Last August I wrote an article called Ten Random Things I’ve Learned About Twitter. Since then, more than 42 million new people started using Twitter–so I thought it would be a good time to update the article with some changes based on what I’ve learned since then. I’m going to do this in two posts–this one for everyone who uses Twitter. And the next one for those who manage large numbers of followers.
I’m not a Twixpert or Twenius — but I have learned a few things in my journey through the Twitterverse since I jumped in with both feet in May of 2008.
- Twitter started as “What Am I Doing?” — then changed last year to “What’s Happening?” I ignore both those questions. The question I ask myself every day is, “How Can I Add Value to Others?”
- Don’t tweet a message to one individual. That’s called email or text message. Tweets should be for the majority of those who follow you.
- 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.
- Don’t use services like TwitLonger — I don’t want to have to click to read the rest of your sentence. Save long tweets for a blog post.
- Don’t use @mentions for selling. I stop following people immediately when they use Twitter to spam me.
- I always try to tweet in 124 characters or less. Why? So people can easily re-tweet me. It requires 16-characters to type RT: @timastevens, and the more re-tweeting, the more value I can add to others.
More Tweet advice tomorrow for people with large numbers of followers.
14 Comments
This is a great post! I really benefited… I sometimes talk to people directly… i'm cutting that out!
[...] found a great top 10 list that summarizes what I think about twitter: this guy www.leadingsmart.com says it better than I [...]
"I’m not a Twixpert or Twenius" Groan…
Good list though
You need to hurry up and copyright "Twenius."
Thanks for the reminder of how to use and not use Twitter.
I've never been to your blog, so apparently #10 worked
Good stuff!
Tim, your overall point about adding value to others is a great paradigm. Thanks for the tips.
Hey Tim, great post! I've been reading the book by Joel Comm titled "The Power of Twitter …" Lots of what you are saying can be found in his book. I'm in the process of trying to put his and your ideas into practice.
Blessings,
Dave
This is really helpful Tim.
I've seen some writings that have tried to convince others how Twitter can add value. Because of that, I've made various attempts to follow some various tweets, but have remained unconvinced that it's worth investing the limited minutes of life.
The framework you give makes the most sense I've seen. Thanks!
Great Post. I have really gotten to that point. I'm thinking, if I'm going to reach out to others then I should be adding value and not just making noise. Now work on Facebook! . Thanks for sharing.
[...] “Twitter = How Can I Add Value To Others?” by Tim Stevens [...]
Although I agree with your general premise that Twitter should be about adding value to others 100%, I'd have to say I don't agree with the limitations of your Twitter rules.
I think everyone has their own set of Twitter rules, and I could never begin to figure out what each is, and I am feeling like I am constantly stumbling around on peoples toes and breaking ther rules. I think it's a constantly evolving, changing thing. Unless their is an official "Twitter code of ethics", I am not sure whose rules to follow. I think I'll just make up my own and @timastevens 100 times a day. ha. ha.
I totally agree w/ michelle. Ppl r on twitter 4 different reasons, so replying ppl personally is a must 4 ppl like me. However I agree w/ d 8 rule whole heartedly!
I do disagree about the individual comments to others. That comes in quite handy at times, with truly personal stuff taken to DM.
The rest of the list? Good job!
Great article Tim. I'm fairly new to using Twitter and other Social Media tools but whilst I'm still learning the ropes I've tried to get as clued up as possible before diving in fully and can wholeheartedly agree with all of your 10 points.
To keep these valuable for everyone involved it our all of our responsibilities to post content of value and not just post for the sake of it or get our numbers up. It's absolutely about adding value and saving people time, rather than make them wade through gzillions of tweets to find something of value.