The weekend read

No need to watch that clock, communicators. The new year is well underway and the first Friday of 2015 is here. Time now to check out my finds of the week, shared on @dontgetcaught on Twitter and curated here just for you. I hear the clock ticking away the hours till the weekend...

• Time to buy: Pinterest has launched ads in the form of "promoted pins."
• Time is money: International payments are an increasing proportion of PayPal's activity, thanks to its ability to fine-tune which currency you use.
• Time your snaps to the music: Here's an easy way to add music to your Snapchat stories, with examples to view.
• Quitting time: The latest Pew data says workers rate landlines and email more essential to their work than social media, but that social networks are rated as distractions by very few workers.
• Time to report on Ebola. Oh, look, a pony: In The fleeting obsessions of the White House press corps, the attention span of fleas is charted. Perhaps useful to media relations types seeking to show clients how quickly news becomes yesterday's deleted file.
• Time for a change: The Content Marketing Institute team rounds up its top posts about major social channels, with a twist: They share what surprised them and how they've altered their social strategies. Many links and much goodness here.
• Hours of time: Facebook users are seeking out branded content, not ignoring it.

I have two workshops coming up. I'd love to have you join me!

• For communications pros: If you work with scientists, physicians, policy wonks and other subject-matter experts, you'll find useful my popular workshop, Be an Expert on Working with Experts. The next session is February 4, 2015 in Washington, DC. Register at the link by January 9 to get the best rate; all registration closes January 29 or when all seats are filled. Don't miss the workshop communicators call "informative and eye-opening." I'm also happy to bring this workshop to your communications conference or workplace. Of note to communicators in higher education: This workshop follows the CASE District II conference and is just a short Metro ride from your conference hotel.
• For speakers, speechwriters, and conference organizers: What goes into a TED-quality talk, April 15 in Cambridge, UK, is a preconference session at the Spring Speechwriters & Business Communicators Conference which follows April 16-17. There's a discount at this link if you register for my workshop, which will draw on my experience coaching nearly 100 speakers who've been featured on the TEDMED stage, at TEDx conferences around the world, and on TED.com. The workshop will help speakers, speechwriters and TEDx organizers get a head start on TED-quality talks, whether you're aiming for the TED stage or for giving a talk in that style for everyday purposes.

Time for me to remind you that I'm always delighted to see you here on Fridays. Take some time to sign up for my free monthly newsletter, register for one of the workshops above, or let me know how we can work together in 2015 with an email to eloquentwoman at gmail.com. Happy new year!