Gmail now can see when you're sleeping (or can guess) -
You can now turn on the feature in gmail that will show whether or not the person you’re emailing is probably asleep. The system uses time zones to suggest if the person would be asleep. Could be helpful if you have friends and contacts in multiple time zones.
Find the details on the gmail blog.
Photo by Spanish Flea
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Measure the size of a web page icon, photo or grahpic with this easy firefox add-on: MeasureIt. After installing the Add-on, a small tape measure icon will appear in the bottom left hand corner. You can then highlight a section of a web page and find out the pixel size.
Photo By: Darren Hester
Want an easy way to share your information with potential friends and contacts? Try Contxts.
When you meet people, simply tell them to text your user name to 50500. They receive a text message you’ve designed with all of your contact info, which can easily be saved straight into their phone. As a security feature, you have the ability to approve each request. You can also include your twitter name or screen name.
It’s paperless and easy. Right now the service is in alpha, so you can try it for free. If you’re interested in connecting with me, text HannahESmith to 50500.
Photo By: ydhsu
I just found this great post from BL Ochman’s Whatsnextblog “Top 10 Reasons Your
Company Should Not Tweet.” Most of the reasons are absolutely right, but I have a few exceptions.
#1. Every Tweet has to be approved by legal.
Actually: You can approve most tweets in advance. However, you do need to be able to respond quickly to @messages and DMs. People are usually willing to wait for an accurate response. If you don’t know the answer you can say: “I need to refer that question to customer service. Could you DM me your email address so they can follow up?”
#2. You plan to use Twitter like a giant RSS feed
Actually: As long as your tweets are something people will want to read everyday, this can work. One example: @amazonmp3, which posts a daily mp3 deal. I love this because it’s easier than checking on their site every day. The key is making sure your tweets are interesting and formatted correctly. Some companies post the first 140 characters of the blog as the tweet, which rarely makes sense. When posting, rewrite a custom description in 140 characters or less. Also, only tweet the most interesting deals.
I completely agree with the rest of the reasons. Be sure to check out the post for the full list. One of the best is #3: You think using Twitter is a social media strategy, which is absolutely right. Check out this post for an explanation.
Here are a few basic tips involving handling pdfs, including how to
reduce PDF file sizes and convert a PDF to a word document.
Tutorial: Reducing PDF File Size without Adobe Acrobat
One of the most common tasks I run into is reducing the size of pdf files. If you do not have access to Adobe Acrobat, one easy option is to use Preview, which is included on the majority of macs. However, using the standard setting for reducing a pdf’s size often results in a blurry document. The key is adjusting your quartz filters.
You can adjust these filters through Color Sync Utility. This should be in your applications folder in the utilities folder.
Here are the directions for setting your quartz filters:
Antother Tip: Covert a PDF to Word Document
One of the best free tools is www.pdftoword.com. Simply upload your pdf file and they will email you a word document version. It is free and web-based. I have found it can take up to a few hours to recieve your document, so make sure you’re not in a huge hurry.
Addition: Chris Dahl from pdftoword let me know they are going to update the service this week, which should reduce the time it takes to send the files.
This is so true. However, I wish there was a way to represent the sheer awfulness of an auto DM. “Thank you for following me. To learn more about my product or service visit my website here.” ugh.
Cartoon courtesy of Mashable and Hubspot.
Choosing the right social media tools -
This is an excellent article for public relations professionals. Recently twitter has gotten a great deal of attention. However, you must be strategic and thoughtful about using social media tools. These are tools in the tool box filled with every other tool. Matching the correct tool to the project is essential.
Photo by Austin ampersand Zak
HannahESmith: @travelportland The hostel Hawthorne looks really cool. Then you’re close to the waffle window and plenty of cheap vintage stores.