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Post by SSO JOAT on Sept 20, 2013 6:20:29 GMT -9
Add GeocacheAlaska! to your Twitter feed. @geocachealaska twitter.com/ (ouch)
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Mitsuko
Copper Cacher
I really like socks
Posts: 3
GeocacheAlaska! Membership Level: Cheechako
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Post by Mitsuko on Sept 20, 2013 7:03:59 GMT -9
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Post by ladybugkids on Sept 20, 2013 7:21:22 GMT -9
So, are we GeAKs, or twits, or perhaps both?
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Post by SSO JOAT on Sept 20, 2013 7:53:54 GMT -9
I may not be fully engaged on the twit thing, but by golly we're gonna give it a whirl.
For the BBC forum coders out there, you can link to a tweet with the command "twitter id=" by placing it in brackets and adding the tweet's unique ID number. It's a little tricky to get that number, but if you click the "embed tweet" link at the bottom of a tweet, a code box pops up with a bunch of HTML in it. The long number at the end of the link in the middle is that ID number that is needed. This code plus that number makes a post like the one our sock puppet placed above.
And then we now have a live feed up on our website homepage as well as at the bottom of these forums on the main page.
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Post by akgh519 on Sept 20, 2013 11:28:08 GMT -9
Guess I will have to create an account
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Post by akgh519 on Sept 20, 2013 17:38:10 GMT -9
Looks like we have at least one interested person already as a result of the new FB group If you want the newer generations you will have to communicate with their methods
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Post by SSO JOAT on Sept 20, 2013 18:09:08 GMT -9
Yep. I was actually surprised at how quickly the join requests for the FB group started rolling in.
I propagated our Twitter feed by 'following' a couple dozen related entities from various geocaching sources as well as a number of state and federal parks type agencies. One of them has reciprocated that following. For those who are not on twitter, it is kind of FB-like in that you make a network of links between people (or agencies/entities in this case). The interface is stupid-simple and the postings are short little messages of text, links, and "hash tags". The hash tags (placing a # sign in front of a key word) makes the content searchable. For instance, if I make a post and place #Geocaching in it, then someone else out there does a search for geocaching, my tagged post will be amongst the search results (granted that list of search results could be posts numbering in the hundreds of thousands from all over the world).
What I am seeing as the use for twitter is to allow our members who use twitter to "follow" us and we can put out fairly regular 'tweets' about current activities. In practice, the twitter system is easily linked via a smartypants phone, so one could be posting twitter updates live. For instance, during our Hobo camping weekend, we can be dropping live twitter updates frequently and include photo postings as well. People back in town could follow our adventure in real time.
The webmaster holds the twitter account, but it is entirely possible for the login creds to be shared with a few responsible members so that we can get twitter feeds coming from different directions. The more I think about it, the more that my dark and gloomy feelings about twitter are clearing up to see some of the potential. Of course, the effort will only work if we get a segment of members who start to follow us.
I'll be running an article in the coming newsletter about the twitter feed as well as the new FB group.
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Post by akgh519 on Sept 21, 2013 2:37:11 GMT -9
Thanks Scott I will create a Twitter account and join in soon
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Post by akgh519 on Sept 21, 2013 4:21:53 GMT -9
Re the FB group page I was able to create an event and it listed me as the host. Should we have a protocol for who post events on the page? Ie the event creator should post the event on the page. It also automatically said I would attend...which will most likely not be the case
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Post by SSO JOAT on Sept 21, 2013 5:11:20 GMT -9
I'll look at what you're talking about in a couple hours when I get back to my "personal" computer where I can access FB & the twit. That said, a FB "group" page is wide open territory. Any member can post anything. If you want to post a FB event, then you can post an event. When it comes to posting geocaching events to FB, that is always best done by the event host or creator. Again, just a guideline as a group is less controlled and more member driven than the "page" function that we were using prior to this.
As to twitter, it's a super simple sign up (just an email, username, and password, then confirm email via the link they mail to you). It was designed for smartypants phone use, so it will work just fine on your phone (as in, you'll never have a reason to log in via the website from a real computer after you get the initial setup completed).
I'll be dropping some more GCAK tweets in a little while.
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Post by akgh519 on Sept 21, 2013 5:14:25 GMT -9
Agreed ie letting the cache creator post it...I fear in doing it for someone toes may get stepped on and 'feelers' hurt.
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Post by NeverSummer on Sept 23, 2013 10:06:21 GMT -9
I do know from my time administrating on some other facebook pages that we will likely see a lot of requests from spammers. We will need to stay on top of that issue and block/report users as soon as they start posting ads for the "coolest shoes I can haz buy today only!"
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Post by akgh519 on Sept 23, 2013 11:11:54 GMT -9
Oh marvelous!
Joel.... Have you signed up for the new geocache Alaska FB group?
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Post by NeverSummer on Sept 23, 2013 12:51:16 GMT -9
I have, yes
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Post by SSO JOAT on Sept 23, 2013 18:21:13 GMT -9
If we get rif-raf rolling through, it is possible to restrict the member approvals to admin staff only instead of allowing anybody to approve the additions. I figured it would be good to leave the process open and easy in the beginning to allow as many members as possible to join up.
At the moment, myself and Wes are admins for the group. Additional admins can be added if we need to. Admins have ability to edit group settings. Anyone can post or comment on posts, post photos, add events, etc.
When I pick up my new smartypants phone this week, I'll be setting it up for direct access to our FB group and the Twitter accounts so I can quickly and easily post on behalf of the org as things come up.
Our FB Group is up to about 27 members and the Twitter feed is being followed by 7, though only 3 of those are GCAK members (the other 4 are park services).
I have some mass emailings to roll out from the Webmaster in reference to our FB & Twitter additions. Plus I submitted a short article for the next newsletter.
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Post by akgh519 on Sept 24, 2013 3:28:40 GMT -9
Park service....interesting
Would like to know which...will create an account soon and find out!
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Post by SSO JOAT on Sept 24, 2013 4:43:15 GMT -9
All of them! The USFWS, USDA Forest Service, AK State Parks, Denali NP, et al. Every gov't and state agency has a twitter feed.
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Post by akgh519 on Sept 24, 2013 5:42:22 GMT -9
Great Must mean they have an interest in caching in AK
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Post by NeverSummer on Oct 28, 2013 14:27:13 GMT -9
If you need help with facebook administration, I'm willing to help. I'm (unfortunately?) on there quite a bit outside of work hours, and can help keep the newsfeed active with forum topic cross-posting and linking related caching stories gleaned from the groundspeak forums and news.
Let me know, Joat!
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Post by SSO JOAT on Nov 7, 2013 8:46:12 GMT -9
Done. You been administered.
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Post by NeverSummer on Nov 7, 2013 16:03:23 GMT -9
Done. You been administered. (ouch) (pcwhack) <--A two pronged approach to keep our nerves intact?
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Post by SSO JOAT on Nov 8, 2013 2:09:13 GMT -9
Well, being an "admin" on the FB Group really doesn't do much for you, since we have very liberal member powers. Any existing member can summon and approve any new members. If that were to get out of hand, we can restrict the approval rights to admins only. I might rein in that power proactively when we break 100 members, just to keep a span of control. So far, there are about 2 members who were approved by individual members. The other 65 members were approved by me as the requests rolled in.
The other admin powers allow adjusting of the Group settings as well as removal of members. So, if a spammer gets through and starts posting spam on the Group, any of the 3 admins can remove that member (first one to see it).
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Post by NeverSummer on Nov 8, 2013 9:45:11 GMT -9
The other thing I noticed is that MailChimp won't post to groups, only to pages. So, if we want to integrate the newsletter or other mailings, we'd have to keep the Faceplace page active as well.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Nov 8, 2013 18:56:17 GMT -9
The page is owned by Wes. The problem with the FB "Page" feature is that people are not subscribed to the page and do not see what is posted on a page unless they physically go look for the page and view it. The Group feature works much like individual accounts in that anything posted to a group is displayed in each member's personal timeline. So they'll see our group postings when they view their personal feed and do not have to make a conscious decision to go visit the GCAK page.
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Post by NeverSummer on Nov 9, 2013 0:59:12 GMT -9
The main difference that I have found is that anyone can post things in a Group, and it will display in group members' news feeds.
Pages, on the other hand, will display in every "liker's" feed, but only when the admin/owner of the page posts things. Posts from others are not added to the "liker's" newsfeed, and are only visible when they visit the page.
The main reason things don't show up in a newsfeed for Pages is when there aren't regular updates, photos, announcements, etc on a page.
But, whenever the page admin posts something for the pages I've liked, it shows up in my newsfeed. So, announcements, cross-posted mailchimp mailings, photos, etc would still show up, but only keep folks involved when the page is active with those types of posts from admins.
Groups, however, are a much better place to have a discussion, ala the GeAK forums, between members. Active conversations can display to the top of the group's webpage, which can be nice when you want to see what folks are talking about or contributing to the group.
Anyway, food for thought...I like both, and I'm all for helping wherever I can!
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Post by fuzzybelly on Nov 9, 2013 8:53:09 GMT -9
Thank you NeverSummer for all your help and added insight. Please keep it up, I think you're adding fresh and valuable ideas.
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Post by NeverSummer on Nov 9, 2013 9:51:40 GMT -9
Thank you NeverSummer for all your help and added insight. Please keep it up, I think you're adding fresh and valuable ideas. HAha, thanks, fuzzy. Never would have guessed that my brain would be filled with tidbits about a website called facebook...
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Post by fuzzybelly on Nov 13, 2013 12:21:05 GMT -9
Is there any way to view pictures that where put on the twitter thingy, without being a twit? I see a few photos on the Geocachealaska.org site just above the owl, but I heard there where some from the rocket event as well.
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Post by NeverSummer on Nov 13, 2013 12:45:35 GMT -9
The rocket photos are on the facebook group page. If you don't have a facepalm, er facespace...dang it...facebook, then you won't see it.
I can post a linky, perhaps, once I am home? I think we can link to that album off of the facebook site...
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Post by SSO JOAT on Nov 13, 2013 12:45:36 GMT -9
Rocket stuff is on Facebook. You have to have a FB account and join the GCAK Group to view them.
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