My Five Favorite Social Media Resources

My Five Favorite Social Media Resources
Oprah has her favorite things list, so I figured I could have a favorites list too. While I can’t personally give away free gifts, there is a free service on everything in this list.
1. SocialMediaExaminer.com
Social Media Examiner’s website is a treasure trove of information about social media and business. Here in the office, we use it to keep up with the trends and to see examples of how other businesses are using social media. I love this for small businesses because it has everything from the basics to the advanced. It also offers podcasts, webinars, and forums.
2. MorgueFile.com
MorgueFile.com is a free alternative for stock photography. While you may not have access to as many graphics as you would on a paid site like istockphoto.com, it is hard to beat free when you are a small business on a tight budget. These are great for editing into photos for blogs and Pinterest pins.
3. PicMonkey.com
PicMonkey.com – the answer to all of my (and now your) graphic woes. This free photo editing site is great because it has a lot of editing options built in, so you can create wonderfully artistic graphics very easily. Plus, it has a collage feature, which is great for creating infographics and instructographics (perfect for Pinterest!).
Here’s an example of what you can do with MorgueFile and PicMonkey combined.
4. Pocket
I’ve been using Pocket for a while now to create a “playlist” of articles that I want to read later. An easy to use bookmarking site, Pocket is useful for storing interesting photos, videos, articles, and other things you come across on the web. When it comes time to write your next blog, you have plenty of inspiration to get you started.
5. Flipboard
Having only just recently joined the rest of the world with smartphones, I am new to Flipboard. Flipboard allows you to create your own “magazine” and offers up content based on the interests you choose. Like Pocket, this is a great resource for ideas for blogs and social media posts. Bonus: It works with Pocket.
You’ve heard my faves of the day. Now, I’d love to hear about your favorites. Leave a comment here or share them with me at hthompson@redsageonline.com.