. Once you find a location, you can add it to your “Placemarks” for easy recall. In my testing, I found that searching was very good and I was always able to locate the business or address without any problems.

Posting Photos

Posting photos is seriously simple. If you are online, you can upload a photo a create a caption through the web interface. Since BrightKite is about being mobile, posting a photo is just a matter of emailing the photo from your phone to a special email address at BrightKite. The subject of your email becomes the photo caption and the photo is posted to the place where you are currently located. That said, it would be nice if they included a quick instruction about the subject line becoming the caption for the attached photo.

Mobile Interface

BrightKite has a very nice iPhone interface. For this reason, I didn’t use the SMS capabilities for updating my location with BrightKite. I found the iPhone interface very responsive and very nicely designed. It wasn’t an afterthought, rather it was clearly designed to include the bulk of the functionality that you would want when you are on the go.

Scientific Findings

The downside of the service is that it is new. It will obviously get better as more users join the party. You can totally tell that some people are posting the equivalent of “Hello World” while others are posting constantly. Over time, the novelty will wear off and posts will be more interesting.

One thing that BrightKite made perfectly clear: I have a boring social life. Basically, I go to work and I go home. Yes, there were a couple of times where I actually went out and I posted my location to BrightKite and posted a photo or two. But for the most part, I wasn’t the party animal that BrightKite is targeting.

If you own a restaurant or a night club or other venue, you should be on BrightKite. Take pictures and post with captions to BrightKite even if you never move. When a user gets near your location, BrightKite lets users know that you (or your venue) are close by and your “Placestream” becomes a marketing message for you.

Suggestion Box

It would be nice if you could selectively post to Twitter. Right now it is all or nothing. Perhaps a checkbox for the online posting form or a tag (#notweet) in the email message to prevent a Twitter posting.

When looking for people nearby, you should be able to expand your radius out more since the service still needs more users. The current limits with the current user base basically let me know that I’m the only one around.

Privacy options should be more flexible, perhaps allowing you to specify placemarks (specifically home) where you want to be private compared to a restaurant where you want people to find you. Seriously, I don’t want to share my home address and related posts with everyone, but if I’m at a chic restaurant, I want everyone possible to find me there.

Trust by user is a nice feature, but with a lot of users, could become difficult to manage a long list of friends. Perhaps BrightKite could allow you to group your followers so that when someone starts following you, you can put them into one of several groups.

Final Thoughts

BrightKite shows serious promise as a web application. It does what it sets out to do quite well. Clearly the target is a younger demographic that has an actual night life. Clearly, if you are not a fan of Twitter, BrightKite will not turn you into a microblogger overnight.

But will I keep using it? After two weeks of use, I think that I might post to it occasionally if I have a great photo or funny quote. I like the fact that it is focused on locations, text quotes and pictures. Its strength is this focus. I can see restaurants using it to promote themselves by encouraging users to post great stuff at the restaurant.

And if you haven’t heard it yet, check out the “You Look Nice Today” podcast.

Even when Twitter needs to go offline, the error message has character. All too often, error messages on websites aren’t helpful for the users. It is a nice touch for both marketing and user experience.

• Student ‘Twitters’ his way out of Egyptian jail

And you were debating the merits of Twitter!

• Network – not Knowledge – Is Power

Dennis’ point is that with more people using social networks in both personal and business contexts, the network of connections and relationships is becoming an extremely powerful force.

What I’d like to add is that if you combine powerful connections with a high level of expertise on a given subject, you might just become a web 2.0 supernova. And it is even more important to sound your voice in an honest way.

I’m a big fan of the “Wisdom of the Crowds” concept and when you have hundreds of people following you on Twitter, you can ask a question and you get floods of @ replies to your account. “What’s a good restaurant in SF for pizza?” or “Recommendations on flat panel TVs under $600″ or “Good CSS guide/book/tutorial/video suggestions” or plenty of other types of questions have been asked. And the responses, a few to thousands, come in within seconds or minutes.

And the users that describe the results see it as a productivity tool. So many people look at Twitter as a huge time sink, so the productivity happens only when more people are using it. And that is the real key to Web 2.0 applications: they get better when more people use them.

The only problem that I have is that I don’t have enough followers on Twitter to test this yet. So I need your help. Follow me on Twitter, and I will follow you right back. If you ask a question and I see it and know the answer, I will respond, but you have to do the same in turn.