If you're going to attend our Wordpress Training course in Brighton, Sussex, we recommend that you download and familiarise yourself with FileZilla prior to attending. FileZilla is a free FTP client that we use on the course.

If you're not attending the Wordpress course but need to know how to use an FTP client to manage the local and remote files in your website, this guide to setting up FTP using FileZillawill be a useful reference guide.

Once you are up and running on Twitter it can be tricky to catch the best tweets or keep an eye on all of your mentions. TweetDeck and HootSuite attempt to solve those problems, with their user-friendly and functional interfaces really enforcing Twitter's place as a useful tool for businesses.

Update: Since we wrote this Twitter launched its new interface which is more user friendly to tempt people away from 3rd party Twitter clients.

The uninitiated may wonder what the fuss is all about, but these Twitter tools are highly addictive once you get started - the only problem is, which one should you use? Of course if you're new to Twitter and other social media platforms our social networking training in Brighton, Sussex, may be a help to get you started.

A Comparison of TweetDeck and HootSuite

These two tools have some shared benefits: keep on top of what's going on with customised and easy to manage columns; reply, re-tweet and direct message with a click; download a mobile phone application, and manage multiple accounts on Twitter or other social networks. The differences between HootSuite and TweetDeck are subtle, but may be key to which application you choose; read on for our comparison.

Using the hashtag to Tweet? Don't miss our Ultimate Guide to Social Media! We also run social media workshops in Brighton for budding social media marketers.

It's really annoying that many Apple keyboards don't have a hashtag, especially when you tweet a lot! If like me you are tired of Googling it every time you need to find it, or cutting and pasting an existing hashtag, I suggest sticking a post-it note on your Mac or printing our handy graphic.

Where is the Hashtag on my Apple Mac keyboard?

# = Alt + 3
€ = Alt + 2
© = Alt + G
• = Alt + 8

WAIT! Don't go away I've written a really simple and short tutorial on turning on your Special Character Viewer on Mac so even when you forget your keyboard shortcuts you can still find those elusive symbols easily. Also it's the only simple way of typing a % on a Mac.

All of you lovely Mac users may be interested in our training courses such as Google Analytics Training and SEO Training. Both are part of our SEO, Social Media and Internet Marketing Pick 'n' Mix training deal:

Assuming you're looking for the hashtag because you want to send a Tweet, you probably use other social media networks! Why not pimp your Google+ profile and customise your Facebook Timeline cover photo for eye catching results!

OK - so your business is increasing its Social Media presence (well done!). You have been working on your Search Engine Optimisation, and you've created a Fan Page for your business on Facebook, but the URL for your Facebook fan page is ridiculously long and impossible for anyone to remember.

If only there was a way to get a nice, short, snappy URL.

Well guess what? THERE IS! Facebook calls this a vanity URL.

But - it's a bit of a fiddle. So - read through our simple step by step guide below...

Unsure what to do with the Facebook Timeline? Check out our Complete Guide to Facebook Timeline.

How to Change the URL for your Facebook Fan Page

The URLs that Facebook allocates Fan Pages by default are RUBBISH!

Ours was www.facebook.com/pages/Silicon-Beach-Training/150912562754 - mmmm catchy!

However - we've shortened it to www.facebook.com/SiliconBeach MUCH better!

Here's how...

One question I’m often asked by those who are starting to tweet is ‘What do I tweet about?’ So I have written 30 Tweeting Top Tips.

Even the most experienced tweeters get twitter block sometimes. Here are a few ideas to keep you going. Incidentally many of these suggestions make good blog ideas too. I did write a post on Blog Ideas earlier.

If you are new to Twitter and are only just finding out about Social Media and what it can do for your business, why not book onto one of our Social Networking Training in Brighton, Sussex.

1. Write helpful Tweets

At least half of your tweets should be an answer, a response, or some kind of communication or dialogue. Remember it’s about relationships.

2. Create a tweet when you upload a new blog post

Let everyone know what you are writing about, and make the tag line snappy. Next time you are wondering which links to click on in twitter ask yourself why you chose them, make a note then use the same technique.

Once you've taken some great photos why not consider our Photoshop training for Beginners, Advanced and Web Graphics?

1. What is Shutter Speed?

In the most basic terms possible, shutter speed is the length of time that that your sensor is exposed, ie. the time that the shutter is open.

Shutter speed is set by fractions of a second as follows:

3", 2", 1", 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500.

Note: on Canon Cameras the camera does not accurately display a fraction of a second. So 30" means 30 seconds and 30 in the LCD refers to 1/30 of a second and NOT 30 seconds.

2. Why Does Shutter Speed Affect Motion in a Photograph?

The shorter the time your shutter remains open, the more motion it will freeze.

Below you'll find a comprehensive list of Social Media Tips,Guides, Plugins, Platforms, Analytics Tools, Apps and other great Social Media resources. This list is designed as a reference guide for delegates who have attended our Social Networking training or SEO training courses in Brighton, Sussex - but it would be mean of us not to make it available to everyone. We also provide creative courses like Photoshop Training and Leadership and Management Training like PRINCE2 Training and Business Analysis Courses. Enjoy...

The first control we are going to get to grips with is your Priority control, the easiest way to control the aperture of your Aperture lens is by setting your camera to AV mode. In AV mode you can control the aperture value by turning the dial at the top right of your camera.

What is Aperture Priority - AV Mode?

When you change the aperture value you are increasing or decreasing the amount of light the lens lets in to hit the sensor of your camera.

Understanding Exposure

A wide aperture allows a small depth of field - you choose the bit that is in focus

A wide aperture can be set by choosing small numbers like F2.8 -F5.4 (the lowest value will depend on the quality or speed of your lens). Setting a wide aperture will let more light into your camera. If you have your camera in AV mode (aperture priority) you choose the aperture and the camera will calculate the right shutter speed to get a balanced exposure. A wide aperture (small numbers) also means that the amount of your image that will be in focus is limited. This is useful for portraits when you want your subject in focus and the background blurred or for picking out detail in a macro image like a flower or insect photographs.

The out of focus background is sometimes called bokeh the above image is an example.