"Twitter Me This And Twitter Me That."
Welcome to Day 4 of our Content Syndication Strategy Series. Last post we talked about the power and leverage of leaving good blog comments. Today we’re moving into social media and we’re starting off with Twitter!
I can already see the two camps forming now. Those who love Twitter and those who just don’t’ get it. Now before you skip today lesson I want you to think about this. Weather you get it, love it, hate it or what ever…Twitter is currently the 9th most visited site of all time according to Alexa.
Something to consider if you’re not using Twitter in your day to day relationship building / marketing efforts. Lets do some quick rapid fire answers to the most common questions. Ready for our Twitter tip…first course…the appetizer if you will?
- No you don’t need to read every tweet…and how could you?
- Yes a tweet is like saying hello or replying back to someone.
- No you should not have your Twitter feed go to your Facebook or LinkedIn accounts. Look at your stream..is anyone listening?
- Yes you can use automation, not always but some is ok.
- Yes you can build relationships with simple little tweets.
- Yes you can find you target audience or prospect or next business partner from Twitter.
- Yes you should have a smiling picture, quick witty bio and link to your blog.
- Yes you can get addicted to Twitter, but it’s ok…15 minutes a day is good for you. Pace yourself.
Twitter Explained.
Ok so what is the deal with Twitter anyway? Let me put Twitter and for that matter social media into perspective. I share this in the video as well, but I really want you to get this and then give it away.
Social media is like a big party. Think of having a bunch of friends and family over for a get together or BBQ. Now each of your friends brings a few of their friends and soon you have a few hundred people at your party. Well Twitter is like the front door of that party. It’s where you get to meet people quickly… tell them where to put their coats, where the bathroom is all that good host/hostess kind of stuff.
If the party scene doesn’t vibe with you then think of high school…or college if you remember any of it. You probably passed people in the hall ways between classes. Those you knew you said hi to real quick and you probably mentioned something to about how you’ll meet them later for lunch or after class. Either way it’s a quick hello, hey how ya doing.
Did you talk to everyone…highly doubtful.
Ok back to the party. From Twitter you can have people connect with you on Facebook. You can use a DM or toss our your Facebook profile or business page occasionally. Facebook is like the living room or den of the party. There are pictures on the walls, people are commenting on statuses, connecting in groups, sharing more information and hanging out just a little more. You get to learn more about your new friends on their extended info pages, quotes and videos. There’s a different vibe on facebook than on the simple fast pace of Twitter.
Are people following you? Have they sent you a friend request in hopes of getting to know you more? Hmmm…
Now from Facebook AND Twitter you start to move the party to where the food is. Either the kitchen / patio or in this case to your blog. You continue to foster your relationships with your new friends aka followers. You give them something to eat. Something they want…something that builds that know, like and trust value.
Let me ask you this…if you pitched a biz op at a party full of people you have not gotten to know well, how do you think it will go over? Hmmm…
Hopefully that cleared the air on their differences between Twitter, Facebook and your blog and how to leverage them. Each social media site has it’s own characteristics and personality. Get to know them well and they will serve you well.
Twitter Tips for Syndication… Serving others first
Twitter Tip main course
Most Twitter training videos will show you how to build a follow and get leads. Those are all good, but today i want you to think of others first. We’re going to use the law of reciprocity. It’s actually biblical. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Now I went overboard a little in the video…it’s a tad over 18 minutes so I’m going to highlight a few sections for you.
- At 4:20 i share how to spin a RT from someones elses blog. This little tip will set you apart from the drive by RT’ers. it’s the little extra steps that make the difference.
- At 7:00 I dive into a cool tool that you should only use for your inner circle tribe members. This will allow you to promote your close tribe members while sharing good quality content to your followers. USE WISELY!
- At 11:55 I really hit the meat of it and show you how to be a “Power Tweeter” It’s not for the faint of heart.
Welcome back! Hopefully you took some good notes and you were able to soak up something new. Now I have some extra goodies for you. We’re going into extra innings by sharing some of my blogging friend’s best Twitter advice. Dive into these posts below, leave good quality comments, gather all they have to offer and you can start to bend Twitter to your will.
Anna Hoffman serves up some golden nuggets in “How to Get Targeted Traffic from Twitter with an Ethical Bribe”
Can you really get targeted traffic from Twitter with a bribe? And can a bribe ever be ethical? You bet and you bet.
I get this question a lot: “I want to use Twitter to promote my business site/blog. I do engage with my followers and people I follow, ask questions, respond to their tweets – do everything I should be doing on Twitter… Continue Reading Twitter Tips
Adrienne Smith Shares her “20 Tips for Getting Your Content Retweeted on Twitter”
I know there are a lot of Twitter fans out there, admit it! You can’t deny the power of Twitter. Try all you want but it’s one heck of a powerful social media site.
Did you know that Twitter now has 200 million registered users but about 100 million are active every single month where around 50 million.. Continue Reading Twitter Tips
Catherine Alexandra has all the birds singing with these 5 power tips on “What The Twit? (Twitter Tips)”
I see a lot of people comparing it to Facebook these days, but it’s really not like Facebook at all, if you ask me!
So what’s the deal with Twitter?.. I’m going to share with you some info on Twitter as well as some of my top Twitter tips to help you get your arms around the subject and start making some headway with this … Continue Reading Twitter Tips
Nicky Price gives 7 Twitter Tips in “Twitter “Twaddle” Or Twitter As A Network Marketing Tool?”
Okay, so I’m the first to admit that I just didn’t “get” Twitter as a Network Marketing Tool at all! 140 characters of “lol” text and people pushing their latest biz op on you – I mean come on!! Am I alone in this?
Thankfully it would appear not, as even some of the “gurus” agreed with me when I spoke to them at a live event recently, BUT they were able to share… Continue Reading Twitter Tips
Chris Brogan lays down his “50 Power Twitter Tips”
A while back, I wrote 50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business. It still gets plenty of attention, as it’s listed as an official resource on the Twitter business resources page (thanks, @ed!). But you know, I can’t leave well enough alone, so here I am with another 50 Power Twitter Tips. Feel free to re post all or any of this, but if you do, please give credit to this link… Continue Reading Twitter Tips
Twitter Bonus Tip
Are you full yet? I hope you have room for a little dessert because I have one last Twitter tip for you.
90% Give – 10% take
When you’re on Twitter you should be on. RT, @ reply, be connecting. 10-20 tweets in a 5-10 minutes session is very easy to do and that’s the 90% give. Now thew 10% take is a tweet driving your followers back to your blog or capture page. Have this be your last tweet for your session. This is called a “Hanging Tweet”as it hangs around after your done.
That’s it for now make sure you leave a comment and share you favorite Twitter Tip and if you have a tip you would like to leave for the community please do so. Heck you can even comment on someones elses tip!
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
P.S. make sure you have your Gravatar… I want to see those smiling faces next to your rock star comments!
P.S.S. I created a secret group on Facebook that designed just for bloggers who leave good quality comments on other blogs as a full time blog growth strategy and I have 10 spots open as I’m keeping this group tight. For qualification details send me a message on Facebook
Update…The Network Dad is now powered by Comment luv.. So Enjoy the luv when you leave your awesome comment!
When I started out on Twitter, I had no clue what the heck I was doing, so I hated it instead. I kept hearing how people were updating stupid “stuff” and it put a sour taste in my mouth for a long time.
NOW, I love Twitter and there isn’t a day that goes by (except when on vacation) that I don’t access it. What a fantastic tool to check out new blog posts and build your community. I have made some awesome connections and can’t wait to meet some of you at future blog conferences.
In regards to tips, I don’t have any cool back-flip tips, but I can say, to visit often, comment, retweet other blog posts and have fun!
Sonia recently posted..Blogs Of The Month: Great Blogs You Should Be Reading Oct 2011
Sonia,
Wen I first jumped on Twitter I followed 1000 people the first day. That’s because I took the advise of someone else. What I received in return was several hate tweets. This was 4 years ago just prior to the big network marketing rush. In my opinion that’s what has spoiled Twitter for a lot of people. To many people talking and nobody listening.
Like you said Twitter is a great place to meet new people. I started my first tribe from fellow bloggers right off of Twitter, and loads of leads and prospects and business partners have come from Twitter.
The tips you gave are perfect…visit often, comment, RT and have fun! With that…how would you help someone who is new to Twitter? What guidelines would you offer in building up to your first 2000 followers?
Ken
Go slow and don’t buy followers! You want real people that actually want to read your posts and not “bots” filling up space so it only “appears” as if you have that many followers. People get sucked into this easily and they don’t even know it until they have wasted tons of money. Nothing happens overnight unless your some famous celebrity and even with them it’s just a “given”.
Figure out what your “true” motives are for actually following someone. Will you really read their blog or are you following back because they followed you? Some people buy into that and then wonder why the other person unfollowed them later. Set some ground rules for yourself, and follow people with like-minded niches. Mom bloggers know this all too well and they are a force to be reckoned with.
My last advice is if you tweet someone’s post, take the time to “comment” on it first. It makes your tweet look more credible and shows the author the reason why you tweeted his post. People that follow you will see this and wonder why you liked it so much….then they click over too! Share the tweet love always!
Sonia recently posted..The New Bloggers Guide to Blog Comments
Awesome blog post! Really clears things up for me – I had wondered about how to use Twitter effectively – now I feel armed to go out there and join the party! I’ll be back to this post to really take it in – there’s quite a bit to take in for one read! Thanks for sharing!
In Light, Alexandria
Alexandria,
You know that you are always welcome to come back anytime…haha. I’m glad you found this information useful. I’ve always love the “big party” analogy because I think people can relate to that. Let me know if there are any other question you may have. Twitter can be a powerful tool for building relationships.
Ken
Really great post about why Twitter is so powerful Ken.
When I first got involved with Twitter I just didn’t understand it at all. I knew about tweeting other people’s content but back then I wasn’t visiting blogs and commenting so I had no clue whose stuff I was suppose to be sharing.
I have connected with some amazing people via Twitter and have even introduced people to each other that have ended up working together all because of this amazing platform.
Thank you for this fabulous explanation and if you don’t get it, go back through Ken’s post and video and really pay attention. This is really a very powerful platform that when used correctly, it can really help bring more attention to you. I must admit, I really love it now!
As always, another great post Ken. Still loving this series.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..See How Easily You Can Convert A YouTube Video
Adrienne,
I’m glad you liked the explanation. I agree that Twitter can be a great platform to leverage and I know you understand the laws of reciprocity and paying it forward. I would love to know how you would guide new people in leveraging Twitter. You mentioned about not having a clue in the beginning of who’s stuff to tweet. What tips would you share about showing people on how to build a strong following?
Ken
Hey Ken,
My recommendation would be to start locating blogs in their chosen niche and connecting with those particular individuals. Comment on their posts and share them. Always interact with those people on Twitter as well and then see who they are following as well.
Twitter can just be an overwhelming place to be but I would start building my Twitter followers off Twitter first. Remember, it’s all about relationships. What better place to start then on their blogs.
That’s my advice Ken and thanks again for the shout out. Really appreciate that!
Adrienne recently posted..See How Easily You Can Convert A YouTube Video
This is some serious Twitter reading! I look forward to it Ken.
Love it or hate it you have to respect it if you are a marketer, but it will never be a favourite of mine as too many people are “shouting”!
Nicky
Nicky recently posted..Network Marketing Tips for Productivity
Haha…Nicky, Respect Twitter!
Absolutely. I remember when Twitter was the biggest platform for sharing content. RT counts were flying off of great blogs like you couldn’t believe. Then around last summer there was a switch to Facebook being the preferred platform to share content on. If you look at blogs share counters, Facebook now ranks higher than Twitter for good quality posts. So I believe that you are not alone in your thoughts towards Twitter. I actually took a break from Twitter and syndication for that matter, for about 6 months. There was just to many one sided conversations.
Twitter start to look like a classified add section. 50 million tweets a day doesn’t mean much if most people are not even there to engage with each other. So I’m slowly coming back to Twitter because there one thing I do know…and that leverage a good thing when you see it.
Thank you for your honest feedback.
Ken
I am one of those people who really doesn’t like Twitter, Ken.
Yet I use it because it’s the largest referral traffic source for my blog.
You don’t have to love it, just use it smartly to make the best of it.
Thanks for the mention and other wonderful resources.
PS meant to let you know that I mentioned you in my guest post at Technshare.com
http://www.technshare.com/creating-popular-blog/
Ana recently posted..SEMRush: My Answer to Google Blocking Keywords
Ana,
Thanks for the shout out and answer to my question on your blog post. I’ll drop that post through Tribe Pro to get some buzz on it.
With respect to Twitter I totally hear you. Leverage a tool or platform because it’s worth it…but that doesn’t mean it needs to be your favorite.
Also thank you for sharing another important tip. You mentioned that Twitter is your largest referral traffic source. I want to point out that it’s a must to know where your traffic is coming from. For anyone else here in the community…if you don’t have your analytics set up…get er done!
Ken
How awesome! I’m going to check this article out to see what Ana had to say about Ken!
Cat Alexandra recently posted..Empower Network Scam, Hype, or the Real Deal?
Great Post Ken. I use twitter but not to the degree you described here. I come from if you choose a marketing method you should focus on that one method and master it. If I would have chosen twitter to be my lead generation source I would be applying all that you have mentioned here. I am guilty of putting my twitter on automation. My favorite tip is using this automation tool to follow people that are following another “guru” haha!
Hi Ken,
If anyone still doesn’t get Twitter after this post there is something going on! The biggest nugget here is the way you build relationships. Sure there are lots of posts covering tools, but you’ve made some awesome points on how to actually use them in a powerful non spammy way.
I must admit that although I’m no where near as active on Twitter as I used to be, to this day some of the most amazing friendships I’ve built were a direct result of engaging there. I think a lot of people totally miss the fact that the most powerful part of Twitter is being able to quickly move people onto other platforms, where you can engage on a deeper level.
My 2 favorite tools are Hootsuite and Buffer.
One of the things I love about Hootsuite is it has a ‘show conversation’ button underneath replies you receive. So basically if someone replies a few days later and you have no idea what they are talking about, I just hit that button and it all makes sense again! I also find that the Hootsuite app is great for being able to engage on Twitter during dead time when I’m out and about.
The Buffer app is super cool in that every time I’m on a blog or webpage, it allows me to just drag the post into the app and it Tweets at the times I specified. So rather than Tweeting 10 times in a row when everyone’s asleep, you can set it to only send Tweets during the highest traffic times. It’s super fast and simple to use and it even sends you an email to let you know when your Buffer is empty.
Michaelé
Michaele Harrington recently posted..3 Ways To Easily Detect And Avoid Being Manipulated
Wow, that was an awesome, info packed video. Thanks, Ken.
I have to admit that Twitter has not been my strong suit up to now. With FB and my blog, Twitter has gotten 3rd billing and not much time allocated to it. But after watching your video and the cool syndication tools you discussed, I plan on revisiting my Twitter strategy!
Also appreciate the cool resources at the end of your post!
Dr. Bob Clarke recently posted..Kristi Hines – An Interview With a Part Time Blogging Superstar
Dear Ken,
You continue to knock my socks off, my friend. I love your features and I am truly honoured to have been included on your Twitter Tips list. I’m just now getting myself situated to where I can sit down with each of the other recommended blogs to get acquainted with the other great folks you have recommended (all though I am all ready a regular reader of Ana Hoffman & Adrienne Smith’s blogs).
Thanks for being such a go-giver. You’ve really made my blogging world so much more friendly and engaging since I’ve had the chance to work with you in our Blog Comment Group!
Have a fantastic week!
Highest regards,
Cat Alexandra
Cat Alexandra recently posted..Empower Network Scam, Hype, or the Real Deal?
It’s a good thing I stumbled upon your blog, Ken. I love the way you described the difference between facebook and twitter using concrete images. It is easier understood that way. I must confess, I have a twitter account but have not really gotten the hang of utilizing it. I haven’t accessed it in months! I liked Facebook better. But then you made me realize the two ARE meant to be different because each serve their own purpose. I will check my twitter account in a few and start putting it to good use. Thanks!
Reese recently posted..Consumers Taking on Less Credit Card Debt
It never occurred to me to build a following by letting the orginator of a tweet know I’m re-tweeting! I just press the retweet button and send. Will have to try your method out
Rose recently posted..How does Wizzley work?
What a great overview of twitter.
I work at a law firm, and was recently tasked with the social media aspect of our business.
Needless to say, I have no idea what to tweet about. I found out about keywordluv and commentluv to get people onto our blog… do I just tweet about the blog?
Im lost, any help would be appreciated.
Thank you very much for sharing these informative articles. As a newer, now I really completely understand the differences between Twitter, Facebook and blog after reading your wonderful explication. Getting more attractions to you blog is the last target and also ask for a high quality content of your blog.
Really appreciate this useful post and specially the video was very good to understand people the concept.
Arjun Rai recently posted..Truck Salvage
Ken,
Great tips for Twitter! I’ll be sure to incorporate these into my Twitter campaign.
Thanks,
Alex
Alex – Home Biz recently posted..Prospecting The Professional Way