As a follow up to my last two posts on Twitter (the Benefits of Twitter and How to Use Twitter – Tips for Bloggers) I thought I’d ask a group of people more qualified to answer the question of ‘how a blogger should use twitter best?’ – my Twitter followers.
update: Check out my new Blog TwiTip for more Twitter Tips.
Following are the first 35 tips by my Twitter followers after I asked the question yesterday. I think there’s some real wisdom in the mix.
- ryansholin – Be honest. Have fun. Don’t try to sell anything.
- joiedevie – funny, informative and catchy: choose two.
- wpcandy – Twitter about stuff that has to do with your blog, but also Twitter stuff that has nothing to do with your blog.
- scottkarp – Share links, share ideas, ask questions, answer questions — anything but “what are you doing?” unless it’s really interesting
- cigarjack – This was my problem at first, I just lurked. Get active and follow others. Great tool for tossing around ideas.
- rosshill – Join the conversation, there are too many blog promoters on twitter who just broadcast. Learn @ and start networking :)
- soniasimone – Write each word like it matters, because it does.
- fairminder – share links. share insights and trends, things that are new or timely/current. Be personal. Don’t link only to yourself.
- travishines – share interesting resources, not just what you ate for lunch. Twitter often, and use it to test potential blog topics.
- galadarling – No cat anecdotes!
- theother66 – make use of other Twitter tools to make the most of Twitter (and so it doesn’t suck up all your time)
- TheNanny612 – Efficient is the key to Twitter…. short & sweet. Basically, get right to the point.
- vangogh – Respect the people you follow. Be interesting. Listen first, tweat second. Don’t waste words.
- empty_inbox – I’m new at it all. The #1 thing to help me has been the use of a desktop client. Without “twhirl” I would’ve given up long ago.
- andrewkhunn – Frequent Twitter updates demand desktop clients: Snitter, twhirl, and Twitterific all bear mentioning.
- jstamant – This often goes unsaid, but I would suggest not having twitter/twitterific open while writing. It can become very distracting.
- hamstu – As far as getting followers goes; I find just being friendly and helpful does wonders. And of course shared interests help to.
- MattJMcD – Don’t follow more people than you can handle. If you’ve got too much going on, you miss a lot of the good stuff.
- davepit – Keep your Twitter updated and the followers will come. Stay up-to-date and you will reep the benefits.
- arieanna – stop thinking that twitter is pointless and just try it. It’s all about community – reach out and be a part of it.
- DrBaher – contribute positively to conversations going on inside twitter
- sitemost – interact and communicate with others – it’s a social media tool, so be social
- RuudHein – Share thoughts more than actions: “Pownce will kill Twitter” vs. “I’m going to the toilet”
- baramunchies – add value to your stream
- drmani – Look beyond the obvious (traffic, sales etc.) Add value. Build relationships. Think LONG term.
- CurtMonash – Learn what people care about. I got a glowing link from RSS inventor Dave Winer my first week of active twittering.
- ericabiz – Use twitterfeed. Instant feedback from readers is the best part of Twitter. Listen to others; engage them; have a conversation.
- superphly – f you are using WordPress use twittertool much better
- puppybraille – Advice: Think before you hit send. 140 characters have the power to help, heal or be miss-understood.
- buxx – use an username as short as possible so you can twit more
- kidblogger – My tip: “Keep it short” ;-)
- nhgnikole – re:twitter, I’d share this with them so they could use rss in new ways with twitter and facebook: http://tinyurl.com/3arsm
- fderfel – first advice is to add good description and link for something that would be too short in a post
- fderfel – second advice make a good weekly post describing all the twitter for the previous week
- silvano_v – Probably look at pounce, Im sure its going to overtake twitter, as its more feature rich. Aside from that, update often.
Thanks to all of those who left an answer. To take part in my future Twitter polls like this one follow me at Twitter.
PS – for more Twitter Tips visit TwiTip.
