Archive for the ‘Social Networking’ Category
38 Prompts for Buffers AI Assistant
Most weeks start in the same way for me.
Im sitting, looking at my Buffer queue, scratching my head at what I should schedule across my social media profiles.
Inspiration can be hard to come by. But recently, Ive discovered a solution.
Buffers AI Assistant. It is designed to simplify the process of social media scheduling, making it easier for me to come up with posts, refine my own ideas and help me create content that resonates with my audience.
Heres the catch though.
To get the most out of AI, you need to provide the right inputs. This means taking the time to understand what information the AI system needs and how it processes that information.
The quality and accuracy of your inputs will directly impact the quality and accuracy of the output.
In one word: context.
A good AI prompt should provide enough context to allow the AI to make an informed decision. Additionally, the prompt should be tailored to the specific AI model being used and should provide all relevant information needed to make an accurate prediction.
For example, if you are using Buffers AI Assistant, you need to feed it relevant information such as your target audience, desired tone, and content topics. Providing clear and concise inputs will help the AI system understand your goals and provide more effective suggestions.
So, for example, you ask Buffers AI Assistant:
Itll give you a result like this: "Get ready for the biggest shopping day of the year! #BlackFriday is just around the corner.Thats, okay. But not something youd probably be happy to share on social. Instead, providing Buffers AI Assistant with more information about your brand, your product, your tone of voice, and your target audience will help the AI create something much better. For example, if you ask Buffers AI Assistant:
Itll give you a result like this: Fuel your day with purpose! Get 50% off our smooth & flavorful organic, fair trade coffee from Peru this #BlackFriday Perfect for busy millennials looking for a guilt-free coffee fix #SustainableCoffee"
This is much, much better. Its not perfect. But its a step in the right direction. And thats the point, get the input right, and youll get a much better result.
So, without further ado, here are 38 inputs you can steal, tweak and test out for yourself:
If you're feeling stuck on what to post on social media, Buffer's AI Assistant is here to help.
It's designed to make your life easier by suggesting content that resonates with your audience. But to get the best results, you need to give the AI the right information.
A great AI prompt should provide enough context for the AI to make a well-informed decision. The more information you give, the better the AI will understand your goals and the more effective its suggestions will be.
Got any suggested prompts youd add to this list? Send us a Tweet to let us know and well get it updated! And for more advice on creating great AI prompts, check out this thread:
Want to try out Buffers AI Assistant for yourself? Get started today for free!
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38 Prompts for Buffers AI Assistant
Twitter’s new data access rules will make research harder : NPR
Twitter's headquarters in San Francisco. The company's latest change will make it harder to researchers to study the platform. David Odisho/Getty Images hide caption
Twitter's headquarters in San Francisco. The company's latest change will make it harder to researchers to study the platform.
Much of what we know about social media discourse is thanks to Twitter's longtime policy of allowing free access to its data. That has made Twitter data a treasure trove for researchers eager to study online behavior, including how falsehoods and conspiracy theories circulate. Kate Starbird remembers how Twitter research dominated the field between 2010 and 2015.
"You look at some of the conferences we attended, you know, 50% of the social computing papers would be about Twitter and sometimes even more, because that was the data that we had access to," says Starbird, a researcher at the University of Washington who studies online information dynamics during crises, including disinformation.
But in the latest change to the social media service since billionaire Elon Musk bought the company last year, Twitter announced Thursday that it would start charging users at least $100 a month for using its data pipeline starting Feb. 13, with one exception - users that tweet less than 1,500 times a month, an average of twice an hour or less.
Twitter did not say how many tweets users can download or post at the $100 a month level. Those who need additional access will have to have to pay more though the company didn't disclose the pricing.
The move will make it more expensive to run many automated accounts, known as bots. Some bots promote scams and propaganda, while others are useful or fun for many users, such as those that highlight every change the New York Times makes to its story headlines or flag an earthquake.
Musk has long expressed his desire to rid the platform of "bot armies." When Twitter first announced last Thursday that it will start charging for API usage without information of pricing or exceptions, bot watchers on the platform bemoaned the imminent demise of creations they loved. On Saturday, Musk tweeted that "responding to feedback," bots "providing good content" will keep free access.
If some bots were spared, no researchers were. The change will also limit what is possible for researchers such as Starbird who have relied on that pipeline, known as an application programming interface or API, to study user behavior and information operations on the platform for years.
Earlier this week, after Twitter first announced that it will start charging for the API, a group of research institutions, advocacy groups and individual researchers from around the world issued an open letter calling on Twitter to maintain access for researchers so that public-interest research could continue. In a statement, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) said that Twitter should be making data access easier, not harder. As of Wednesday, Twitter did not respond to a request from NPR sent last week for more information about its decision.
While researchers have used Twitter data for all kinds of research, Twitter's platform design gives it a unique role for researchers focusing on information operations and conspiracy theories. Content can go viral in a way that's impossible on other platforms, and provides metrics like retweets and likes that make tracking the impact and spread easy to understand.
Users' timelines are shaped not only by who they follow but also algorithmic recommendation, so players seeking influence can game it to amplify its message.
While the social media landscape has splintered in the past few years, Twitter still serves as a guide post because narratives brewing in smaller platforms could bubble up on Twitter.
"Twitter was a way to kind of at least see, like, what you know, where is that iceberg in the water and what's going on there," says Starbird.
Since taking over Twitter late last year, Musk has reinstated the accounts of thousands of conspiracy theorists and white nationalists while cutting the company's teams that monitored the platform for hate speech and enforced its rules.
Users with access to the Twitter API can upload and download data in bulk to and from the platform using a computer program, bypassing the main user interface.
Currently, many Twitter API users can download up to two million tweets from the past seven days for free every month. Academic institutions can download unlimited amounts from the entire archive for free. With large datasets, researchers can make intricate maps of how clusters of users relate to each other, which is invaluable for understanding online communities, including those that spread falsehoods.
Without access to that wealth of data, researchers will have a less comprehensive picture and less ability to go back and investigate narratives that they've missed in real time, Starbird says.
By giving users well-documented API access, Twitter's data has been more transparent than other major social media platforms. Meta's offering, CrowdTangle, does not provide straightforward ways to download data in real time and in bulk the way Twitter does. Moreover, the company is reportedly winding it down and has not announced whether it will offer a replacement. Meta did not answer questions from NPR about CrowdTangle's future.
TikTok announced last year that it's testing a research API, and is "planning to expand availability in the US in the coming weeks." the company told NPR in an email. The company has come under criticism in the past year for allowing disinformation to spread on its platform. It has also faced bipartisan scrutiny due to its Chinese ownership.
Starbird's team is throwing ideas around what they can do with Twitter if their current level of access ceases. They intend to focus on Telegram, TikTok and Reddit along with Twitter for the 2024 presidential election while collaborating with teams that monitor other platforms.
"We've tended to work within the constraints we've had for so long." Starbird says, and maybe there will be new creative ways to use Twitter data. "Unfortunately, I think a lot of that creativity is going to be better spent on other platforms."
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Twitter's new data access rules will make research harder : NPR
Social media and small businesses: The good, the bad and the authentic …
Many small businesses who sell at local farmers markets in Provo feel that social media is a major part of being a successful business.
Data from the Pew Research Center said about 84% of adults aged 18-29 use at least one social media site, which is why many businesses see social media marketing as a now essential part of their business strategy.
According to a 2019 study done by Buffer, it comes as no surprise to find that many businesses use social media as a marketing tool in this era of internet grown and increasing social media popularity.
The Buffer study was on 1,800 marketers from businesses of all sizes, across a range of industries. The data showed 89% of marketers see social media marketing as an important part of their overall strategy. Additionally, 73% of marketers in this study feel that social media marketing has been somewhat effective or very effective for their business.
During the rise of COVID-19, many businesses found that they had to move into online venues such as Instagram or shop sites to keep sales going. This push, along with the general shift towards online entrepreneurship, has created more digital commerce and businesses on social media than ever before, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Some small businesses were just getting started when the pandemic hit. Tayla Chapa, the owner of the Provo-based earring company Feminiscence, found that COVID-19 wasnt all bad for her business.
Starting out, social media was great. It helped me reach people that I wouldnt have reached during a pandemic, Chapa said. Simply put, I dont think my business would be what it is today without the pandemic.
Social media apps like TikTok and Instagram are Feminiscences biggest platforms, with one video in August gaining 12.4 million views on TikTok. The video format of these platforms allows Chapa to give updates to people interested in her products, while also allowing her to make connections and bring in people who want to be involved in her brand.
Ive shipped to Norway, the UK and Australia. My business reaches people throughout the world because of social media, Chapa said.
Chapas sudden spotlight provided many surprises along with monetary benefits. She described how she now gets thousands of people reaching out and wanting to not only support her business, but tell their story and talk about historical women and the issues that modern-day women face.
I knew that social media connects people, but Ive seen it firsthand in my life, Chapa said. Its so touching to see that social media has helped my brand to get out there to people and start conversations, because thats all Ive really ever wanted.
Asher Head, founder of the apparel story Finally At Peace, also found more of a community online than he was expecting. Originally, when starting his business, he was afraid people wouldnt see the point of his business or that he would face backlash but that never ended up happening. Instead, he was able to connect with other people who are in similar situations and are backing similar causes.
The biggest benefit (of social media) is being able to find a community I didnt think existed, Head said.
Hannah Brooks, Brigette Eagar and Rachel Gartz run an eclectic design-based booth together at the Provo Farmers Market called Collect Ave. They too, like Chapa and Head, have found support and community through their business social media, according to Brooks.
(Social media) keeps people aware of us, Brooks said. Weve had a really cool community rise up.
While all three partners have had experience working for social media before, the trio have had to learn how to balance in-person experiences with their online shop and keeping up with both customers and online algorithms, Brooks said.
Its definitely more of a process than we expected. We have to be really intentional about, like: OK we need to start promoting our market right now, Brooks said.
Provo business Terra Therapi sells decor and mental health resources and has been learning how to balance the necessary elements that come with an online presence. Terra Therapi was created by Hailey Nordwald and has been on Instagram since 2019. Since then, Nordwald said she has gained further understanding of the capabilities of social media.
There really isnt any magic to it. Its just knowing all the details that all contribute to being successful with it, Nordwald said. Theres a lot to it.
The work pays off though, and Nordwald said she has been able to use the reception her business has to gauge customer interest and guide future business decisions.
While COVID-19 and the move to more online sales has provided success for some business owners, certain side effects have caused growing pains for other small businesses.
Lin Flores, the founder of lincpoetry, described how isolating and difficult running a small business in the midst of a pandemic can be.
I had to do everything alone. I had to figure out how to make products alone and it was difficult to learn that all by myself, Flores said. That was the hardest part.
While social media has benefited many small business owners, the learning curve for those trying to do it all themselves is a steep one. Flores described that if the pandemic had not struck when it did, she could have easily hired some help or met other entrepreneurs in a similar stage of starting their business.
I just relied on myself a lot, Flores said.
Flores emphasized the importance of in-person contact for businesses, and how that can diminish with the limited contact social media facilitates between entrepreneurs and customers.
I think when you meet someone, you can see what they have to offer. On social media, its just another pretty person with a cool shirt on, Flores said. (Social media) doesnt feel as authentic as when I meet someone in person and pitch them my product.
Authenticity and creating a connection between businesses and customers is a common balance that business owners have to learn how to strike, according to a 2014 study of 12,000 respondents by Cohn & Wolfe.
Christine Leaming, the owner of The Stimmy Store at the Provo Farmers Market, values authenticity so she said she doesnt use social media in the traditional way that other businesses might.
I dont know if (social media) brings in business so much as it gives people a way to communicate with me directly, Leaming said.
The in-person experience is important to Leaming, so much so, that The Stimmy Store does not have an online equivalent. She prefers to provide her products only in-person for the local Provo community, rather than prioritizing her online presence or business social media accounts.
I think thats why I dont really rely a lot on social media, because it doesnt feel authentic to me, Leaming said. You get what you see, and I dont want to do anything thats fake.
While these small business owners described their struggles with beating algorithms, making ads, staying authentic and figuring out the new and ever-growing world of business on social media, each entrepreneur emphasized the importance of the communities they found online and how community is what kept their small business thriving.
With social media, I think its really cool to see people come together, Head said. It really is a tool to build community and safe spaces for people.
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Social media and small businesses: The good, the bad and the authentic ...