Twitter

Here is my article which was first published on Social Media Examiner:

Are you a newcomer to Twitter? Do you need a little help crafting tweets to engage people in meaningful conversations?

You can start a conversation on Twitter in many different ways, but they all come back this: be yourself and find the right tone to engage with people you want to get to know better.

In this post I’ll explore some easy ways to start Twitter conversations. You’ll see just how easy it is to take this first step in networking on Twitter in fewer than 140 characters at a time.

Social Media Examiner’s Facebook fans recently shared some great ways to engage people on Twitter. Based on their recommendations, here are 12 tips to better engage people on Twitter:

#1: Publish Useful Tips or Facts

One of the first ways you can contribute to the conversation is to share useful information. This is always welcome when it’s given from a fresh perspective. And it’s a great way to grab the attention of the people you want to reach.

Cyndy Hoenig offers about five PR tips a day… Notice how she used the word you in this tweet to grab readers’ interest.

#2: Retweet to Acknowledge Others

Retweeting other people’s tweets is a form of acknowledgment. Why not add a comment at the same time and add more to the conversation? Simply being social is a great way to get people to notice you and begin making connections.

Jonathan Saar is simply being social.

#3: Reach Out With Follow Friday

Although Follow Friday (#FF) has been around a while, it can still be a good way to initiate conversations when you put a little thought into it.

#4: Answer Other People’s Tweets

Another easy way to engage people is to respond to others’ tweets. Whether it’s a question or something that grabs your attention, try to respond in an authentic voice. People recognize sincerity and are more likely to respond to it.

Janice Campbell shows us how natural conversations can be on Twitter.

#5: Respond When Something Grabs Your Attention

When responding to something that interests you, show it. Show you care about what people have to say.

Cheryl Garrett adds a personal touch to her professional Twitter presence.

#6: Introduce Yourself to New Followers

Give your new followers a personal welcome that shows you care about getting to know them better. Some people do this in the public Twitter feed and some people prefer introductions in direct messages. Find out what’s best for your audience.

#7: Introduce Yourself at Twitter Events

You’ll notice people following live events on Twitter with a hashtag. When you attend your first event on Twitter, don’t get distracted by the tools and forget your social manners. Remember to introduce yourself to everyone. And why not follow up personally with a few of the other attendees after the event? This is a great way to meet new people with similar interests.

#8: Let People Know When You Add Them to Your Twitter List

As you add people to your Twitter lists, give them a shout-out to let them know. Everyone enjoys this small sign of recognition.

#9: Ask For Help

Many other people on Twitter are also looking to engage in meaningful conversations. Make it easy for others to respond to you and tell them what you are looking for.

Daniel Casciato uses Twitter to find sources to interview for his articles.

#10: Say Thank You

You’ll find many different reasons to thank people on Twitter.

Notice how Amy Porterfield is connecting with this person on both Facebook and Twitter.

#11: Say Thanks When Others Add You to Their Twitter Lists

The people who add you to their Twitter lists are often good connections because you share similar interests. Reach out to thank them and introduce yourself personally.

#12: Ask Questions

Questions work wonders on Twitter. With a little thought you can come up with great questions to find the people you want to engage with on Twitter.

Katie Fox asks a specific question to engage conversation of interest to her.

As you can see, it’s easy to start conversations on Twitter.

Now it’s your turn. What other Twitter conversation starters do you use? Please share your comments below.conversation starters do you use? Please share your comments below.

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

12 Tips to Engage People on Twitter

Twitter Interviews – #CKinterview

Today’s Cross-Cultural Interview is with Leo Salazar. Leo is the person behind the Twitter handle @srleosalazar . Leo is a consultant and trainer helping people who work in international environments. He was born and raised in Los Angeles and has lived and worked in Europe for over 20 years.

He tells more about himself in below and he’ll share some cross-cultural and international business tips during a live Twitter interview in a few hours. The transcript of this live Twitter interview will be published below.

This is a 2 part interview:

• Part 1 – The Blog Interview
• Part 2 – The Twitter Interview for 10 Cross-Cultural & International Questions today at 4pm GMT

Leo Salazar – Part 1

Hi Leo, for those who don’t know you, can you please tell us something about yourself?

Leo Salazar : Hello Cindy. First of all, thank you very much for inviting me to be a guest for this interview. I’m honored, and humbled, to be included in the company of the experts I’ve seen on your site. I hope I can fulfill your expectations.

I was born and raised in Southern California in the US, in 1957. In fact, I was born 4 days after the Russians launched Sputnik – a true child of the Space Age. Near my birthplace in San Bernardino was Norton Air Force Base, which was one of the Strategic Air Command bases of the US Air Force. So if you consider that I was literally born in the shadow of the Cold War, with hot nuclear warhead loaded B-52 Stratofortress bombers circling above our heads day and night, I was aware from a very early age of the influence of other cultures on our daily existence.

In addition, as I grew older I came to learn the history of our family and the Hispanic influence that played a very large role. I say often that our father gave us our Spanish blood and lineage, but our mother gave us the culture. Even though born and raised in a white, middle-class environment, she studied at the University of Mexico City after her father up and moved the entire family to live in Cuernavaca, Mexcio, when she was a teenager. She is fluent in Spanish, and has a clear affinity for Latino cultures. After a career as a bilingual teacher in Riverside, California, for grade school children, she continues today at age 73 to play a strong bridging role between Latino and Anglo cultures in California.

More recently, however, I married into a culturally adventurous life. My first wife was a helicopter pilot in the US Army, and we moved frequently between Europe and various locations in the US. I lived and worked for American Express Community Bank in Mannheim Germany starting in 1984, and came to the Netherlands in 1992. I first studied, then worked as a member of staff for TSM Business School at the University of Twente, and most recently for De Baak, which is the premier management training institute of the Netherlands. My wife is Dutch and we live in a medium-sized town in the east of the country, but I work primarily in Amsterdam. My three children all live in California, literally down the street from my mother and brothers.

How did you pick up your cross-cultural skills?

Leo Salazar : My cross-cultural skills were developed primarily through experience, later by study. First as a child, hearing Spanish around me on a frequent basis. Later through my experiences in living in Germany and the Netherlands. Additionally, living in different parts of the US is about as cross-cultural as one can get. I remember visiting my children who were living with their mother in Hawaii at the time. My daughter said to me, sotto voce “Dad!!! Slow down! Take it easy. You’re scaring the locals.” I realized that for all my “cross-cultural expertise,” I still had a lot to learn about the application of the skills I was teaching.

I worked for a time at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, which was established by the Dutch in 1910 as the “Colonial Institute.” It was set up to establish a repository for cultural artifacts from the colonies (primarily Indonesia) as well as to build knowledge of cultures. I worked there as a trainer in helping outgoing expats to prepare for their new assignment countries. This experience acquainted me with the standard, off-the-shelf “cultural dimension” approach of cultural training.

Concurrently, I was running my own business development company in which I was helping American businesses to gain a foothold in European markets. It was very instructive in helping US businessmen who had, in most cases, never even been out of the US before to navigate the business landscape in Europe.

These various experiences (living situation, outgoing cultural skills, incoming commercial skills) gave me a unique and well-rounded perspective on how to apply cultural learning techniques to business.

How do you use your cross-cultural skills in your job?

Leo Salazar : For me the value of giving attention to “cross-cultural” attributes is in the interface between people. It’s about recognizing and respecting value, giving credence to a different perspective, and working together to create new and unique value. My motto is, “Learning & Development in an Intercultural context. Learning from each other, doing better business.”

Even though I deal with issues on a daily basis that could be described with any number of labels (diversity, inclusiveness, multicultural skills), I try to avoid these labels for a simple reason: they lead to pre-conceptions and stereotypes. I want my clients to focus on the value that is created in the interface, to view the interface from their own perspective, and to strive towards building on that interaction to create new value.

Can you tell us about your blog?

Leo Salazar : I first started “blogging” in 1978, when I first moved away from home. I was living in Virginia, on the east coast of the US in the “South,” and sitting behind a student typewriter I wrote a weekly missive home to my family on the west coast, whom I missed terribly. I would include interesting anecdotes, local newspaper clippings, and other pieces of curiosa that would hopefully shed light on my life there in the “foreign culture” of that part of the country. These letters gave way to weekly emails and printed letters from my first PC, purchased in 1989 – basically the same medium, but modestly facilitated by IT. The first step towards a real blog, as it is known today, was in 2000, through Xanga. I went through a pretty much predictable pattern after that, always following the most popular social medium: Xanga, My Space, Facebook, Blogger, WordPress – all with the same goal in mind: to stay in touch with my children and family.

It wasn’t until just a few months ago that I finally discovered a new use for these social media: to learn and brand myself in my profession. The real stimulus for this change was re-discovering Twitter. I first picked up on Twitter about a year and a half ago, but I was very much in the “turkey sandwich” mode (as in “OMG – I’m eating a turkey sandwich!!!!” – for a funny perspective on this and other Twitter uses, check out Oatmeal’s contribution “How Addicted to Twitter Are You?”). But more recently I had an epiphany through the discovery of #lrnchat, which is a community of learning professionals that meets on Twitter every Thursday to discuss learning topics. This led to my current routine, which is to plant the seed of the idea through Twitter, and cultivate the growth of that idea through my blog. I try to focus on topics that are relevant to my specialty, effectiveness in doing intercultural business. I realize that each tweet, and each blog entry, is a value proposition for current and potential future clients. I feel I have an obligation to reward their attention with something of value: a new insight, a unique perspective, a learning point.

Since re-discovering Twitter and being active on my blog, I’ve been amazed at the world that’s opened up for me. Even though I’ve been long active in online communities (first discovering them through my Compuserve account in 1991), I hadn’t really taken a proactive stance. Most of my online presence was as a lurker. This new use of a familiar tool has led to learning insights that I hadn’t experienced in quite awhile.

I have a couple of lists I’m building here on this blog, and wonder if you have anything you would like to share.

Have you come across any cultural stereotypes that bother you, or you find inappropriate?

Leo Salazar : Every culture is open to misunderstanding from those outside it. Of course there are many stereotypes and practices, even in my own culture, that I find anathematic. See an early blog post of mine (on a blog now dormant, in which I was far more critical of cultural practices than I am now).

But I also realize that the only way to change is from the inside, by members of the culture itself. And if change occurs, it does so slowly, usually by using positive reinforcement and motivators that are defined by those who are inside the change process. The best we can do, as outsiders, is to facilitate this process, if so allowed.

For example, when I first moved to the Netherlands, I was shocked at what I interpreted at the time as being blatantly racist attitudes. I was judging the Dutch people from an entirely American perspective. But since living in this culture for nearly 20 years now and being open to learning why the people think the way they do, I have come to understand their attitudes. Note that I don’t say I accept them, but it’s not for me to openly criticize or to demand change. The best I can do is to focus on similarities, build on the positive aspects of the society, and hope that others are able to have their own similar learning and growing experience by being open to new perspectives. 

Do you have a favorite movie that could help people understand cultural issues?

Leo Salazar : There are a few films that spring to mind when you say “cultural issues.” One is “Babel, from which I felt a wrenching tension as the values by colliding cultures, each from their own perspective, were brought into conflict. Another is “American History X,” with an outstanding and moving performance by Edward Norton. But I’m loath to recommend these as movies for people to watch to better understand culture and its implications. Why not? Because everyone interprets artistic stimulus in different ways, based on their own experience, norms, values, etc. Certainly I experienced both of these films from my own frame of reference as films with dramatic cultural implications. And my interpretation of the films reflects this. But I’m not sure that anyone else would do the same, and both of these are outstanding creations even ignoring cultural issues. I would much rather that I recommend these as outstanding films and allow people to draw their own interpretations and conclusions.

Do you have a book you could recommend to help others improve their cultural insights?

Leo Salazar : Ach! It’s been so long since I’ve read and enjoyed fiction, I wouldn’t know where to begin. And the vast majority of non-fiction business books with “culture” as their topic I find utter hogwash.

What I do enjoy, however, very much are popular works that explore the historical development of a society. Books that give historical insight into why things are the way they are. Russel Shorto’s “The Island at the Center of the World,” for example, which explores the original Dutch founding of the island of Manhattan. Dr. Jared Diamond’s books as well, “Guns, Germs & Steel,” for example, or “Collapse,” which look at the reasons why societies rise and fall. And looking more specifically at Dutch society, I find Simon Schama’s The Embarrassment of Riches an outstanding read. In fact, it was this last book that I credit with my evolved understanding of my Dutch colleagues at work and family at home.

And finally…

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Leo Salazar : It’s been a pleasure using this forum to reflect on my own development. Thank you for the opportunity.

Leo, thank you for sharing so much with us in this portion of the interview already. I’m looking forward to hearing your answers to the 10 Cross-Cultural Questions on Twitter with you later today.

Leo Salazar – Part 2 – The Twitter Interview

More Twitter Interviews

This is an interview series of the people I recommend you follow on Twitter for the cross-cultural and international business insights in their tweets.

• Cate Brubaker – @CateBrubaker
• David Comp – @DavidComp
• Sean Oliver – @SeanJamesOliver
• Martin Lindeskog – @lyceum
• Rajeev Edmonds – @mintblogger
• Rossitza Ohridska-Olson – @culturalrealms
• Charmayne Paul – @psitutor
• Lucy Chatburn – @pocketcultures
• Doreen Iannuzzi – @DoreenatDMS
• Donna Jackson – @wisequeen
• Chris Cotter – @CotterHUE
• Jack Yan – @jackyan
• Silvia Cambié – @XCulture
• Bill Ward – @DR4WARD
• Thierry De Baillon – @t_de_baillon
• Seshu – @PicSeshu
• Neil Urquhart – @culturematters
• Klaus & Flavia Westerwelle – @transdomo
• Donagh Kiernan – @dkiernan
• Christian Hoeferle – @hoeferleconsult
• Caroline – @ohh_la_la
• Deborah Swallow – @DeborahSwallow
• Steve Roesler – @steveroesler
• Matthew Bennett – @matthewbennett

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

Twitter Interview With Leo Salazar

Twitter

Here is my article which was first published on Social Media Examiner:

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could develop a valuable business network online? Twitter’s real-time communication capability makes it a great business networking platform you can’t afford to ignore.

By honing your social networking skills and adapting them to this fast-paced environment, you can use Twitter as the starting point to build a strong business network.

There are two parts to networking on Twitter:

• First, you need to connect with the people you want to get to know.
• Second, you need to find a way to establish relationships with the right people and get beyond the scope of Twitter.

Just like in the offline world, you’ll find people with different styles of communication and different levels of people skills.

We don’t all have Mari Smith’s communication pizzazz.

But don’t let this deter you. You simply need to identify the communication styles used by the people you want to connect with and then join in.

Here are 8 different ways to begin networking on Twitter.

#1: Show Others What You Want to Talk About

First, remember to show others what you are most interested in. You communicate your areas of interest in several ways:

• Paint a picture of who you are with your Twitter bio.
• Shows others what you like to talk about with the content you tweet.
• Share the conversations you are interested in by using hashtags in your tweets.
• Tell others who’s important to you with the names of your Twitter lists.
• The lists you are on show how others see you.

By paying attention to the consistency of your Twitter presence, you’ll send a strong message of what interests you and you’ll attract the people you want to connect with most.

#2: Get Your Actions Right

Your first impression always counts, even on Twitter. Others will notice content on your Twitter profile page: your Twitter handle, your photo, your name, the page you link to and your bio. And they will also notice the actions you take.

• Follow. Do you have approximately the same number of followers as the number of people following you?
• Autofollow. Do you automatically follow everyone?
• Welcome messages. Do you send a welcome message? Is it a personalized message or one that looks like an automated message? Does it promote something or does it show you want to connect and care?

There are no absolute guidelineson what you should do. You simply need to act in an appropriate way for the people you want to connect with.

Twitter monitoring will help you find out how to make the right first impression. Regular monitoring will also keep you up to date on any changing trends in Twitter etiquette so you can adjust your tactics when needed.

#3: Retweet Others

Do you feel uncomfortable about reaching out to others on Twitter? Retweeting is a great way to start networking but you usually need to do a bit more to get a response and start a dialogue. For example, add some personal comments to the retweet. Notice how others engage with people and copy the ones you like.

"Good morning!" The simplest tweets often work best.

#4: Shout Out to Others

If you want to connect with someone on Twitter and just don’t know where to start, here are some ways of simply shouting out to people on Twitter to get them to notice you.

• Consider mentioning them for #FollowFriday. You do this by simply saying something nice about the person, include their Twitter ID and “#FollowFriday” or “#ff”.

• Another option is a public mention of someone you appreciate.

Show your appreciation after connecting elsewhere.

#5: Link to ‘Other’ Social Conversations

As you monitor Twitter and other social media platforms, you’ll notice more conversations. Show others you are paying attention to their conversations.

• When you notice someone’s birthday on Facebook, send a “Happy Birthday” with their @name on Twitter to show you are paying attention to them.
• When you come across a great LinkedIn question, link to it and give the @name of the author on Twitter.
• When you read a great blog post, share the link and take the time to find and mention the author’s @name in your tweet.

The more you show others you are listening to them, the more they’ll pay attention to you.

#6: Write Tweets to Engage Conversations

After getting on other people’s radar, it’s time to take the networking up a notch and try to begin a real conversation.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to reply to a tweet and add value.

• Add useful information.
• Ask a good question.
• Show you are sincerely interested in the topic.

Make it easy to respond to your tweets.

#7: Introduce People

As you meet more people on Twitter, you’ll see people with similar interests. Take the initiative and introduce people! This is a great way of strengthening your own network because others will notice your introductions and make associations.

Introductions are easy to make.

#8: Create Opportunities to Network Further

What can you do when networking opportunities just do not seem to pop up naturally? Create a reason to network with the people who interest you! Tweetups and Twitter discussions are a great way to do this.

Another easy first step is to start a public list of people you recommend on Twitter. As you come across people to add to this list, give them a shout out to show your recognition. You’ll find it much easier to connect with people this way.

You might also want an additional step to feel more comfortable with the people you meet on Twitter. Sometimes you need a good ice-breaker. I find Twitter Interviews helpful because they are usually a fun experience for both participants and I also get to know more about the people I interview.

Networking Beyond Twitter

As you begin to develop your network on Twitter, you’ll want to regularly spend time making connections beyond Twitter. A phone call or a chat on Skype is always a good step.

Twitter will simply become one of the communication tools you use in your overall business networking plan.

Do you network on Twitter? What tactics do you use to reach out and connect with others? I’d love to hear about what works best for you. Please share your stories in the comments below.

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

8 Easy Ways to Network on Twitter

Cross-Cultural Twitter Interviews

If you are interested in international business and network on Twitter then you probably follow a number of people with international profiles. Some international people on Twitter share some great insights in their Twitter feed. I ask the cross-cultural people on my Twitter interviews to share the international people they like to follow on Twitter. Here are some of their replies.

21 International People to Follow on Twitter

1. @CCTheLowdown it’s a publishing company that Tweets all sorts of interesting things – sometimes international - @deborahswallow
2. @PennOlson I like those guys take on marketing but there are many others! – @ohh_la_la
3. Try @AmiExpat for her blog – @HoeferleConsult
4. I follow and read people like @RichardBranson interesting perspectives on business and the universal great thinker @SethGodin – @dkiernan
5. Christina Geyer @AmiExpat an American, expatriate, half-Asian living in Germany, and tweeting about cross-cultural differences & German cuisine – @transdomo
6. I’d say @StephenFry because he does so much travelling – @culturematters
7. @RickCogley, an American business consultant living in Japan. @vgr an Indian innovator living in the US – @tdebaillon
8. I like your list of international people to follow on Twitter. – @DR4Ward
9. My absolute favorite @queenrania – @XCulture
10. Hmmm … @johnniemoore is someone I have followed since the first year I was on Twitter (2007). – @jackyan
11. I really enjoy tweets from @ShellTerrell @kalinagoenglish @MissShonah @familyonbikes @KirstenWinkler – @CotterHUE
12. Adrian Monck ( @amonck ) an ex journo & current prof & head of comm. at World Economic Forum in Geneva … I answered as such because Adrian is international to me… and a Canadian perspective may be international to you, for example, and others; so for those interested in Canadian perspective, I would recommend Irshad Manji ( @reformingislam), @whoweareca, and @mathewi (Canadian journalist heavily involved in social media) – @DoreenatDMS
13. @globetrotteri is a friendly and international Tweeter: Canadian writer / photographer / teacher living in Taiwan – @pocketcultures
14. @volunteerabroad b/c I would like to travel by sharing my skills and competencies whilst learning – @psitutor
15. @glcuccureddu, @GotSagaLatino, @Marilyn_Res, @PatriciaVance, @hungaryguy, @PierrePaperon, @maxbehar, @mikebutcher – @culturalrealms
16. Couldn’t resist myself to give these 3 names – @guykawasaki @wchingya and @shellykramer (Possess great networking skills) – @mintblogger
17. @dragosroua Quote: “Think happiness is a process, not a goal.” Inspired by Aristotle? He is on your int’l s.m. list. – @lyceum
18. I would follow @talk2brazil. He tweets about Brazil’s economy, BizDev, etc. Brazil is going to be huge market in the future. – @SeanJamesOliver
19. If you have interest in international educational exchange/mobility research & literature then I recommend following @IDPDRIE – @DavidComp
20. I like @HoeferleConsult because his tweets make me feel connected to Germany, where I used to live – @CateBrubaker
21. One of my favorite international business profiles on Twitter is @finikiotis – @CindyKing

Who are your favorite international people on Twitter?

• Do you have a favorite international person on Twitter?
• Where do you get the best international insights on Twitter?
• What do you like most about the international people you follow?

As usual, please share your comments below.

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

21 International People to Follow on Twitter

Cross-Cultural Twitter Interviews

You may have already seen the list of cross-cultural and international people I recommend following on Twitter, if not be sure to have a look.  Many people share great cross-cultural insights in their Twitter feeds.

Below are the recommendations made by 21 people during my cross-cultural Twitter interviews.

Cross-Cultural People to Follow on Twitter

1. If you’re interested in China: @leslieforman – Anne Fox is an interesting lady so I’ve suggested she starts Tweeting about what she knows about this field etc @foxdenuk – @deborahswallow
2. @culturalworld Peter Fordos is a cross cultural trainer and I will be keeping an eye on his tweets – @ohh_la_la
3. Again, don’t really like picking favorites eg @TransDomo @intercultureNet @AAAtranslation @ExpatCoachMegan are good tweeps- @HoeferleConsult
4. You introduced to the discussion topic, so @CindyKing and friends like @HoeferleConsult – @dkiernan
5. Out of many a great person to follow is Olivier Blanchard @thebrandbuilder, a Business & Brand strategist living in Greenville, SC, born in France & tweeting about social media marketing & more – @transdomo
6. The person I’d recommend for cross-cultural tweets is @DeborahSwallow – @culturematters
7. Besides you? Difficult task… @RevezNexus is a Spano-French in London w shows how culture is crucial in 2.0 world – @tdebaillon
8. One cross-cultural person to follow is @CultureShocks Elliot Polak shares great cultural insights & case studies – @DR4Ward
9. I like @ChinaBlogTweets; @ExpMyCulture; @christinelu and of course my co-author Yang-MayOoi @fusionview – @XCulture
10. I don’t think I could name only one. But @classyadele is very smart. – @jackyan
11. That’s another tough question. I talk with so many people living here and there around the globe. But… @mayafrost She moved the family down to Buenos Aires, and has written a book about her experiences. Great insight/info. – @CotterHUE
12. I like Carmen ( @newdemographic ); she’s always interesting; and I recently discovered @CultureShocks via your list – so tx – @DoreenatDMS
13. I like @collazoprojects – US / Latam focus and international outlook – @pocketcultures
14. The Dalai Lama @OHHDKInfo ~he reminds us that we are all responsible for each other; to be kind for humankind – @psitutor
15. @culturalxroads , @vesnpalmer , @maelguillemot , @Travelwriticus , @GotSaga , @pplambert , @ralphtalmont , @Klearchos + all in the list: @culturalrealms/multicultural – @culturalrealms
16. One of my favorites is @suzannewhitby She possess exceptional cross-cultural skills. – @mintblogger
17. @chrisgarrett Bio: “Web geek and co-author of ProBloggerBook.com” He did a great podcast interview w/ @hdbbstephen. – @lyceum
18. I would recommend @HoeferleConsult. He works w/Volkswagen in Cleveland, Tennessee. Demonstrates the changing South(ern USA). – @SeanJamesOliver
19. I like following @bghansel & her blog “Intercultural Eyes” – @DavidComp
20. Oh, there are so many great people to follow! Here are a few I really like: @langwitches, @mscofino, @hcrompton — wonderful educators who are living the cross-cultural life. @MBAintheUSA – she writes for incoming int’l students, @chrisguillebeau – traveling to every country in the world – @CateBrubaker
21. In addition to the cross-cultural people I recommend here, I also like reading @openculture – @CindyKing

Who do you recommend following on Twitter for cross-cultural topics?

• Do you have any favorites in the people listed above?
• Who else do you follow for cross-cultural insights?

Please share your comments below.

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

21 Cross-Cultural People to Follow on Twitter

Cross-Cultural Twitter Interviews

Are you interested in international business but need some inspiration. Here is a list of online resources collected during my Cross-Cultural Twitter Interviews.

21 Websites for International Inspiration

1. Anne Fox at Absolutely Intercultural and Centre for Intercultural Learning in Canada. International.gc.ca – Good for research at least: Geert Hofstede and then compare with other info on the internet - International Business Etiquette – World Business Culture – Kwintessential - Fons Trompenaars very influential thinker on the subject. But not much free resource on the internet unlike Hofstede. – @deborahswallow
2. CBI.eu offers cross sectors market info. CyborLink has lots of local quirky facts in several countries – @ohh_la_la
3. Don’t have just 1 favorite website. Try the Goethe Institut – @HoeferleConsult
4. I sometimes read foreign local news sites. Local news is very real – real people in normal everyday things- @dkiernan
5. For information and business with Germany we like to use Germany.info we also love to browse news websites of foreign countries to read about their news from their perspective look up international newspapers at Headlinespot – @transdomo
6. My favourite website for international or cross-cultural inspiration is Internations.org – @culturematters
7. Twitter of course It’s an incredible way to find great people from anywhere in the world to discuss with – @tdebaillon
8. My favorite cross-cultural website is GlobalEdge – Great source for global business + culture – @DR4Ward
9. I like Public Affairs Asia Great resource if you are doing comms & public affairs work in Asia @XCulture
10. I should say one of our own, @Lucire (Lucire.com). I look at some back articles and I still get a lot out of them. – @jackyan
11. I’m not really sure I have a favorite website. A lot of my reading is on sites about language learning. For Japan-based, major newspapers get most of my attention. This helps me understand the country/culture. – @CotterHUE
12. For those interested in Canada, nfb.ca I also love TED for big ideas, and its diversity of speakers and opinions – @DoreenatDMS
13. To know what bloggers all over the world are saying – Global Voices Online: Global Voices and BBC Online for international news. Local newspapers are good too – @pocketcultures
14. Yours! ~:-) and also Cultural Moments has insightful posts that blend personal and professional development – @psitutor
15. Future Brand, http://landor/.com, Artlebedev, or any international news website – @culturalrealms
16. I find Wikipedia project acting as a central hub, where people from different cultures meet and interact…It’s like a big home where people live under one roof contributing and sharing their culture and knowledge. – @mintblogger
17. Your Posterous site is my favorite for international or cross-cultural inspiration: Cindy King’s Posterous – @lyceum
18. A few: Culture Matters, Zompist, Global Watchtower, Culture Shocks – @SeanJamesOliver
19. I’m into the research side of international education & exchange & the @NAFSA TLS community is a site I visit – @DavidComp
20. Two blogs I like: Intercultural Eyes and Visualsspeak – @CateBrubaker
21. One continual source of international inspiration for me is The Global Small Business Blog – @CindyKing

What Is Your Favorite Source Of International Inspiration?

• Does one stand out and resonate with you?
• Do you have another one to add?
• Do you have a favorite international news site?

Please share your comments below.

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

21 Websites for International Inspiration

Cross-Cultural Twitter Interviews

Moving abroad for the first time can be daunting. And yet many international business professionals are faced with this option at some stage in their career.

The thought of living in a different culture raises a number of questions. And it’s natural to turn to others for advice. Here are some tips from twitter on what to do to make your move abroad an easy one.

21 Tips On Living Abroad

1. Know what your doing. Compare prices of movers. Haggle. Decide: Rent or Buy? Visit your destination prior 2 moving – @HoeferleConsult
2. Visit the country & talk to people who lived there, discard your expectations you have through books, movies or vacations – learning the language is essential but not enough …don’t underestimate cultural differences! If starting a company get cross-cultural advise. It’s disheartening to see, that so many companies from abroad fail in the US by not getting expert advise in cross cultural matters – Walmart in Germany could have been successful if they would have followed intercultural advisers - @transdomo
3. Expect the unexpected & to be challenged, be open-minded and flexible, learn the language… and finally…move out of yr comfort zone and the expat community – @culturematters
4. Study the language first. It will give u invaluable clues about socialization. Talk with people who lived where u go – @tdebaillon
5. A tip to people moving abroad is learn polite terms & greetings in host country & don’t be afraid to use them. – @DR4Ward
6. Listen 2 music by country’s most famous composer. Its spirit is part of personality of people u’ll have 2 work with – @XCulture
7. Really get in to your new culture and embrace it. You begin to value your own a lot more. – @jackyan
8. Don’t assume that your approach or solution, which may be common practice back home… is the default/preferred method. Culture affects how people look at problems and brainstorm solutions. In short, what may have worked back home may not work elsewhere!  Can I add one more comment on the last question?  Read, read, read! This will help you acclimatize. It will also help you lessen culture shock. – @CotterHUE
9. Engage with people before you go, build friends – @wisequeen
10. A tip for those moving abroad? Familiarize yourself with food, music, art; history can be gr8 icebreaker, equalizer to interact – @DoreenatDMS
11. Learn as much as you can of the language before you arrive. Helps you feel more comfortable in the first days and go with an open mind – expect things to be different – @pocketcultures
12. Be open to pushing your boundaries to “walk in their shoes”; e.g.,mostly I am vegetarian,except when I travel – @psitutor
13. Learn the language, visit the country beforehand & do some business with local people, before deciding to move there. – @culturalrealms
14. Before you move abroad, study the country and its history, read books, and talk with people living there. – @lyceum
15. Give yourself at least a month before you start working, and try to make friends pre-arrival, via web/Twitter. – @SeanJamesOliver
16. Attempt to learn the language & appreciate the way of life of the community you find yourself living. Also, have fun & explore! – @DavidComp
17. Embrace the experience you have, let go of unrealistic expectations. And get lots of sleep. Living in another country means going off cultural autopilot and that can be tiring! - @CateBrubaker
18. People moving abroad should take it seriously (even as permanent resident) and consider all parameters, exactly as investors do. – @MATCOM
19. Visit the place first – @JinanAlrawi
20. Make sure you check your assumptions! Behaviours may be different, and should be interpreted carefully. – @IENsinMB
21. Learn as much as you can before the move, but realize that you won’t learn everything about this new culture even after a year of living there.  Enjoy the experience and have fun. – @CindyKing

What Is Your Tip For Living Abroad?

Which tip do you like most?

• Do you have a favorite?
• Does one stand out and resonate with you?
• Do you have another one to add?

Share your tips on living abroad below.

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

21 Tips On Living Abroad

Cross-Cultural Twitter Interviews

Do you want to develop your international markets, but find yourself hesitating? In my Cross-Cultural Twitter Interview series I ask everyone to share a useful tip for people starting to develop an international business. These interviews are with a very diverse group of people with strong cross-cultural skills and who often have first hand experience in business abroad.

Of course there are more tips we can add to this list. Please feel free to share yours below.

21 International Business Tips

1. Do your market and cross-cultural research! You have to find the cultural code for your product, service or business. You have to be ON CODE in your relationships.  – @deborahswallow
2. Don’t rush into it. Do Ur homework (aka research). Hire some1 who knows what U don’t.- @HoeferleConsult
3. Jump in the deep end and go do it. Work with an international company, get involved with international activities, learn and learn – @dkiernan
4. Firstly learn to win in your initial market, understand why you win, understand how internationally direct and thru partners - @dkiernan
5. travel & work for a longer period of time in different countries, make personal connections, …learning the language & books & research won’t do the trick alone !- @transdomo
6. “Research” yourself first then research the country/-ies you’re interested in – @culturematters
7. Travel the world by yourself. Skip the group tours. Walk, bike, take trains. Go out and meet your neighbors. Smile.- @PicSeshu
8. Be transparent, open, listen. In fact, develop very same qualities which r needed 2 be successful with social media – @tdebaillon
9. One bit of advice to people in international business is be prepared to make mistakes so don’t forget to have fun – @DR4Ward
10. Develop cultural proficiency: knowing when to listen, when to ask for help and when to speak – @XCulture
11. Treat the world as a big domestic market and be sensitive to it.  I do not mean be homogeneous, but you can’t be limited by thinking inside your borders.  If you want to trade internationally, you cannot perceive there to be a border around your own country. – @jackyan
12. Without language skills, you can’t hope to fully understand the country, its business, and most everyday aspects. – @CotterHUE
13. Come to Canada, it’s all here, we’re host to over 200 cultures… plus, we cross markets every day; it’s a fascinating consumer base ..seriously? advice for those interested in international business: do your research/homework – @DoreenatDMS
14. In another country, trying to speak the language brings many advantages… even if they know yours – @pocketcultures
15. Learn about the cultures and customs of those you work/do business with. Learning a bit of their lingo shows respect – @psitutor
16. Read, research & ask: from local business practices, legislation, & policies, to history, traditions and everyday life – @culturalrealms
17. Know about their culture before you pitch in. A friendly gesture in local lingo can remove all the barriers…I’ve witnessed business deals getting finalized simply because both parties gave due respect to each others’ culture. – @mintblogger
18. If you are interested in international business, start to read an international magazine, e.g. The Economist. – @lyceum
19. Learn a new language. It takes years, but depending on translation and interpretation is expensive, and will never capture the whole cultural context of a conversation or relationship. Unless you use @LCWllc ’s translation services, of course. – @SeanJamesOliver
20. Have confidence in what you bring to the table but be flexible with what others bring to the table – @DavidComp
21. For people interested in int’l business…combine cross-cultural experience with learning cross-cultural theory… the theory helps illuminate the experience. Both are important. - @CateBrubaker

What Is Your Tip To Improve International Business Skills?

What do you find most useful in developing international business skills?

• What’s your favorite tip?
• Does one stand out and resonate with you?
• Do you have another one to add?

Go ahead and share your international business tips below.

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

21 International Business Tips