Do you know this lady? If not, you probably should. I’ll tell you why in a post or two coming soon.

Thanks to Terry Crosby I figured out how to engage particular groups that I want to follow in list fashion on HootSuite. I can create a list - or a column as it is known on HoostSuite - using keyword phrases under the Keyword Tracking option. Then I can pick a person within the column to both follow and tweet a message to on the Hootsuite interface. It gives the option to make my choice of the Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn platforms to send the tweet simultaneously. Take a look at Terry’s tutorial for a quick lesson.

As for today’s activity in particular, I’m looking up other bloggers and social media experts who are attending Blogging While Brown in the Nation’s Capital this summer. My objective of course is to take the initiative in my real world networking by connecting virtually and touching base with potential new friends and business associates a few months ahead of time.

Also discovered today that the regular Twitter account allows you to create lists as well. The Blogging While Brown site has a list of attendees so I just followed the entire list (By the way why aren’t you on there already?) and now I’m following up with particular greetings to each of them.

So I encourage you to create a HoostSuite account today and spend some time learning the fundamentals. Create a few columns using keywords relevant to your blogging and social networking. Then work your columns in tandem with your favorite Twitter fan page lists and watch your contacts blossom.

No I didn’t mis-spell “Right”. I’m helping you to celebrate the month with my first ever guest blogger, my friend Bridget Wright. Bridget will be contributing regular posts to MartyBLOGs sharing her insights on subjects such as public speaking, faith and home based business.

Bridget is an excellent speaker. In fact we met through Toastmasters International just a few short years ago. She is fun and funny but quite thoughtful in her views of things at the same time. Don’t believe me? Just friend her on Facebook. She will have you laughing non-stop. All of those qualities will be evident in her writing here at MartyBLOGs.

Are you ready for some content with a fresh new perspective? Watch out for this female history maker in the making. Bridget Wright is part of the MartyBLOGs team and we are proud to count her as a member. First post coming soon.

A rare rant from me but I have to get it off my chest. On behalf of science and scientists can we please chill with the Sea World wise cracks? Zoos and aquariums - including their entertainment venues - are the only way most people are going to learn about the natural world and the animals that populate it. Fewer people will go hiking and camping than will go to a nice tourist attraction such as Sea World to learn and be wowed by nature’s wonders.

That’s not to mention the fact that you’re subtly discouraging amazing career options for young people who read your posts and comments. Watching a documentary pales in comparison to seeing these great creatures up close with your own eyes so let’s be respectful please.

End of rant. Rest in peace Dawn Brancheau, Sea World trainer.

I recently sold an ink cartridge on my Amazon Affiliate account and packed it in a little shoe box wrapped in plastic shopping bags.

That’s the way to recycle baby! Customer bought cartridge (recylcable) and I sent him shopping bags (can recycle as lunch bags, as packaging or once finally as trash bags in his house).

How are you doing creative greening in your business? Share your tips in the comments section and let’s learn from one another.

I was listening to an old Bootsy Collins song Bootzilla and started wondering if Bootsy or George Clinton ever produced an actual “rock star doll” action figure? From my research, seems it didn’t happen but that would have been an amazing marketing coup.

And can’t you just imagine the collaborative potential? Picture in your minds Bootzilla and G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu grip executing a commando mission; Joe by land and Bootsy by space? A double trouble gift pack. How did they miss this one?

Surely I’m not the first to have thought of such a brilliant thing? Am I giving away a grand idea? Well, probably not. Don’t know if there’s a retro-commando doll market out there but one never knows. That’s O.K. though. If it takes off I don’t mind being the public persona who inspired the idea.

So all you doll enthusiasts, what do you think? Any potential for this one? Click the comments link and tell me if I’m on to something.

Want more of MartyBLOGs the easy way? Here are two simple options.

Sign up for the Entries RSS to keep up with our posts in your feed reader.

Sign on to the Comments RSS feed to keep up with what the other readers are saying about the posts.

You’ll find both at the bottom of the site in the left sidebar under the “Meta” heading.

Her name is Bridget Wright and she is a woman of many talents. Among my fave is that she’s a fellow Toastmaster. Need someone to speak to your group on a topic of importance? Get in touch with her.

You’ll get a feel for her skills as she begins to kick in content here on the site in March. I can’t wait an you should definitely stay tuned. I can assure you you’ll be glad you did.

My home town of St. Louis is known for lots of historic firsts, but this cold wintry season, and Facebook wise cracks from my buddy Phil Dawson (A Detroit Red Wings fan), made me recall that my home team mascot is named for one of the most popular blues songs of the era penned by W.C. Handy. The St. Louis Blues was published in 1941 and was adopted as the hockey team’s theme song many years later.

As an NHL expansion team in 1967 team owner Sid Saloman Jr. took inspiration from the city’s blues history and Handy’s famed song to name his new franchise. And if you look closely at the emblem on the jersey it’s a fanciful blue-note borrowed from standard sheet music notation.

As a kid listening to the intro to games on KMOX radio I didn’t know that we were listening to a jazzed up version similar to this rendition by Glenn Miller’s Band. Not sure if this was the recording chosen for the broadcast but it definitely sounds like it.

It was great the way the radio broadcast would start. Jack Buck’s voice saying, “The St. Louis Blues are on the air!” and then the drums and horns kicking in exactly the way the song always starts.

So if you ever wondered how the blues and hockey are connected there’s your answer. Know any other little known historical tid-bits about this subject or hockey and Black History in general? Share with us and leave comments after this post.

Many individuals and companies use eventbrite for event registration and/or ticketing to their events. In fact you’ve probably already used it a few times yourself. Well today is a good day to create your own account and here’s why. The eventbrite site has customizable features that you will really like along with the usual variety of payment options for your customers. It also allows you to enter event details in addition to an attendee list.

I really like this feature in particular for its networking value. It allows your guests to start interacting via web and social media ahead of the event when they see web links or social media links that pique their interest under the other participants names. For serious networkers this helps them plan ahead to intentionally meet two or three people at the venue that they think they may want to follow up with afterwards.

When you go to the site take a look at how some of the companies in the “Popular Events” section in the middle of the page have set up their accounts. You’ll get some really good ideas from them.

Eventbrite has an analytics package as well that helps you to track customer demographics. This is important for learning what went well sales-wise with your last program and to fine tune your target marketing strategy for your next event.

When you get a minute also check out the “About Eventbrite” and “How To” sections at the bottom of the site to learn about some of the features in detail. The affiliate program may be something that works well for you in the future as your business expands. I just created an affiliate account recently myself.

Like I said earlier you have likely already used eventbrite a number of times to buy tickets and reserve seats at events so why not create a profile to take advantage of online ticketing on your own behalf? Click my link and create an account. Then the next time you or I have an event let’s help each other pub it and share in the revenue.

If the growing popularity of this site is any indication I believe eventbrite is going to develop into the next big online affiliate program and you’re not going to want to miss out on that growth so sign up today.