I’m a HUGE fan of Twitter. Not only do I tweet regularly, but I am constantly praising Twitter to my friends and colleagues, pushing them to join if they haven’t already. I’ve made some great contacts through the site. It’s truly a tremendous resource.

But last Friday, I made the biggest mistake ever.

I tried to change my Twitter avatar.

Little did I know at the time that this would be a never-ending, ongoing, frustrating task to achieve. Deleting my avatar was the easy part. But uploading a new one? Yeah, forget it. I’ve tried uploading a new one through a PC, a Mac and through three different browsers. I’ve checked, double checked and triple checked the image size, resolution, format, etc. to make sure it complies with Twitter’s settings. And I e-mailed Twitter support.

They e-mailed me back last night with a link to a page I’d already checked out about 100 times over the weekend, looking for updates or comments on the issue. They say I’m not the only one having this problem. Unfortunately, that just doesn’t make me feel better, Twitter. Thanks though.

I’ve been attempting to upload a new one going on four days now. Honestly at this point, I would be fine with this or this or even this as my avatar. I just want SOMETHING.

The fact of the matter is, if more than 100 million users participate in the Twitter discussion, one would think uploading a picture would be the smallest of Twitter’s issues. Clearly, it’s one that has yet to be tackled. For now, I’ll anxiously, impatiently sit here trying to upload my picture 137 times a day (no exaggeration), until it works.

And this got the juices flowing…

Does this mean I’m too dependent on social media? Do I put too much emphasis on my online profile?

Okay, yes. I’m completely dependent on social media. I place a pretty big emphasis on my online profile because it’s one of the first ways I get in front of my readers, contacts, colleagues, followers and friends. But is it the end of the world when I’m faceless?

For example, when you have a new coworker join your office, what’s one of the very first things you do? Chances are, you Google her. In today’s online world, if we aren’t transparent and there for everyone to access, we are missing out on a huge piece of the puzzle. Right?

So, is it okay to place so much importance on your online profile? Are we too dependent on social media? I’d love to hear your thoughts. In the meantime, if you have any words of advice on uploading my Twitter avatar, let me know because I’m going crazy over here.

- L

Your company’s annual conference and expo is coming up and everyone’s looking to you to come up with some “social media strategy.” Social media strategy? What the heck is that? You don’t do the whole Facebook thing and tweeting is as foreign as the things Andrew Zimmern eats on Bizarre Foods.

So where do you start?

While some companies and organizations may have it all figured out, many are just delving into this whole new concept. Who would’ve thought that in addition to making sure you have all the educational sessions, networking events, sponsored parties, book signings, press conferences, exhibition halls and keynote speakers in line, you also have to incorporate a whole new (and necessary) digital expectation into the trade show? Whether your event attracts young professionals or experienced ready-to-retire folks, social media plays an integral part in the success of your show.

Here are 10 DOS and DON’TS for integrating social media into conferences and trade shows.

10. DO create a Facebook event within your company’s Facebook group. Invite group members to attend and keep the group open for those who are invited to invite others. Keep track of those who RSVP “yes” and cross reference the “yes” list with those who have actually registered to attend. If you find that someone hasn’t registered yet, follow up with a personal e-mail or message reminder.

9. DO create a Twitter hashtag for the event. Make sure the hashtag is short and easy to remember. This will help keep track of who’s mentioning your event and will help to build hype before, during and after the event takes place. Of course, use the hashtag each time you tweet anything referencing the conference.

8. DO host a tweet up. If you have the means and there is an interest, consider hosting a tweet up at the show. This will allow those who meet on Twitter to meet face-to-face and match Twitter handles with names and faces. This is also an opportunity for those who are interested in Twitter but don’t know much about it to become more familiar and learn more.

7. DO develop on-site collateral (signage, fliers, etc.) mentioning the various social media outlets your business participates in. This will help to raise awareness and will act as a reminder for your audience to tune in and communicate with each other and your company through these online networks.

6. DO upload photos and videos in real time. Taking photos and shooting video at a conference are key. While there may be professional photographers or videographers shooting the show, having candid camera footage is great too. Posting photos to Flickr and videos to YouTube in real time allows everyone to see the action as it’s taking place.

5. DO create a landing page on your event Web site. By creating a landing page dedicated to social media on your Web site, you can post Twitter, YouTube and Flickr widgets which house everything together on one page. This way people don’t have to find your company on each social media outlet individually but instead can go to one place to see everything at once.

4. DON’T get upset when people RSVP “no” to your Facebook event. Clearly not everyone can come to every single conference and event that your company hosts. Don’t be discouraged by these “no” responses. People are being honest–and that’s what social media is all about.

3. DON’T create a Twitter hashtag and not use it. If you aren’t using your Twitter hashtag promoting your event, don’t be surprised if others aren’t either. The more you use it and spread the word, the more others will consider including it in their tweets as well.

2. DON’T host a tweet up with no plan in place. If you host a tweet up, be sure to have a plan or agenda in place beforehand. Have name tags and markers for people to write down their Twitter handles. It’s also important to remember that the environment in which you host the tweet up must be conducive to generating a successful tweet up in the first place. If you host a tweet up in a library, chances will probably be high that very few (if any) people will show up. If you host it at a bar or lounge, bowling alley, concert venue or art gallery, this creates a more exciting and inviting atmosphere. (You want people to show up, right?)

1. DO remember to have fun and be creative! Social media is a combination of professional, personal, creative, interesting, interactive and intuitive tools used to engage your audience in a variety of effective ways. Exploring these online resources and incorporating them in to your next event or conference will be a fun, new and exciting addition that your attendees, exhibitors, followers, friends and colleagues will surely enjoy.

Have you ever managed social media for an event, conference or trade show? I welcome your experiences, thoughts and pointers in the comments below.

- L

If you’re on Twitter and are a journalist, PR professional, blogger, you name it, you’ve most likely heard of or even participated in #journchat. Created a year ago by @PRsarahevans, #journchat is a weekly chat session consisting of 10 questions (sometimes submitted, sometimes not) related to journalism, and more-or-less, all-things communications. #Journchat creates a discussion forum where PR practitioners and the like can share thoughts, ideas and best practices, pose questions, provide answers and make valuable connections with fellow industry professionals, all from the comfort of their home, office, phone, laptop… you get the picture.

But the most intriguing part about #journchat is that it really generates incredible discussion. People tune in and participate like I’ve never seen before. It’s part of their weekly routine. Monday night = #journchat. Twitter has created this environment where all kinds of people, of all ages, from all different places around the world come together and well, chat. In no way am I suggesting that Twitter is like one of those old-fashioned chat rooms we all participated in when we first got dial-up (don’t worry, it’s not). Rather, Twitter is a space where people can actually create relationships. Yes, relationships. Online.

And #journchat helps PR people and journalists do exactly that. It allows them to generate dialogue while also creating relationships that can be continued and enhanced offline. Personally, I’ve met hundreds of talented professionals through Twitter and established ongoing relationships with them. They help me when I have a question or a concern and vice versa. Say for example I’m working on a project and I have an AP style question that I really just don’t know the answer to. I know exactly who to message because she will, without a doubt, know the answer. Or even more, if I’m working on a story covering a specific topic, I probably know someone who is more of an expert at that than myself. And if they aren’t an expert, they’ll know someone who is. It’s pretty great to have immediate access to such wonderful resources.

In case you missed this week’s #journchat, you can find the transcript here. Hope to see you next Monday online!

- L

So this morning I woke up, came to the office and did the usual morning routine. Set down my things, turned on the computer, grabbed my notes and work from the previous day along with my appointment calendar, went to the break room for my instant coffee and came back to log in to e-mail, etc. Then suddenly, my morning routine came to a screeching hault. Uh oh.

Twitter is down.

My morning immediately turned upside down. How could Twitter be down? What could be wrong? Will it be fixed? When will it come back on? Maybe someone’s talking about it on Facebook. I log in. You’re kidding me. Facebook’s lagging behind. I call my coworkers. Is Twitter working for you? How about Facebook? Really? How could this be happening to my lovely Thursday morning? What have I done to deserve this mess? Ugh.

Then I come to find (after much Googling) that Twitter was trying to overcome a “denial of service.” No clue what that means. Let’s Wikipedia it. Done. Now what? Just wait, I guess. So I wait and wait, and wait some more. I attempt to continue with my morning workday routine…

After my gazillionth attempt many hours later, SUCCESS! I am logged in. Phew!

Looking back on this, it seems a bit silly. Sure, let’s face it. I am outrageously dependent on the Internet and social media. They have transformed our lives (and our mornings for that matter). The way we work today is completely different than the way our parents worked when they were our age. The workplace has changed.

The best part of all of this is that I wasn’t alone. Twitter wasn’t functioning at 8:30 a.m. and so many of my colleagues (more than I can count on my fingers and toes) already knew it. Participating in social media has not only become part of the everyday routine but has become widely accepted by the corporate environment. It’s a function that is simply expected. Are you tweeting? You should be. Trust me. It goes quite well with instant coffee.

- L

I always find it a bit humorous to come across someone who doesn’t believe in social media. Let’s face it people—it has transformed how we work, how we live and how we connect with each other. Sure, you can still have your blackberry, address book or what have you. But the truth of the matter is, social media has consolidated everything into the easiest and cheapest form of communication available. All you have to do is hop on the computer, log in to Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn (or your social media outlet of choice) and immediately connect with family, friends and colleagues throughout the world.

While some skeptics have valid concerns (privacy, etc.), the bottom line is, you control what you put out there for others to see and know. You can set limitations to your profile, choose what to post and what not to post, share pictures, links or even choose whether or not to be friends with someone. Why doubt or discredit something without giving it a shot first? Isn’t that what life’s all about anyway? Why throw in the towel before you even started?

Chances are, you’ve heard the idea that social media is only for younger generations. Let me be the first to tell you that this is just simply not true. Although Facebook initially began as a tool for college students to use, it hasn’t been this way for a while now. In fact, according to Facebook, more than two-thirds of Facebook users are outside of college and the fastest growing demographic is those 35 years old and older.

Let’s get down to business. While the term “social media” may come across as a fun, “social” concept, there are professional aspects to social media as well. Think about it for a minute. You just started your own lactose-free health food business from your home kitchen and are trying to get it off the ground. Why not use Twitter to make contacts in the same arena? Better yet, why not use Facebook as a place to post recipes, share ideas and get feedback? You could even have a YouTube channel to provide how-to videos for others.

Maybe you just want to get in touch with an old friend, a relative you haven’t heard from in a while or need to find a colleague’s e-mail address in a pinch. A huge variety of people use social media in a huge variety of ways. The possibilities really are endless.

If my grandma can use social media and love it, you probably can too. What’s your take?

- L