HootSuite blog – Social Media Dashboard

The HootSuite Translation Project spawned from a desire to offer HootSuite to users in their preferred language. But localization has some challenges!

For example, many of the words in HootSuite are Twitter/socialweb-specific with no “usual” translation, plus translating the words without context is confusing and inaccurate. So, to gather accurate translations quickly, we asked “Who knows HootSuite better than our own fans?”

The obvious answer encouraged us to ask HootSuite users for a hand to localize the social media dashboard on all platforms for their neighbors and colleagues.

Since launching on August 27th , we’ve eagerly watched the amazing progress made and have begun cheering for various countries, not unlike the World Cup or Tour de France.

Throughout the day, we take a look at the leaderboard and watch as Italian and Portuguese pull ahead of Dutch and German But hold on, Spanish is catching up too and where did the and French come from — wow!

We’ll address a few issues of style and clarity in a forthcoming post including tips for working with variable strings and we’ll be adding more language coordinators soon — thanks to all who applied! We’re certainly thrilled with the quality of the credentials and will put you to work very soon.

We aren’t the only ones who are excited about this project either — here are a few posts to share:

The Next Web – Hootsuite needs your lingua franca: Help with crowd-sourced translation of Hootsuite

Prolific tech-journalist Tris Hussey explains the gist of the project to TNW readers:

That doesn’t go far enough in a the Internet today. A huge percentage of people online don’t speak English and really appreciate when apps are in their own language. Hootsuite is already a huge hit in Japan and elsewhere, but they want to branch out. Hootsuite wants to be localized in as many languages as possible, and they are asking for your help to do this. Yep, Hootsuite is turning to crowd-sourced translation.

{snip}

Hootsuite is turning to its users, just like open-source projects like WordPress do when they need translation help, for their help in translating all the parts of Hootsuite so people around the world can feel the warmth of the owl’s feathery hug. The folks at Hootsuite are even going a set further by letting the community decide which languages get priority for development and launch.

e-Communica – Hootsuite lanza su proyecto colaborativo de traducción (Spanish)

Rallying Spanish speakers, this post “HootSuite launches collaborative translation project” which when auto-translated reads:

Once registered, users have at their disposal a control panel from which you can choose the project you work (web client, Android, Blackberry and iPhone), and language and display the number of suggestions made, reviewed, pending and accepted.

For the web version in Spanish, are pending to translate 6948 words and the time for users interested in the initiative and are working on the 8% of them. Furthermore, to certify the quality of the texts, HootSuite is selecting qualified coordinators to approve the final translations.

Il Giornale di Pozzallo - HootSuite chiede aiuto per tradurre la piattaforma (Italian)

Italian news site Il Giornale di Pozzallo spreads the word of localization in Italy in an article (auto-translated) “HootSuite asks for help to translate the platform.” Incidentally, Italian is making great progress:

HootSuite, one of the clients business more attractive to social media, has decided to offer languages other than English. Ryan Holmes (CEO HootSuite) has forwarded an e-mail to members of the newsletter to ask their help. As was the case with Facebook and Twitter, HootSuite prepared interface for localization in crowdsourcing: users will be to translate the panel and mobile applications HootSuite.

Technoblog – HootSuite pede ajuda para fazer tradução (Portuguese)

A push for Portuguese in this auto-translated post “HootSuite asks for help do translation” … and the passionate Hoot-fans in Brazil are rocking out the translations too:

The HootSuite is a very nice web interface for anyone beyond the resources so basic that Twitter offers. Currently available only in English and Japanese, the site is calling people who “speak the language geek in multiple languages to” help the translation service.

Small Words in Welsh:

Keep Track:

Follow hashtag #HootTrans on Twitter to find more people talking about the project. You can continue to follow HootSuite’s social bookmarks and/or follow @hootwatch to keep track of the news about HootSuite.

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With recent announcements ranging from listing on the US Apps.gov to the launch of the HootSuite Translation Project, there is plenty of commentary to share.

But when you add in the nuanced iPhone update and more interest in the business world about efficiently using social media for listening, there is enough news to peruse for an afternoon.

Here are some recent stand-outs. Certainly, follow HootSuite’s social bookmarks for the full feed of HootSuite-related coverage and/or follow @hootwatch to be the early bird everyday.

The Next Web – HootSuite gets political and “Bumps” up iPhone app features.

TNW shares the news about some pro features in the HootSuite iPhone update:

Now on to the iPhone updates, which are quite impressive.  … But the biggest new feature added to HootSuite’s iPhone app?  Now users can utilize Bump to quickly add followers.  A great new addition to an already fantastic iPhone app.

Jeff Cormier also mentions the addition of HootSuite to the Apps.Gov catalog as the first social media dashboard:

This is great news for those government agencies that want to use a social media dashboard without jumping through too many extra hoops, approval queues, or application processes.

The Globe and Mail – Media moguls made easy

Amber Mac describes different ways to monitor your social media headlines and conversations that are coming at 100 miles a minute:

For the past couple of years, the popular micro-messaging site [Twitter] has increasingly become the go-to destination for headlines, keeping its users informed about what the world is talking about.

Aside from using a Twitter monitoring tool such as HootSuite, it can be cumbersome to go through pages of tweets to get the gist of what’s on the minds of the people you’re following (for example, I follow more than 3,000 people, which makes it nearly impossible to keep track of conversations).

Bloomberg Business Week — Timesavers to Manage Your Social Media Presence

Eric Groves (SVP of Constant Contact) suggests some efficiency advice:

Use tools to help — As the number of people you’re connected with on social media sites grows, trying to keep up with the constant flow of updates is like drinking from a proverbial fire hose. There are a number of free tools available that can help you keep up without drowning in information, including:

HootSuite is a service that lets you track all of your social media networks, schedule updates to go out automatically throughout the day, and set alerts if certain terms or phrases are mentioned.

Mashable — Readers Choose Freemium Over Ad-Supported Business Model

Ben Parr offers results of a poll about ways to grow companies:

Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen several web companies switch to freemium business models, offering free versions of their services but providing additional features and functionality at tiered prices. Hootsuite and Slideshare are just two companies that have recently switched, but there are many more turning to the freemium business model to generate revenue.

We were interested in the trend, so we made it the subject of this week’s Web Faceoff, our weekly series where we pit two opposing technology products or ideas against each other for your vote. We asked you on Monday which web business model you preferred.

Your winner: Freemium. With 36.88% of the vote (461 votes), Freemium was the preferred business model of Mashable readers. Ad-supported received a 24.4% share (305 votes), while 34.24% of you (428 votes) said it was a tie.

Inc.com — 5 Secrets of Highly Effective Twitter Users

Minda Zetlin discusses reasons for scheduling Twitter updates for companies marketing around the world:

Most Twitter users don’t look at tweets that are more than a couple of hours old, so if you want people to actually read your posts, you should time them for when you have the largest live audience.

When is that? “If you have followers all over the world, Eastern Time during business hours is the best time to tweet,” Sansevieri says. “Generally, past noon Pacific Time is less useful. Retweeting starts to drop off toward the end of the day.” Although this is a good general rule, your customers’ habits may be different, so try experimenting, for instance by offering giveaways on different days and at different times to see which get the greatest response.

If the best tweet time for your market isn’t the most convenient for you, you can schedule tweets in advance using applications such as TweetDeck or HootSuite. Wolfer does this, for instance, to schedule some tweets in the middle of the night Eastern Time in order to reach her followers in Australia and Asia.

Gerson Lehrman Group — Engadget Stumbles Upon Community Translation

Nataly Kelly, an analyst at GLG, noticed the HootSuite Translation Project (Note to Nataly: we’d enjoy sharing more stories about this with you) and she totally gets the reason why to translate for the world:

We’ve written before about how businesses are embracing crowdsourced translation to enter new markets. Companies like Twitter, HootSuite, and others have recently embraced this practice too. However, some researchers even propose leveraging the power of online communities to quickly make information available in other languages for assisting with emergency response efforts in various parts of the world. Imagine if the victims of flood-hit Pakistan could quickly and easily receive cutting-edge, real-time information on relief and recovery efforts in each of the 73 languages spoken there.

KISSmetrics – 7 Sneaky Ways to Use Twitter to Spy on Your Competition

Kristi Hines shares tips for tracking public information about your competitors and listening and learning:

Setting up a search for your competitor’s @username will give you a look into what people are saying to your competitor. This way, you can see what their fans (or enemies) like or dislike about them, as well as questions they have. You can create a search in Twitter by simply searching for the @username of your competitor and using the “Save this Search” option, or creating it as a new stream in HootSuite.

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Localization and Blackberry 1st Look

Plenty of news from HootSuite recently so you know the Owls at the HQ aren’t slowing down for the summer. Today, HootSuite announces a global crowd-sourced project to translate and localize HootSuite for users around the world. Plus, we’re sharing a sneak peek of the coveted Blackberry app.

Crowd-Sourced Translation

Do you speak geek in multiple languages? Great! We want you to be a star in your community by joining the HootSuite translation project.

So far, HootSuite is localized in English and Japanese, but with updates coming in from all around the world (including far-flung locales like Palau and the Faroe Islands), we want to make life a wee bit Hoot-ier for everyone.

To accomplish this mission, we need help from a few wise Owls to play the translate game:

1. Sign up for the HootSuite translation project
2. Choose your languages and projects
3. Submit appropriate words for approval
4. Bask in the glow of your good deeds

We’re starting with a few popular tongues but welcome your suggestions about which language we should add next. We’re also curious to see which language will be first to go live? Portuguese and Dutch are safe bets but maybe Russian or Chinese will storm to the top of the leader board. Whichever is the winner, expect to see a custom Owly design to celebrate.

Fascinated by linguistic nuance? Apply to be a language translation coordinator which means you’ll give the thumbs-up on the submitted translation candidates before pushing live to the applause of thousands.

Watching the Hoots

Some fans want to know *everything* about HootSuite. If you seek knowledge, consider following @HootWatch– a back-channel account which shares a firehose of HootSuite media mentions and fan reactions.

Curious about who’s using HootSuite? Choose a few @HootWatch lists to follow well-know brands, famous artists, government agencies, education institutions who choose HootSuite for their social media forays.

Plug-ins, Extensions and Apps

While the web version is the most-used variation of HootSuite’s social media dashboard, you can also run HootSuite as a standalone app, add browser extensions, or utilize the Hootlet to enhance your experience.

The Hootlet is the social media aficionado’s secret weapon. Add this bookmarklet to quickly create an update from any web page. A single click pops open a messages already pre-populated with a short link and the page’s <title> tag. You can then edit, schedule or send like any other message. Also available as a browser extension for Firefox and Chrome.

Grab the apps and learn all about these mighty tools at the Help Desk.

A Very Berry Owl

Click for a larger view of HootSuite for Blackberry®

Blackberry fans are adamantly vocal about their desire to Hoot from their beloved ‘berrys — and the wait is almost over! Soon fans everywhere will have a ‘berry-ready Owl with Facebook and Twitter in your hand — just don’t squish it!

To quench your desire, here are the first screenshots of HootSuite for Blackberry to share with your colleagues.

The pilot batch of HootSuite for Blackberry beta users are testing the first iteration with more invites going out soon (we haven’t forgotten about the thousands of you who signed up to test).

Haven’t added your name to the beta list yet? Get on board by signing-up for the HootSuite for Blackberry beta program to be ahead of the curve.

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This news round-up focuses on a few posts discussing social media efficiency, international versions, media convergence, plus planning and measuring strategic campaigns.

Take some time to enjoy the knowledge and let us know which articles you particularly enjoyed.

As always, catch more HootSuite news via the social bookmark stream and point out any articles we’ve missed in the comments.

Here we go:

Business Week – Stop Wasting Time on Social Media

Karen E. Klein and Ivan Misner (founder and chairman of business networking organization BNI.com) in a Q&A:

There are great services they should be using like Ping.fm, Seesmic, and Hootsuite.com. You can go there and it ties all your social media together. In other words, they’re probably logging on to their Facebook account and going to their page and typing in their message, and then going to Twitter and LinkedIn and doing the same thing. It kills time. If you use sites like this, you write one message and they ping everything so you’re not spending 20 minutes to do what you can in three minutes.

Some great tips for working efficiently – thanks Karen and Ivan.

ADO Strategies – Application Convergence: Have you seen the new Hootsuite?

Application Convergence: Have you seen the new Hootsuite? from ADO Strategies

Matthew Snyder writes:

What we have seen is that our friends in Vancouver  (Hootsuite) have really looked to market differentiation with these translation tools.

{snip}

When I saw the announcement in April by Hootsuite I felt like they were really listening to the customer; as there must had been lots others like me with the same predicament.  In my mind this is a big move by the Hootsuite folks in their attempt  at this and even though we have not yet seen this capability on Facebook,  MARK MY WORDS….. This is going to be one of the most important features for them with their 500M users in the coming months.  If they do not buy Hootsuite, then they will do this themselves by the end of the year.

Interesting points Matthew — we definitely feel it’s important to embrace users from around the world and take a true global view of the impact of the social web. Now, about HTML 5 …

CommunicateAsia – Hootsuite Awarded a Big Hat Tip (from me) for Thinking Like an Internationalist

Michael Netzley writes:

Hootsuite, one of the major tools for Twitter lovers, now has translation built into its iPhone app — Japanese, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. While this does give us access to one of the world’s truly leading digital markets, Japan, other Asian countries are not yet included (I remain hopeful). Still, a big hat tip to Hootsuite for thinking like an Internationalist! A rare thing in the 21st century, so much appreciated.

We’ve since added localization for Korean and Arabic to the iPhone with more language choices to come – thanks Professor.

thoughtpick – 4 Awesome Web-based Twitter Clients

M. Bamieh writes:

If you can appreciate the utility of an electric screw driver over its traditional cousin, you will appreciate Hootsuite. {snip} This is a heavy application, and certainly more enterprise centric providing you with a command console worthy of a marketing department HQ. If you have many Twitter accounts to manage or you are a star and would like to manage the accounts of your Twitter account ghost writers this is the tool to use.

HootSuite loves marketing departments and Twitter stars alike

inmanNews – How to measure social media strategy and success

Katie Lance writes:

Along with Google Analytics, I utilize the statistical feature in Hootsuite. I think Hootsuite is a must for any social media manager or anyone who is consistently managing a social media campaign on different platforms.

Once you are logged into Hootsuite, to view your statistics, look at the lower-left-hand corner of your screen and click the “Launch” button. From there you can check your stats summary or individual messages by clicking “Summary.”

Glad to hear Katie – have you tried the custom URL parameters yet?

Youngentrepreneur – 8 Awesome Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs

Navid Zolfaghari writes:

Through Hootsuite’s unique social media dashboard, you can collaboratively schedule updates to Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Wordpress and other social networks. Hootsuite helps organizations launch marketing campaigns, identify and grow audience, and distribute targeted messages across multiple channels.

Thanks for putting HootSuite at the top of the list Navid – we concur with many of your other tips too.

The WELDer – How To HootSuite Like A Pro

How To HootSuite Like A Pro from The WELDer

Gretchen Stone writes:

The beauty of HootSuite is that unlike some other apps, you can update multiple accounts from just one platform. So, for instance, if you’re tasked with managing your company’s profile, you can also update your own without having to log out. You can even send the same message to both, cutting your typing time in half.

{snip}

Short cuts like HootSuite take the frustration out of keeping up with your online presence and more importantly save time for busy executives.

Great tips and love that header graphic with the superhero lad.

StayOnSearch – Using Hootsuite to Manage Your Twitter Engagement Efforts

Mark Thomson writes:

In my personal opinion, I have found Hootsuite to be by far the best Twitter client out there.  I’m sure a lot of people can make an argument for clients like Tweetdeck and Seesmic, but I find Hootsuite to be the most user-friendly, feature-rich, and up-to-date Twitter client available.

The interface is clean, customizable, and includes a wealth of information about your twitter account.  Let’s take a detailed look into how Hootsuite can be used to manage your daily engagements for both personal and business use.

We’re glad you are on-board Mark and props on a very comprehensive roundup about HootSuite.

Social Media for Dealers -  Twitter tools profile: HootSuite

The first tool we’re covering is HootSuite. HootSuite is a “professional Twitter client”, fancy for “free tool that allows you to post, schedule future posts, track, follow and stay updated with your Twitter strategy”.   Check out the article “How to Get the Most Out of Social Media Using Hootsuite” by Zachary Sniderman on Open Forum. He does a great job over-viewing Hootsuite.

{snip}

HootSuite offers the best tracking options of the Twitter tools we’ll cover. It offers statistics and tools that can tell you anything from what links were clicked on (and when) to which sites are sending traffic your way.  Of course it also measures retweets, replies, and mentions.  It’s a great way gage your success and set benchmarks for the future.

In case you were wondering, “Dealers” in this case means RV dealerships – nothing nefarious

More

As always, catch more HootSuite news via the social bookmark stream and let us know about any we’ve missed in the comments.

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Designed to Simplify

HootSuite keeners likely noticed a handful of new features for HootSuite iPhone released recently including language localization and a batch of handy tools which allow you to forward Twitter messages by email and save links to Instapaper. But this was only part one of the “Elf Owl” release.

Today, you can fill your toolbox with even more goodies designed to make social media experience more efficient and enjoyable. Ahhh … feels better already doesn’t it?

Get Your Fingers Working

HootSuite for iPhone update is available at the iTunes App store in Lite (no-cost) and Full ($2.99 USD) versions. Follow @HootSuiteiPhone for updates.

Internationally Comfortable

We know it’s nice to see an interface in your own language so we added full localization for Japanese, German, Spanish and Portuguese speakers.

Users will see all interface elements including options, settings and basic functions translated so no more fumbling to figure it out.

The localization is an industry-first for a Twitter iPhone app — including Twitter’s official app (formerly Tweetie) — and reflects Twitters rapid growth in markets beyond the US.

Which languages would you like to see localized next? Add your thoughts at the Feedback channel.

Handier Translation

The localization is a great addition to the translation tools which interpret to/from 50+ languages. Extra useful for monitoring brand sentiment which is critical for social-savvy marketers who must be aware of public opinion to amplify messages or prevent PR blunders.

Plus, now a single click translates foreign messages into your phone’s default language so you can get the gist of what your customers from Thailand to Timbuktu think about you, your brand, or your industry.

Fun: Try translating comments from rival team’s fans during the upcoming World Cup matches .

Clear your Mind

Whether you are reading Twitter and Facebook for business or pleasure, you want to interact with your social streams efficiently. Some people call this “getting things done” but we call it “simply handy.” Meet some of the new tools the mobile owls sprinkled in to clear your mind — many of which were submitted by HootSuite enthusiasts through the feedback channel.

Conversational Context
Don’t let replies confuse you – know the original context of conversations from days before with threaded messages arranged chronologically in chat-like bubbles.

Facebook Comments
Easily participate in the conversation by commenting on anything on your Facebook News Feed — along with posting messages to Facebook Pages and Profiles.

Keep your Place
HootSuite remembers your position and places you right back in the stream so no more re-reading to find your place when you take a phone call or use another App.

Saved as a Draft
Need more info for your update? Interrupted while typing? Save your message as a draft and finish it up later at your leisure without starting from scratch.

Read it Later
Don’t want to read an article right away? Just click to save links to the (free) Instapaper service to save for future reading on the big screen when you have the time.

Email that Tweet
Want to share a message with someone not using Twitter? Send any micro-update by email to share the news with bosses or pals to bring them into the conversation.

Remember to Bump
Released a few weeks ago in HootSuite Labs, the “Bump to Follow” tool is gaining fans in noisy clubs and quiet rooms alike who follow by “bumping” phones. Try it ~ but hold on to your phone!

Spreading the Word

HootSuite isn’t in the league of Ichiro, Godzilla or Spinal Tap in Japan… but we’re getting there. CEO Ryan Holmes recently visited Nippon to show off the localized iPhone at numerous events including speaking at Open Network Labs Live event, meeting users at a Tweetup, attending a Maker Faire, plus talking tech with the CEO of Softbank — Japan’s largest “keitei” mobile phone provider.

Curious? Catch the recaps of Ryan’s journey to Japan including pics, vids, and interviews.

While not quite as “exotic” as Tokyo, Community Director Dave Olson spoke about community building and shared HootSuite power-tuning tips in Bellingham, Washington plus hosted a mobile-industry trade mission visiting Vancouver from the Netherlands.

Stay up with all the HootSuite news and recaps here on the HootSuite blog and by following @hootwatch as well at @hootsuite and @hootsuite_help.

Seeking more company information including descriptions, logos and media contact? Visit the online Media Kit.

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Built for Socializing

HootSuite adds more tools to the iPhone version of the popular social media dashboard including: instant language translation, geo-location, and Facebook integration plus several key interface enhancements.

With the latest update, you’re still able to manage and monitor multiple Twitter accounts, track keywords and brands, plus explore on-board click-through stats… but we’ve added even more treats.

This release adds the ability to translate Twitter and Facebook messages on the fly — in 50+ languages! Additionally, users can update Facebook accounts, compose Twitter messages in landscape view, share geo-location info, “reply-to-all” with one click, and “Bump™” iPhones to follow one another.

Time for a Holiday

No matter where you’re headed, this Owl will help you stay in touch and informed with instant translation to 50+ languages, geo-location to pinpoint yourself on the globe, and Facebook Profiles and Pages added to the mix — plus a few surprises in the suitcase. With all these new tools, the Owl decided to hop on the plane for a worldwide tour with iPhone in tow.

Check out the new features in action at exotic world locales in this video then get your thumbs on the updated HootSuite for iPhone for a bundle of surprises designed for any quest — from your neighborhood to around the world.

Facebook your Fans

The new release adds Facebook support, allowing you to update your status (in the aforementioned world languages), track your friends’ news updates, and schedule your messages for future publishing. Beyond Facebook Profiles, you can import Facebook Pages from your HootSuite account, and add “likes” to your friends’ posts.

Translate-ability

This Owl is international – Track Twitter conversations from around the world with instant translation to and from over 50 languages — ideal for monitoring relevant topics and brand mentions from global friends and customers. You can also compose in your native language and translate on the go — then post your update to both Twitter and Facebook — makes running international outreach campaigns easy.

Wherever you Go … Geo

Alert the world to your exact location by including geo-location data with your Twitter update. Great for chronicling a trip, remembering a special spot, or for helping friends find you for fun times. Just click a button to pinpoint your location, and your Twitter posts will be tagged with your whereabouts.

Well Groomed Owl

The new HootSuite for iPhone enjoys a freshened interface with large, intuitive buttons, plus a landscape view for composing Twitter updates in a larger, thumb-friendly space. Additionally, you can easily catch up with all the messages since the last time you checked with a “drag and refresh” option, plus quickly populate a message with all recipients using the “Reply to All” option.

Enter the Lab

Seeking a fun way to add followers in person? Dig into HootSuite Labs to try the “Bump™ to follow” feature — to try, just high five another HootSuite-enabled iPhone and you’ll see the chance to follow each other with a confirmation click. Fist pump, low five, freeze frame five — they all work. Enjoy testing this beta feature, no lab coat required.

More:

Press release with screenshots

HootSuite for iPhone page

Time for a Holiday video – features music “The Nostalgic Buffoon” by Jeremiah Jacobs (@jeremiahjacobs)

Note: “Bump” is ™ of Bump Technologies, Inc. http://bu.mp/

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