By Tim Bursch – Follow him @timbursch
Isn’t Twitter just for tweeting? Mainstream media thinks Twitter is fluttering. Can you really listen to hundreds of people? How?
SOME TIPS ON TWITTER:
- Ask a question and then listen.
- Group people on TweetDeck and help filter the noise (See bonus tip below)
- Follow your favorite blog authors on Twitter
- Check out chats and discussions on things you care about here.
- Take a day off of tweeting and just watch the stream go by. Notice people. Who catches your eye? Who and what do you seem to pay attention to?
- Acknowledge people. If someone says they are grabbing coffee, ask for one too. : )
- Watch how other tweeps engage. If someone re-tweets you they are probably paying attention.
- Set up alerts on topics or people using Twitter Search.
- Use favorites to save tweets and tweeps you want to pay attention to.
- Focus. When you are having a conversation on Twitter it probably helps to stop checking email and writing comments on a blog. (working on it)
- Use open-ended questions. How, what, why?
- Don’t pre-judge. Don’t instantly “unfollow” people if they are not like you. Great idea from Aliza Sherman (@alizasherman)- go look at the person’s profile and recent tweets. You might change your mind.
- Notice when people are absent. Pay attention to who is being quiet too.
BONUS TIP: GROUPING IN TWEETDECK
I created a conversation group made up of people that I am listening to and want to engage in discussion. I start by reading this group first and then filter through other tweets. When you find new tweeps you want to pay attention to, just add them.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the conversation.
@jsinkeywest
That’s a cool post. I have to come up with someway of filtering bloggers from marketers. I don’t need or want to sign up to get any wonderful gift. It’s sad how much time people waste trying to get fake followers and all that. If you got 18K followers and you know 10 in real life your a loser. I do instantly unfollow anyone would has the lame get more followers here etc.
Peace
If your trying to achieve fame having thousands of fake friends isn’t going to do it. Unless your a Facebook guru scamming people.
PS I’m on the lookout for cool REAL bloggers to network with look me up thanks
Stumbled and RT
@ Darren I see this site is coming along great Good for you man
Off to see the main site haven’t been in a minute
Thanks
@writerdad
I spent almost a month listening before ever starting. It’s true, you can learn a tremendous amount my staying in the twitter bushes and observing your surroundings. I’m active on Twitter when I have the minutes to spare, but it’s rare that TweetDeck isn’t open at all.
@kfom
Great tips. I especially like the one about noticing when someone absent/quiet
Had not really thought about that before but now that you mentioned it I can see how just checking in should be the totally natural human thing to do.. Thanks again
@gelen
All in one. The best recommendations in one place. Thank you very much!
@SappyLoveStory
This is great advice. But it seems like rarely people ever respond to the questions I ask on Twitter.
@bradshorr
Good tips. I especially like the idea of keeping your virtual mouth shut and just watch the conversations go by. What a great way to find people you want to know better!
@TCOYou
Excellent advice! My assumption that Twitter was all about tweeting and not listening led me to avoid it for quite awhile. Now that I’m in the Twitter nest, I’ve seen that others do indeed listen as well.
@hectorhenry17
Great. Its to have it really present.
@timbursch
Thanks for reading. Hope these help.
@Shelby Lynn- One thing I try is asking questions directly to people sometimes.
@Vincentsmit
Good advice,
I also use RSS and filters in my Outlook to identify specific topics like LinkedIn, networking, acquisition, interim, etc. because I am a trainer for those subjects. Setting it up now in combined feeds via Yahoo Pipes (a bit complex though..)
Greets from The Netherlands,
Vincent Smit
Trainer, Just Connectnig