Twitter is a conversation. It is like walking into a coffee shop or a bar and sitting down next to a stranger.
My wife @LaceyYantis is a full-time wedding photographer. For the last two years she has repeatedly asked me what I get out of Twitter and why do I use it. About a month ago she created a username and password to understand Twitter’s fullest potential…and in about a month’s time she has 700+ followers. Realizing that social media is not a fad and that it is real, she now has a blog. Why did she do it?
Well, Twitter is a microblogging service that offers you the opportunity to expand your social network and build relationships. It has certainly helped me connect with people I never knew before and it has, for sure, helped me create new relationships. @LaceyYantis in one month’s time has already seen business growth as a direct result of her Tweeting effort. For me, I have developed new relationships with a variety of people in the community, including @ShaunaCausey, @GeekGiant, @PaulBalcerak, @FairmontOlympic, @SeattleChamber and @Mikulsky. If you want to increase your Twitter following, here are ways to do it:
Here are some tips:
1) In order to increase your following you must follow people. It is kind of an unwritten rule in the Twitter-sphere that if I follow you, you should follow me back. About 50 percent of Twitter users actually do this so that means you’ll just have to follow twice as many people to get 700 followers. @LaceyYantis is following about 1400 people; in return 700 are following her back. Follow as many people as possible.
2) Go to Twitter’s search tool and type in a topic. For instance, each day I spend some time talking to people that write about “Seattle”. Since @SeattleBlank is my Twitter handle, I find it relevant to talk to people that are conversing about the city I live, work and play in. After we spark a conversation, these folks usually follow me in return, and I’ll do the same.
3) Attend a Tweetup or a social media networking luncheon and meet people. Share your Twitter handles and increase your following.
4) Are you on Facebook? Update your status with a question about Twitter – ask your network – are you on Twitter? If so, leave me your @username and I’ll follow you. They’ll follow you back.
5) Get your users to RT (retweet) what you are saying. RTs pushes your Twitter username and profile into various social graphs, which result in direct push backs to your profile. People will RT what you say if it is powerful or useful. Say something that is powerful or find a news article or link that is useful and share it.
6) Don’t leave your bio and profile information blank. People want to connect with people on Twitter. If you are Tweeting for a company or organization, tell us who is behind the Twitter profile. While I want to interact with a company, I really want to interact with a person and know who I am talking to. I tend NOT to follow people who are CASHFORCARS or DOGLOVERS without a name behind the account.
7) Use your camera phone and take photos. Picture are one of the most heavily retweeted links are Twitter. If you use Seesmic or UberTwitter on your blackberry you can send pictures straight to Twitter on your phone. If you have an iPhone you should consider apps such as Tweetie or Twitterific.
8) Tweet about things that you are passionate about and # HASHTAG it. Good content coupled with a nice hashtag — or an easy way for people to find them may increase your following. Hashtag’s make it easy for people to search for key topics at Search.Twitter.com.
9) Use Qwitter and get an e-mail every time someone unfollows you. Do the deed and unfollow them back. :)
10) Just remember, Twitter is a conversation. It is like walking into a coffee shop or a bar and sitting down next to a stranger. Would you ask that stranger to purchase your product (right away) or would you engage in a conversation. Ask that person how are you doing? Who are you? What are you doing? What brings you here today? What do you do? Over time, you’ll get to know that person, you’ll have a relationship which will serve you better in the long run.
Happy Tweeting! If you read this blog post and are on Twitter, leave a comment here with your Twitter handle and I’ll follow you. I am sure others will do the same.
Aaron BLANK 