Bird House Rules » Twips

Episode #11: The Zen of Follow Friday

Twitter's Tee Morris — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:15:47 +0000

Back with another Bird House Rules (and well under that ten minute window), I’m here to talk a bit about the evolution of Follow Friday. what started out as tweets like this…

Follow @digitalsista, a Social Media mistress and resource located here in Washington D.C. #followfriday

…many Twitter feeds are getting hit at the end of the week by tweets that look like this…

@digitalsista @chrisbrogan @geechee_girl @ITStudios @chrisabraham @sigmastudios @dananner @fishdogs @LindaVandeVrede @riznphx #ff

Take a deep breath, relax, and follow me to your Zen of the Follow Friday.

Guest introduction by Michael Spence

Featured television clips:

Firefly
Black Adder

INTERVIEW: All a Twitter on Breakthrough Business

Twitter's Tee Morris — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:15:53 +0000

As mentioned in the previous Bird House Rules postings, Que Publishing has once again featured All a Twitter in Barnes & Noble Bookstores everywhere, and in my response to Que’s “Whatever you can do to get the word out…”query, I feature Michele Price, the host of Breakthrough Business. On her BlogTalkRadio show we talk about Twitter, about my job at Intersections Inc (which you will find out more about later on Imagine That! Studios), and about approaches that go against the grain of the marketing books. We talk about how “old school marketing” just doesn’t work with Social Media, and how businesses need to understand that Twitter (and Social Media, on a whole) is about people.

We had a blast on this interview, and I hope you enjoy the listen. Feel free to comment, post, and share!

INTERVIEW: All a Twitter featured on View from Vahalla

Twitter's Tee Morris — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:30:55 +0000

With the return of Bird House Rules, I am getting back into my groove on this blog. Que Publishing has been instrumental in bringing me back into this groove after contacting me concerning All a Twitter. As mentioned in the previous BHR, the book is being featured once again in Barnes & Noble Bookstores everywhere, and asked me “Whatever you can do to get the word out…” I sent out a query to my Twitter and Facebook networks, letting them know that I was available for interviews.

From Twitter I heard from long-time-friend of the Bird House @Odin1eye who featured me in a particularly fun interview on his blog View From Vahalla. This blog features podcast reviews, commentary and rants on Social Media and the world it impacts, and (now) interviews. Odin1eye and I talk about about how Twitter has changed, where it is headed, and what went into the writing of All a Twitter. Here’s a selection from the interview:

I find that the Social Media Experts (a/k/a Evangelists, Mavens, Enthusiasts, Oracles, etc. a/k/a Social Media Douchebags a/k/a SMDs) are becoming less and less tolerated. Some of these self-proclaimed Twitter Messiahs are preaching their gospel to a flock in the hundreds of thousands, but tend to follow back less than a thousand or even less than a hundred.

What’s up with that?

I’m just going to call it like I see it: Everybody wants to be Chris Brogan (@ChrisBrogan)(respectful [ding]) but so few are achieving the balance between pro and personal. Chris isn’t perfect, but he is maintaining the genuine while managing the massive numbers. (One of many reasons I got that trust agent to write the AAT Foreword.) There are others like Jeff Sass (@sass) and CC Chapman (@cc_chapman) who are putting forward that effort to stay honest on Twitter. Between 2008-2009 there were SMDs left and right who nurtured the numbers and then stopped participating in their feeds. Oh sure, they would preach how they used Twitter to “connect” but look at their feeds and it would be RTs, quotes, and questions that linked back to their own site.

This interview was a real pleasure, and I hope you enjoy the read. Feel free to comment, post, and share; and expect more from my blogosphere-podosphere tour this month.

Bird House Rules — Episode #9: Location, Location, Location

Twitter's Tee Morris — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:15:55 +0000

No, you’re not seeing things. I’m back, and I’m coming out of the Bird House swinging!

It’s been a long break, the first half of it expected and the other half completely unexpected; and I return to talk about foursquare, Please Rob Me, and the current concern sweeping through the Twitterverse. Adding to the debate of how much information is too much information comes FortheHack and their stand against sharing GPS coordinates for neat-o badges and free stuff from various vendors in the real world. Hear my own view of it from the Bird House and pick up a few twips in this episode on how to stay safe while sharing with your fellow Twitterakians.

Guest introduction by Starla Huchton

Featured movie and TV clips:

Firefly
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Monty Pyhton’s “How Not to Be Seen” sketch
Army of Darkness

Featured People and Stories:

Security Expert Robert Siciliano
Siciliano’s Twitter posting to CBS segment on “Please Rob Me”
Siciliano’s tweet concerning “Please Rob Me”
Exchange between me and Brand Gamblin
Brightkite

Album Artwork by Paul Fischer of Dancing Cat Studios

Phishing Attack, or Merely Being Baited?

Twitter's Tee Morris — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:31:32 +0000

When Mashable.com cites your website, you know you’re doing something right. Andrew Girdwood must be thinking that as a lot of people are following his lead when Mashable’s Stan Schroeder reported early this morning:

Numerous Twitter users are pointing out that Twitter forced them to change their passwords out of the blue. According to blogger Andrew Girdwood, these users have received an e-mail containing the following message: “Due to concern that your account may have been compromised in a phishing attack that took place off-Twitter, your password was reset,” together with a link for resetting the password.

Although the e-mail itself looks like a phishing attack, it’s genuine; it seems that admins at Twitter have discovered something fishy is going on, and they’re trying to prevent further damage before it happens.

I’ve been reading up on this all morning (with postings from TechCrunch and The Washington Post as examples); and while this situation shouldn’t be taken lightly, I am not scrambling to change my passwords on my accounts. Why?

I’m finding out about this scam via Twitter.
The people on Twitter are finding out via an “official email” from Twitter.com.
On Twitter’s Status and News blogs and on Twitter’s own feed, there is no mention of this phishing scam whatsoever.

Seeing as through email and social networks is how phishers work, this gives me a moment’s pause. And it should do the same for you, too.

Before concerning yourself with changing of passwords and falling prey to a malicious hacker, follow this simple checklist:

Check your third party clients (TweetDeck, DestroyTwitter, etc.) and see how they are behaving. If they are connecting with Twitter, you are doing just fine.
Check Twitter Status. This is one of two blogs that keep users in the know about what is happening on Twitter. This particular blog is more technically oriented, but reports outages and hostile actions such as DoS attacks.
Check Twitter’s Blog. This is news and developments from Twitter’s home base, and usually developers will give commentary here on any hacker attacks, interface redesigns, or serious issues that Twitter is encountering at that time.
Follow @Twitter’s feed. No, they might not answer a query, but with something as serious as this there may be some updates in their feed that can give you sound advice on how to fix a potential problem.

As of the posting of this column, there has been no solid confirmation from Twitter of this phishing attack. While many are tweeting and retweeting that something is up in the network, it does not necessarily mean that it is actually happening. Always check with Twitter before taking action. It may be a moment’s hesitation, but in that brief second you may be able to avoid unwanted stress and undue inconvenience.

Keep an eye on the Bird House for more as this develops.

UPDATE, 12:58pm EST: With special thanks to Lila Scot, another resource to check is @safety, Twitter’s Trust and Safety account. They did have a post about this at 11:26 am, several hours after Mashable, The Washington Post, et. al. went live with their postings. However, there is still no mention of this being a phishing attack.

UPDATE, 3 February, 11:25am EST: I checked @safety this morning and saw that there was a posting in Twitter Status that mentions the importance of changing your password. While what they describe is a phishing attack, the situation from yesterday appears to be less of an attack and more of a preemptive strike from the Twitter Safety Team headed up by Del Harvey. Whatever the case may be, it appears that all is right in the Twitterverse and our status is at green. You are now free to tweet happily. Make it so.

Bird House Rules: Episode #8a — Keeping Up with TweetDeck (Video Addendum)

Twitter's Tee Morris — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:13:43 +0000

Just when you thought I was done with TweetDeck v0.32.1…

TEE MORRIS’ TWEETDECK EPISODE
THE VIDEO PODCAST!

The audio is still the same, but now I have MOVING PICTURES to go with it! this is NOT going to be a regular feature at the Bird House, but when the mood strikes me, when the time allows, and when it is something that REALLY NEEDS the visuals, I will offer this kind of video addendum. I hope you all enjoy it!

Imagine That! Studios now presents to you the highlights of TweetDeck v0.32.1…in colour!

Featured movie and TV clips:

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Iron Man
Monty Python’s “Spanish Inquisition” sketch
Firefly

Featured Resources on Twitter:

“What’s New on v0.32″ from TweetDeck’s Support Forum
Camtasia for the Mac
LinkedIn
Facebook
YouTube.com

Album Artwork by Paul Fischer of Dancing Cat Studios

Bird House Rules: Episode #8 — Keeping Up with TweetDeck (v0.32.1)

Twitter's Tee Morris — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:15:43 +0000

Finally….after several attempts…after daring the Fates…after waiting for just the right time…and weathering an unseasonal snowfall in Washington, D.C.

TEE MORRIS’ TWEETDECK EPISODE!

This has been a long time coming, and I have decided to pull out all the stops and not only post a longer-than-usual BHR, but in the feed tomorrow and posting on YouTube as well will be an accompanying video companion to this podcast, filmed and edited on both Camtasia and the Final Cut Suite, bit-cheeezzz!

A labor of love and a lot to take in, here comes the highlights of TweetDeck v0.32.1!

Guest introduction by Coach Ian Scott

Featured movie and TV clips:

Six Million Dollar Man
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Iron Man
Monty Python’s “Spanish Inquisition” sketch
Firefly

Featured Resources on Twitter:

“What’s New on v0.32″ from TweetDeck’s Support Forum
Camtasia for the Mac
LinkedIn
Facebook
YouTube.com

Album Artwork by Paul Fischer of Dancing Cat Studios

Bird House Rules: Episode #7 — The Zen of Retweet

Twitter's Tee Morris — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:52 +0000

A question I get a lot on Twitter is what the “RT” preceding a tweet is all about? That’s the “Retweet” and this episode spends some quality time talking about a popular method of making 140-character posts a viral sensation. I retweet. Many Twitterakians retweet. It’s a part of Twitter. This means that, of course, some users really abuse the retweet.

So for this particular Bird House Rules, take your shoes off at the door, assume the Lotus position, and breathe in deep. We are here to explore the Zen of Retweet.

Guest introduction by Viv

Featured movie and TV clips:

Star Wars
Aliens
Farscape
Stripes

Featured Resources on Twitter:

“Why the Retweet Will Kill Twitter” from Jenner Web Design Blog

Album Artwork by Paul Fischer of Dancing Cat Studios

Bird House Rules: Episode #6 — Go Phish!

Twitter's Tee Morris — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:30:13 +0000

I’m back in the Bird House after a period of downtime, and I am coming back to talk a little bit about Phishing Scams that are popping up left and right on Twitter. What is with these scams popping up in our Direct Messages? Have a listen to pick up a few tips on how to avoid phishing scams on Twitter and resources on staying safe in the Twitterverse.

Guest introduction by Chooch Shubert

Featured movie clips:

The King & I
Serenity
Spaceballs
Army of Darkness

Featured Resources on Twitter:

Album Artwork by Paul Fischer of Dancing Cat Studios

Phisher Alert: Watch Your DM’s

Twitter's Tee Morris — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:41:20 +0000

Today on Twitter I got an unexpected DM from a familiar name in my network:

When I clicked on the link, I was asked for my Username and Password. Ummm…no. So I attempted to ping my Twitter contact here and ask if this was, in fact, a real URL. I could not get a DM reply to appear.

And then on the main feed, I saw this from @spam, Twitter’s Spam Hotline:

You might think this is common sense, but it may surprise you how easily people surrender their passwords, particularly from DMs coming from friends and acquaintances.

Be careful!
Someone is out there get phreaky with the phishing.

Just remember these safety twips when you are out in the Twitterverse:

Never give out your password, even if it’s to someone you know or if they are promising you a bucketload of followers.
If you do get a DM asking for your password, try to contact the friend on the open feed asking why?
If someone is, in fact, DMing others with your account, immediately change your password, log out, wait a few ticks, then log in with the new password.
If you can, change your password for Twitter every 30-60 days.

Twitter is on the case, but make sure you let your fellow Twitterakians know that something is afoot. Stay safe, everyone, and tweet happy!

Bird House Rules: Episode #4 — Twitter Tweaks

Twitter's Tee Morris — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:30:04 +0000

So, I turned my back for a moment, and Twitter went on and changed their interface on me. Hello! Well, maybe it’s not that dramatic, but it did need to be addressed, especially if you are using All a Twitter as your guide though beginning steps. It may not seem like a big deal, but here’s a quick glimpse of what someone’s page on Twitter.com looks like now…

Thank you, Dan Sawyer, for loaning me your Twitter.com page as a show-and-tell!

Let’s take ten for this Bird House Rules to talk about some of the tweaks that have taken place on your Twitter homepage.

Quick reminder: I’m going to be speaking at Blogworld this year, so please come on out and say “Hi!” I also encourage tweeting from my speaking events. Keeps things lively!

Guest introduction by Katherina

Drop-in from this episode are from:

Stargate SG-1
Black Adder
Iron Man
Army of Darkness

Album Artwork by Paul Fischer of Dancing Cat Studios

REMINDER: PodioRacket Return Visit tonight!

Twitter's Tee Morris — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:09:37 +0000

If you are by your computer or thereabouts, make sure to swing by BlogTalkRadio as I make the return visit TONIGHT, August 5, starting at 9pm EST. With Phil Rossi and Philippa Ballantine rounding out the PodioRacket pandemonium, it’s going to be a very exciting night of audio delight for your ears on PodioRacket.com! See you there!

Don’t forget the Hashtag!

Twitter's Tee Morris — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:18:57 +0000

Good morning, Twitterakians!

It occurred to me that in the first week of All a Twitter being released, many in my circles are talking it up and giving it a nice, solid introduction to the world. I am both honored and humbled by the support I’m receiving from the Twitter community. I’ve been treading lightly when it comes to promoting the book on Twitter. One of my dilemmas is wanting to tap into Twitter’s promotional power without becoming “yet another huckster” who is turning Twitter into just one more place to push their crap on to people. I so do not want to be “that guy” on Twitter. However, the book won’t sell itself.

Then it dawned on me…well, okay, maybe not “dawned” as that can be subtle, beautiful, and gradual. No, this was more like accidentally cutting the rope Wile E. gave me thereby releasing the ACME anvil suspended over my head: hashtags. (You know, Tee — hashtags? From Chapter Six, page 123?)

Regardless of what side of the argument you are on concerning them, hashtags are a nice way of raising awareness without being obnoxious about it. Hashtags (a keyword preceded by a pound sign, such as #allatwitter, for example) are convenient tracking devices for tweets. If enough people use them, All a Twitter could easily creep into the Trending Topics of Twitter alongside Harry Potter, Firefox 3, and New Zealand. This way, I can promote (and so can you) in a fashion that won’t be considered abusive or obtrusive.

So please, when you are talking about All a Twitter or if you have a question for me concerning Twitter, use this hashtag:

#allatwitter

And don’t be embarrassed by a question and ask me in a DM. Share with the network! There’s a good possibility a few people are wondering the same thing you are, but have not quite mustered up the courage to ask me.

Thank you again for all the support, kind words, and “At-a-boy’s” for this week’s premiere. Keep talking, keep tweeting, and if you would care to have me on your blog or podcast to talk Twitter, drop me a line!