Today Grant Griffiths (@GrantGriffiths) from Blog for Profit writes about using Twitter to find links to read (and how to share links with others).
Like many who publish a blog or read blogs, twitter has become a part of the morning routine. We jump on twitter sometimes before we even open our email programs. What are people talking about and what are the hot conversations taking place is usually what we are looking for.
For me and others, twitter has become a major source of what we read throughout the day. I have actually discovered recently, not only do I go to twitter some days before I open my email program. Twitter is scrolled through before I open my RSS reader, NetNewsWire.
Collecting Links to Read on Twitter
Over the last few weeks, I have found a large chunk of what I read being provided by the links of those I am following on twitter. Many of those I follow tweet links to blog post or articles they are reading. And most are sending their own blog’s RSS feed to twitter.
The great benefit of or perhaps the natural evolution occurring by the growth of twitter is the fact most of those blogging are also on twitter. And we are using twitter as a way to publish what we are writing about.
- How do you as someone on twitter collect links to read?
- How do you find the hot topics on twitter to read?
Just as twitter has evolved into a great social tool. We are seeing new twitter apps being pushed out developer’s doors daily. And some of the best apps are those which help you find what to read on twitter.
Twitter Search
Twitter Search works a lot like some of the other search tools in your browser.
Simple type in your search query and Twitter Search will go and find the tweets matching your query.
You can then continue to follow updates as it refreshes to bring in new tweets as they come in on your search term(s).
Tweet Scan
This app reminds me a lot of Google Alerts for twitter. You can setup your search terms which you want to follow and your results will be sent to you via email, RSS, JSON, and Twhirl. Smart businesses are using this tool to follow what is being said on twitter about them too.
TweetBeep
Similar to Tweet Scan, TweetBeep alerts you by email of conversations taking place which discuss your search terms on twitter. You can then use the results as you see fit. You might want to follow those discussing the topic or you might want to respond to them on twitter. You can even keep track of who’s tweeting your Web site or blog, even if they use a shortened URL like tinyurl.com.
Not only are the above mentioned apps available to feed you information to read, those you follow will do so too. Which is why it is important to follow those who will add to the conversation and provide relevant information on twitter. Many of those you are following will do what is called “retweet” tweets they have found on twitter they think their followers may be interested in. And many of those you are following will feed their RSS feeds from their own blogs to twitter. And that is why I have found twitter has become a huge source of my RSS feeds each and every day.
I know each morning when I first go to twitter some of those I follow will have either retweeted some great links they found interesting. Or they will have tweeted new blog post they have published, either the night before or during the day.
Feeding Your Own Links (and RSS feed) to Twitter
As a blogger, one of the ways to use twitter is as a “micro-blogging” tool. I have found I get involved in more conversations taking place since I am using twitter. And there is no way I can blog about them all on my blog. Another way to keep your followers informed and a way for you to provide information to those who are following you is to tell them what you are reading and what you are blogging about.
Like the search tools mentioned, there are a number of twitter apps which make this easy to do.
TwitThis
This is an easy way for you to send tweets about what you are reading, listening to, watching and more. And to make it even easier to use, you can put the bookmarklet in your browser tool bar and whenever you are reading something you want to share, you simply click the bookmarklet. TwitThis then shortens the URL for you and you click send and it goes out to those following you on twitter. It also includes the title of the blog post you are reading.
You can also put TwitThis on your own blog as a way for your readers to share your content on twitter. TwitThis makes it easy for your readers to share.
twshot
An application very similar to TwitThis in that you can use it to share what you are reading on the Internet. However it has the added ability to allow you to add your own take on the post or article within the limits of twitters 140 characters.
Easy Tweets
“EasyTweets is a set of tools that can help online marketers leverage the power of microblogging. You can use it to post to and switch between multiple Twitter accounts in seconds, check replies, and track new followers. EasyTweets interfaces through Twitter’s API.”
This is the one twitter app I have come to use a lot. It not only allows you to feed to twitter what you are reading. You can use it to feed your own blog’s RSS feeds to twitter when you update your blog with a new post. You can set it to send your updates immediately. And you can set it to send tweets to twitter at specified times during the day.
Easy Tweets also gives you the ability to tweet to your followers what you are reading. Just use the available bookmarklet and it will shorten the URL for you and give you a space to add your thoughts on what you are reading too.
Twitterfeed
Is another twitter app you can use to feed your blogs RSS to your twitter followers. Twitterfeed works completely in the background once you set it up for your blogs RSS feed. Each time you post something new to your blog, it will send a tweet out to your followers.
One word of caution on feeding your own RSS feeds to twitter. If this is all you are going to use twitter for, you will quickly find you will have no followers. While I would agree it is important to share with your followers what you are blogging about, don’t make this the only thing you contribute to twitter. Key to twitter are the conversations taking place. And the key to having a successful twitter experience is to engage in these conversations. More is involved in engaging in these conversations then just feeding your own RSS to twitter.
One of the keys elements to remember is that twitter is about interacting and learning from those you follow and who follow you. Finding the conversations, entering into those conversations and engaging in them is important. You can use the tools and apps mentioned above to find and engage in those conversations. And you can add to the conversations by providing your own RSS feeds to twitter.
I don’t liked Twitter-Account that are 40% real tweets and 60% broadcasted. In that case I would prefer the person to have 2 Twitter accounts so that I could choose one or the other.
For instance I tweet on http://twitter.com/Magganpice and broadcast our blog to http://twitter.com/steinis so as not to annoy people in the conversation.
I follow some broadcasts on Twitter and some real twitterers – but not many mixed accounts. As for finding links: I have user the normal Twitter Search in the last weeks, seems fasst and good – but misses some tweets sometimes(!).
BTW: I use the Wordpress plugin Twitter Tools (not listed above) to broadcast our RSS-feed to Twitter.
You must check out TwitterFeed. I have 3 rss feeds and I use it to post my new blogs to Twitter. I don’t have to worry about it. But be sure not to just use Twitter as a RSS broadcast, engage in conversations from time to time or else people won’t follow you if your just broadcasting your own blog that they don’t want to read.
Sam – We decided not to use the plugin for now. But thanks for the heads up.
Swim – Completely agree that broadcasting only your RSS to twitter is not the way to go. Engaging in the conversation and adding something of value to that conversation is the key to a successful twitter experience. I tend to unfollow those on twitter who only use it to feed their RSS.
Grant,
Excellent and informative post – congrats!
One thing to add about TwitterFeed, which actually might address your “word of caution”: Within TwitterFeed, you can filter the feed results with keywords, providing more relevant (and valuable) content in your tweets. For example, Darren can create a feed from Blog For Profit that only tweets posts that contain the word “Twitter”.
This is way that folks can create more value as they connect with potential clients and/or friends.
John
Sometimes y really surprise the power twitter its acquiring whit all this apps.
than good post.
Thank you for the post Darren and giving of your knowlege.
Michael
Great post, Grant. I use a lot of these and now you’ve given me more to try.
I find that feeding your own blog posts to Twitter is extremely useful if used correctly. Talking about feeding your blog posts to Twitter, here’s a tip if you’re also a Facebook user.
You can install the Twitter app on Facebook (just do a search for Twitter), so that whenever you tweet, your Facebook broadcast it on your status. Now, whenever you blog a new post, both your Twitter and Facebook informs your friends of your new post.
I like the twitter feed idea but I already have something similar setup that I coded myself on my blogs. Each of my blogs has a separate twitter account that readers can follow and when I post a new story, it tweets from that account instantly through the command line.
I’m surprised you didn’t include Tweetburner. It shortens urls and tracks how many people clicked on the url. Measurement is all.
I don’t know if I am an old-school twitter, but I usually just use a URL shortening program (My favorite is Twurl.cc since it has click tracking and uses OpenID) and post them into my tweets. I think it is a slippery slope when you start automating tweets.
I have to say though, twitterfeed looks promising. Just need to get back on that blogging horse!
This is an excellent list of many of my favorite Twitter tools
Great stuff!
Hi all,
A word of caution about the “Twitter Tools” plugin for Wordpress:
If you’re running a business blog, and want to present a certain “brand” to your readers, “Twitter Tools” may not be a great fit. It will Tweet everything you say on Twitter. Are the readers of your blog interested in reading your RT’s and @’s?
John Haydon
Ok – you managed to eat my morning..wow- great stuff. I have set up several accounts on twitter for clients. Several already have a Twitter feed from a blog and managing them was getting hairy – I love Easy Tweets – that just made my life so much easier…thanks Darren!
Thanks for the article really useful. Just signed up to Twitterfeed seems to be working well.
The other tool I use is tweetmarks.com this aggregates all the URLS that I stick in my twitter stream straight into my delicious feed. Then they are all tagged tweetmarks so I can keep all the links I send or retweet together.
I figure if I retweet or send something I want it for some reason or another.
I use Tweet Beep a lot~ it is a great way for me to identify students struggling with essays/thesis and to offer some timely (hopefully) advice, whilst at the same time promoting my business.
I can locate blog competitions to enter, and see who is out there looking for somewhere to Guest Blog, or to have a Guest Blogger.
Great list. And another… Twitseek is a search engine for finding relevant web pages posted by the Twitter community. It’s an attempt to present the results from a Twitter search in a different format. It’s information from Twitter that looks like information from Google. Give it a try http://beta.twitseek.com
Alot of decent tools here, very constructive post Will be taking note of these.
I use a couple of the ones you mention, and I also use tweet my blog plugin. It automatically posts my blog posts to twitter. Easy install and nice for wordpress blogs.
Thanks for the list, I learned a few new ones too.
Jackie
Great Post. I’m actually checking out TwitThis and Twshot, seems really useful.
@remarkablogger
Great overview of these tools, Grant! It will help me pick some to try out. Thanks for doing the advance research!
@Thestoreinc
Thank you very much for doing this research ,I hope this will help me advertise my store