Brand new day; brand new year.
The temptation to write a “best of” post at the end of the year is powerful.
But, as Oscar Wilde said,
“I can resist anything except temptation.”
So, before I give you my top 5 posts from 2012, I’ll share with you 3 things I want to do to improve my business for 2013.
Overall, I’m happy that the content I published this year seems to have struck a balance of being engaging, educational and entertaining.
I’m less happy with meeting my business goals for the year so here’s some strategies that I hope will improve that.
Collaborate.
I’ve always worked in collaborative fields; theatre, restaurants, and hotels. As a self employed consultant, I miss the support and challenge of co-creators so I want to seek out more collaborations next year.
Focus.
Being a “generalist” is a blessing and a curse, depending on which end of the telescope I’m looking through. My curiosity often gets the better of me and I sometimes get lost in the pixels. I will focus on only those things that impact directly on my business.
Produce.
Although I produced a lot of content last year (on this blog as well as on SteamFeed.com, on Google+), I haven’t created nearly enough “product” i.e. e-books, videos and webinars.
My beacon, as I navigate 2013, will be these words that Stephen Sondheim wrote in the preface to his two volume book: Hat Box: The Collected Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim.
It’s a formula he offers for lyricists but it applies to anyone who creates.
Content Dictates Form
Less is More
God is in the Details
all in the service of
CLARITY
Here are five of my most popular blog posts of 2012.
Google+ gives us a lot of flexibility in how we deliver content. In this post, I suggest ways to make the most of your Google+ posts by:
1. Using visuals
2. Being authentic and conversational
3. Writing professionally, minding your spelling & grammar
4. Paying attention to formatting, allowing spaces and breaks
5. Optimizing titles for SEO
1. Hack Your Life (HT Fabrice Calando)
2. 12 Accomplishments for 12 Months
3. Three Little “Big” Words: Create – Focus – Balance
1. Networking through “Circles”
2. Lead Generation & Nurturing
3. Optimize your Google+ posts for SEO
The first rule of social networking is to be real.
But what if “keeping it real” could be “keeping you poor”?
What if, by divulging your political bias in a blog post or by giving your opinion on global warming, you alienate potential clients?
This is a look at what you can do with a Google+ Hangout On Air, (Live Broadcast).
Includes tips for holding one as well as how to be mindful of YouTube
Content ID rules for broadcasting video and audio.
Have a wonderful 2013! Let’s keep in touch. 
Ray Hiltz is a Social Media Strategist with management roots in restaurant, hotel and performing arts. A strong proponent for the power of collaborative communication and "humanized" digital networking, Ray writes about social media, social business and Google Plus. His clients include hotels, restaurants, consulting firms, entrepreneurs, writers and individuals just trying to make sense of "social". Ray is a popular speaker on Social Media, Social Business and Google+.
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Ray, thanks for the SteamFeed plug. :) We need to create more products in 2013 as well, the plan is to do SteamFeed Webinars so we'll have to get you involved in that. :) I have a feeling it's going to be a great year for the lot of us.
Latest blog post: SteamFeed Is Now Live.The Wait is Over!
@DJThistle My pleasure. Sounds like a great project. As I mentioned, collaboration is one of my priorities next year.
Hope your intuition is accurate. :-)
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Great post Ray! Short powerful list, power to you for taking your work to the next level in 2013. Now that we've all survived the end of the world, there's be nothing but a bright future for all of us.
Latest blog post: Hello world! | Nice day for a Doten Clone
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Here's hoping you'll add me to the short list of collaborators! Great look forward before your recap, Ray! 2013 shall rock.
@collectivess I'd love to add you if I knew who I was replying to. I think I know but can't find a link to your site or a person's face anywhere.
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@newraycom @collectivess Ray, Social Solutions Collective is Mallie Hart. :)
Latest blog post: SteamFeed Is Now Live.The Wait is Over!
@DJThistle @collectivess Apologies. Thought it was one of her posse, ,but couldn't find a link to a website or personal avatar to confirm.
