…and got a tan!
Back in January I wrote a post about my top 3 social media apps and one of these was called Flipboard. I’d only just started using it back then but already it had won a place in my list along with Buffer and SocialBro.
Today I use Flipboard more than ever, and also have it linked to Buffer in a way which makes the sharing of content so much easier.
Initially I only included my Facebook and Twitter profiles to my Flipboard account, a lot of the content I share comes from Twitter anyway, people are always posting links to great articles online.
I recently upgraded my Buffer account to the Pro version which means I can have up to 6 profiles and 50 updates in my buffer at one time. I’ve now added a few of my social media clients Facebook pages which means I can post articles to these through my Buffer now as well.
There are lots of ways you can share content from Flipboard. My new favourite way of sharing content, the quickest way I’ve found is by emailing the article to my very own secret Buffer email address.
In the email you can use some short codes to identify which account you want the post to go too. By default it goes to all accounts, by putting @p on the first line followed by the name or even part of the account name, for example for my Twitter profile I could put various things like @p Twitter @p JoHarris0n, the post will only go to that account. You just have to make sure each profile can be singled out, if they all have the same name you might come unstuck.
I have set-up some keyword searches on Flipboard so I can check out all relevant content I’d like to share. Today I’ve also added my LinkedIn profile and my Google Reader account which is great as I subscribe to a lot of great blogs which I share regularly.
All this information is fed through to Flipboard and I can quickly flick through the articles and email them straight to Buffer…
Unfortunately for me, living in France and still under a UK Vodafone contract for my iPhone I only get 25mb of free data per day. This afternoon I have sat for approximately 1 hour in the sunshine filling up Buffer for me and my clients, but I’ve used all my allowance. But it’s great when I’m at home and can use my wi-fi and browse and add things to my hearts content.
Between Flipboard and Buffer I save so much valuable time. I now have over a weeks worth of great content to share on my Facebook page, LinkedIn, Twitter and also on my clients accounts. It frees me up to interact with people more on my social media profiles instead of always looking for links and articles to share which takes time.
If you are using social media to promote your business, these two apps will make your life a hell of a lot easier, they have mine.
I challenge you to disagree with me!
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Thanks for this wonderful post — I’m planning to follow your suggestion this afternoon. I have Flipboard on my iPad, which I don’t carry with me all the time. That may change soon. I’m writing this (awkwardly). On my iPhone, which I do carry with me everywhere. In my spare time, I use Reader to search my Google Reader, and then I email posts to Buffer. Your system sounds better. Thanks.
Thank you Robbie, hope you got on ok with Flipboard! 🙂
Oh, will need to check these out. Thanks for sharing. Does this mean I still have to get to grips with Hootsuite too? Ho hum. Seriously, thanks for the post.
No problem Ruth… I don’t use Hootsuite, I just couldn’t get on with it… I use Tweetdeck and SocialOompth! 🙂
Interesting! I will have to check it out, thanks!
No problem Nevin 🙂
Thanks for introducing me to Flipboard, it looks really good. I’ll have a deeper look at the instructions and then see if it can do anything for me!
No problem Harriet, it’s quite addictive, I have to stop myself from flipping all evening and ignoring the other half 🙂
Great post. I use Flipboard and buffer The same way, and it really does save hours. As well, everybody thinks I’m on Facebook all the time.
I also feed in a few twitter lists of top people in my market and locals.
Thanks Alistair, I really wouldn’t be without either now because of the time it saves. 🙂
Hello there!
Great post and I love how you were able to utilize these tools to save your data usage! So smart! (Are you still living in France?) 🙂
Thank you so much for the great info!
Cheers!
Nicole
Community Champion at Buffer
Hi Nicole, thanks for stopping by my blog… It certainly saved me lots of time using Flipboard to Buffer, these days I use Feedly and other tools. I am still in France, but I have a French mobile now so data usage isn’t as much of an issue for me. 🙂