--- title: "Wednesday Buzz: Getting Ready for 2018" id: "40453" type: "post" slug: "wednesday-buzz-getting-ready-for-2018" published_at: "2017-11-08T22:50:44+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T20:45:05+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/11/08/wednesday-buzz-getting-ready-for-2018/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/11/08/wednesday-buzz-getting-ready-for-2018.md" excerpt: "Don’t let a harried year-end stop you from starting off the new year on the right foot. Also: new etiquette rules for extra-long tweets." taxonomy_category: - "Learning" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "E-learning" - "Employee Training" - "Professional Development" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Wednesday Buzz: Getting Ready for 2018 The end of the year is a busy time for associations. You may be in the midst of a fundraising flurry while also strategically planning for the upcoming new year. During this hectic time, it’s easy to let the little things fall by the wayside, but those little things may help to set up your association for success once the calendar flips over. In a [recent Abila blog post (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.abila.com/getting-organization-shape-2018/) , writer Shara Kilarski shares a few organizational moves to make now so you can be up and running after the holidays. Start with hiring extra professional help now if you need it. You don’t have to put small projects on the back burner just because 2018 planning looms large. Reach out to staffing firms to get seasonal help to finish out the year strongly. In addition, while your attention may be on the immediate needs of your association, don’t forget to take the time to improve your career skills. “Whether you’re onboarding a new team member, needing a refresher, or are looking to dive deeper into specific functionality, there’s always something new to learn,” writes Kilarski. “By planning now and earmarking time and budget, you can make sure to support professional development and education throughout the year.” ### 280 > Be mindful > > of > > spaces. > > No one > > wants > > to scroll > > three times > > to read > > your tweet. > > Twitter is now 280 characters. Here’s how to not be annoying: [https://t.co/PLJ79sg6HE (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/PLJ79sg6HE) > [pic.twitter.com/xEmwesN7As (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/xEmwesN7As) > > — CNN (@CNN) [November 8, 2017 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/CNN/status/928311154610405376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Today’s shiny new social media toy** is Twitter’s rollout of 280-character tweets to all accounts. [Here (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/928079058465902593) [are a few (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/StephenAtHome/status/928110978838990848) [fun ones (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/OfficialNBARefs/status/928038875653722112) . While we’re all having a good time experimenting with our new double-long tweets, Saeed Ahmed, a senior editor at CNN, [shares a few 280 etiquette tips (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/08/tech/twitter-tips-for-280-characters-trnd/index.html?sr=twCNN110817twitter-tips-for-280-characters-trnd1207PMStory) . Now that tweets are longer, Ahmed says to cut back on using all-caps. It’s too hard on the eyes. Also, be mindful about the length of your Twitter threads before people get turned off by essay-size writing. And most importantly, “don’t say in 280 what could have been said in 140.” ### Other Links of Note **In today’s polarized political world,** online harassment targeting nonprofits is common. *Beth’s Blog* shares a few simple [ways to navigate unwanted abuse (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bethkanter.org/harrassment/) . **How innovative can your association be?** According to *Smooth the Path*, it all [comes down to the CEO (opens in a new tab)](http://www.smooththepath.net/2017/11/02/ceos-behavior-dictates-innovative-association-will/) . **Has your group avoided Snapchat because it’s too confusing?** If yes, you’re not the only one. After a poor earnings report, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel says he plans to [redesign the app to make it easier to use (opens in a new tab)](https://www.recode.net/2017/11/7/16620812/snapchat-evan-spiegel-redesign-users-q3-earnings) . (SARINYAPINNGAM/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Raegan Johnson](https://associationsnow.com/author/raegan-johnson/) Raegan Johnson is a contributor to Associations Now. 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