Tuesday
09Sep2008
JessicaKnows Rules for Twitter
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 1:45AM
I keep seeing and hearing about Twitter guides, e-books, consultants, etc and in a way, it kind of makes me sad. Why? Well, each of us is unique and we each have our own perspective, approach, and personality. So what are my rules for Twitter? Not to follow any!
While I appreciate the intention of the boilerplate "thank you for following, check out my blog xyz. I can't wait to get to know you" blah blah blah, I'm getting so many of them that say the same thing, I delete them immediately. Honestly? It's a turn-off. Why? Because it's not personal. If you really want to thank me for following, use that little "@" before my username and let's converse!
Some people use Twitter to connect on a social and personal level with like-minded people. Others use it to connect on a social and personal level with potential business partners, clients, and would-be vendors. In my opinion the key words in those last two sentences I wrote speak volumes. "Social" and "Personal".
"But Jessica", you may say, "you've got over a thousand followers and you're following just as many. How can you possibly be social and personal?" I'll tell you how. I jump in conversations that look interesting to me and if someone @s me or DM's I try my darndest to reply to every single one (or collectively if I've got numerous replies to one inquiry).
When people ask how to be successful on Twitter, I try to explain that there is no formula. Be yourself! I implore you not to follow any step by step method to Twitter. If you're a goofball (like me!) let it shine through. Feeling crappy about something? I bet you're not alone! There's a reason it's called SOCIAL media. If I met you at a cocktail party or networking event, I'd hope we wouldn't "talk shop" the whole time. Same applies on Twitter.
I want to see your true colors shining through.
Word.
While I appreciate the intention of the boilerplate "thank you for following, check out my blog xyz. I can't wait to get to know you" blah blah blah, I'm getting so many of them that say the same thing, I delete them immediately. Honestly? It's a turn-off. Why? Because it's not personal. If you really want to thank me for following, use that little "@" before my username and let's converse!
Some people use Twitter to connect on a social and personal level with like-minded people. Others use it to connect on a social and personal level with potential business partners, clients, and would-be vendors. In my opinion the key words in those last two sentences I wrote speak volumes. "Social" and "Personal".
"But Jessica", you may say, "you've got over a thousand followers and you're following just as many. How can you possibly be social and personal?" I'll tell you how. I jump in conversations that look interesting to me and if someone @s me or DM's I try my darndest to reply to every single one (or collectively if I've got numerous replies to one inquiry).
When people ask how to be successful on Twitter, I try to explain that there is no formula. Be yourself! I implore you not to follow any step by step method to Twitter. If you're a goofball (like me!) let it shine through. Feeling crappy about something? I bet you're not alone! There's a reason it's called SOCIAL media. If I met you at a cocktail party or networking event, I'd hope we wouldn't "talk shop" the whole time. Same applies on Twitter.
I want to see your true colors shining through.
Word.
Reader Comments (10)
I do actually visit posts that people tweet about. (look at me here) It has to catch my attention for me to comment although no matter what blog I visit I try to at least leave some love.
On to the tweets, I was told about Twitter from my fellow Mommies United pal Christine. I joined but didn't get it. I got on last month and started reading. Thanks to people like you Jessica you kept me coming back. Everyday! It's a great way to get personal really and I find it so odd that your life, and others like you would be so interesting. Who would have thought!
Kristins last blog post..http://www.aordinarylife.com/2008/09/in-honor-of-maternity-weeki-give-you.html" rel="nofollow">In Honor Of Maternity Week..I Give You The End All Purse
I agree with Heather. Do you respond on the blog or on Twitter? I was very hesitant to join Twitter, but I now love it. It's awesome to be able to chat with all of my Tweeps. Great post!
Tara @ Feels like homes last blog post..http://www.feelslikehomeblog.com/2008/09/homemade-spaghetti-sauce.html" rel="nofollow">Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Jessica, I think you nailed it. I'm enjoying mixing business AND fun on Twitter. If a conversation looks interesting, jump in! You never know what will happen next.
"Word." Ha!
Yes, the only rule in Twitter is that there is no Twitter...er...wait. I mean that there are no rules.
To Think Is To Creates last blog post..http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tothinkistocreate/~3/386972566/" rel="nofollow">Let’s Play Catch-up
Thanks for all the feedback...I think it is appropriate to leave your comment on Twitter and/or the blog post.
And let me clarify about the boilerplate "check out my blog" statement I made. I love it when people do that on Twitter, but when I get a DM within minutes of following someone with what looks like a form email with a "thank you for following, please check out my blog" it turns me off. I'd rather find out more about through "@"ing and when you tweet a post that way then feeling like I'm getting a twitter "autoresponse". Autoresponses on Twitter make me feel like I'm talking to a robot...and I know for a fact you're not one (and if you are, you'll get blocked pronto!)
Hope this clears things up!
Thanks again for the feedback...and I'll tweet you later!
If I get an auto-response, I immediately un-follow. WHile I do tweet my new blog posts I don't appreciate the auto feeds. "Brilliant! so n so just posted something" those are horribly annoying.
Adriennes last blog post..http://adrienneshouse.blogspot.com/2008/09/need-i-say-more.html" rel="nofollow">Need I Say More?
What a refreshing post! Thank you and boy do I agree. It would be great to point newcomers to this post as it takes all the mystery and questions out of the 'how to use twitter' question.
Heck, some 'old-timers' can use it too :-)
Thanks so much Jessica!
I like your approach!
I'm not a big "rule" person except for the "golden rule".
That means being a "real" person and going with your feelings. Making all of this social networking into a big "professional" thing is sort of defeating the purpose, don't you think?
Debbie Ducics last blog post..http://debbieducic.com/2008/barbara-marx-hubbard-launches-gutzy-initiative-in-the-big-tent-at-dnc/" rel="nofollow">Barbara Marx Hubbard Launches GutZy Initiative in the Big Tent at DNC
[...] and LinkedIn. I’ve talked about Twitter a lot here at Jessica Knows. In fact you can read my rules (or lackthereof) for Twitter here. Today I’m going to cover Facebook and LinkedIn and why they have become so valuable in my [...]
Thanks for clarifying the whole "Twitter" deal. Now I know what is really is.