I'm trying to use Twitter to promote my site EclipseMagazine.com but I do find that I'm using it more as a mix of talking about the site, announcing new content and it being a "personal" communication. I guess I don't know how to separate my personal opinions from just generic Site Updates. I'm still not sure if I should be tweeting under the EM brand or just my name.
Great article! I'm always trying to find resources that help brands and organizations figure out how to use Twitter... this is a great resource. I think the key is that each user needs to be consistent in their approach so that people know what to expect from them... just like blogging. By the way, how did you become a contributor to Mashable?
I think the mixture of tweets being both thoughtfully placed and hurriedly muttered are what makes Twitter so appealing. Whether that is to advertise, educate, joke or be (unfortunately) obnoxious…Bobby said it best: It’s My Prerogative.
rayy
· 7 months ago
I think the simplicity and the versatility are what make it useful. I tend to use it to "highlight" the more intelligent blog posts and tweets I see and to stay informed.
Ivan Pashov
· 7 months ago
Wonderful descriptions =) Now I definately know where I belong =P
bianki
· 7 months ago
8. You are a crazed celebrity fan. You only signed up to follow hollywood celebrities who twitter.
Your generic post: @celebrity OMG i love you!!! please please please reply to me, it would make my day!!!!!!!
:-/
PRBristol.co.uk
· 7 months ago
As a general rule of thumb - be geniune. If you are selling stuff - say so in your profile.
Equally if you are using Twitter as a "newswire" where corporate blogs and news update links via RSS, it is best not to try and combine the same Twitter for a more personal strategy. I think that this is a trust thing where people want to engage individuals rather than brands in most cases.
malexandria
· 7 months ago
This is good advice and what I was thinking but what why would a user follow your newsite on twitter just for the automatic update feature?
Karen
· 7 months ago
Good post! I am now following Twitter Fiction thanks to you.
Beth
· 7 months ago
Great list...although there are two that I might add to the list....#7 would be the "re-tweeter" -- they see something they like and/or advocate for - whether it be a tweet, quote and/or URL - and pass it on to their followers. #8 - The silent "twitterer" - perhaps it is just me - although, I think that there are some folks out there that just enjoy reading others "tweets" - and perhaps not responding at all, while gaining incredible knowledge from what they read. I, myself, definitely a #7. Thanks @Mashable.
WorshipCity
· 7 months ago
I love #7! It's you're "out." Hahaha. Although I suppose that's me. I'm on twitter b/c I love technology and I think it's hilariously fun. I also find it to be a creative way to network and build community with people who don't live within my city. Lastly, I find it a way to connect people to my blog. My blog doesn't sell anything...but me. Again, a way to connect and network and build community. In the end, even reading this article was fun. I think I might have a weird sense of humor though.
Michele Price
· 7 months ago
Thanks, for tackling a topic that many shy away from. How wonderful will our world be when we can all realize that it is ok for others to do things different. Does this mean we have no opinion and will not express them. Heck no, I do everyday and it is funny who chooses to take contrary position.
I will always believe it is best to build valuable relationships with tweeps vs just tweet thoughts. Engaging in two way conversation is what Twitter was designed for. If you wanted one way you could just talk to yourself or text to the cosmos.
I love Felipe Coimbra's approach of using his twit polls, finally we have a way to talk with the collective in a meaningful real time way. Shazam
John Kochmanski
· 7 months ago
Great article. I started using Twitter out of curiosity. How I use it is morphing into a something I never intended. It has helped me "try" to define my whole personal social presence, or lack thereof :). In my case, time will tell which direction works best.
Ann-Marie
· 7 months ago
Well, when there is a way (that I understand or realize) to charge for it, I can offer 5 minute psychic readings and tweet the results. They will be quick, fun and inexpensive!!! and I know from past experience (but in person) that even short readings can be helpful and meaningful to people. I look forward to it!!!!
FlashTweet
· 7 months ago
Also... get involved with your community interested in your niche.
Rent Calgary Apartments
· 7 months ago
Some interesting perspectives here. Personally I'm using Twitter to connect with both potential new clients and to grow awareness for my Apartment Database at www.livdb.com and so far so good, traffic from Twitter has been growing consistently.
My only advice is try to be helpful to the community as opposed to pushing your product and you'll get great results.
Arleen Anderson
· 7 months ago
Lon, Wonderful article! And yes, bianki noted there is also the "crazy fan" category.
The common thread of value amongst those who tweet is authenticity - regardless of purpse. MIchelle (see her comment above) is a true example of authenticity on social networking.
For myself, I'd shyed - no I ran away - from Twitter twice before signing up. First glance a couple years ago made me think it was a stream of gossip. Early last summer the exposure was gfrom an onlinre marketer teaching other wanna be online marketers to "blurt" links as if Twitter was the new Craigs list for their corner of the net.
Last fall I joined Twitter to help organize a large event at the request of social media maven Roxanne Darling. I saw the power of Twitter for this purpose. In the process I made new valuable friends locally and around the wold.
My use of Twitter has morphed. In November it was a study of possiblilities. In December I put some of those possibilities to the test. The results were beyond what I predicted.
Twitter is now my first resource for opinions. Twitter is also where I can see at any given moment the "pulse" of what is going on in the world. Most importantly, Twitter allows me to connect and engage with people on multiple levels from personal to business in a more powerful and immediate manner than in any other community.
Thanks again Lon for sharing! Yes, you can tweet me: @AlohaArleen
Thanks for the great article. I find that I'm all of the above for the most part. I do some posting via RSS feed for info relative to my tweeter account, I also do lots of social conversation which is reason I'm here in the first place. I do try to generate a little income from time to time with affiliate marketing.
so all in all I guess I'm most of the above. Thanks for the article.
Ari Herzog
· 7 months ago
Thanks for the kind inclusion, Lon. My take is people by definition are a summary of experiences and skill sets, so why be a niche twitterer? While my approach to using Twitter is ever-changing, the constant is replying, retweeting, and otherwise sharing valuable stuff that I'd enjoy reading and participating with and from others
And, kudos for mentioning R2D2. I don't follow the little guy, but I tweet him now and then with some beeps and dings. Sadly, he never replies. (R2D2 is a *he*, right?)
obilon
· 7 months ago
I like to think of R2D2 as a he. But as much as my computer sometimes exhibits male and female traits, R2 is probably and it or some other pronoun that refers to robots not invented... yet!
n.l. belardes
· 7 months ago
Thanks for listing @smallplaces in your literary category. I'm honored. There's actual interest from a publisher now to get @smallplaces into print. Talk about crossing over...
obilon
· 7 months ago
That's awesome news. Congrats.
Bob Finch
· 7 months ago
I suppose this may fit into the "fictional character" category, but what about inanimate objects on Twitter? For instance, where I live we recently started publicizing details about a local flooding issue using our drainage well (@rainywell) as a Twitter character (linked to a Squidoo page) to spread news, make (hopefully) pithy comments and generally have some fun admist a tough situation.
obilon
· 7 months ago
After my post went up I actually thought of that. I'd probably include that into the RSS Feed/Robot category though. Examples are the houseplant that tweets when it need water and the dryer that tweets when it's done. If anyone knows the twitter account names, let me know or post them in reply to this. Thx.
I have been working full time on a website idea since Jan 2007. Im self employed and work alone so it was a lonely project until I joined twitter. Now I use it to get and share tech advice and tips and feel totally connected.
They key to twitter in being consistent and authentic. If your strategy is somehow to "use" twitter, people will see through you. It is not about having a "number" of followers if you are just part of the noise. With TweetDeck and other tools many are ignoring most of whom they follow anyway. To succeed in Twitter, as in life, you need to make it not just about YOU, but about cultivating mutually beneficial relationships.
MrRocknRoll
· 7 months ago
Twitter is kinda cool I found this nutty professor (if he is to be believed) and it caught my interest, he's only on once in a while @ccryder1960 but says cool and funny things, has a delusion about meeting Jen Antison on line LOL!! Check it out!!
Hezee
· 7 months ago
I think i'll better be myself, having a personal literature brand while work for a corporate brand, hoping some day i'll be a dead historical robot person.
Beau
· 7 months ago
I still don't get it, but I'm trying. I'm a HUGE fan of Facebook status updates. It's my reason for living. As far as I'm concerned, Twitter is the same thing, but if no one comments, what's the point. I feel like I'm talking to myself when I tweet.
Also, it's pretty good for comedians. The format works for one-lines and monologue-type jokes. Also you can test material by responses to see what resonates and what dies.
Andrew Wooldridge
· 7 months ago
If you are looking for more literature - based twitter accounts - there is one called @mysticquest which is an interactive fantasy story that changes based on follower "challenges"
Eddie Breen
· 7 months ago
You left out "The Linkster!" I tweet to promote my art, but more often than not I find myself using Twitter to pass on "Weekly World News" type links in a broadcasting type of way. I chat with people, sure, but mostly I'm sharing strange links @eddiebreen .
Sharon Goldman
· 7 months ago
Great piece -- I fall into #1, #2 and #3, and this definitely honed in on the differences of each Twitter identity! For my corporate Twitter @dmnews, there's definitely some horn-tooting of upcoming content, but I'm also trying to serve as an "expert" in the field who can comment on direct/digital/database marketing issues. For my personal brand @sweetbitters, I tout all things related to a folk/pop musical duo, sometimes self-promotional but often just music-related. And my personal Twitter @sharongoldman allows me to be free to post about anything that interests me, with no concern about horn-tooting whatsoever.
kpiper
· 7 months ago
I think I definitely try to be a blend. I think it's important to do what comes naturally, which for me is sharing interesting content I discover online about PR, media, marketing, Twitter, social networking and pop culture and just making observations about life in general. I think if you are "trying" to fit into one of those categories, you won't ever get the most out of Twitter. It has to be organic.
@kpiper
Phadre Oh
· 7 months ago
Let's see... I tweet as @Sinarion I'm a 14k year old Sidhe who is just trying to make sense out of this world... oh... and I have a passion about changing how people hold conversations with one another... Not sure where I fit in the above mix... oh... and I don't do facebook
Hans On
· 7 months ago
Check the traffic you get from links you post on Twitter. You would be amazed at how little traffic Twitter pushes to the link.
Too many people Tweeting, no one reading other people's Tweets.
My ideal Twitter: One million followers, me following less than 30.
Facebook User
· 7 months ago
Excellent article! I am on Twitter as myself, but I know of plenty of friends who feel their way through by trial & error to figure out how to market their brands/companies, for example. This is a great break-down of how different people/companies use Twitter. It may be obvious for those of us who have used it for "x" amount of time, but to the vast majority of those new to Twittering, this break-down saves them some headache. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard the words, "I'm on Twitter now, but I am still trying to figure it out." (& a month later, that status message remains. LOL!) Thanks for the clue! Well done.
Bethe Almeras
· 7 months ago
Great piece, Lon! And how honored am I to make the list?! Cheers for that. I am a big fan of the blend. We all have so many sides to us, I think it's important to bring a bit of our true selves to lend authenticity to our communications. And besdies, as an evangelist for unstructured play for kids and adults alike, if I can't get out there and model fun and caring, then I really wouldn't be doing my job!
Putting "@" before every username looks kind of dumb. No, strike that, it IS dumb.
Tyler Malti
· 7 months ago
This reminds me of Organic SEO vs. Traffic Generation. Some people join twitter and start spamming others with what their products and services. Those people don't make it far. The ones that actually take the time to interact and focus on long term growth end up taking the cake in the end. Good tips above for long term growth.
Eric Stoffle
· 7 months ago
Using Twitter is an evolving process, in a general way and personally. I think it takes time to figure out how you want to use it or how it works best for you.
Chris
· 7 months ago
I'm a "Mashable". I tweet social media news but I'm not a "robot".
Your Name*
· 7 months ago
I use all of the above strategies to bring balance. twitter dot com /paulsavarese
Tim Heller
· 7 months ago
Great article. We use Twitter to track severe weather in the Houston (Texas) area. We provide followers with real-time coverage of developing storms as we see them on radar and our followers provide us with real-time descriptions of what's happening in their neighborhood. It's a win-win and really shows the value of Twitter.
A very good "taxonomy". But I guess my only comment is that there are combinations of the types. Don't people change what they tweet on on the weekends, for instance.
Tim Heller
· 7 months ago
We use Twitter to track severe weather in Houston, Texas.
We tell our followers where storms are and where they are tracking based on what our meteorologists see on radar. Our followers tell us what the weather is like in their neighborhood. It's a win-win. This really shows the power or Twitter to spread first-hand information quickly....and help keep people safe.
Kristy
· 7 months ago
I think if you're on Twitter representing yourself as a brand, or you're representing a corporate brand, then yes, a strategy is critical. At the very least it will allow you to more skillfully navigate the environment and integrate other individuals from your company. But with anything I think flexibility is key. Personally, I started using Twitter quite some time ago (#herebeforeoprah :D ) as a way to network and learn from people in an industry I was new to. My personal twitter account is all me. It's a mixture of industry relevant posts and casual networking. No real strategy, other than to keep it prospective employer friendly. After all, this is all public!!
David KING
· 7 months ago
That's great advice! @scottmonty is a real cool guy! There are quite a few people on twitter...
I say just be yourself and you will connect with the right people. Everything always works out best that way! :)
Monica Loesch
· 7 months ago
How about a category for Movements. For example, PeaceTwestival, where the idea/desire to promote acts and thoughts of peace and compassion worldwide for one day is the driving force. What say you? "Some say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...." Namaste.
OknooRap
· 7 months ago
I think twitter is greatest idea, caused people become like a messenger of the god, On my mind on the future.. All media will be like twitter.
Share on people story, not on News' says...
@PShouseraffle
· 7 months ago
For those of use who seek a category for everything, now our Tweets fit into tidy little boxes. Now, for those seeking to understand themselves by their reaction to the boxes:
1 - Don't box me in, there's *no one* like me 2 - Yep that's me, a couple of #3s and a #2 3 - I don't care 4 - ?
@PShouseraffle
· 7 months ago
Does it feel to anyone else like the beginning of the end of Twitter is starting before the end of the beginning is done?
As the current hottest social app, it's reached the 'it can be about business' phase really fast and heavy, yes?
And who can keep up with more than 20 people? Am I just slow?
Absolutely neat ways to approach Twitter. And you can have multiple account to combine and use different approaches to get most of Twitter. Just be careful of its addictive nature!
While it could be considered a 'corporate use', I think 'News Feed' is a valid eighth category, whether it's @cnnbrk or just a personal blog RSS feed being Tweeted.
Lori Anne Brown
· 4 months ago
I agree. News tweets are great, especially if they follow the subject of your Tweeter account.
Angela
· 7 months ago
I absolutely agree that there's a place for all of these and more (even including the crazed fans). That's the beauty of twitter - following who you want and making your twitter stream what you want it to be.
I started out as the 'silent/corporate' tweeter when I claimed @ZionBuffalo for my workplace. . . then I became a 'corporate' tweeter when I started to actually use it . . . then a 'corporate/personal' tweeter when I started to make connections and enjoy it . . . then I started @mnplatypus when I found myself wanting to make connections that had nothing to do with work.
Jd Walter
· 7 months ago
Sometimes I wonder if the only people talking about social media / Web 2.0 are the ones talking about it on twitter, facebook, etc. . .
Social media and whatever the next generation is going to be, just like all the old ways of communicating, require an approach tailored to a target audience to be successful. The user has to identify his or her objective for using the techology or application and then make an effort to understand the target.
Twiction
· 7 months ago
For literature, I'm honestly surprised one of your three links went to a defunct account that hasn't posted a story in a year, when there are active writers (like @novelsin3lines @midnightstories @disneydiaries) and publications (like @nanoism @thaumatrope @outshine and @picfic). For a short form, there is some really interesting stuff out there when people can find it.
interesting article. i´m a confessed twitter lover.
Susanne
· 7 months ago
Good tips! Thanks for the post!
website optimisation
· 7 months ago
Just found this resource http://prevential.com/twitter-tips/ might be helpful to work out your own strategy on promoting yourself on Twitter
luella
· 7 months ago
Wow! All those tweets!
Terrance Charles
· 7 months ago
Great post, I especially like #1 and #2 the most. It's all about just being you, keeping it real and connecting with others, no real strategy, just logic.
You could also be on Twitter because you are ad advertising drone: http://bit.ly/DfuVh
Lonnie Minton
· 6 months ago
Very informative list. I use Twitter to promote my affiliate internet business online
sidtech
· 6 months ago
Great post, one of the few on using Twitter advantegously. I am sure more such posts will be needed with tha amount of tweets going around!
Manish Pahuja
Lori Anne Brown
· 4 months ago
I am definitely a Tweeter blend. My stores represent a number of niche markets (gothic, Egyptian, Wiccan/Spiritual, as well as more general clothing, shoes, etc) so I have multiple business account to try to keep them focused and on topic. I try not to bore followers on my scificollector twitter account with talk about Ancient Egypt for instance. But then I do tweet about problems/events of the day as well now and then (though still try to keep it mostly on topic). It makes my day diverse and actually keeps me up on the latest in each area too - never a bad thing :)
Lori Anne Brown
· 4 months ago
Sorry silly comment wanted to post twice :(
South West RDA Press
· 4 months ago
We are discussing our Twitter and blogging strategy tomorrow, we would be interested in your feedback.
All Comments
http://www.TheCommentDepot.com
Michelle
http://www.twitter.com/eclipsemagazine
Your generic post:
@celebrity OMG i love you!!! please please please reply to me, it would make my day!!!!!!!
:-/
Equally if you are using Twitter as a "newswire" where corporate blogs and news update links via RSS, it is best not to try and combine the same Twitter for a more personal strategy. I think that this is a trust thing where people want to engage individuals rather than brands in most cases.
I, myself, definitely a #7. Thanks @Mashable.
In the end, even reading this article was fun. I think I might have a weird sense of humor though.
I will always believe it is best to build valuable relationships with tweeps vs just tweet thoughts. Engaging in two way conversation is what Twitter was designed for. If you wanted one way you could just talk to yourself or text to the cosmos.
I love Felipe Coimbra's approach of using his twit polls, finally we have a way to talk with the collective in a meaningful real time way. Shazam
My only advice is try to be helpful to the community as opposed to pushing your product and you'll get great results.
Wonderful article! And yes, bianki noted there is also the "crazy fan" category.
The common thread of value amongst those who tweet is authenticity - regardless of purpse.
MIchelle (see her comment above) is a true example of authenticity on social networking.
For myself, I'd shyed - no I ran away - from Twitter twice before signing up. First glance a couple years ago made me think it was a stream of gossip. Early last summer the exposure was gfrom an onlinre marketer teaching other wanna be online marketers to "blurt" links as if Twitter was the new Craigs list for their corner of the net.
Last fall I joined Twitter to help organize a large event at the request of social media maven Roxanne Darling. I saw the power of Twitter for this purpose. In the process I made new valuable friends locally and around the wold.
My use of Twitter has morphed. In November it was a study of possiblilities. In December I put some of those possibilities to the test. The results were beyond what I predicted.
Twitter is now my first resource for opinions. Twitter is also where I can see at any given moment the "pulse" of what is going on in the world. Most importantly, Twitter allows me to connect and engage with people on multiple levels from personal to business in a more powerful and immediate manner than in any other community.
Thanks again Lon for sharing!
Yes, you can tweet me: @AlohaArleen
Warmly,
Arleen Anderson
http://www.AlohaArleen.com
so all in all I guess I'm most of the above. Thanks for the article.
And, kudos for mentioning R2D2. I don't follow the little guy, but I tweet him now and then with some beeps and dings. Sadly, he never replies. (R2D2 is a *he*, right?)
http://twitter.com/tbreeden
Thanks twitterverse - http://twitter.com/paulhale
http://twitter.com/ossjobs
Open Source Staffing - Apache, Asterisk, Drupal, LAMP, Linux, MySQL, Perl, PHP, PostgreSQL, Python, Ruby, Rails, Zope
@kpiper
oh... and I don't do facebook
Too many people Tweeting, no one reading other people's Tweets.
My ideal Twitter: One million followers, me following less than 30.
:0) Bethe @balmeras
http://www.grassstainguru.com
www.twitter.com/abc13weather
www.twitter.com/abc13weather
We tell our followers where storms are and where they are tracking based on what our meteorologists see on radar. Our followers tell us what the weather is like in their neighborhood. It's a win-win. This really shows the power or Twitter to spread first-hand information quickly....and help keep people safe.
There are quite a few people on twitter...
I say just be yourself and you will connect with the right people.
Everything always works out best that way! :)
Share on people story, not on News' says...
1 - Don't box me in, there's *no one* like me
2 - Yep that's me, a couple of #3s and a #2
3 - I don't care
4 - ?
As the current hottest social app, it's reached the 'it can be about business' phase really fast and heavy, yes?
And who can keep up with more than 20 people? Am I just slow?
Here's my latest Twitter web comic: http://bit.ly/VAc15
http://twitter.com/mmstud
I started out as the 'silent/corporate' tweeter when I claimed @ZionBuffalo for my workplace. . . then I became a 'corporate' tweeter when I started to actually use it . . . then a 'corporate/personal' tweeter when I started to make connections and enjoy it . . . then I started @mnplatypus when I found myself wanting to make connections that had nothing to do with work.
Social media and whatever the next generation is going to be, just like all the old ways of communicating, require an approach tailored to a target audience to be successful. The user has to identify his or her objective for using the techology or application and then make an effort to understand the target.
Terrance Charles
www.twitter.com/TerranceCharles
Manish Pahuja