In my experience – there’s ONE thing that’ll boost your Alexa rank.

I did it on one of my blogs, and cut my rank by half virtually overnight. I went from 9,400,361 to 4,732,781 in 2 days.

The top-ranked sites are Google at #1, and Facebook at Alexa rank 2. Low numbers are better.

Here’s what I discovered: your Alexa rank isn’t totally based on traffic, as Alexa tells you.

The global traffic rank is a measure of how a website is doing relative to all other sites on the web over the past 3 months. source

What worked for me? Fresh content. My Alexa rank at LouiseM.com has steadily risen to around 53,000 – even though my traffic has tapered off since my highest traffic month of January, 2013.

My web traffic from January 1 through May 13, 2013. My Alexa rank rose from 86,505 to under 53,000 as my site traffic dropped.

I had 2 abandoned blogs that I discovered were still pulling in steady traffic, even though I hadn’t posted on them in 6 months. Their Alexa rank had suffered, though.

I decided to try to keep them alive by posting once monthly. The first post increased Alexa rank on the yoga site from 2.2M to 1.8M. That site already had 140 posts. But nograiner.com, which only had 17 posts, saw the dramatic rise noted above, with one new post: from 9,400,361 to 4,732,781.

Those new posts didn’t increase traffic dramatically – just the Alexa rank.

What does this mean to you? Get blogging if you want to increase Alexa rank! Let me know if you try it.

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As a Facebook Page admin, you work hard to create great content – too hard to post and see it fall flat!

The answer is fairly simple, and the same technique works to get more comments and shares. This study by Dan Zarella analyzed more than 1.2 million posts from the top 10,000 most Liked Facebook Pages. Check out the infographic.

How to Get More Facebook Likes – Comments and Shares Too!

source: Hubspot

So there you have it – the simple Facebook call to action does work!

I admit, sometimes I feel a little bossy telling people what to do on Facebook – but studies always show this works. People don’t know what you want unless you tell them! I do think this technique can be overused though. I don’t use it on every post.

What about you? Do you use the Facebook call to action? Will you try it to see if you get more Facebook Likes, comments, and shares?

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Can you copyright public domain art?

You can’t copyright public domain material as is, which would remove it from free public use.

The public owns these works, not an individual. Anyone can use a public domain work without obtaining permission, but no one can own it.

However – if you substantially change the public domain material, then you own the copyright of the derivative work.

How To Graphics: Can You Copyright Public Domain Art?

Additionally, a collection of public domain material will be protected if the person who compiled it has used creativity in the selection and organization of the material. You’re free to use individual pieces, but copying and distributing the complete collection may infringe the “collective works” copyright. source

How much do you need to change the public domain material to copyright it? There’s no specific percentage. Likely, if a case went to court, it would depend on the judge’s interpretation of the piece, his/her personal stance on the issue, and other factors.

Now, I’m not a lawyer, and I don’t play one on TV – or the internet! You should always do your own due diligence if you have specific concerns. In other words, hire a lawyer ;-)

How I Created the Graphic with Public Domain Art

I made the accompanying images by combining two pieces of public domain art – photo and logo. I didn’t bother to put a copyright © on it, but I could argue that I used creativity in the combination, and substantially altered the original image. Honestly, I’m not certain this is enough of a change to qualify for a new copyright. The only reason I would care about someone downloading a piece like this is if they took off my name, and especially if they put theirs on instead.

Do people do stuff like that? Oh yes! Sadly.

For each image in this series I created for Twilight Zone Day, I put the TZ logo on a separate layer and switched it from black to white. In Photoshop, you can do that quickly by “inverting” the layer: Image… Adjustments… Invert, or command-I.

I changed the opacity of the layer to about 50% – whatever looked good with each image. In some cases, I added a drop shadow instead of lightening it as a watermark, so the logo would stand out against the light photo background (see image at right).

Be sure to check out my previous post for more details on finding public domain art. I did find these images in the same place: WikiMedia.

And here’s the whole Twilight Zone slideshow! I created a series of images for a photo album on my Facebook Fan Page. I’ve heard that albums get great engagement and – this one did! Perhaps I’ll write a post explaining how to set up a Fan Page album, as it’s a bit hidden.

I hope you found this useful! Please give this post a “Like” if it’s helped give you some clarity on the question, Can you copyright public domain art? Thanks!

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Connect with your fans on a personal level by featuring your smiling self!

Whether you’re a local business, a service provider, or a global brand, featuring yourself on your Facebook Page adds a personal touch, while also helping you build a following.

Whether your Page’s Profile Picture is a logo or a headshot, when you add a Featured Page Owner, the photo will be pulled from your personal profile.

How to Feature Yourself as a Facebook Page Owner

To add a featured owner, click Edit Page at the top of your Admin Panel (above your cover), then Update Public Info on the dropdown. Now select Featured on the left menu, then click Add Featured Page Owners.

The Page Admins’ personal profile pictures will be shown in the pop-up.

Once you choose which Page Owners to feature, their profile pics will show up on your page’s About tab.

This will link to the owners’ personal profiles, where your fans can choose to send you a friend request or follow your public updates, if you’ve enabled following.

You may want to take a moment to consider your Facebook friending policy. Mine: I don’t accept friend requests from fans I don’t know personally, but I do welcome followers. Click here to follow my public updates.

Once a friend request has been sent to you, the requester will automatically be following your public updates, if you’ve enabled the follow feature. It’s in your personal profile settings, as shown below.

This is a good time to review your privacy settings. Click the lock icon at top right of your personal profile and decide “Who can see my stuff.”

What do you think – do you want to be known as the page owner, or do you prefer to be anonymous? Will you add yourself as Facebook Page Owner?

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This Myers-Briggs personality study by CPP found that extraverts outnumber introverts on Facebook and LinkedIn.

This makes sense – according to Myers-Briggs personality typing (based on the theories of Carl Yung), extraverts get energy from interacting with people, while introverts recharge by retreating to their thoughts.

Social Media & Personality: Are You a Misfit?

I fall strongly to the introvert side of the spectrum, and find even the simplest of social media tasks – like following back on Twitter – quite draining. I do feel like a social media misfit!

Note that according to this personality indicator, introversion isn’t about being shy or socially inept, but rather about what energizes you. Introverts gain energy and power through reflection and solitude. Our culture, and social media in particular, is geared toward the extravert.

The other 3 preference scales are explained well on the infographic.

• Sensing – Intuition
• Thinking – Feeling
• Judging – Perceiving

Intuition is also correlated with being a social media user.

If you’ve taken the Myers-Briggs test, let us know your type, and how you feel about social media and personality – is it a good fit for you?

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Often the fastest way to find images for picture quotes, blogs, and more, is to use royalty free art.

Why? Since you pay a small fee, the search tools are generally much better than those for free art.

If you have something specific in mind, you’re more likely to find something suitable, and find it more quickly, if you use a paid site.

I bought the eye-catching image for this picture quote on Fotolia for one credit. If you buy the smallest pack of credits – 10 credits for $14 – that’s only $1.40 for this XS image.

What Does Royalty Free Mean?

It does NOT mean copyright free. Typically, royalty free art means you pay a one-time fee to use a copyrighted image as many times as you like for advertising or promotion. You don’t have to pay a royalty each time you use the image.

It’s not permitted to resell the image, or use it on an item for sale where the image provides the primary value (poster, T shirt, etc.). If you want to create a product with the image, you need to purchase an “extended license,” which is much more costly. Be sure to check the license specifics on the site where you buy images.

Making the Picture Quote with Royalty Free Art

I found this cutie on Fotolia, and liked her so much I made up a quote to go with the photo! I used the simple, modern font Avant Garde, set in an interesting stacked arrangement, picking up the green from her dress. This kind of design you just have to play around with until you like the results! I stuck with the clean, contemporary white background.

Another inexpensive site for royalty free images is Dreamstime. Click here to check it out.

You may pin the image right from this page, or go here to share on Facebook.

Your turn: what do you think of paying for royalty free art to make picture quotes?

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All specialize in Facebook for business.

Check it out and click the links to follow their Facebook Fan Pages.

Vote up your faves, add any I’ve missed, and learn more about Facebook for business!

Facebook Guru ~ Ultimate List of Facebook Pages for Business

Facebook Guru ~ Ultimate List of Facebook Pages for Business

Listly by Louise Bugglin Myers

Facebook Guru ~ Ultimate List of Facebook Pages for Business

Need a Facebook guru? This ultimate list is for you. Check it out, click the links to follow their Facebook Fan Pages, and learn about Facebook for business!

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• crowd rank
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1. 

   Louise Myers How-To Graphics

   Empowering business owners to create their own social media graphics to get more visibility,...

   6 0

   I use this 6

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2. 

   Mari Smith

   Often referred to as "the Queen of Facebook", Mari Smith is considered one of the world's foremost...

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   I use this 4

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3. 

   Social Media Examiner

   Added by 'Yusuf Chowdhury on May 05, 2013

   Social Media Examiner, the world's largest online social media magazine, is designed to help...

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   I use this 3

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4. 

   Jon Loomer Digital

   Jon Loomer Digital, Parker, CO. 12,007 likes · 386 talking about this · 25 were here.

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   I use this 1

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5. 

   Amy Porterfield

   I'm the co-author of Facebook Marketing All-In-One for Dummies and a Social Media Strategist. I...

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6. 

   InsideFacebook.com

   Inside Network is the industry's leading research and media organization dedicated to providing...

   1 0

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7. 

   Grandma Mary - Social Media Edutainer

   Grandma Mary - Social Media Edutainer, Boulder, CO. 6,482 likes · 317 talking about this.

   1 0

   I use this 1

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8. 

   Boom Social with Kim Garst

   Added by 'Yusuf Chowdhury on May 05, 2013

   Boom! Social with Kim Garst is a resource filled fan page that contains a ton of info, resources...

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   I use this 2

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9. 

   ME Marketing Services, LLC

   Added by 'Yusuf Chowdhury on May 05, 2013

   ME Marketing Services, LLC, Statesboro, GA. 2,278 likes · 248 talking about this.

   1 0

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10. 

    Fanpage Competitions - How To Create and Promote

    Added by 'Yusuf Chowdhury on May 05, 2013

    Running a Facebook Contest is one of the simplest way to grow your page and grow your business....

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View more lists from Louise Bugglin Myers

If you find a Facebook guru you really like, be sure to get Facebook notifications so you don’t miss anything. Otherwise, Facebook will only show you a fraction of their posts due to Edgerank. Most of these experts only post once or twice a day, so you won’t be inundated.

Can You Help Build the Facebook Guru Ultimate List?

Add a Facebook guru I’ve missed. Click to vote up the gurus you like. Add a comment! So much you can do with these crowd-sourced Listly lists.

And then, as a small favor, would you share this post? Let’s win the Listly contest for most viewed list this week! Click one of the buttons at left or below.

Or, embed the Facebook guru list on your own blog!

Thanks for sharing the Facebook Guru Ultimate List!

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Here are the Facebook sizes and dimensions on a fun infographic.

I’ve covered the Facebook photo sizes before, but I really like the clever characters on this chart from Techwyse. I thought you’d enjoy it too!

Some readers have asked if I’ll recommend new Facebook photo sizes due to the changes announced March 7. At this time, the new Facebook Timeline is only for personal profiles, so Fan Page wall photos will remain square. The new Facebook newsfeed design is taking forever to roll out, and I haven’t heard anyone suggest creating horizontal wall photos. If you do make horizontals, they’ll be cropped to square on your Fan Page Timeline.

Facebook Cheat Sheet: Sizes and Dimensions [infographic]

This Facebook Cheat Sheet was first published on Techwyse just a week ago, and has all the old reliable sizes we’ve been using for the past 13 months. If I hear anything different, you know I’ll be on it!

If you find the Facebook sizes & dimensions helpful, share this Facebook Cheat Sheet with a friend!

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I’m thrilled to bring you this bit of info, and implement it myself.

We’re busy people, and we can’t always respond to Facebook messages immediately. This could cause the other party to wonder why they’re not important enough to get a reply.

Whether it’s a business associate or a friend, you probably don’t want that to happen.

If you have your browser open on your desktop and aren’t even in the building, I suspect your messager will get the “Seen at time” notice, and wonder when you’ll respond.

Let’s fix that right now.

How to Turn Off Facebook Message Seen At Time

Turn off this feature by installing Chat Undetected, a handy extension for Chrome and Firefox.

If you’re using another browser, you might switch to Chrome or Firefox for Facebook use. There isn’t an extension at this time for the Facebook mobile app – the message seen time will still be visible to the other party when you view a message via mobile.

• To download the extension, click here.
• Follow the simple instructions to install it.
• Restart your browser if required.

Now, even if you see the messages, your friend won’t be notified of the seen at time. However, you will continue to receive the seen feature when your friends see your messages.

I hope this info is as much of a relief to you as it was to me. If you know someone who’d like to turn off Facebook message seen, please share this post!

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I do, and am enjoying them!

As we’ve seen earlier, Facebook emoticons increase engagement – and Facebook is happy to provide anything that keeps its users engaged, and on the site longer!

But could the addition of Facebook emoticons to status updates be part of a fiendish Facebook plot?

Facebook Emoticons in Status Updates: How They Work

This new feature lets you select different kinds of emoticons to express what you’re doing or feeling. There are about 40 “feeling” words, each with a pre-selected emoticon. If you type in your own “feeling” word, a menu pops up with 35 emoticons, one of which should suit your current state of mind!

Type in your own “feeling”…

Get a choice of emoticons to go with it!

You can also tell your friends what you’re watching, reading, listening to, drinking, or eating.

I’m not yet sure where the default choices for each of these comes from, but they may be related to things you’ve previously posted. For instance, yesterday I mentioned on Facebook that I picked up a Chronicles of Narnia DVD for 99 cents, and now a Chronicles of Narnia book is appearing under reading. It wasn’t there when I looked before.

Yes, Facebook is watching you!

Facebook Emoticons in Status Updates: A Fiendish Plot?

When you start to type in your own title, beverage, or food, Facebook will suggest Interest or Brand Pages that will be “tagged” (linked to) if you select one. If you’re drinking coffee, you can tag “coffee,” or you can get more specific and add Starbucks’s Facebook Page to the update. The same goes for the books you’re reading or music you’re listening to. Below, I started typing in Dr. Seuss:

As one Facebook user has commented,

I always wanted to be able to tag branded products in my status updates.

Said no one ever.

TechCrunch warns that the details you include in the updates could show up elsewhere on Facebook. This feature could be used by Facebook to collect data for targeted advertising purposes.

Using the pre-formatted posts makes it easy for Facebook to extract data you’ve shared, to target ads to your activities, and even state of mind (Sad? Here’s a happy movie you might like!).

What Do YOU Think of Facebook Emoticons in Status Updates?

Personally, I find the feeling emoticons fun. I doubt I’ll use the others much, though I can see that avid fans will enjoy using these to tout their devotion to their favorite bands or beverages. Certainly, this is a good thing for brands that have an enthusiastic fan base!

As far as the ad targeting – this is already happening, so I’m not certain this will make it any worse.

I’d love to hear your thoughts – what do YOU think about Facebook emoticons in status updates?

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