Skype Outage on May 26th, 2011 - fix

There is Skype outage going on right now.

Skype is aware of the issue and is working on it.

The main problems are logging in and accessing the web site.

There is a fix for the issue though:

1. Click Start, type run and press Enter. (On Windows XP: Click Start and then Run.)
2. Type the following and click OK.

%appdata%\skype

3. Locate and delete the file shared.xml.
4. If you cannot find this file:
   1. Click Start, type run and press Enter. (On Windows XP: Click Start and then Run.)
   2. Type the following and click OK.

   control folders

   3. In the View tab, ensure that Show hidden files and folders is enabled.
   4. Repeat steps 1-3.
5. Restart Skype.

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Know, Like, Trust on Facebook

Facebook is a great platform for connecting with others.  It is very good for building relationships with possible future colleagues and partners.

Getting Known, Liked and Trusted are three steps that help solidify future business relationships.

Here are 7 ideas for building those relationships on Facebook.

1. Leverage Facebook’s EdgeRank Formula

EdgeRank, Facebook’s algorithm for determining what appears at the top of people’s News Feeds, might be more important than Google’s PageRank.  EdgeRank uses multiple factors to determine what may be more relevant and appealing to users. Unlike email, where we receive a constant barrage of pushed messages all day, every day, Facebook updates surface to the top of our feeds based on how likeable and relevant the updates are.
At any given time, you are competing with all of your fans’ friends and other pages for attention.  This is great because it means they’re not spammed with irrelevant, sales-heavy messaging.  But it’s also a challenge to marketers.  You’ll want to use photos and videos, keep the text short and drive as many Likes and comments as possible.

2. Improve Your Engagement

There is a difference between talking AT people and engaging WITH them.  I often use the analogy of a TV show versus an improv show.  TV advertising is a one-way communication where a huge production and great creative can make a strong impact.  Social media marketing is more like improv comedy, a back-and-forth between performers and audience, different every time yet totally effective at a fraction of the cost, when done right.

3. Respond Quickly to Negative Comments

People like to complain.  Some use social networks to share their frustrations.  Negative sentiment can spread lightning-fast on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The faster you can respond, the better.
The best practice is to respond publicly, indicating that you’re addressing the issue through a private message. The person will feel that he or she is heard, and most importantly, the public sees that you care and are responsive. “I’m sorry” are the two most powerful words for brands in social media.
Never try to hide negative messages or argue with the poster.  Transparency is a key factor in building trust.

4. Respond to Positive Comments, Too

Many people are not yet leveraging this opportunity, but your positive comments on Facebook and Twitter are likely from your biggest advocates or partners, capable of spreading your messages far and wide and defending you against naysayers at no cost.  If you owned a retail store and a customer walked up to you and said, “I just love all your products and have been shopping here for years,” would you ignore them?  Don’t ignore them on Facebook either.  “Thank you” are the other two most powerful words in social media.

5. Provide Value (for Free!)

People that provide real value to potential and current partners will see long-term dividends, build trust and credibility, and grow contagious following.  While 10% off is not value (it’s marketing), 50% off is value.  Free is value.  You can give away ebooks, share articles, do free webinars, hold contests and share entertaining content.

6. Share and Inspire Stories

Stories bring relationships to life in a way that nothing else can.  Stories can be about the overcoming a struggle, or a customer experience with your product.  You can tell a story through tweets, photos and Facebook groups.  Make sure to respond to other people’s stories as well.

7. Don’t Sell

Just make it easy and compelling for people to buy, or join your team.  While it’s essential for people to create likeable, engaging communities on social networks, every marketer wants to increase sales.  But there’s a huge difference between using social networks to aggressively sell versus making it easy for people to buy.

Ultimately, the most important rule for people to remember is the Golden Rule:
If you read the page or post, would you click Like?

What else have you found for building Know, Like and Trust on social networks?