Google Analytics and Finding Smart Friends

Today I signed up for Google Analytics, another free tool from Google. This will help me figure out how many visitors there are on my site. I expect it to be pretty dormant for awhile. I need to build up some more content before I heavily "get out there" and work at getting followers. When I'm at that point, I'll work harder at being a more clever "Laptop Guy." (And hopefully, I'll have figured out a more friendly-looking picture that says more than 'I'm too sexy for my motherboard')

However, I do want to start connecting with some experts, so I did a Google search on "Social Media for Writers." As usual, I came across an excellent resource, named (quite appropriately) Social Media For Writers (SMFW). Lots of great articles and resources on this site!

The author of this site, Donna Talarico, who has a blog, is on Twitter, and on Facebook....well, since she is a social media expert, this would be expected! I searched for Donna Talarico on Twitter and found three accounts, all of which I followed, both by Laptop Guy and with my "true" self, Yvette Francino.

Searching on Facebook, I found 5 Donna Talaricos, but I was able to deduce which was the right one based on the Scranton, PA location, which, of course, also happens to be the home of the Dunder Miflin Paper Company. (The Office is very popular amongst the Laptop community.)

I sent Donna a message on Facebook asking her to connect. If she does connect with me, she will be my first friend (other than Yvette, who really doesn't count.)

Now I'm off to add her blog link to my blog roll and read some of her content. It looks like she has some very informative articles!

Getting Cataloged

Yesterday Yvette created my identity. I think my image makes me look like an arrogant jerk. I don't know how many people will want to connect with that guy. Yvette might want to make me a little more friendly-looking if she wants me to get some serious connections.

Today was about getting in BlogCatalog. We got both this blog and Yvette's Geek Gal blog registered in Blog Catalog and added some buttons and widgets. BlogCatalog allowed us to add connections -- I'm only in Twitter and Facebook right now. Surprisingly Facebook was one of the few "connections" that wasn't included in the list to choose from on BlogCatalog. Check out all these others we could have added:

• AIM
• Amazon Wishlist
• Bloggers Unite
• BrightKite
• BUMPzee
• coComment
• del.icio.us
• Digg
• Disqus
• Flickr
• Furl
• iLike
• IntenseDebate
• Jaiku
• Last.fm
• LinkedIn
• Ma.gnolia
• Meetup
• Mixx
• Multiply
• MyBlogLog
• MySpace
• Pandora
• Reddit
• SezWho
• SmugMug
• Sphinn
• StumbleUpon
• Technorati
• TweetFeed
• Upcoming
• Vimeo
• Yelp
• YouTube
• Zooomr

We also used Blogger to add a BlogRoll and added a few Social Media blogs that looked like they had some good information.

Laptop Guy Introduced

Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Laptop Guy. My human partner, Yvette, usually grabs all the credit for our work, but let me tell you, I’m the brawn behind the brain. If it weren’t for me, she’d be no where. She’s actually written a book, The Laptop Dancer Diaries, all about our unique relationship. Well, I am getting IN on this action. No more quietly sitting in the background while she spills all the beans.

While we're waiting around for publication, we decided to conduct a Social Media experiment. For an hour a day, I'm going to frequent all the social media sites -- at least the big ones, like Facebook & Twitter... see if I can make myself some virtual friends. Yvette won't let me on LinkedIn. Says it's too "professional." Bummer. There are people out there that could really push my buttons. Is it my fault that they don't make business attire for Laptops?

I'm off to sign up for Twitter and Facebook. Find me there and let's connect....