HootSuite blog – Social Media Dashboard

Last week, HootSuite released a version for Android – Google’s open mobile platform. It turned out so well that now HootSuite has acquired the company behind the development of this Twitter client – Swift App.

This acquisition is indicative of HootSuite’s support of this open source platform which is now available on dozens of different handsets by manufacturers organized under the Open Handset Alliance.

Consider reading the whole press release to see the quote from the CEO and more breakdown on reasons for the deal: HootSuite Acquires Android Developer Swift App.

Swift, Lightweight and Cute

Swift App was helmed by ace mobile developer Sebastian Delmot @sd who will assist HootSuite in further development as a mobile adviser. He previewed the news to his band of enthusiastic followers saying:

“NEWS FLASH: @swiftapp has partnered with @HootSuite and it’s now “HootSuite for Android”. More info at http://hootsuite.com/android.”

Plus he celebrated the released by issuing a “Cute Alert” for the”Robots Need Love” video featuring music by @DanManganMusic and assured his followers that his the app is in good hands.

Android Flashback

Like HootSuite iPhone, HootSuite Android features multiple Twitter accounts, message scheduling, realtime search, keyword tracking and on-board statistics in the Full version. HootSuite will continue to evolve the app with Facebook integration on the docket.

You likely caught the Android/iPhone “Pygmy Owl” release news roundup post with dozens of pundits chiming in about the release including Mashable, TechCrunch, GigaOm, Leo Laporte, Robert Scoble, and ReadWriteWeb, along with dozens more including many Android specific news outlets (see even more via the HootSuite Delicious stream).

Know your Robots

The Android open source mobile platform is now available on handsets from a variety of manufacturers members of the Open Handset Alliance who have produced phones such as the Motorola Droid or Google’s own Nexus One manufactured by HTC. The software is open source under an Apache license meaning that vendors can add proprietary extensions without submitting those back to the open source community.

In case you aren’t overwhelmed by all the news coming from HootSuite HQ – including Foursqaure and MySpace launch – here’s a dossier of info and articles about the Android mobile platform plus discussion about industry trends and market share:

Android Market: http://www.android.com/market/

Open Handset Alliance: http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/

Android (OS): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)

Android (list of devices): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Android_devices

Swift App: http://www.swift-app.com/

“The importance of HootSuite’s Android app” Kristen Nicole, Appolicious

“The Android app from HootSuite is significant, however, as it expands the company’s reach and validates the launching of multiple versions of a single mobile app.  As Google’s mobile platform, Android continues to gain market share, and offer itself as a viable alternative to the iTunes App Store.  With adoption for Android devices increasing, so too does the need to have a single mobile app on multiple mobile platforms.”

HootSuite releases Android Twitter app because “Robots Need Love, Too” by Andrew Kameka, Androinica

“Desktop Twitter client HootSuite has made the jump to mobile with a new app for Android. It seems Android Twitter apps are born faster than the average American birth rate, but HootSuite has the brand recognition to carve its own lane as “the professional Twitter client” geared towards people who need analytics and other business-centered features.”

Andrew also share the QR codes – thanks for that.

Computer World – Seth Weintraub

In October, 2009, Gartner Inc. predicted that by 2012, Android would become the world’s second most popular smartphone platform, behind only the Symbian OS, which powers Nokia phones and is very popular outside the US. Meanwhile, BlackBerry would fall from 2nd to 5th place, iPhone would remain in 3rd place, and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile would remain in 4th place.[90] Taiwan’s Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC) predicted that in 2013, 31.8 million Android phones and 126 million Android-based portable products would ship.[91]

Analytics firm Flurry estimates that 250,000 Motorola Droid phones were sold in the United States during the phone’s first week in stores.[92]

“In the last month the iPhone has lost 3.2% of its marketshare compared with RIM and Android both gaining considerably.   This isn’t just a monthly blip either, at least with regards to Android.    Google’s phone market has grown 44% over the past quarter and almost doubled over the past year while the iPhone has lost around 5% and 10% of the overall market over those same periods.”

hootsuite news acquisition, android, HootSuite, mobile, news, phone, swift

Foursquare for Socialites + MySpace for Bands

Just in time for SXSW, social butterflies can share favorite hot-spots with friends on Foursquare, plus bands and filmmakers can quickly connect with fans on MySpace – all from HootSuite’s Social Media Dashboard.

Mayor of the Nest

Don’t know about Foursquare? This web juggernaut combines way-finding, social marketing and gaming in an addictive mobile app which encourages everyday socialites to “check in” at cafes, pubs, and conferences. They can alert friends, share tips, and even become “mayor” of a location. Note: CEO Ryan loves it.

Bands, Meet Fans

Of course, you know MySpace. The venerable web giant is the place where creative types hang out and share their work and is the first stop for discovering emerging and established bands and filmmakers. With HootSuite, artists can easily outreach to fans about shows, releases and screenings. P.S. Let’s be MySpace friends.

Tools for Marketers

Today’s release includes a powerful addition of default settings to custom URL parameters which were added in HootSuite’s “Barn Owl” release (Feb. 15, 2010). This feature helps marketing and customer service teams track campaign results by adding unique referral identifiers. The release also includes a variety of bug fixes and performance enhancements.

Bar-B-Q and Apps in Austin

Are you headed to Austin for the massive interactive media, film, and music conference? The HootSuite team will be on-the-ground keeping an eye out for users updating Foursquare and MySpace with HootSuite and sharing swag specifically designed for the culture of the conference.

Track us down on the road by following @HootUp and/or the #hootsxsw hashtag, plus this handy SXSW Twitter list, for meet-ups, demos, prizes and photo ops with the Owl mascot.

You don’t have to be on the ground in Texas to enjoy the fun – just add Foursquare and MySpace to your HootSuite social networks and learn locals-only tips and/or find where your favorite band is playing next – right from your beloved dashboard.

releases foursquare, MySpace, release, snowy owl, SXSW, sxswi

Tech blogging super-hero Robert Scoble (Rackspace etc.) visited Vancouver to participate in the VX Commerce Media Day event on a panel called “Wireless Meets Digital | Audio” plus take in some Olympic sports – including seeing the Canadian Women’s hockey team win Gold.

As he usually does, Robert visited local tech companies to shoot video of the remarkable work happening behind the scenes. He popped by HootSuite HQ after hours for a conversation with ace iPhone developer Richerd Chan about the features and development path of the iPhone and Android apps, plus digs deep about industry evolution trends with CEO Ryan Holmes including discourse on molecular structure and sentiment analysis – plus the backstory behind the crowd-sourced name (thanks again @mattnathan).

Blurb: Hootsuite is a new corporate client for Twitter that lets multiple users share one account, among other things. Here you see the latest Hootsuite client for iPhone demoed and we talk about the corporate Twitter client market.

More: He also visited BootupLabs and wrote a compelling article about the changes in entrepreneurial culture and the emergence of the worldwide startup.

Idea: Consider following @scobelizer’s Most Influential People in Tech list

Didya notice? The tiki bar in the background of the shot with Ryan

News Roundup android, future, iPhone, scoble, scobleizer, tech blogger, Twitter, video

Robots shall cry no more!

The world is full of happier robots today as thousands of Android and iPhone users downloaded the full and lite HootSuite apps – plus dozens of you took the time to review, respond and engage with us to share opinions and props.

Besides *hundreds* of Twitter mentions, there are dozens of news/blog articles – many of which feature active comment strings.

Here’s a recap of the some/most of the articles we found, plus a treat at the bottom for those of you who enjoyed the Robots song and/or the Olympic beat poet.

Here we go

Mashable: HootSuite Rolls Out Android Apps and iPhone App Upgrade

Read Write Web: HootSuite Mobile Gets Ads with 140 Proof

Techcrunch: HootSuite Rolls Out Android App; Partners With 140 Proof To Serve Ads On Mobile Clients

GigaOm: Mobile Deal Brings Ads to Your Twitter Stream

Techvibes: HootSuite releases Android App

invoke: HootSuite Expands its Mobile Family

Also: HootSuite CEO Ryan Holmes was a guest on Amber MacArthur’s Net @ Night with TWiT tech hero Leo Laporte

Ryan Holmes on Net @ Night with Leo and Amber

Even More!

droid life: android app review: hootsuite! robot love people.

andronica: HootSuite releases Android Twitter app because “Robots Need Love, Too”

intoMobile: Android HootSuite Twitter Client Now Available

phandroid: HootSuite Android Application Imminent [TWITTER]

Android Central: Android quick app: The HootSuite Twitter client

Android and Me: HootSuite: “The professional Twitter client” now on Android

Android Guys: HootSuite finds a Perch in Android Market

Technobuzz: HootSuite Releases Android Twitter App

Berry Scoop: HootSuite For Android Available In Android Market

C4 Universe: Android meet Hootsuite, Hootsuite meet Android

Crap we Like: I am so excited that I can use Hootsuite on my Droid now

WebNewser: HootSuite Heats Up with Android, iPhone Apps

Stark SilverCreek: Owl on the Go Android App of the Day: HootSuite – powerful Social Media and Twitter tool goes mobile

Adotas: 140 Proof Partners With HootSuite for Mobile Twitter Ads

Dan Mangan Music: Owls vs Robots

Bonus: Dan Mangan and Shane Koyczan on NBC’s The Today Show from Vancouver

Oh one more – it’s our own press release for the record:

HootSuite Releases Android and Updated iPhone Versions of Social Media Dashboard for Twitter and Facebook

News Roundup android, coverage, iPhone, media, news, roundup

Converse and compose on the go with HootSuite for Android and iPhone – in Full or Lite versions

Despite worldwide adoration, the HootSuite iPhone App seemed a bit lonely. So the thoughtful developers went back to the factory to build more robots including HootSuite for Android. In fact, they had so much fun, they made Lite (free) robots too.

With 4 versions to choose from, HootSuite is now a big, happy, mobile robot family.

Android + iPhone = HootSuite Mobile Love

Now Google Android device users can enjoy the fun Apple iPhone users rave about, including:

• Managing multiple identities and accounts
• Creating custom views for tags and searches
• Understanding reasons for trending topics
• Scheduling messages for the future
• Adding followers to lists and accounts
• Sharing photos and shortening URLs

Already using HootSuite on the web? Tight integration means a single import gets you rolling so you are synced up on-the-go, and at your desk, with help from a powerful wizard.

Cheap or Free – your choice

Simple, elegant and powerful, HootSuite for Android and iPhone are available in Lite version at no cost from the Android Market and Apple App Store respectively. Yes, gratis, put your checkbook away – free. We knew you’d like that.

Need more power? No problem. The full-featured versions allow as many accounts as you desire (Lite is limited to 3) plus on-board click-through statistics tracking to see what’s working in (almost) realtime.

Plus HootSuite Android version includes a few new tricks including background notifications so messages keep on coming even when you browsing elsewhere – Better to let the robots do your work, right?

Go Sideways with Facebook

Current HootSuite iPhone customers will be first to get their fingers on App version 1.2 which includes two highly-requested additions: Facebook integration and landscape view – allowing you to enjoy your friends’ musing and snapshots in full splendor – and it’s just around the corner. Of course, HootSuite iPhone also works for iPod Touch.

Recap the Robot Family

HootSuite for Android – $1.99 from Android Market – includes stats and unlimited accounts
HootSuite for Android Lite – free from Android Market – limited to 3 accounts
HootSuite for iPhone – $1.99 from Apple App Store – includes stats and unlimited accounts
HootSuite for iPhone Lite – free from Apple App Store – limited to 3 accounts

More Robot Love Sing along with “Robots” by Dan Mangan “Robots need love too ~ and they want to be loved by you.”

Etc.

HootSuite™ is a trademark of HootSuite Media, Inc.
Android™ is a trademark of Google Inc. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Permissions.
iPhone® and iPod touch® are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

releases android, dan mangan, Facebook, iPhone, ipod touch, itouch, release, robots

During the past few weeks, Twitter has been hit hard by phishing scams, malware, and spam. The culprit? Shortened URLs that disguise nasty, suspicious links.

Well, enough is enough. As the screenshot below shows, HootSuite (and owl.y) are making it harder for bad guys to use our service for their nefarious purposes.

When suspicious links are sent through ow.ly, we send a warning before anyone arrives at the identified dodgy sites. From there, you can click “Back to safety” to return to safe web browsing, or alternately, you can click “Ignore warning and proceed” — that is, if you don’t mind blowing up your computer (not recommended ). Instead, read up about phishing and badware at: antiphishing.org and StopBadware.org.

Phishers and scammers are resourceful and plentiful, and while HootSuite does everything we can to protect you and your computer, we recommend the following tips for keeping yourself safe:

• Don’t click links sent from someone you do not trust
• If someone you trust sends messages that seems out of character, be suspicious
• Be on alert if you hear news of phishing or malware attacks
• If someone offers something too good to be true, it probably is
• Never enter personal information on a suspicious looking site

Here at HootSuite, we wish you a safe Internet experience. Heed our warnings, avoid clicking anything dodgy, and — above all — be careful!

Support, features Identity theft, Malware, Phishing, Spam, Twitter

There is a lot going on at HootSuite HQ these days and soon we’re hitting the road to participate in upcoming events and meet more HootSuite users! We’ll host some HootUps along the way – plus flow some truly collectible swag ~ so follow along to say hello and offer your thoughts on HootSuite.

Here’s where we’re bound:

Seattle – 140 | The Twitter Conference

Date: March 8, 2010

Sponsor: HootSuite is a Silver Sponsor

Blurb: Get Your Business Started on Twitter

• Basic tools for reading tweets and posting to Twitter
• How to grow your followership
• Understanding the security risks to your brand and your customers
• Gathering and analyzing data from Twitter

Panel: “License to Tweet: Applications and Services To Die For” ~ 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Panelists: Kathy Gill, DL Byron, Ricardo Rabago, Ryan Holmes, Dan Shapiro Moderator: Steve Broback

Twitter is more than just 140 characters. Twitter is a platform that grows more powerful every day, as developers, entrepreneurs, and people with too much time on their hands create thousands of tools and services that do everything from sending direct messages to tweeting on behalf of your houseplants. This panel of Twitter elites will share their favorite Twitter applications and services, and how these apps help them draw value from the Stream. Managing the Twitter Stream * Top Twitter Applications and Services * Applying Twitter to the Real World * What Apps Do You Wish Someone Would Build?

Registration: 15% off for Hootsuite users: HOOT140 – Attend
Location: Bell Harbor Conference Center downtown Seattle.
Twitter: @tweethouse
Website: http://parnassusgroup.com/twitterconference

Austin – SXSW Interactive Conference 2010

Date: March 12-16, 2010

Blurb:

Features five days of compelling presentation from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable line up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer.

Registration: Attend
Location: Austin, Texas at the Austin Convention Center
Twitter: @sxsw
Website: http://sxsw.com/interactive

Toronto – Sprout Up Toronto

Date: March 24, 2010

Blurb:

This is a free monthly gathering of like-minded entrepreneurs. “A great chance for startups around the city to get friendly, discuss current trends, and network in a casual, open, and focused setting.”

Innovation Demo – Pre-selected entrepreneurs share their innovative business ideas to the audience
Guest Speaker – Fabulous new speakers will be brought in each month to spur new discussions on relevant trends and ideas
Networking – Network with peers: share knowledge, experiences and drinks

Panel: “Challenges faced and lessons learned as a startup” with Ryan Holmes ~ 6:30-10:30pm

Registration: Attend
Location: Sprout Up Toronto will be held at The Pilot in Yorkville
Twitter: @sprouter
Website: http://sprouter.com/blog/sprout-up-toronto/

F5 Expo

Date: April 7, 2010

Sponsor: HootSuite is the “social feed” sponsor and hosting the Twitter Etiquette panel

Blurb:

1. A function key on a computer used to refresh a web browser or file manager.
2. A business conference for executives on changing technologies in the online space such as social media, search marketing, mobile applications, and future trends. The inaugural event will be held on April 7, 2010 in world renowned, Vancouver, Canada.

Panel: Ryan Holmes is participating in The Secret to Success: Avoiding Start-up Pitfalls panel 1:40 – 2:30pm along with Michael Fergusson and Danny Robinson.

Workshop: Twitter Etiquette for Business 10:00am | 10:45am | 11:30am | 1:00pm

Whether you’re already on the Twitter bandwagon or you see it as merely the latest trend, recognizing the impact of microblogging on business is important. Trends in this area are quickly emerging and evolving. For example, companies are now paying high ranking twitter members to talk about them. It’s a turn (perhaps for the worst) in social media campaigns. Stay in the know by learning about new twitter trends and the impact they could have on your business. More importantly, get to know some basic rules that will help you build a loyal following.

Registration: Attend
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre in downtown Vancouver
Twitter: @f5expo
Website: www.f5-expo.com

events 140 | The Twitter Conference, events, F5 Expo, HootSuite, Sprout Up Toronto, SXSW

Owly HootSuite attending 140 Characters Conf. by David Berkowitz

The HootSuite Barn Owl release was just last week and many of you are still spreading the good word. We’re still listening and are pleased to share some of your latest posts, anecdotes and remarks.

You can find more related snippets via HootSuite social bookmarks and let us know if we’ve missed something awesome (contact details on the Media Kit).

Social CRM

HootSuite Aids in Social Media Distribution by TMCnet Contributing Editor, David Sims

… the newest iteration of the product has tools for managing audience and tracking campaigns, company officials said, who added that the tools “will be of particular benefit to marketing departments and customer support teams.”

The new capabilities include a “Social CRM” tool to help you learn who follows you, and know who they are in a Friends and Followers chart – “view profile, influence and activity level at a glance, and quickly engage to build relationships,” company officials said.

A thorough, industry-savvy, comprehensive look at the Barn Owl features with marketers and customer service support teams in mind.

Wild Women Hoot Smarter

Tools to Make Your Social Media Marketing Smarter Via HootSuite from Web Marketing Therapy by Nicki Gauthier

There are so many great Twitter and Social Media tools out there but I have found that HootSuite is one of the best! I think the other wild web women would agree because we blog about it here and here.

Thank you Nicki and all of you wonderful wild web women. It is a treat to read about marketers using and loving the new and improved HootSuite.

Measurement Tactics for PR Pros

How to manage online press releases distributed via Twitter a post from Digimarketing Convo Blog

Hootsuite now enables you to add UTM parameters to your links within Hootsuite itself. No longer is an external tool required such as Google’s UTM Link Builder. You can do it all now within one client!

This is a fantastic guide for using the UTM feature in the HootSuite dashboard. Check this out if you have a campaign that you would like to monitor and measure.

Just Keep Hooting

New HootSuite Version Comes Out Today – from Shana’s funny by accident. blog

Manage your relationships, share your success, and prepare your work before hitting “send.”

“The best part is, to enjoy the new HootSuite tools, you don’t have to do a thing — just keeping Hooting!”

We couldn’t have said it better Shana! Thanks for the post.

Video Update

HootSuite Updates! – Athens Social Media posts a video tutorial that will take you through some of the new Barn Owl features.

Hootsuite released some updates last week, and Athens Social Media wanted to keep you updated, too! Check out the new video.

A fantastic and comprehensive video Cassidy. Thanks for helping people really understand the new features – in fact, let’s share it around:

Thanks again for your reactions and remarks, we read ‘em all at HootSuite HQ. Again, you can find more related snippets via HootSuite social bookmarks and let us know if we’ve missed something awesome (contact details on the Media Kit).

News Roundup barn owl, media, news, roundup, tutorials

After weeks of diligent preparation, it’s  a treat to pause and explore the reaction to the new version before hunkering down to prepare for the next release.

It’s truly a treat hearing how excited many of you are about the HootSuite Barn-Owl release so, if it’s OK with you, we’ll share some of your posts:

Are We Perfect Yet?

HootSuite Announces New Features, Including Klout Integration. Is This (Almost) The Perfect Twitter Client? by Shea Bennett from Twittercism

Earlier today HootSuite was down momentarily while they added some new features to the platform. This included a welcome People tab, which allows you to quickly manage your new followers, as well as those you have recently followed yourself.

Interestingly, it comes with integrated support from Klout, which while not a flawless system is probably the closest thing we have right now to a reliable measure of an individual’s online influence and social status.

Great to hear that you are enjoying our new features and thanks for pointing out the value of the Klout integration!

Sharing Secrets to Success

4 More Reasons to Start Using HootSuite by Travis Campbell at MarketingProfessor

I am often asked, “How do you sync all your social profiles?” or “Are there tools available to help people manage multiple social profiles?” I have used multiple services over the past couple years, but my favorite has been HootSuite, and now it just got better.

Travis, we love hearing that you are saving time using HootSuite. Thanks for highlighting the new features and sharing your pro skillz with others.

Efficiency and Progress

The Twitter @ConversationAge Effect from Valeria Maltoni at ConversationAgent puts forth a must-read article about using HootSuite to build efficiencies into your outreach strategy

The point of an automation tool is not for it to do your work, of course. It’s to make doing your work simpler, so you can attend to the things that really matter, like integrating the use of tool with your overall business strategy.

You still get to figure out who you want to reach, how you’re going to listen and track, and what you will answer. Remember that it’s not about more data. Often it’s about what you do with the data you collect.

This is a comprehensive look at HootSuite on how Barn Owl can help marketers and support groups with many pro tips and concepts to consider about the value of links and clicks. We hope it can help you too!

Features Roundup

Web Strategy Workshop offered a breakdown of HootSuite’s Latest Release features:

Updates include…

1. Know and Grow your Audience
2. Custom URL Parameters for deeper integration with Google Analytics & Omniture
3. Save updates as drafts
4. Convert your groups to lists
5. And More!!!

Check out their press release

Thanks for that spotlight on the new tools in the HootSuite kit.

Recap Redux

funny by accident. also spread the news in new hootsuite version comes out today.

We love that copywriting

There are more reviews and recamps rolling in so stay aware and check back when you aren’t watching the Winter Olympics AKA the Social Media Games – and thanks again for your opinions and perspectives.

News Roundup barn owl, HootSuite, news, recaps, release, reviews

Ryan Holmes Movember at TedX Vancouver by KK

Do you know the Web20 show? Well you should and not just to hear Ryan Holmes, Founder of HootSuite talk about pursuing VC funding and the joys of iterating your product. Here’s how they set up the segment:

We talked about how they iterated to get to the full on Social Media Dashboard that HootSuite aims to be. Originally it was just Twitter in their Radar, but soon after they pulled in Facebook, LinkedIn and Ping.fm to use as sources for your social content.

In the “Twitter client” space and the Social Media Dashboard space, there is a lot of demand for features and the competition is strong. Ryan helps us to understand what they are doing different to differentiate themselves from the competition regardless of the platform, web, mobile, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, etc.

Ryan and I talked quite a bit in this episode about their recent Series A round of Financing of $1.9 Million dollars back in January 2010. In today’s startup world it’s sort of a “no no” to take funding, but for them they really needed that financial backing to take HootSuite to the next level and the places they want to take it.

So head over to listen to the Ryan Holmes episode and follow @web20show on Twitter for updates.

News Roundup interview, podcast, radio, ryan holmes, show, social media dashboard, web 20 show