Top 5 Social Media Extensions for Chrome

[tweetmeme source =”Ileane”]Google Chrome is quickly becoming the browser of choice and will most likely dethrone Firefox in terms of user sentiment, speed and security but let’s not forget about the growth of the Chrome extensions library. Although Firefox continues to be favored by webmasters, Chrome is gaining acceptance in the mainstream as users escape the grasp of Internet Explorer and embrace the security of  Google’s sandbox powered browser Chrome.

Paired with the success of Google Buzz, developers are paying close attention and quickly issuing extensions for Chrome that rival Firefox and incorporate quick access to Buzz, Gmail, Google Docs and of even the good old-fashioned social networking tool Twitter.

Tweetmeme

Tweetmeme extension for Chrome is a handy tool for sharing to your Twitter stream. It’s most often used for websites that don’t display the Tweetmeme button or if you simply can’t find the Tweetmeme button on the page. One thing I’d like to suggest to Tweetmeme is that they make it easier to cut or copy the text of the tweet. Most of the time I’d like to paste the tweet into HootSuite and schedule it for another time. By the way, if you have the Tweetmeme plugin running on your blog, check out my Hub Page on how to customize the Tweetmeme plugin settings.

My Shortcuts

I found out about this extension on Madras Geek’s blog and it is quickly gaining in popularity. What I like about My Shortcuts is that you can add custom URLs to gain quick access to your blogs or additional social profiles. The defaults take you to Gmail, Buzz, Contacts, Tasks, Docs, Reader, Voice and include additional options for creating new email and new documents.

Symtica

Symtica provide more comprehensive access to your Google accounts like Gmail and includes Google Analytics, YouTube, Blogger, Picassa and a host of others including your favorite and mine Webmaster tools (just kidding).

I’d like to see Symtica and/or MyShortcuts provide access to my AdWords and AdSense accounts to make the my life just a little simplier.

Google Buzz Button for Shareaholic

This extension is devoted solely to Google Buzz and the Buzz Button for Shareaholic will display the Buzz count of the page you’re visiting.

Google Mail Checker Plus

I first mentioned this extension in Web Browsers – What’s Yours? and it’s become one of  my favorite extension for monitoring Gmail and Buzz. Google Mail Checker Plus displays the count of unopened mail and allows you check and view your inbox without ever opening Gmail. Here’s a quick screencast to demonstrate.

Please follow me on Google Buzz and sign up for blog updates via email.

Now it’s your turn, I’d love to learn what extensions you’re using for easy access to social media? Do you use any blogging extensions for Chrome?

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A Growing List of Top Google Buzz Tips

[tweetmeme source=”ileane”]

Once you realize that there is life beyond social networking on Twitter you’ll want to explore Google Buzz. This is a list of tips that I started but has been contributed to by members of the Buzz community.  I’ll expand this post with any significant Buzz tips that you have. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING PLEASE LEAVE YOUR SUGGESTED TIP ON BUZZ at:

Essential Tips for Google Buzz newcomers!

1. Learn how to mute a post! if you don’t every time there’s a new comment it pops back to the top of your stream
2. Don’t send your Tweets to Buzz!! Buzzers ignore tweets. If we want to see Tweets we open HootSuite (I mean Twitter)
3. Like posts and leave comments directly on Buzz – unless you don’t really want to meet anyone new….
4. You can have a conversation on Buzz. I mean a real honest to goodness conversation – not a conversation that gets cut off!
5. Don’t forget to leave comments on the blog, too, if the Buzz is about a blog post – via @Holly Jahangiri
6. You can track your Buzz posts AND comments by using this search formula via@Julian Bond
7. At the top of the Buzz frame you will see Web Clips “they grab stories from a default set of feeds. Under “Settings”, the “Web Clips” tab lets you control what feeds they read from, or turn them off entirely” via @Josh Wills
8. This tip comes from@Steve Pirk “We call it @’ing or summoning. To make a person a link, Enter this without the spaces – @ gmail-username @gmail.com . This creates a reference to the user and the message goes to gmail inbox.” For example if you want to “summon” me you would type @msileane@gmail.com
9. If you want people to comment on your Buzz posts, first you have to comment and interact with other user’s Buzzes. via @Robert Sanchez Jr
10. Search Gooogle profiles to find interesting Buzzers with this link http://www.google.com/profiles?q= via @Joe DeGroff
11. Customized Buzz charts track individual Buzz usage stats and they are provided by developer @Siegfried Hirsch
12. You can have a private conversation in Buzz, I saw these instructions posted by @Rob Gordon but he got them from @Steve Pirk
13. Update your Google Profile with your Profile URL. You can find this at the bottom of the edit profile screen via @Andrew Maxwell
14. TaggingBuzz is a Chrome extension (see video below) that allows you create Buzz tags and search for them later via @Nori Hamamoto

For advanced users, Steve Pirk shared a bonus tip for adding VERIFIED NAME to your Google profile. Currently VERIFIED NAME is available for US based users and Steve gives credit for this tip to @LindaLawrey.

Leave a comment and let me know if you find these Buzz tips are helpful. Remember if you have Buzz tips add them on Buzz.

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Guest Posting Contest – Will I Be A Winner?

[tweetmeme source=”ileane”]Guest posting is an excellent way to gain exposure for your brand and promote your blog to a new audience. I’ve done a few guest posts recently and I’ve even hosted guest posts from other bloggers, but for the first time ever I’ve entered a guest blogging contest!

I briefly mentioned the contest in my last post when I gave a Grand Tour of FamousBloggers.net and that helped me build the confidence to actually enter the guest blogging contest myself. Now I’m really nervous about my chances of winning because the competition is so steep! Take a good look at the prize sponsors from Hesham’s list and you’ll start to get an idea about what I’m going after.

Take a look to our sponsors once again

FamousBloggers.net – contest organizer

MyBlogGuest.com our contest media partner

WebmasterFormat.com – Webmaster Resource *new

MMO social network – making money online tips

DesignGizer.com a new design bookmark site

Better Blogging for Bloggers blog

DennisEdell.com – Dennis Edell *new

IBlogZone.com a making money online blog

CrazyEgg.com heat mapping tools

SimplyFreshThemes.com Fresh Journal WP theme *new

Kiesha @ WeBlogbetter.com Blogging tips & tricks *new

JohnPaulAguiar.com – Twitter Dummy Guide *new

Ok so now you are going to think that I totally lost my mind because I going to tell you that you can take part in the contest too if you hurry (and I mean right this minute) and contact Hesham on his blog. Full details are available at Guest Blogging Contest. March 31, 2010 was the deadline but I think he will make an exception for you if your nice to him.  When the doors are shut I will edit this post accordingly.

Support fellow bloggers!

Even if you decide that you’re not going to participate, you can make a contribution to the blogging community by visiting these guest posts and leaving valuable comments. My guest post To Buzz or Not To Buzz? That My Friends is a Great Question is one of over 20 that were submitted. And I know you are going to think I’ve lost all common sense now when I say this:

Pick any post from the list that you want to support it doesn’t have to be mine!

Really I haven’t gone “completely” mad. I just realize that the whole point of the contest is to be supportive of one another and to build a strong blogging community. So any post that you want to leave a comment on or Retweet, StumbleUpon, Digg, Reddit – even a share on Google Buzz will be appreciated. This will give you a chance to possibly meet a new blogger and find someone interesting to network with.

The Prizes!

We started by giving a way $248 worth prizes, and we have got more then the doubled the prizes thanks to our sponsors, we have raised $712.75 for our five winners!

Unbelievable right? Can’t say I didn’t tell you ahead of time, but I think I really have your attention now. I promise you, this is NO April Fools Joke!