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Special Needs Blogging & Twitter Tools | Strawberry Jam Party
Recommended by Kat – Tools to help with your Special Needs Blogging & Twitter adventure
This week: Cafe Jam Party – Sharing Strawberry Jam with you
Now, I’ll preface this by saying I followed (stalked *coughs*) the folks over at the Strawberry Jam app for weeks as I fell in love with this tool, and I’ve talked about it frequently to friends across the web. The first question most folks ask me is “How do I use it?”
Always a good friend, I like to answer questions when possible *grin* so this post is for you!
What Strawberry Jam Can help you do:
Strawberry Jam takes your Twitter stream or a search term and literally squeezes it into jam – by removing all the replies and mentions, all the crazy spam posts (don’t they drive you crazy?). So you can see ALL the posts of a given period (You can specify at the top of the screen how far back you want the little bee to fetch posts) or you can see the MOST POPULAR ones – the ones that others are retweeting.
What is the bane of a blogger, any blogger’s, existence?
Finding new post ideas? Well, yes, but how about finding out not only what’s popular but how many folks have shared it? What about being able to find new blogs to follow (!)? What if, like me, you love passing along great posts but sometimes forget them?
On Twitter, how hard to do you work to create tweets that plug OTHER people’s work, not your own?
I’ll give you a hint, this is the key to great social interaction so if you aren’t doing it already shame on you! And if you are – here’s a neat way to make it a fun and easy thing to cross off your to-do list.
Another screen shot (I love these things!)
A Quick List of Features:
- Integrate with Buffer (Article to come next week! This is a POWERFUL tool!)
- Set up any kind of search term or #hashtag to find relevant Tweets that have been posted. (My first were “Special Needs” and then the hashtag #SpecialNeeds; now I include search terms for Epilepsy and Apraxia, Autism and more)
- Have preview on or off–learning about about each listed item (to move faster through the list)
- See popular posts or all posts for a given period of time, from the last 8 hours to the last 24 hours.
- Retweet with the default retweet, tied directly into Twitter
- RT and add a bit of text like “Love this” Or “Great Post!”
- You can see everyone who has shared a tweet and RT from whoever you want. (neat way to make connections, RT from someone you don’t already know!)
Interested in Joining the Jam Party today?
For the next 24 hours, everyone who reads the post gets in on a special Invite Event, as I have invites for Cafe pals. How do you get in on it? Visit the Kat’s Cafe Facebook Page, where the code will be posted a bit later this afternoon.
But, you say, you want to thank me for sharing some awesomeness? As always, you can do a lot to help:
- Comment! I love reading them (they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!)
- Go check out the Kat’s Cafe Facebook Page to weigh in on the invite code
- Go check out the Strawberry Jam app: http;//strawberryj.am
- Go “Like” Strawberry Jam on Facebook and show them some love: https://www.facebook.com/strawberryapp
- Tweet, Share, email, and otherwise spread the word so EVERYONE can get in on the Invite fun!
This push for a Jam Party is because of a very neat response Strawberry Jam gave me because I’m a bit addicted to using their service. I’d love all the Cafe fans to go a little nuts, try out a new Special needs blogging and twitter tool, and share what you think in the comments below.
Oh, and bonus if you want to post a fun tweet for me:
Jamming at @Kats_Cafe with @Strawberryapp & I’m waiting for a sticky invite. Join the fun! http://katscafe.org
I completely understand that Strawberry Jam is great for lots of different folks, not just special needs bloggers and tweeps, but that’s what I blog about–how have you used this tool?
Katrina Moody
Graphic Designer, Wordpress Addict, Blogger at Kat's Media & More
I'm a special needs parent before just about everything else in life, but also a passionate advocate for my three boys and husband, who all have a bit of awesomeness about them. Awesomeness = Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome, Autism, Epilepsy, Dyslexia, Cerebral Palsy, and more. It all adds up to some awesome kids and an amazing family.
@KatrinaMoody
Wife; Mom to 3 guys w/ARS, autism, epilepsy & awesomeness; Advocate. Writer, Graphic Designer, Wordpress addict, social media nut. Site: http://katsmedia.com &
Sweet advice for your blog from Boom Social with Kim Garst - Gotta make it easy for potential... http://t.co/GkA4gcVoiN - 22 mins ago
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I will give it a try. Sounds awesome!
Wonderful Dani – the code is posted on my Facebook Page for the Cafe — come join the Jam Party!
These tools are a great way to streamline social networking so you can get to the SOCIAL part of it and still have an offline life.
Oh Michelle – I SO agree! Thanks for taking a moment to comment and hope you are enjoying the Jam Party!
I had a daughter that was a special needs child. I love your blog, and wish you all the best!
Sincerely,
Suzanne Blair
Thanks for your comment Suzanne – I appreciate and embrace all members of this amazing community of special needs families. *hugs* Thanks for visiting!
What a useful post, Katrina. It’s awesome! Learning how to use Strawberry Jam will be important for lots of bloggers. Let’s spread the word!
Thanks so much Linda! I just think it’s a great tool, especially for bloggers, like special needs bloggers, who are constantly wanting to see what others in the community are posting! I think it’s a great tool for any blogger as well!
I love to try new things… count me it Katrina…
Woot! The Jam Party is on my friend – see the Cafe FB Page for your sticky invite code! I know you’ll love it!
YEAH!! You got your comments working! So excited about Strawberry Jam! This thing is awesome!! Thanks!!
So glad to see you try it again Candie! Thanks for your dilgence! *Jam for You* Party on my new friend! Jam Party on!
Can’t wait to try it out!
Hope you got in on the fun at the Facebook Page, Steve, this Jam party was a short-run affair! Thanks for the enthusiasm.
What a neat tool. I’d love to join the party today but can’t. Gotta spend the time with my kids tonight since I’ve been a little neglectful.
Family always comes first Michelle! There will be other Jam Parties I’m sure!
In any case anyone can get an invite the old-fashioned way by going to the site and requesting one. 
[...] Special Needs Blogging & Twitter Tools | Strawberry Jam Party » September 13th, 2011 by Katrina in Special Needs Cafe Twitter Tuesday | Making Special [...]
Fantastic Kat!! You are such an incredible Woman, I just stand back in amazement at all that you do and all that you give… And with such a beautiful heart!! Amazing and I will go get a taste of Strawberry Jam
)
LOL – ‘a taste of Strawberry Jam’ — were you able to check it out and did you love it? As for your sweet comments. I’m running late with my replies but I had to come back and say thanks for that. I never feel like I do enough! LOL The bane of motherhood, perhaps?
Pass the Jam Please! LOL I love it, you amaze me anyway! You are so wonderful to all the special needs families!
Love it – hope you were able to get in on the Jam Party! No need for amazement here – I’m a mom. Nothing fancy there – and nothing I love and care about that makes me so much different from any other mother!