Playing Around with ImportXML in Google Spreadsheets

Via Scoop.it - New Digital Media

It’s frustrating trying to get XML data into Microsoft Excel – unless you’ve got the time and patience to build some basic Macros or VBscript for your requirements. With Google Docs, it’s really easy.

A few resources:

If you want to use Google Docs to extract data from the web, it would be a good idea for you to learn a little xPath. “XPath is used to navigate through elements and attributes in an XML document”, or, in simple terms, you can use xPath to fetch little bits of data contained in structured elements like ,or links or pretty much anything, really. Also, there are a few people who have been doing this a while, and probably have sample spreadsheets that blow some of the examples below away – but you have to start somewhere, right? If you’re already an importXML / Google Docs Ninja, maybe go and find something else to do instead of reading this post.

If you’re interested, I made a Google Docs Spreadsheet with all of the examples below: http://bit.ly/9Fs7aF

Does anyone know?

“Does anyone know” is such an interesting search on Twitter – just combine that query with a keyword, like “restaurant” and a location for everyone on Twitter looking for a very specific, thing. Great if you happen to be trading in that thing.

Try a query like this to pull through results from the Twitter search RSS feed:

=Importfeed(“http://search.twitter.com/search.atom?q=+restaurant+%22anyone+know%22+london+OR+manchester+

OR+birmingham”)

Via seogadget.co.uk

►Mini Matmian:

A useful function with many applications. Thanks to SEOGadget for sharing. I can see the guys at Matmi having some fun messing around with this.

Traffic Analysis: The New Google Analytics Features You Must Pay Attention To

If you didn’t know about it, in January 2012, less than a month from now, Google will close its present Analytics version and will replace it for everyone with the new one.

The new version has a number of great new features, from “real-time” traffic reporting, to social analysis e goal flow visualization.

This article offers a great opportunity to learn and explore some of the most relevant and useful new features that the upcoming Google Analytics has to offer.

Remember though: you do NOT have to wait until January 2012 to test them all out. Just log in into your Google Analytics and check on top of your page a red link that says “new version”. Click it!

Read the full article: http://mashable.com/2011/11/30/google-analytics-new-features/  

Via mashable.com

17 Eye-Opening Examples of Content Visualization (Infographics)

Via Scoop.it - Branded Entertainment and Digital Marketing

 This fascinating piece is by Pamela Vaughan from Hubspot Blog.

Another way to help people cope with information overload is by using visual content. Great tool for content curators after filtering, organizing, adding context is to break it up with pictures, graphics or infographics.

Intro:

Visualized content is popping up all over the web lately, and it’s no surprise.

Here’s what caught my attention:

“Does every piece of visual content you produce have to be as complex as a full-blown infographic? No way. And does every piece of visual content even have to highlight data? Negative.

****Sometimes the concept you’re trying to explain just lends itself to a more visual representation, and these types of portrayals can often make the concept much easier to follow and understand by your audience. 

****the benefits of visual content are huge —

**it tends to be much more shareable and interesting

****visual content often gets spread more virally

****allowing you to extend the reach and effectiveness of your content.

What really caught my eye in the infographics:

I especially loved Social Media Transit Strategy and The Journey of A Tweet - what about you?

Curated by Jan Gordon covering “Content Curation, Social Media & Beyond”

Read more: [http://bit.ly/tSVVHz

How to Create a Google+ Profile Banner in 5 Minutes

In addition to setting up a Google+ page for your business and taking advantage of our handy Google+ tips and tricks, check out how to quickly and easily create a profile banner.

We’ve found a neat photo cropping tool that will help you create an eye-catching Google+ profile photo banner in five minutes.

So take a look through this simple gallery walkthrough. Link us in the comments to any creative uses of the Google+ photo banner you’ve seen — or better still, created on your own!

via http://mashable.com

►Mini Matmian:

A nice, quick little tutorial to spice up your Google+ profile. I’d would love to see your attempts. Post screen-shots of your profile or a link.

You can reply directly on Blogger or our tumblr page.

Catch a couple of minutes of the Chief Matmian Jeff Coghlan from TEDx Liverpool

Founder and leader of the talented Matmians, creators of sometimes crazy, often games based, repeatedly award winning digital & mobile campaigns for the likes of United Airlines, EMI Music, Red Bull, Cancer Research, ASDA and Vimto Soft Drinks.
Via www.youtube.com