If you’re like me, you spend your day in front of a PC. You’re faster at typing on a full keyboard than a phone, and apps that insist on creating a mobile-only experience can be frustrating. Yesterday, my friend Luke sent me a direct message on Instagram with a response...
Author Archives: Daniel
The Easiest Way to Prevent Your Instagram or Facebook (or Email) from Being Hacked
My screen popped up with a message from a friend. “Help!” it said. “I’m on vacation and I lost my wallet and I’m stuck! Can you wire me $2,000?” I sent a text to my friend to verify this, and it turned out he wasn’t on vacation at all. “People...
How to Solve the Biggest Problems With hashtags
Hashtags are typically described as discovery tools. “The best discovery method”, you might hear. “The best way to be found,” someone might say. But ask yourself – when was the last time you personally clicked on a hashtag? If you’re like me, you don’t click on hashtags very often. You...
The Instagram 101
I remember hearing about Instagram in 2012, signing up, and being confused at the concept. “Why do we need Instagram if Facebook already exists? Who wants to see pictures of other people’s food?” And this was before the selfie craze was born. Here’s the way to think about it, using...
What Are Your Questions About Instagram? Here Are 10 More Answers (Part 2)
In case you missed it, I recently answered 10 questions about Instagram here. But the questions kept coming in, so I made a second blog post. Here’s round 2! 11. What type of posts encourage interaction, versus which ones get passed over? It depends on your audience, there are so...
What Are Your Questions About Instagram? Here’s 20 Answers (Part 1)
Last week, I started writing a book about social media, to give away for free to you. It’s getting long, but I felt like it might not be addressing the questions that you might be wondering. I asked on a couple of Facebook groups filled with smart people “do you...
How Instagram & Snapchat Stories Can Help You Build Relationships In Ways Blogging & Vlogging Cannot
How Instagram and Snapchat Stories Can Help You Build Relationships In Ways Blogging and Vlogging Cannot Are you too busy to blog? Even if you had the time, you have to write in an engaging way, and you need to write regularly. You need to buy appropriate pictures for the...
How Snapchat Helps You Build Relationships In Ways an Email List, Blogging and Facebook Cannot
Do you have an email list? Do you have a Facebook page? Do you want to reach a younger, wider audience? If so, keep reading. If you don’t like to read, here’s a 45 second video with the highlights. Once upon a time, way back in 2010, I went on...
What Are Your Defense Mechanisms?
I was standing on the train platform, waiting for the subway uptown. I’d been waiting for a few minutes, but no sign on the train. They made an announcement over the loudspeaker and the woman next to me angrily removed her earbuds in impatience. “What did they say?” I could...
How To Hack An Email Account
A few years ago, my wife Lauren, along with some friends of hers, planned a surprise baby shower for her best friend. My wife sent out an email to her pregnant friend with their “pretend” plans to get lunch and BCC’d (blind carbon copied) the other friends she was planning the...
Why Am I Seeing Less “Likes” on my Instagram posts?
I was in a meeting with the CEO and the marketing person. The marketing person doubled as the CEO’s personal assistant. The CEO had just returned from a conference and was upset because he missed a session he wanted to be part of. He blamed the marketing person for this....
How to Use Snapchat
How to Use Snapchat. 1. Download the app. Go to the Google Play Store or iTunes Store, search for “Snapchat”. Install. (Note: there’s no “computer” version – this is phone/tablet only.) 2. Open up the app. It looks like this: 3. Once you’ve installed the app, open it up, and...
Why Snapchat Matters in 2016
In 2010, I went on a job interview with a tech company that made mobile apps. Toward the end of the interview, the interviewer told me one of their clients was a major bank who wanted a Facebook app for their customers to use for transactions. At that time, Facebook...
Podcast #12 – How To Have a Successful Relationship – Melissa Schneider
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/12_How_To_Have_A_Successful_Relationship_Melissa_Schneider.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadMelissa Schneider is relationship coach based in New Jersey with some great insights and an excellent book. I heard Melissa on another podcast discussing what she calls the “awesome-ness factor” and knew I had to interview her. Her own interview sessions in China are...
Podcast #11 – How To Start Over After A Setback – Tyler Beaty
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/11_How_To_Start_Over_After_A_Setback.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadTyler Beaty was cruising through life when things took an unexpected turn. He lost his job and had to start from the ground up. He writes consistently about what to do if you ever end up in a situation like that. Listen as we...
Podcast #10 – How To Come Back from Failure & Conquer Your Fears – Brandon Grooms
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/10_How_To_Come_Back_From_Failure_Brandon_Grooms.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadBrandon Grooms is a person who’s honest about his failures. He’s got the greatest LinkedIn profile I’ve ever seen. Brandon helps people conquer their fears. Listen as he talks about his views and what actions he’s taken to come back from failures. Subscribe using...
Podcast #9 – How To Become an Idea Machine – Claudia Altucher
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/9_Claudia_Altucher_Become_An_Idea_Machine.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadClaudia Altucher is a writer who has completely transformed her life by going through a process of creating ideas every day. If you’re exiting school and aren’t sure what to do next, if you’re frustrated at work and wondering if you should go back...
Bonus – Gary Vaynerchuk – How To Improve Relationships
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Bonus_Gary_Vaynerchuk_CEO_of_Vaynermedia.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadToday’s podcast is different from any other I’ve done so far. I’m going to look for different ways to interview people who inspire me, but some are out of my reach at this point. Gary Vaynerchuk is one of those. He’s one of my...
Podcast #8 – Brian Honigman – Content Marketer
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/8_Brian_Honigman_Content_Marketer.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadToday I interview Content Marketer and Social Media Consultant Brian Honigman, who’s creating some truly amazing content. When I saw the Slideshare presentation on Facebook that Brian made, I knew I had to interview him! Subscribe using iTunes! Show Information: Brian Honigman Facebook Slideshare:...
Podcast #7 – Jennifer Lehner – Social Media Guru
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/7_Jennifer_Lehner_Lehner_Group.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadToday I interview social media strategist and marketing guru Jennifer Lehner and we get deep into Twitter! Do you ever wonder why it’s important to be on Twitter? Want to know how to actually be able to follow people in a manageable way? Jennifer...
Podcast #6 – Alexis Guerreros – Comedian
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/6_Alexis_Guerreros_Comedian.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadToday I interview comedian Alexis Guerreros, who I’ve known for years. He quit his job to focus on his comedy, which is why I had to talk to him. We discuss interviewing your heroes, setting yourself up to pursue your passion, and the feeling...
How Do You Feel About Getting Older?
How do you feel about getting older? Personally, I’m not a fan. Not at all. I can accept it, but I don’t have to like it. I have a good amount of gray hair, which I’m not thrilled with. It’s been a thing people commented on for years. It started...
Podcast #5 – Stephen Thomson – Physiotypes
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/5_Stephen_Thomson_Physiotype.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadToday I interview Stephen Thomson, who has created a new way to analyze personality types. We discuss why knowing personality types are important, how to keep improving yourself no matter what personality type you are. and how to keep social media in its place. Subscribe...
Should I have Separate Social Media Accounts for Personal and My Brand?
Short answer: No. Long answer: No. Unless you have a reason you want to keep some things private. In 2015, the best way to gain a following is to have great content and: 1. Be famous, friends with someone who’s famous, or go places with famous people frequently. 2. Engage...
Ideas Are the New Currency
On Thursday night, I went to a “Choose Yourself” meetup, which was titled as an “Idea Mixer”. The point is to come up with ideas – ideas are the new currency – and take one idea and combine it with another idea, until you have a completely new idea baby....
Podcast #4 – Mike Vacanti – On The Regimen
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/4_Mike_Vacanti_On_The_Regimen.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadToday I interview personal trainer and online coach Mike Vacanti of On The Regimen (and CEO of Gary Vanyerchuk’s body), discuss how fear before publishing your work online is a good thing, how to write so it’s about your readers and not you, and...
Stories Need To Be Uncovered
“Have you ever ridden in an ambulance before?” That was the EMT’s first question. “No,” I responded. “You’re going to love it. This vehicle costs a quarter of a million dollars, and this thing MOVES.” He was right. We were definitely doing 90 MPH on Route 287, with my wife...
Podcast #3 – Lisa Lopez – Across The Grain Studio
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/3_Lisa_Lopez_Across_The_Grain_Studio.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download Welcome to the third episode of the TooDifficult.com Podcast! Today on the show, I interview artist Lisa Lopez, discuss how to start a small business and what to charge, how to deal with haters, and why personality types matter! Show Information: Lisa...
Podcast #2 – Diego Amador – Diamin Photography
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/2_Diego_Amador_Diamin.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome to the 2nd episode of the TooDifficult.com Podcast! Today on the show, I interview photographer Diego Amador of Diamin Photography, discuss starting out as a photographer on a budget, and debate if iPhone camera users are real photographers! Show Information: Diego Amador –...
What Stories Do You Have?
I like to ask people questions. One of my favorite activities is to ask people who are probably ignored by the general population about their day, or for their greatest story while on-the-job.It’s actually reached the point where I do this without realizing. A few weeks ago, my wife and...
Podcast #1 – Adriana Cruz – HereNorth Photography
http://media.blubrry.com/toodifficult/p/danielhillmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/1_Adrianna_Cruz_HereNorth.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome to the first episode of the TooDifficult.com Podcast! Today on the show, I interview photographer Adriana Cruz, discuss whether or not people are artists, and debate Instagram public vs. private profiles! Show Information: Adriana Cruz – HereNorth Photography Web: http://www.herenorthphotography.com Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/adrianacruz/sets/...
Have You Ever Had a Conversation with a Homeless Person?
I was interviewed yesterday about a young man I met who was homeless. I was in Journal Square in Jersey City, NJ. He walked up to me, ranting and using expletives. He couldn’t have been more than 25. I listened to his story, which was terribly sad. He’d been in...
Are You Bored At Work?
Are you on Buzzfeed right now? Or Facebook? Or LinkedIn? Let me guess what you’re doing. You’re sitting at work, reading articles all day, pretending to be working. You’re bored. You’re frustrated. You feel trapped. You know you’re slowly wasting your life sitting and working for someone else. But you’re...
Do You Have a Fear of Public Speaking?
I recently gave a talk at 12:30 PM. That’s when I eat lunch, so I figured others would probably be hungry, and their minds might be thinking about food rather than what I was saying. Do you get nervous when it comes to public speaking? According to surveys, fear of...
What Holds Me Back from Greatness
I don’t write as much I want to. Not nearly as much as I should. There’s this voice. It’s constantly talking. It’s so loud I can’t concentrate. Do you have it too? It’s the voice (or maybe there are multiple voices?) telling you that you’re not good enough. The voice...
How To Lose 30 Pounds
Everyone says “I want to lose weight.” But very few make the changes needed to accomplish their goals. Here’s my story. I remember the moment I decided I needed to lose weight. I went to buy new jeans, and I hunted through the entire store looking for jeans that could...
Does Job Stability Exist Anymore?
Last year, about this time, my boss IM’d me and my counterpart, her other direct report. “Can you both please call into my conference bridge?” I dialed in first, and as we were momentarily the only ones on the bridge, she began. “Dan. I’ve been offered another position at another...
Building a Following (Webinar Replay)
On Tuesday night, I did an online session using Google Hangouts, where I discussed building a following online or locally – one person at a time. It’s about 30 minutes long and I specifically discuss: 1. Building Your Voice 2. Using Social Media 3. Making Money The time went really...
Have You Ever Felt Lucky Just to Have a Job?
Can you imagine if someone told you they were in an abusive relationship, but then, in the same breath said, “well, I just feel lucky to have a boyfriend (or girlfriend)!” You’d think, “Wow, you need help.” Not all abusive relationships happen in our personal lives. It was mid-2008. The...
Would You Recommend Buying Twitter or Instagram Followers?
This question came up in the online session I did on Tuesday night (watch the replay here!) and since some people prefer to read, here’s the answer. The general opinion of social media professionals is that buying followers is wrong. It’s not authentic. It’s not organic. On one level, I...