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As the owner of a strategic marketing and communications firm, the biggest Twitter fear I hear as my clients pursue a social media presence is this: “What should I Tweet about?”

Personally, I enjoy Tweeting and blogging and posting to Facebook for myself and my company. But, as a woman business leader and business owner, I’m not surprised to hear this question. One of the challenges with Twitter is the 140-character limit. Many find this to be the most daunting aspect … how do you say what you want to say in 140 characters or less? For me, that’s not a problem. But I’ve been at it for a while. If I think back to when I first started, I think it was mostly an issue of just doing it. Once you get into the habit, it becomes much easier.

My advice is to give it a try and look over this list of “30 Things to Tweet About,” from blogger Sorav Jain for inspiration:

1. New announcements from your brand
2. Teaser previews of offerings you are working on
3. Related interesting news from the industry
4. Trivia related to your product: history, technology, anything!
5. Ask for suggestions: people love to help someone out
6. Events you are holding: this informs as well as gets you attendees
7. Events you are participating in: this shows you are active
8. Witty one-liners: this can be (appropriate) jokes, daily wisdom, or just about anything else
9. Helping people find opportunities: Helping people solve problems is the best thing you can do to promote your brand
10. Popular events: tweet about the upcoming sports events, festivals, etc
11. Unexpected developments: Was Gmail down today? Tweet about it!
12. Regular industry news: yup, this doesn’t hurt if mixed in
13. Sales announcements: Tweet about any sales announcements you might have
14. Job openings: Tell people about open positions, both with your brand and at other places you know
15. Ask for customer feedback: Invite people to share their experiences with your brand
16. Participate in the relevant hashtags, and get more visibility
17. Set up and announce tweet chats based on brand-related hashtags
18. Follow people and make acknowledgement via tweets
19. Thank people who have recently followed you
20. Post the latest updates from your blog along with the link
21. Direct people to other social media channels you own by tweeting about them
22. Search on your brand name and respond to tweets that are about you
23. Create Twitter lists of industry-relevant analysts, well-wishers or customers, and announce the lists publically. This sends a positive message to the mentioned people
24. Participate in trending topics and viral hashtags to rope in some attention. Ensure your opinions are related to your brand
25. Tweet-greet your followers daily. Saying small things like “good morning,” or asking about their health goes a long way in forging ties
26. Tweet and tag your best employee of the week. This keeps the staff motivated and gives them a platform
27. Announce weekly deal, tweetpon (coupon), etc., and evaluate its viral reach to understand how influential your brand is
28. For B2B brands, find out analysts on Twitter and build up conversations with them. Twitter is the best place for making your opinion heard
29. Give daily twitter tips on usage of your brand’s products/service or on the basis of the industry expertise. Tips sell well on Twitter
30. Make regular #FF Friday Follow recommendations or announce fan of the week with some incentives or freebies to the winners

Many of these tips are extremely helpful and will provide you with ideas for months. I’m always looking for more tips, though, so give me yours and I’ll add them to the list.

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There is no better way to validate your life’s experience as a woman business leader than to use your accumulated knowledge to give back. When I have the opportunity to really help someone through a mentoring program, I feel that I get as much out of the experience by giving and sharing as the recipient of the mentoring gets from me.

What I find really exciting is the opportunity to move beyond my past ideas and experiences and watch as they reemerge in new and progressive ways through those that I mentor. And,  I love the idea of having new opinions layered and added to past experiences.

Above all though, I believe that you cannot mentor successfully without having passion for mentoring and for the opportunities you are providing. To be an effective mentor, Mindtools suggests you need to do the following:

1-Have the desire to help
You should be willing to spend time helping someone else, and remain positive throughout.

2-Be motivated to continue developing and growing
Your own development never stops. To help others develop, you must value your own growth too. Many mentors say that mentoring helps them with their own personal development.

3-Have confidence and an assured manner
We don’t mean overconfidence or a big ego. Rather, you should have the ability to critique and challenge mentees in a way that’s non-threatening, and helps them look at a situation from a new perspective.

4-Ask the right questions
The best mentors ask questions that make the mentee do the thinking. To do this, try asking open questions that cannot be answered with just yes or no. Or ask more direct questions that offer several answer options. Then ask the mentee why they chose that particular answer.

5-Listen actively
Be careful to process everything the mentee is saying. Watch body language, maintain eye contact, and understand which topics are difficult for the mentee to discuss. Showing someone that you’re listening is a valuable skill in itself. It shows that you value what the person is saying and that you won’t interrupt them.

6-Provide feedback
Do this in a way that accurately and objectively summarizes what you’ve heard, but also interprets things in a way that adds value for the mentee. In particular, use feedback to show that you understand what the mentee’s thinking approach has been. This is key to helping the mentee see a situation from another perspective.

Mentoring truly is one of my great accomplishments, and I’d like to share a few of my favorite blogs on mentoring here: “7 Ways Women Business leaders Can Motivate and Mentor Others,” and “Create a Mentoring Group for Women Business Leaders  in 5 Easy Steps.”

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If I have learned anything over the years,  it’s that change is inevitable. At times, we are totally at the mercy of the “stuff” that happens to us, whether it’s the economy, the environment or as I have just learned, my recent bout with breast cancer. Each day, we have the opportunity to choose how we react to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances.  And, as women business leaders, it’s essential to assume the innovator role when looking at creating change from within and moving yourself or your company into new territory and uncharted waters. But no matter what the catalyst, I always feel genuine excitement  in precipitating effective change.

Here are three websites Small Business Trend founder Anita Campbell collected, offering tips that I hope may inspire your business creativity:

1. Don the Idea Guy
   Don “the Idea Guy” Snyder is an author, speaker and freelance innovation consultant who helps businesses brainstorm and otherwise inspire creativity. His to-the-point blog posts cover a range of topics, such as how good innovators are like Silly Putty and the three roles you can play in any brainstorming session (Pirate, Politician or Painting). These aren’t academic posts you’ll have to wade through—they’re fast reads to give you a jolt of energy in the morning. In fact, one of the nice things about Don the Idea Guy is his focus on not just inspiring you, but actually motivating you to get things done.
2. Creativity Central
   The man behind Creativity Central, Martin Baker, describes his blog as a “repository for all things creative—creative thinking, innovation, ideas and brainstorming.” A former award-winning creative director who has worked with client companies of all sizes, Baker is also the president of Inotivity, an innovation firm that helps clients accelerate the development of new ideas. If you like Creativity Central, check out the Inotivity blog, where recent posts have included innovation lessons from Nobel-Prize-winning physicist Richard P. Feynman. You can read these posts in 15 minutes or less, but they’ll have you thinking and pondering long after.
3. Innovation 360 Institute
   This global innovation management consultancy uses systematic innovation methods and leadership development to help companies of all sizes become more innovative. Although Innovation 360 primarily works with businesses that are based or have a presence in the Middle East, its website offers a wealth of knowledge companies anywhere can access to help develop their own innovation strategies. You’ll also find information on related topics such as creativity, business model design, change management and entrepreneurship. You’ll need to set aside some time to get the most from these tools—but the results will be well worth it.

Innovation is a term that is used frequently,  but not necessarily used correctly. What does innovation mean to you? Please share with us your innovative stories and your business may end up being featured in one of my upcoming blogs.

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Social Media has taken communications and information sharing to a whole new level. It has advanced the way we communicate and share ideas — which has greatly enhanced our knowledge base and access to information. But should we as a culture use social media as a tool to extract personal information from those we may want to work with … and then use this information to form potentially biased opinions (whether we think they are or not)?

Here are some potential pros and cons to “social media profiling” compiled by HR executive Tresha Moreland. As women business leaders, we should consider these issues carefully before requiring job seekers to divulge their social media account information in the interview process:

Pros:

• This will enable police, correctional and military agencies to tell if prospective candidates are engaged in unlawful activity, not yet caught.
• It allows employers to see if a candidate has the propensity to bad mouth customers and/or workplaces.
• It is easier to keep up-to-date records when people automatically update their social network profiles.

Cons:

• Social networking profiles may include information that is unlawful to ask about during an employment screening process, such as gender, age, national origin, and so on.
• It is no different then asking for someone’s house keys. It could be considered violating an individual’s privacy.
• A good and legal screening process such as background and reference checks, already in place, is meant to uncover unsavory activity and most importantly convictions.

On a very personal note: I fled from South Africa in the early 1980s, motivated by my lack of individual privacy and my personal feelings that people should not be judged by the color of their skin. So to me, asking employees for access to their personal Facebook information reeks of “big brother” tactics, and I find this most distasteful.

What do you think about this?  Should employers ask job seekers for their social network user passwords and account information as a requirement for applying for a job?

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There is much discussion about  life/work balance for women business leaders. I have found that incorporating personal principles and beliefs into my professional life has been most rewarding. I believe that business entities will benefit from incorporating  and maximizing the opportunity they have to “do good” by taking a strategic approach to social responsibility. I would suggest that women business leaders can lead the way in ensuring that social responsibility is integrated into the very core of the business that you operate  — from your team to your clients – what a great opportunity to lead by example.

So how can your growing company do good in ways that are also good for business?  Here are some easy-to-incorporate tips from  an article by Lynley Sides:

1. Tie your brand to your social mission as early as possible
Start now.  Create a brand that makes people feel good about affiliating with it.

Cause-conscious consumers and employees see themselves as investing in you, not just exchanging money for products or time for a paycheck. If buying your product makes customers feel good and enhances their identity, you’ll be able to command a price that includes that value. You’ll also set the bar higher for your competitors.

2. Spread the word
There are lots of ways to give back. You can:

• operate sustainably
• treat people well
• make environmentally friendly products
• give to worthy causes

No matter how you integrate social responsibility into your business, it’s important that you let people know right away. The earlier you communicate social responsibility as important parts of your value proposition, the better job they will do at differentiating your company, and the more value you will build as a result

3.     Make your customers your partners
Perhaps the easiest way for most growing companies to be socially responsible is through giving.  And if it’s done right, giving can do more than help good causes and create goodwill. It can drive real value for your business. Consumers are nearly twice as likely to buy or recommend a product if it’s affiliated with a cause they care about. And when they’re empowered and engaged by your brand, they will purchase and become advocates for it, sending their friends and colleagues to buy from you too.

That’s a win for social good and a win for your business.

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We all have endured bad patches in our lives, events that we cannot control and times that we wish we could replay the scene. I recently experienced a series of events that were not what I would have chosen–but the reality was that I had to figure out how to deal with the potholes. I have really been pondering on the “how to” steps to stay positive. As a woman business leader and entrepreneur, I not only want to share my ideas with you but I also hope to become wiser and stronger as I receive your feedback — and hone my own courage skills.

So in the department of lessons learned, here are my tips for reducing the negativity that seems to be permeating my normally sunny life! My hope is to share what I’ve learned to help others and elevate my own attitude.

Don’t get caught up in negativity
Stay conscious and aware that your thoughts are becoming negative. Listen to how you relay your “story” to others – are you assuming a victim role?

Develop your personal mantras
I taught Isabella, my two-year-old granddaughter, to say, “Never give up because we are strong, smart and bold.” (A lesson taken from Girl’s Inc.) I am also adding “fabulous” to her speech. These positive affirmations are so important. Create your own and make sure that they are aspirations for how you want to perceive yourself.

Choose positivity
You have the ability to make personal choices – be deliberate about staying positive. This is where you become your own advisor – monitor your thoughts and take your time shifting the direction of your thinking.

Don’t be a victim
Take command of the situation. Make sure that you are driving the process of what you may be going through. Become part of the decision-making process. Be proactive and know when to let go.

Keep your sense of humor
My family uses humor to a fault – at times, it has been quite irritating — but I have to admit that I got the gene, and it has helped me through many situations.

Focus on lessons learned
How does this dramatic event in your life add to your personal tapestry, and how can you use this drama to help others?

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As savvy women business leaders and entrepreneurs, we know that social media is here to stay. It is no longer a trendy way to engage customers but rather an essential component of any sound communications strategy. New media thought leaders like Brain Solis believe that if businesses are not embracing “disruptive” technology they will be left behind.

Here’s a list of some common social media mistakes to avoid that I’ve condensed from an article written by Brian:

1. Showing up isn’t enough
   Customers and prospects are busy, connected and interacting with everybody but you today. This requires an engagement program — that is, a plan for using social media to meet goals — that extends beyond the typical marketing of “follow us on Twitter” or “Like us on Facebook.”
2. You can’t be everywhere, nor should you
   Many entrepreneurs are excited about technology and they overextend themselves because they want to be part of the latest trend. The key is to only be where your customers, prospects and those who influence them are.
3. Authenticity and transparency are nothing without a connection
   The two magical ingredients to a successful social media effort are: authenticity and transparency. However, without delivering value, conveying a meaningful mission and vision, or establishing a connect-worthy presence, authenticity and transparency have nothing to reinforce.
4. Talking to people isn’t a business strategy
   Some people run effective social media programs by listening instead of actually saying anything. But no matter if you converse with customers or not, you must have a purpose before you can engage. Don’t get caught up in only replying to brand mentions. Your real opportunity is to also engage and convert those people not already talking about you.
5. Keep your core customers tuned in
   Companies believe that uploading a video to YouTube is the key to anything going viral. What they don’t know is 48 hours of video is uploaded every minute to YouTube. The chance of your video going viral naturally is basically nil. Remember, going viral only counts if it impacts your brand. If it creates lift, leaves an imprint or if it drives action or outcomes, that’s when you’re going viral.

As the owner of a strategic communications firm, I agree with Brian’s comments above. I also believe that as this medium becomes more sophisticated … so should your business approach. For more on social media strategies, see my blog “7 Social Media Tips for Women Business Leaders from 7 Experts.”

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I believe that as women business leaders we should embrace our femininity rather than think of it as a roadblock to success. In my opinion, what could be described as gender weaknesses are actually our strengths—sensitivity, planning, willingness to ask, and at times, to take direction.

Jenn Houser make some great points in her article, “Why Women are Great Strategic Planners,” demonstrating this observation. I’ve condensed her tips here:

Make a game plan before you start out
If you’re planning a business, you need a business plan, and you should write it down. No, I don’t mean you need to write a 40-page document that no one will ever read. However, you should create a 15-page PowerPoint deck that covers each of the key topics essential for any business, including a clear roadmap for how you’re going to build the business out over the first few years.

Admit what you don’t know
No one knows everything needed to start and run a business. The trick is to figure out what you already know, what you don’t know, and how you’ll fill in the gaps. For example, when making your business plan, you may realize that the business requires consumer marketing but that you don’t know beans about it. Plan to have a partner who’s an expert.

Ask for help along the way
Once you have your plan, you should talk to others for feedback. Good people to talk to are investors in similar companies, people who know your industry well, and your customers. You’ll likely hear a lot of good things, but make sure you listen to their concerns and ask them what they think would work better. They’ll give you all the information you need to get where you’re going.

Be willing to change your mind
When you get feedback, be willing to change your plan. This is called pivoting. Don’t worry, this is normal and every start-up changes plans a number of times. However, do not fall prey to the idea du jour. And be willing to say “no” (or “not now”) to some of the feedback you get.

I’ve blogged before about how I have used my femininity to my advantage in business. Women excel at many things and all we need to do is harness those qualities and talents in ways that make the most of our inherent abilities. Please read my blog, “Women Business Leaders: Use Your Feminine Strengths to Achieve Business Success,” for more on being successful while retaining your femininity.

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Have you ever read a blog or website article authored by an “industry expert,” and wondered how they became an expert? While being a woman business leader and entrepreneur have certainly helped me in my networking and business connections, it wasn’t until I started my blog, became a speaker and joined several select and respected industry trade groups that my “expert” status started to take off.

While I achieved my status as an after-effect of my business activities, the tips below, from an article by Donald Todrin, will guide you toward becoming an expert using a methodical, step-by-step approach:

1. Learn about what’s important in your industry today and become current. Every commercial niche has one or more trade magazines. Obtain a few back copies, three at least, and read them cover to cover.
2. Note the advertisements. These will also tell you what’s new and important to the industry, as well as what the leading businesses are talking about and selling.
3. Write an article and submit it for publication in one of the industry magazines. This often isn’t as hard as it seems. Once done, you are a published writer in the industry.
4. Create a website and a blog. Begin to communicate with your market, discussing industry issues and creating an open forum with you as an expert.
5. Create podcasts (video or audio) based on your blog entries. Post the video on YouTube.
6. Offer to speak at a local college. Offer a professor or department head the opportunity to have you speak at a forum on a subject relevant to you and the educator’s interest group—at no charge, of course.
7. Offer a local club, association, or service organization the opportunity to have you speak on a relevant subject – at no charge.
8. Run your own seminar. This is a smart way to continue to build your credentials.
9. Become a corporate speaker. Being a public speaker at leading businesses and corporations adds to your credentials.
10. Send out media releases to the local press. Repeat your credentials and promote your speaking, writing, seminar or whatever you have to promote.
11. Join a national trade organization for your industry and offer to write a monthly column on interesting aspects of the industry for the organization’s newsletter or magazine.
12. If you can afford it, give a seminar at your industry’s national trade show. Or have a booth, or get on the board or any committee for the organization.

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Given the choice of going to a cocktail party or staying home and networking, my inclination would be to socialize at home. Luckily, I am able to write and promote my blog for women business leaders no matter where I am. And now that I have been blogging regularly for over a year, I have penetrated several networks without the essential cocktail in hand!

These tips from Vicki Flaugher effectively distill some excellent ways (both online and in person) to build, leverage and solidify your expertise and business reputation as well as your relationships.

1. Write a blog post forwarding an opinion that either differs or supports or augments a well-respected figure in your industry.
2. Get your picture taken with an industry celebrity at a live event you attend and post it on your social channels.
3. Interview industry greats and post to YouTube (and your blog), with the correct tags that can add your video to the collective aggregate of videos about the interviewee.
4. Make a valuable, community-sensitive comment on the blog of an industry heavy and link back to a specific, relevant post on your blog.
5. Ask an industry heavy to write an endorsement or forward to your book or ebook. Ask behind closed doors and thank publicly when they say yes.
6. Quote someone with higher street credibility than you have to show your alignment with his/her philosophy. You can do this on your blog, via retweets, or by sharing links from their blog.
7. Participate in well-traveled niche hash tag Twitter chats where you can be seen with the top industry insiders.
8. Go outside strictly professional events to connect yourself to industry heavies – philanthropy events, sporting events, and arts patronage events.
9. Start a fan club (or LinkedIn group, or book club) that intertwines your interests with well-respected professionals who already have a digital platform
10. Gain a speaking gig at the same event as industry greats so you can honestly say you shared a stage with them.

Many of these activities will happen naturally, as they did for me. As you become more active in your industry, you’ll find the opportunities are endless. But it never hurts to be proactive!