Ten Random Things I’ve Learned About Twitter
I'm not a Twixpert or Twenius — but I have learned a few things in my journey through the Twitterverse these past 15 months.
- I don't look at Twitter as my "what am I doing?" outlet. I think of it as, "How can I add value to others today?"
- If you try to sell me something, I'll unfollow you in a flash.
- I used to only follow a few people. I learned that makes me look self-centered…like I want you to care what I have to say but I don't give a rip about what you have to say. I recently changed my approach.
- Twitter is personal. If I know someone is having one of their "people" tweet on their behalf–I stop following them.
- Programs like Tweet Deck, Seesmic and PeopleBrowsr allow you to group followers. I'm currently using three major groups: Family and Friends, Pastors and Leaders, Coaching Network. Then I also track everyone I follow in a 4th column.
- People don't like auto messages, like when you have a service send an automatic thank-you every time you get a new follower. Tried it. Backfired. Never again.
- You should turn Twitter off occasionally. Like anything, you can become addicted. When you are with your family or in a conversation–shut 'er down. It will wait.
- You shouldn't be all business or just a constant quotation regurgitator. Your followers also want to know about you as a person.
- Don't use those annoying services that automatically tweet the first 140 characters from your blog posts. Choose your posts selectively, and sell me on why I should jump over to read your blog.
- Don't be a Twachine-gun tweeter (someone who spits out 14 in a row). If it was meant for 700 characters, it would be designed that way. Keep it short.
What are your thoughts? Share in comments or @timastevens.
Posted by Tim Stevens | 13 comments
nate drye
tim,
great observations (esp #7; add to that don't tweet while driving). i never thought about #3 like that before, thanks for the thought.
n
Chris Queen
Good thoughts, Tim!
Todd Elliott
I actually just went the other way on #3. I whittled down my following list by 500 people. I found that I had a bunch of tweets from people I really didn't care to hear from and I was missing tweets from people I did. One day in.. I'm glad I did it. Hey, I got to read your tweet leading to me this post, didn't I?
Deana
I haven't gone to twitter yet because the "what I am doing" factor is exactly why it took me so long to do facebook and begin checking out blogs. I am in my mid-forties and am not opposed to advanced technology and know it is our culture. I am having a hard time getting used to the me, myself and I attitude so I like reading and participating in info that adds value to people's lives. I appreciate your blog because it allows people to give different perspectives on important issues. We can all learn from each other in positive ways.
LeadHership
I am SO w/ ya on #3. But #5? Tweetdeck? Could be my twitter-inexperience, but I thought that program was schitzo! It drove me nuts! Back to ole' twitterfon, for now =)
Tim Stevens
Remember the commercials "Have you driven a Ford lately?" Well, I hated the TweetDeck phone app early on, but just recently switched to it and LOVE it. Plus, it syncs all my columns/groups/lists with my desktop at both home and work.
Dave Anderson
Love it. Agree! I would add this:
Occasionally @mention the "little people" – When I got an @reply from Ashton Kutcher it made him seem real and genuine and made me feel great – like I stepped into the world of celebrity. My kids were jealous!
When I see superstar pastors who have 1000's of followers and follow 10 people and they will only @reply to their inner circle of celebrity pastors, I want to puke (on their shoes)
I realize its not possible for a CEO type pastor to respond to everyone. I dont expect that. But come down off the high horse every once in a while and let the common folk know you are real.
The Granger staff does that well I might add.
Kyle Reed
Great list Tim.
I think you hit a lot of good points on the head and I wish others followed this list.
I think you are dead on when you talk about having a personal touch with the way you twitter. For guys like me who get to be mentored/lead through twitter (weird thought but true thought) it is nice to have some personality in your tweets and some sage advice.
Keep it up and I am glad that you take time to do tweet and blog.
Debra Baxter
Another one is that if you tweet about information people can get at your site, provide something of value there; for example, the list provided here. It's frustrating to follow a link and find a page full of things to buy or sign up for and no real information.
Tommy Bowman
Like others, I never thought of #3 like that. But, like in all that we do, is it about us or about others? Twitter has so much of a "ME" focus, but you're right, you can actually love on and pour into people thru Twitter.
Mark Clement
great stuff. i feel the same way. wrote a similar post a couple months ago that you may find amusing. http://tinyurl.com/mmvcrq btw, casey graham says we need to connect. i hope we get a chance to do that sometime soon. fyi we're the guys doing his current change group branding/design. keep up the great work.
Amy M
Tim,
You are a new follower of mine, and in deciding if I wanted to follow you, I came to your blog and read this post on Ten Random Twitter things… Love it! Good advice in a world full of Twitter advice!
I am going to follow you because I think I can learn from you – as a follower of Christ and as a person. I have nothing to sell – just a love of the Lord, people, and learning, to share. I am a baby blogger so if you read anything I've written to date, be gentle. It's been more of a journaling experience so far…
Blessings,
Amy
erehwon
I don't have a cell/i phone, I won't have a cell/i phone. I don't tweet, I won't tweet. If He meant for me to tweet, He would have made me a bird. You all look like idiots tweeting/texting in church, and the 20 or 30 of you that don't during church do the very second the service is over, walking into people because you just can't wait to tweet/text. You probably do it at home too. What ever happened to the good old days when you yelled up the stairs that dinner was ready, or walked across the street to get your kids to come home. Put down your new piece of technology people, it's already old.