How To Disable Hotmail Focus

Some of you may like this new feature. for me I do like the pinning of specific senders however having the focus and other tabs annoys me to no end.  I did some digging and found out how to disable it.

In the top right corner click on settings (the gear)

Next click on the Focused Inbox tab. Then click on Don't sort messages.  Then click on OK

This will disable the tab and the focused and other mail will all be in one spot.

If you have social media tips, tricks or resources you would like to share email me at chris.williams@readwatchcreate.com

Social Media Marketing Tips

When first getting started with Social Media Marketing there are a few tips that can save you some frustrations. This article will be a growing article with tips and tricks for you.  As it grows, look for a refined set of articles on on www.readwatchcreate.com

Facebook Ads

What is the difference between a boost and an ad?

There is a big difference between a post boost and a Facebook Ad. A boost means that your post will appear in people's feeds but has sponsored below in small letters.  Ads are simply that they appear in the ad locations on the page.

I have done some research with my audience and found that Boosts outperform Ads for my specific audience. This makes sense because when you are on Facebook, you are looking at your news feed. As ads are not your prime focus they need to draw your attention away.  I recommend boosting a post over creating an ad.

What days should I boost?

This is relative based on your audience.  The nice thing about a boost is you can set a small budget for one day and test it out. I looked at the post on my page that was getting the most traction by clicking on insights.  If there is a lot of likes views and comments then that is a good post to test.  Boost that post and see if the organic vs paid ratio of reach goes up.  Then see if the likes and comments go up as well.  The way to see which ones came from paid is to go to manage ads  This will show you exactly what came to the post from the ad.  I used this to determine the best days to boost.

Things To Do Before you boost

Once you boost a post you will not be able to edit it.  This is important for a few reasons:

1. You must be sure your content is exactly how you want it because you cannot edit.
2. If you copy your post to co-post on Instagram or other social media, sometimes the easiest way is to click edit and copy the post. Once you boost you cannot do this.

If you have any tips for social media marketing please email me at chris.williams@readwatchcreate.com and we will post it here.

Learn About Social Networking on Read Watch Create

Social Networking as come a long way since the early days of LinkedIn.  There are new platforms being created all the time and it takes a lot to weed through them all and find the ones that you should be using and learning. 

Read Watch Create is helping you do that weeding and helping you optimize your usage by suggesting tools to help you analyze, and post more efficiently.  Check out our Learn About Social Media Platforms section of ReadWatchCreate.

If there are tools or advice you have on social networking platforms or if you have questions reach out to me at chris.williams@readwatchcreate.com

TurnKii - Helping one Landlord at a time

Do you rent a few units but also have a full time job?  This is where TurnKii can really help out.  They can save you time in the specific areas you need.  Whether its simply a place for your tenants to log issues, co-ordinate with tenants, collect payments. 

TurnKii describes it perfectly on their website:

A cloud based management platform that tracks and monitors your investment properties for you, and allows you to self manage easily.
Designed to allow landlords to manage rental properties easily, and hassle-free.

If you are interested in signing up visit TurnKii

Not sure yet, check out the TurnKii blog for tips to help you save time and also create a better experience for your tenants.

Security Warning for TD Customers

Today I 925 am I got a call from TD claiming that my card was lost or stolen or possibly compromised.  They told me to stay on the line and they would ask some security questions.  I immediately hung up thinking it was a phishing scam.  I called the TD Customer service number and waited on the line for 18 minutes.  In the meantime I googled the phone number 1-866-975-0925 and found it was in fact TD.

I call them back and sat on the queue, once a rep answered I explained to him what happened and told him that if he could not find anything then possibly there was an internal phishing scam within TD as which he responded that possibly it was not TD that called me.  I iterated the phone # that called me and he continued looking.  After a few  minutes he came back on the line and said he had not found anything.  I told him if he could still not find anything that I needed his employee number and then needed to be transferred to a manager.  After a few minutes he transferred me to a manager so assuming he still found nothing.  When I reached the manager I then asked for the previous employees reference # 507644.  He then told me that he found that they mis-dialed the number and it was for another customer.  His employee reference # is 507 699.  I asked him what was going to be done to resolve this situation in future and he said he could not tell me that.  Thus I am writing this article to tell others to be aware of these calls and dont provide security information.  Rather hang up and dial the number that called you.  Ask to speak immediately to a manager and confirm they were calling you before providing any information.

I am looking forward to hearing from TD regarding this situation and how they are going to resolve it in future.  I am not currently a TD customer but if I was and I answered the security questions on the phone, it would have given that person access to my account to do whatever. This is an extreme privacy and security breach to customers.  If I hear a response from TD I will keep you posted.  If you dont see and additional comments then you know that there was not resolution and should be very careful when dealing with TD.

Our Dept To Planet Earth

If we made our business decisions by thinking if it is good for Planet Earth we would make very different decisions.  That is the premise of this blog.

If we hold businesses accountable for their decisions that are good or bad for planet earth then they will continue to make good ones.

Check out the Dept To Planet Earth blog.

Entrepreneurs should be Kind not Nice :)

As I am starting up my new venture TechGuilds.com, I have heard this from quite a few people but this article explains it really well.  Susan Fischer sent it over to me today.  Happy Birthday Susan and thanks.

Hey, Entrepreneurs: How To Stop Being Too Nice & Start Making Money

My first reaction to the title was a little upsetting until I took a closer look.  Being nice is not the same as being kind.

Kindness, however, allows for human interaction without the loss of integrity. We don’t have to give up anything to be kind. Instead we can remain direct yet empathetic.

This article is a must read for anyone starting up a new venture.  Please pass on the link to anyone and everyone regardless of whether they are just starting or have been at it for years.  You never know who can be helped.

If you have any tips, tricks or resources for starting a new venture please pass them on.  My email is chrisw_88@hotmail.com I am open to any advice you are willing to share.