5 Tips to Get Followed on Twitter
Since my Twitter post 5 Tips to Get The Most Out of Twitter was received so well I wanted to make the most of my recent 4 hour flight and write down and share some additional Twitter tips. Just because I’m unplugged (or supposed to be) doesn’t mean you can’t be optimizing your use of Twitter. I guarantee that if you take into account these 5 tips you’ll see an improvement in response from others you interact with on Twitter. Enjoy and feel free to post questions or tips of your own. I’ll be replying as I can during my travels across the Northwest.
1. Fill out your Bio
While this may seem obvious taking the time to thoughtfully do this will quickly enable others to assess who you are and the common interests or expertise you might share with others. I would argue that it is essential to include a URL to your web site so people can look beyond the brief description to learn more about you. In the short space provided give a concise overview of who you are and what you’re interested in (i.e. share your interests). This area of your Twitter page is equivalent to your 30 second pitch.
2. Tweet your interests
Do you walk the walk or just talk the talk. If your tweets don’t match your bio’s stated interests or area of expertise people will likely be less inclined to follow you. Twitter unlike other online communities makes it easy for others to see if your online persona matches your online activities. If the two do not match you’re likely to confuse those evaluating whether to follow you or not. While your recent past tweets may vary day to day be sure to stay on subject for your area of stated interest or expertise. This will ensure that as people find you they’ll see that you have varied interests, but are staying true on some level to your stated interests.
3. Follow & Be Followed
Once you follow someone on Twitter they receive a notification email with a snapshot of how many people are following you and how many people you’re following. If that person sees that you’re disproportionately following people to the number of those following you it will be a red flag that you’re a potential spammer. Following thousands of people while two dozen follow you will make others think you’re either a spammer or desperate for attention. It’s best to avoid either of those perceptions. Start slow and build a following as you follow others. Others will certainly be more apt to follow you when they see what you’re tweeting and how many others are interacting with you on your Twitter-stream
4. Don’t wait for someone to follow you
Twitter is a great medium to make contact and converse with people that might otherwise be out of reach to you. Take advantage of that and talk with others you find interesting even if they’re not yet following you… in moderation of course. A witty comment or a a brief conversation is enough to give others an introduction to who you are and spur them to follow you. In this sense be pro-active rather than passive in your use of Twitter. Don’t assume others will magically find you. To interact with others direct a comment at specific person by using the @
5. Custom Background Images
An image is worth a 1000 words and in the land of 140 characters a background image can provide an enhanced view of who you are providing a window to your personality and interests. Many people now create custom background images with extended bio information on the left edge, inclusive of their web site, social media sites/accounts and standard contact information. This is a creative way for you to express yourself all while giving others a fast view of where else they can find you online.
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Technorati Tags: Social Media, Twitter, Best Practices
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Well said Jim! I can’t tell you how many times our minds think alike. I read this and it felt as if it were mine. I was planning to use some of these tips in a post and probably still will. They are so vital and are worth repeating.
One of my pet peeves is not having a Bio. I rarely follow anyone that doesn’t have one.
Hey, thanks for checking in from the road. Have a great, safe and productive trip/photo shoot!
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Jim Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 2:23 am
Thanks Sherri. I look forward to seeing your Twitter write up.
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[...] here:Â 5 Tips to Get Followed on Twitter | JMG-Galleries – Jim M … This entry was written by sophie, posted on June 8, 2009 at 1:00 pm, filed under general and [...]
Hello, thanks for doing the series of posts on Twitter. I did set up the account on Twitter few months ago, and I still need to come up with an idea how to use it. Your articles give a lot of useful tips how to start and do it right away the right way!
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[...] 5 Tips to Get Followed on Twitter [...]
Good tips. I think #4 is one that many miss. Just sending a tweet into the stream won't catch any fish: need to direct some of those tweets, as you have mentioned. Glad I found your site.
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