#TechTuesday: 3 Ways #Snapchat Can Enhance Your Personal Brand

Happy #TechTuesday! I know, I know - it has been quite some time since I've done a #TechTuesday post, but never fear! I'm keeping my ear to the streets about the latest in tech and social media and be sure to share with you all the latest!

So, Snapchat. In 2013, I downloaded 'Snap' and couldn't stand it. Perhaps it was because I was only following three people and didn't understand its purpose since there was Instagram, but this app annoyed me to no end. Fast forward to April 2015 and I have found myself obsessed with snapping my morning commute, watching my friends' stories and so much more. It's like we're hosting our own reality shows that can be watched instantaneously!

I believe that since its inception, many brands have learned how to brilliantly use Snapchat to engage with their audiences by meeting them where they are. As of late, we're seeing major events like Bonaroo, the NBA finals and even the announcements of presidential candidates shared on Snapchat as a means to empower consumers to craft their own personal experience. Similar to how Twitter gives us the power to share and react to breaking news, Snapchat offers its users (specifically millennials) to creatively document any and everything.

With that, here are three ways I think Snap can enhance your personal brand:

   1. You're not just having a conversation with yourself, but with everyone else. Similar to Twitter, Snapchat gives you the opportunity to speak your piece and then engage in a dialogue with your peers - only this time they can response via text or video. Whether you're watching an episode of #OITNB, waiting for the train, graduating from college or watching Hillary Clinton deliver her first campaign speech, Snapchat gives us a platform to uniquely bring our conversations to life and to those who may not have the chance to participate. 

   2. Snapchat helps you define your voice through repetition. The one question I've gotten repeatedly since rejoining Snapchat is, "why do you wake up so early?" And how do my friends know that I wake up early? Because I've made it a regular part of my daily story. Just like any other brand, the more you do something, the more likely it will be remembered and it will become apart of you. I am a morning person to the core – so it's natural for me to get up at around 5:30 AM to get my day started. Snapchat gives you the chance to bring your friends into your world organically and authentically. Which brings me to my final point...

3. Snapchat allows for you to keep it 💯. Let's face it – not many people are shy about sharing their personalities in social media. Yes, you can show your true colors on Facebook and Twitter, but those mediums are often static and conversation can drag on forever if you let it. 

With Snapchat however, thoughts can be short, sweet and to the point. Our snaps give us the chance to tell the when, what, how, why and where in less than a minute. And while snaps don't last long and can be deleted, it's the ability to put raw content out in the universe with the touch of a button that keeps Snapchatters coming back for more. 

Personally, I like the fact that Snapchat's platform hasn't changed too much over the years. And the filters are an incredible feature that offer an even more stylistic touch.  So what do you love most about Snapchat? Leave me a comment below  and send me a tweet! And of course, don't forget to follow me on Snapchat: chasityscooper. 

Catch ya later! 

They're Back! #WhoRunTheWorld Twitter Chats

Happy Women's History Month! Next to January, March has got to be one of my favorite months of the year. Not only are we anticipating the turn of winter into spring, (seriously Old Man Winter, you've GOT to go) but it's a time to honor the achievements of amazing women around the world.

I had the awesome opportunity to visit the White House yesterday for the President and First Lady's announcement of #LetGirlsLearn, a new global initiative that will ensure young girls and women have access to an education. Aside from being in awe of the leader of the free world and his beautiful wife standing just feet away from me, it was quite astonishing to learn that there are 62 million girls around the world that aren't in school. This could be due to girls being forced to marry at an early age, lack of resources in their communities, and many other factors. But I definitely applaud the First Lady for raising awareness about such an important issue, and taking steps to making sure that number drops significantly.

But onto the good stuff -- #WhoRunTheWorld chats are back! I'm so excited to celebrate Women's History Month yet again with important discussions on how millennial women are navigating their lives both professionally and personally. This year, the chats will begin at 2 PM EST and last for an hour. I'm so excited to chat with these ladies about their achievements, lessons they've learned and what they've got coming up next.

See you there!

#TechTuesday: Google Is Coming For Your Tweets (& How You Can Prepare)

Happy #TechTuesday (and #Snowday) friends! Last week, I celebrated my 6th Twitterversary, and it really got me to thinking about how much Twitter has evolved since its inception. From the explosion of #hashtags, to now the ability to group chat with your favorite Twitter friends, my favorite social network is all grown up!

And of course with growth, comes change. I remember the day that my news writing professor made it mandatory for us to create our own Twitter accounts. In the spring of 2009, I had NO IDEA what Twitter was, and really didn't understand its purpose. But soon enough, I found that it was probably the best way to connect with new (and old) friends instantaneously, and receive the most timely of news. Additionally, Twitter gives employers of the past, present and future a glimpse into your thoughts, and what type of things you like to share on the daily.

Recently, Twitter announced it has inked a deal with Google, and within the next few month users' tweets will show up in Google search. According to an article from TIME Magazine, this new partnership will give Google access to the live tweets of almost 300 million followers. There are many reasons for this partnership, but Twitter's CEO Dick Costolo has made this deal in order to increase the number of users, as it looks to compete with Facebook and Instagram.

Because we all know that search engines can be our best and worst of friends, it's best to be prepare for how this new partnership can impact your tweeting. Here are three tips on how to you too can tweet a little bit smarter:

1. Think BEFORE you tweet! This goes with out saying, but it is IMPERATIVE that you are thoughtful when it comes to those 140 characters you chose to send. Not all of us (yet) are blessed enough to be millionaires and spend our afternoons throwing ridiculous amounts of shade without worrying about the repercussions of our actions. To avoid any trouble, just worry about yourself, and if you don't start none, there won't be none.

2. Take advantage of Twitter Analytics. Did you know that Twitter gives you the opportunity to see exactly how your account is performing on a daily basis? If you click on the icon of your Twitter avatar in the top right and scroll down to 'Analytics', you'll be directed to another website that will show you all of your Twitter data going back to 2012. If you're a social media data nerd like me, you can see how your followers are engaging with your content, the most popular topics that you tweet about, and how much your following has increased. Such a cool tool, and it's free too!

3. Request your archive. Have you ever pondered on what tweets you shared with you first started your account? Well, now you don't have to wonder! Another cool (and free) tool, Twitter gives you the opportunity to see all of your tweets dating back to the beginning! While you most likely won't be able to change what you've already shared, it does give you the chance to look at how much your personal brand as evolved since your account's inception. Just click on your avatar icon in the top right hand corner, and scroll down to 'Settings'. Once you reach your Settings page, scroll down to the bottom and click the "Request Archive" radio button. Within a few minutes, a link to a zip file of your archived tweets will appear in your inbox. It's always funny to me to walk back down memory lane with my tweets.

And there you have it! It's not clear if this will also have an impact on those Twitter accounts that are locked, but I'm sure Google will figure out how to get around that in due time.

As always let me know what you think in the comments below, or Tweet me!

Happy Tweeting!