If you haven’t read My first Twitter How-To, please do so before reading this post.
Today I’m focusing on three tips. The overall theme is CONNECTION.
#1. TWITTER IS COMPRISED OF REAL PEOPLE
Twitter works best if you participate. Lurking is fine on Facebook (as I once discussed here), but Twitter requires interaction. Even if you’re more reserved in “real life,” I suggest speaking up on Twitter. If you find someone’s tweet informative or helpful, retweet it or @reply your two cents. The RT is probably the best option though in the world of Twitter where spreading the word is king.
Some say they find Twitter impersonal and cumbersome. For me it’s been the opposite, which is why I’d like to help you feel less overwhelmed by the site. Making lists helped enormously (more on that later), as did reaching out to new people, and reaching back to people. This doesn’t mean you need to spend tons of time on Twitter. Keep your Twitter time focused and useful and you’ll be in good shape.
#2. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS
Quality over quantity applies to Twitter. Forty true readers/RTers are better than 500 people who wouldn’t recognize your handle and avatar if they flew off the screen. In “real” life, you connect with some people more than others. Twitter is no different. If you’re reaching out and somebody isn’t responding, put your focus elsewhere. There’s no shortage of interesting, funny, informative people out there on Twitter.
#3. HOW TO MAKE TWITTER LISTS
Lists make Twitter manageable once you start following a lot of people. (Arbitrarly, let’s call more than 100 “a lot.”) Using lists SIMPLIFIES your Twitter experience. I promise.
Here we go. (EDITED TO SAY: Twitter changes its interface from time to time. These directions are current as of 6/20/14Â when using Twitter on an actual computer, not the iPhone.)
- Log into Twitter. (Real Twitter, not Hootsuite, etc.)
- Click on your name next to your avatar.
- On the menu bar near where it says how many followers you have. Click find “More.”
- Now look at the right side of the page. Click “Create a List”
- Personally, I have several lists. All public. Create your list names now. If you want to see my lists for an example of how I divided my tweeps, click here.
- Make all your desired lists then click on the number of people you’re following. Notice the square next to each person’s name with the circle thingy?  Click it. Once the box opens choose “add to list” from the drop down menu. You should see the names of your lists now. If the person doesn’t fit well into one of your lists, you can create a new list right from there.
- As you go down the “following” page, put everyone on a list. I only assign people to one list so I’m not seeing the same tweets twice. I cannot over-emphasize this point. Do NOT put someone on more than one list.
- Making lists creates camaraderie. For example, anyone on my “Twin Cities” list can glance at the names to see other local tweeps.
- A note about private lists: When you choose “private” instead of “public” in the “Create List” option, nobody can see your list, not even the people on it. There’s a use for this. Maybe you want to put your favorite tweeps on a private list and read that list when you’re in a hurry. Just remember when your list is private the people on it don’t get a chance to experience that “community” feeling.
- IMPORTANT: Once you’re accustomed to using lists, don’t forget to click around to see all your different lists or you’ll miss a lot of tweets. (I only read the general feed from time to time. For the most part, I rely on the lists.)
- Finally, if you use Hootsuite you can arrange the screen so all your lists are next to each other, which is one of the main perks of using that site as opposed to the actual Twitter site.
- iPhone users! I noticed in June (2014) that we can finally add people to lists or remove them lists right from the iPhone app. That’s new and so useful. Click on someone’s profile then look for that same circle thingy, which will get you to the “add to list” option.
#3B. EDITING TWITTER LISTS
- Log into Twitter. (Real Twitter, not Hootsuite, etc.)
- Click on your name by your avatar.
- On center menu click ‘More’ then ‘Lists.’
- Click on the name of the list you want to edit.
- On the left side of the screen, click edit.
- From there you change the name of the list, see the members all on one page, take people off the list, or delete the list entirely.
LISTEN TO MY FRIENDSHIP PODCAST: DEAR NINA
JOIN THE DISCUSSION ANY TIME ON THE NEWÂ DEAR NINA FACEBOOK PAGE. Â
SIGNUP FOR MY NEWSLETTER (COMES 1-2 TIMES/MONTH)
Latest posts by Nina Badzin (see all)
- Reviving Friendships That Drifted Apart (even decades later) - November 4, 2024
- Navigating Post-30s Friendship Struggles Through Social Prescribing - October 29, 2024
- Hobbies and Friendship: Preparing Early for the Empty Nest and Retirement - October 23, 2024
- Lose Track of Who Makes The Plans and 7 Other Friendship Tips from Dr. Ruth - October 16, 2024
34 Responses
Nina, I came over from your guest nameberry blog to tell you that I, too, am a writer freakishly crazy about names. I’ve written three Southern mysteries with my cousins Meg and Gail under the pseudonym Caroline Cousins, which may be the best name we ever came up with. We’re from Carolinas, our books set in lowcountry S.C., Caroline is a family name, and Cousins describes our relationship. (Our mothers are sisters who married first cousins (not their first cousins!) so we like to say we’re one and a half-times first cousins. Meg and I started the first book and named our alter egos Margaret Ann Matthews known as “Mam” (because her name came from Margaret Elizabeth), and Lindsey Lee Fox. It would have been our moms’ maiden name, Kinsey, but Sue Grafton took that (as did my actual niece), and Lee and Fox also family names. Then cousin Gail wanted in and said she wanted her character to be Bonnie Lynn Tyler so her initials would spell “BLT.” We are also food-obsessed. I’m going to se send them the link to your post on nameberry. We think our name thing may go back to playing paperdolls when we were kids.
It is to our despair that none of our kids wanted our advice about naming theirs. The two most recent are Lawrence Finn , known as Finn, and Lucy Charlotte. Now we can’t use those as book names!
I also liked your Twitter post. I’m @patebooks, and my books blog, “On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever,” is http://patebooks.wordpress.com
Come visit, and I’ll find you on Twitter.
Cheers, Nancy
Thanks! I have a questions on the “.@” vs “@”. I’ve seen people do this but when they .@ it no longer links (it’s not blue) the @’ed person. Should it be . @ (see the space)? Is it just the simple fact that by putting something/anything infront of the @name you are opening it up to everyone not just the people who follow both of you?
Oooh, that’s a good question. I had to take a peek at my @mention column on Hootsuite to see. There are definitely .@NinaBadzin tweets in there, which means you don’t need the space. It’s good to note you DO the need space between RT and @ or it won’t show up in the mentions. RT@Ninabadzin wouldn’t show up there. RT @NinaBadzin does. Meanwhile, Tayna, am I following you??? What’s your handle?
Probably not. I’m mommytanya – I follow you. But I’m boring LOL. I’m an accountant/mommy who uses twitter to voice her opinions that most people don’t care to hear. But I’d be honored if you followed me 🙂
Done! Sent the “request” . . . which brings me to another tip/question. Why protected tweets!? That might be why you’re having trouble with the @replies. Protected accounts are funky.
This is SO helpful. I tried to put my Tweeps in lists yesterday, but I started going nuts. I shouldn’t have waited until I had over 500 followers. I ended up putting lots of people on several lists, so I’m going to go back and try to choose one. I’m keeping them private for now until I get them better organized, but I see why it’s better to be public about it. Thanks!
Anne–so funny. In the first draft of this post I had a long paragraph about how much time this can really take because Twitter is SO painfully slow. I recommended wine, music, etc. It all got too lengthy. The post is long enough as it is!
I did the same as Anne yesterday…yes, it was quite painful. However, I think I’m pretty much done now, and today was a MUCH easier day of reading updates. Thanks for the push, Nina!
Nina,
You were the first friendly Tweeter for me. I admired your wit, warmth and intelligence, and I still do. I will do a cartwheel down my classroom hallway the day your book hits the New York Time’s bestseller list. I’ve already started practicing! 🙂
Good tips. Twitter is about engagement and even when you start to get to be bigger presence (bigger being relative) it is not impossible to continue to engage and interact with many tweeps.
I have two accounts that I use differently
@thejackb has about 2900 followers and I manage to interact consistently with around 25%. However I make a point to cycle through periodically and communicate with the people I don’t engage with as consistently.
My second account is a little bit larger and slightly more cumbersome to work with. It is @KimKardashian
Aside from the small issue of gender, things are pretty good there because lists have been exceptionally effective and that leads to your point about quality over quantity. It is well founded because the quality always makes a difference.
Not to mention that true power/influence in social media is derived from your ability to convince people to respond to a call to action.
More great tips! Especially the lists part. I was really good at that when I first started out. But as fast as I make new connections lately, I have gotten lax. I TOTALLY need to update them. It’s impossible to keep up otherwise! Good stuff, this! 🙂
You are so smart with this stuff, Nina. LOVE your tips.
This isn’t a tip but a comment about Twitter behavior. It irks me to no end to be followed and immediately unfollowed. I know it is a tactic that people use to grow their followers but there is something obnoxious about it.
Good “Round 2”, Nina!
I sat in the Viral Marketing session at Blissdom, and Scott Stratten plus the women in that panel, ALL SAID the biggest mistake either they made or companies they work with have made, is following everyone who follows them. And then they went on to say that this medium is meant for engaging and connecting, and that even 2 engaged tweeps are more beneficial to you than 200 who aren’t!
aNOTHER must read for me from @NinaBadzin. Many thanks for more fun and info!
Hear, hear!
Twitter was so scary at first but now I think it is SO AWESOME. I’m addicted.
LOVE this post (and your part I, too). I have a friend who just joined Twitter – she’s overwhelmed. Not in love yet. I’m sending her to your blog NOW because what I’ve been telling her hasn’t helped yet.
p.s. In case she can figure out how to follow you, her handle is @deborahklopez and she is super smart, funny, charitable (very involved through her temple) – she will love you. Fingers crossed she figures Twitter out…
I love this series on twitter.
I can’t wait to see what you write on professionalism: I wonder if it’s the same thing I’ve been thinking about.
I’m totally getting schooled here. I have been too lazy to use lists. I will have to correct that. Soon.
So glad the posts have been helpful!
Hi Nina!
Thanks for this great post. I have a handle on creating lists, and I love your suggestion of checking those lists regularly and categorizing appropriately.
What would you suggest to a person who, say, follows hundreds or thousands and hasn’t yet done much with lists? Seems pretty overwhelming to start creating them. Do you add people as you follow them? And what about people you don’t follow? Do you still add them to lists?
If this is way too question-loaded of a comment, don’t even sweat it. I’m going to aim to use lists more often regardless. 🙂
August McLaughlin recently posted..Thrilling TV: What Rocks Your Tube?
Hi August! I’m happy to answer. I think I started making lists after I was following about 200. It took some time, but wasn’t that bad. But thousands? That would definitely be a beast . . . maybe something to do in stages like 100 a night. First thing to do is create the lists by thinking about the types of people you follow. My biggest rule is that people only go on ONE list. You can’t go too hung up on the labels. For example, I have a “know you real life” list. And I have a “Twin Cities” list. Obviously there are people I know in real life who live in the Twin Cities as that’s where I live. BUT, if you people in both lists, then you will read their tweets twice, which defeats the purpose of using lists to save time.
Anyway, so create the lists so that as you follow new people you can always add them to list. Not sure where to put someone? I have a list called “New to Me.” It’s where I put the absolutely new people so that if they do things that drive me bonkers like tweet about Klout every five minutes I can see that quickly and unfollow. I just feel that with the time that Twitter already eats up, I don’t have time to read endless marketing-esque tweets about Klout and other nonsense. But I got off topic . . . yes, for now start adding people as you follow and then maybe in small chunks you add the “old” people to the lists as well. You can my lists if you look on my page. And you’ll even see the “New to Me” list.
When I’m using Twitter on my phone or on my computer (via Hootsuite), I use the lists. I actually never just read Twitter as a random stream. The lists help Twitter feel less crazy for me.
This was a long crazy answer, speaking of crazy. 😉
So helpful. THANKS! I feel like I am still finding my way around twitter. It’s cool, it’s powerful and I know I should use it more effectively. Love the idea of lists, and new to me lists. Those hadn’t crossed my radar.
Mari Passananti recently posted..Making a Scene? Go for it. It works.
Nina, I’m so grateful for your comprehensive Twitter tutorials both here and on Writer Unboxed. As a writer and blogger who is timid of social media, you made me feel capable and excited about joining Twitter, so thank you! (Once I start tweeting you will be getting some RTs!) It really is such a blogging mitzvah 🙂
-Dana
Dana recently posted..Welcome to…