Perhaps at this very moment you’re moaning and groaning, “Ohhh no, not more changes!” I hear you loud and clear, but don’t worry. These are mostly good updates that will improve the way you and your blog interact with three of the most important social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

1. Facebook has released an app specifically for pages: It’s now much easier to post photos and stories to your blog’s fan page from your mobile phone, as well as check up on the metrics. This means that you can monitor your page, add images and links on the go. We’re excited that it’s going to be easier to send updates to fans from anywhere – but please, don’t get too liberal with it! (Read more about the app here.)

2. Lyst Launches Sale Alerts for Pinterest: Social platform Lyst has tapped into an interesting component of the Pinterest: now, if you link your Pinterest and Lyst accounts, you can receive an instant notification when any items you’ve pinned from any online retailer site go on sale. If you use Pinterest to keep track of potential purchases, this tool is for you.

3. Twitter updated their Privacy Policy and Terms of Service: Twitter has updated it’s privacy policy. Most importantly by clarifying the type of information they collect from their users (get all the details here). They have also updated their suggestions tool to allow it to follow you to sites with twitter plug-ins and tailor their suggested users around your on-line behavior. But never fear – they’ve also implemented a Do Not Track feature, in case you don’t want the fail whale on your tail. (Get details here.)

 There you go, you’re all up to speed. That wasn’t so bad now was it?

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Heaviness and weight can creep into all aspects of your life – including your social media channels. We spend so much time trying to keep up – following the right people, updating our status, joining every network and signing up for emails that might be helpful. Before you know it your inbox is cluttered, your feed is flooded and you’re missing all the good stuff.

This week before the season officially begins is the perfect time to “trim the fat” as we call it. Shed the excess to make the most of the time you spend online when you might really want to be in the sunshine.

Follow these 4 steps to get your online life streamlined, fit, fabulous and ready for summer!

1. Refresh your social media photos, profile and background image

• On Twitter and Facebook, why not change up your avatar and fan page photo? Pick a great image of you that reflects the season. This is also the time to finally make your fan page Timeline formatted, if you haven’t already!
• Same goes for your Twitter background image – breath a little life into your profile page by changing yours
• If you haven’t already, check out these tips for creating (or updating) your social media bio.
• Did you know you can now set a cover image for each of your boards on Pinterest? Do it!
• PS – Twitter also updated their Terms of Service, so you may want to check it out here.

2. Flush out your superfluous follows and subscriptions, everywhere

• Use Tweepi or a similar tool to flush out your follows on Twitter who have deactivated or extremely inactive accounts
• Revisit all the pages you “like” on Facebook (or that you’ve liked through your blog’s fan page), and delete whatever feels irrelevant
• Pick one day to pay attention to all the emails from brands, e-stores, PR firms, websites, etc. Notice which ones you actually open on a regular basis, and unsubscribe from the rest. Your inbox will thank you!

3. Check out and update all your links and widgets

• If you’ve been thinking about it (or especially if you haven’t), now is a great time to update your blogroll. Add your newest favorites and clean out the ones you rarely visit anymore.
• Spend some time clicking around your blog. Do your page links and widgets all go to the right place?
• Have you changed your URL, switched platforms or purchased your domain name recently? Make sure your URL is correct on your social media profiles, email signature, resume, etc.
• If you want to switch platforms, it’s a good time for that too!

4. Re-energize and customize your blog’s appearance and content

• Why not give your blog a more personal touch this summer. With our Beginner’s Guide to CSS (part 1 and part 2) you can learn to customize your site easily.
• Do you like your blog’s name? If not, we’ve got 10 tips for a great fashion blog name
• Improve your post titles, boost your photography skills, create killer content and generally energize your routine by following IFB’s Blogger Workout Plan

Have any great tips to get your blog and social media ready for summer? Share with us!

[Image credit: MoviePix, via StyleList.]

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Last night in New York City, the 16th annual Webby Awards took place, put on by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Hundreds of awards were given out, in categories ranging from sports to television, social media, tablet and phone apps, and of course, fashion! Judges narrowed down the selection in each category to five nominees, and the voting was left up to all of us Internet fiends! (You can see a list of all awards and nominees here.)

In the world of social media, Pinterest won for the general social media award, beating out Google+, Storify, I Had Cancer, and CNN iReport. Facebook took the prize for People’s Special Achievement for Social Change, over sites like Twitter, YouTube and Change.org. Tumblr recieved the “People’s Voice Award” for community. The Special Achievement Award for “Webby Breakout of the Year” went to Instagram.

Fashion video site ShowStudio took the top prize for fashion, over Vogue.com, Nowness, shopping discovery site Mulu.me and T Magazine. The YSL Experience site won for Beauty and Cosmetics.

Blogger favorite ASOS, beat out some of our other top sites like Mr. Porter and Warby Parker for best retail website, while in the world of mobile shopping, the Target iPhone app won over Gilt on the Go (one of our weeknesses), among others.

We can’t help but notice that some of the most popular and used site by style bloggers were big winners last night. We’ve been huge fans of Instagram and Pinterest from the get-go, and can’t deny the strength of Tumblr’s massive community.

Do you think these Webby Awards reflect current online trends? Have you used or visited the sites and apps of these winners? Let us know in the comments.

[Image credit: Showstudio, from Nick Knight's Instagram photoshoot]

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Grab your favorite gadget and follow Independent Fashion Blogger’s exclusive cross-country Instagram road trip

Embark on the blogging community’s ultimate summer escapade with Independent Fashion Blogger’s (IFB) “Day in the Life” Instagram campaign, a virtual summer road trip that gives Instagram users the chance to explore the country through the eyes of their favorite digital personalities.

Making virtual pit-stops in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Nashville, Dallas, Chicago, Washington DC and New York City, each selected blogger will share five original photos on the IFB Instagram account. With a different featured blogger each day, the “Day in the Life’ campaign will highlight the diverse voices and personalities that can be found within the nation’s digital space. Each photo will be posted on the @_IFB instagram account and will be shared with both IFB’s and the participating blogger’s social media community.

Follow each blogger’s Instagram postings with this posting schedule and the #DayintheLife dedicated hashtag:

5/28/2012: Mollie Ruiz-Hopper, www.MollieInSeattle.com, @MollieInSeattle
5/29/2012: Whitney Powell & Brittany Hebb, www.BrittandWhit.com, @BrittandWhit
5/30/2012: Erin Hiemstra, www.Apartment34.com, @Apartment_34
5/31/2012: Tara McNulty, www.TheWonderGirl.com, @TaraDear
6/01/2012: Lauren Wickman, www.LAintheBay.com, @LAintheBay / @CallMeLoLo
6/02/2012: Krystal Bick, www.ThisTimeTomorrow-Krystal.blogspot.com @Krystal_Bick
6/03/2012: Natalie Goel, www.LikeFreshLaundry.com, @NatalieGoel
6/04/2012: Samantha Hutchinson, www.CouldIHaveThat.Blogspot.com, @CouldIHaveThat
6/05/2012: Mara Ferreira, www.MLovesM.Blogspot.com, @MaraFerreira
6/06/2012: Bradley Agather, www.LuellaJune.com, @Bagather
6/07/2012: Sarah Faye, www.LivingGoldie.com, @goldie_locks
6/08/2012: Jennifer King, www.IfIMustSaySo.com, @birdflygood
6/09/2012: Allyson Noriega, www.AllysoninWonderland.com, @AllysoninWonderland
6/10/2012: Audrey Huber, www.ALovelyEscape.Blogspot.com. @MissAudMarie
6/11/2012: Amy Creyer, www.ChicagoStreetStyle.com, @ChiStreetStyle
6/12/2012: Cait Weingartner, www.PrettyandFun.com, @PrettyandFun
6/13/2012: Megan Gilger, www.TheFreshExchangeBlog.com, @hitchdesign
6/14/2012: Elise Yetton, www.PennyweightOnline.com, @Pennyweight
6/15/2012: Jessica Nell Graves, www.TheLoveList.net, @thelovelist
6/18/2012: Jewel Hazelton, www.EatDrinkShopLove.com, @Eatdrinkshoplove
6/19/2012: Meg Biram, www.MimiandMegBlog.com, @MegBiram
6/20/2012: Molly and Sally Miller, www.APieceofToast.com, @apieceoftoast
6/21/2012: Lacey Maffettone, www.ALaceyPerspective.com, @laceperspective
6/22/2012: Alison Coglianese, www.ChainStrapPurse.com, @AllyCog
6/23/2012: Sarah Morgan Shepherd, www.HemenwayStreet.com, @HemenwayStreet
6/25/2012: Laura Ellner, www.OnTheRacks.com, @ontheracks
6/26/2012: Erika Sheffer, www.StyleActivist.com, @styleactivist
6/27/2012: Lauren Brenner, www.EveryDayToRunway.com, @Everyday_Runway
6/28/2012: Sarah Lederman, www.ChevronandStripes.com, @Chevronsarah
6/29/2012: Caroline Knapp, www.SweetCarolineintheCity.com, @CarolineinCity
6/30/2012: Jinna Yang, www.GreaseandGlamour.com, @GreaseandGlamour

Don’t forget – the campaign starts May 28, 2012 over here with the #DayInTheLife hashtag!

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Oh twitter. How we love you. Constantly entertaining us, keeping us up-to-date on the news, and in-touch with all our blogger pals. We find ourselves giggling and re-tweeting silly or poignant tweets all week, and thought it might be fun to start sharing some of our favorite with you.

The woman behind the @dkny twitter feed always understands our hair trauma.

This convo made us giggle. Mindy’s tweets are worth a follow.

Ironic, Mr. Martin. We like that.

We ask the same thing about attending events…

A perfect Monday morning tweet from Matchbook Mag

We’d have to agree with you on that one, Miss Sage

So very, very true!

RIP Disco Queen.

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