Thinking in Tweets!
2008 May 16
Image Source : South_Roger’s Photostream
I have been using Twitter for a couple of weeks. Here are some of my thoughts about Twitter. Each thought is written as a Tweet. If you do not know what Twitter is, please checkout the this video that provides a good introduction to Twitter. After viewing the video please come back to read my post. You will understand what I am talking about.
Introduction
- Twitter is awfully simple to use, but “How to use Twitter” is a highly debated topic.
- This suggests there are many ways to use Twitter.
- There is no one best way to use Twitter.
- Some use Twitter to spread their message.
- Some use it to get help.
- Some use it to provide help.
- Some use it for fun.
- Some use it as a communication and collaboration tool.
- Some use it as a fountain of free flowing knowledge, a source of new ideas (my favorite use).
Different Types of Users
- A person with few Following and a large number of Followers is a Leader.
- A person who has roughly the same number of Following and Followers is a Friend.
- A person with few Followers and a very large Following is a Newbie or Learner.
- A person with a large Following and zero Tweets may be a Spammer.
- A person who provides completely irrelevant replies and talks nonsense is a TweetBait er or TweetStalk er, or Spammer.
Following:Followers Ratio (F:F)
- Judging a person purely on the “Following:Followers” ratio (F:F) is not a good idea.
- But many folks only use the F:F ratio as measure to judge a person.
- Instead look at what that person has to offer. Checkout his/her website. You may want to follow that person.
- A person with 9999:0 F:F is getting the same number of Tweets as a person with F:F of 9999:9999.
Mass Following
- Mass following a niche is very different from randomly mass following every one you come across.
- If mass following is spamming, why has not Twitter taken any action?
- Putting a cap on the F:F ratio can stop mass followers. This is not rocket science.
- If a cap is introduced, will it go against the concept upon which Twitter was built?
- Even after Following 1000s of people, Twitter still says “Invite More!”.
- Therefore mass following a niche is not spamming, as Scott Sweeney says it is Promotion.
Ideal Followers
- It’s better to have followers with few Following because you get more attention.
- It’s better to have followers with more Followers, because your message spreads quickly (Re-Tweet).
Some Problems
- Many Tweets disappear unnoticed.
- Twitter.com is very slow at many occasions; Twhirl (Twitter Desktop Client) hangs my PC.
Recommendations
- Twitter emails you when a person joins, but, wouldn’t it be nice to get an email when they leave too?
What does Twitter means?
- “Twitter” refers to the high frequency sounds some birds make.
- Don’t confuse the Twitter with Tweeter. Tweeter refers to a high frequency loud speaker.
Building Your Follower Base
- Darren Rowse suggests building a follower base by adding value to Twitter conversations.
- DoshDosh suggests building a follower base by promoting your Twitter profile.
- Scott Sweeney’s bold approach is to mass following people in your niche with the hope that some will follow you back.
Conclusion
After careful consideration I am inclined more towards the DoshDosh approach.
Are you thinking in Tweets? Please feel to leave a comment as you wish.
I am new to Twitter. My thinking is continuously evolving on this topic. So my views can change as I learn more about this powerful tool for social networking.
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