Dave Crampton ( follow him @caffeine_addict) from Big News shares how blogs can be used to link in with Twitter.
One way to get people to visit your Twitter page is to promote it on your blog or website. I do. When people – especially twitterers – visit your blog, they are directed to your Twitter site as well if your blog has button asking people to follow you on Twitter. Having a twitter widget is useful if your blog readers want to read your twitterings without visiting Twitter. If people want to visit Twitter to see what it has to offer, they can click on your twitscoop icon on your web page.
Weeding out Twits away from other Tweeple
I find Twitter useful for building relationships and to find news and articles that otherwise wouldn’t be find – then they can be share with others through any other online spaces such as blogs, Facebook, Delicious – and retweets. I try to provoke, and to say something that is newsworthy – as well as twitter aimlessly on the odd occasion that I haven’t had enough coffee. But as I observed the growing number of Tweeple (and Twits) who follow me on Twitter, I decided to keep tabs on the select few I wanted to follow more closely. The Twitterverse, like the blogosphere and the Internet, can be a timewaster if you are reading stuff you don’t really want to, but sometimes you have to wade through the clay to get the nuggets. People are spending longer on Twitter; the average amount of time that people spend has more than trebled from less than 10 minutes a year ago to half an hour now.
Adding a Twitter Roll
Many bloggers like to link in with like-minded bloggers. One way to keep tabs on your top twitterers is to do this is through a blog the same way as you highlight fellow bloggers. With blogs you create a blogroll. To keep tabs on those with Twitter pages, why not create a Twitter roll of your top twitterers – in a drop down menu to minimise space on your home page, if desired. It seems the logical thing to do. Surprisingly not many sites have twitter rolls.
The advantage of a twitter roll is not only to keep tabs on your preferred twitters; it’s to let readers know who they are as well, and promotes Twttter. Not everyone has RSS feeds. When they discover some of your top twitterers they also stumble across their blog or website via that Twitter site. They will also look at your Twitter site as well, particularly if your blog has a twitter widget and a button asking people to follow you on Twitter.
Bloggers who twitter should note their blog or website URL on Twitter, with a short brief about your site within the bio. These are also visible on ranking sites like Twitter Grader. People are increasingly accessing blogs and websites through Twitter, more so than linking in with Facebook through Twitter. Sure many bloggers also twitter but most twitterers don’t blog. But whatever site your readers visit first – your website/blog or your Twitter – you can be sure that they will find the other one if your sites are linked, thus generating traffic to both.
@brandonacox
I’ve thought a lot about adding a twitter roll, but had concerns about it not being “mainstream” yet – the links, which would take up a portion of my sidebar, would contain links relevant to only some of my users. On the other hand, it may recruit them to start using Twitter, which would be great for the universe! Thanks for giving me food for thought.
@twintoddlersdad
I really like the idea of a Twitter Roll!
One way I have kind of merged my blogging and tweeting is by writing a recent post (my 50th post!) based on 50 short nutrition tips from my twitter followers. This way, they all got a link from my blog simply by suggesting their favorite toddler nutrition tip. I think you will see more of this type of online collaboration via Twitter.
@dianafreedman
Even though it’s not a promotion on your blog, you can also add a Twitter Roll to a customized background on Twitter. They won’t be actual links, but you’ll still be showing what Twitterers you consider valuable resources.
@candlesoffmain
We love Twitter! Since we only update our blogs once a day, we added the Twitter widget to both of our blogs (www.CandlesOffMain.blogspot.com and http://www.CandlesOffMainTV.blogspot.com) so our customers can get the most up-to-date information on what’s going on in our shop (we Twitter throughout the day). We’re also working on adding the Twitter widget to our e-commerce site (www.CandlesOffMain.com) so that customers that don’t read our blog can get info on, and find out about, Twitter.
Thanks for the TwitTip! I never thought about creating a Twitter Roll.
@ScottWilliams
I am all about pimpin’ your twitter and your blog and vice versa!
@CoolTweets
I created a blog/site that does nothing but put all my twitter entries into another way of accessing them.
This twitter account is based purely on links to other cool stuff from around the web and nothing more.
I’m currently looking for an easy way to add images to the site and would definitely like to find ways to improve the site on a whole. if you have suggestions send me an email!
@pistachio
Great post, love it. Added it to our @TouchBase link blog on business use of Twitter. Some related best practices:
People and brands with SERIOUS traffic — think celebrities, musicians, etc. should be publishing their Twitter content OFF of Twitter by using widgets and other tools. Bring the awesomeness of your Twitter stream to your broader audience.
For brands (and yes, celebrities, executives, etc.) that tweet, mentioning and linking to your Twitter presence prominently on your blog or website makes it clear that the account is authentic. Important considering the frequency of fakes & hoaxes…
@m38967
I’m seeing quite a number of blogs displaying their Twitter (follow me button) above their RSS feed button now.
Using one’s blog to promote Twitter is a no brainer, as your “current following” will most likely want to follow you on your other networks as well. What better way to let your readers know about your 2nd lover. (so to speak) (lol) I don’t have a 2nd lover, just an expression.
Missy.
@MikeGeffner
Great post. Learned a lot. Best, Mike
The idea of using twitter is to connect with others and try to bring them to your blog or website. why would i need to do backward?
@jaredotoole
Twitter roll what a great idea. I always follow blogs more closely that have a blogroll because it leads me to more great content. Never had the idea to list some twitter people up there.
And in the end its about promoting others and they will promote you.
@deskaway
We have a widget that shows our tweets on our DeskAway blog. Didn’t know about a twitter roll!
@thebenchs
I try but am on the way.
@Live Fit Blog
I’ve got a “follow me on Twitter” button, and considered the twitter blog. I get a few hits back and forth between the two, so it may be worth giving a shot.
@Mandy73
I’d like to add a ‘follow me on twitter’ link on my blog with the twitter ‘t’ like on problogger and like the tweet this at the beginning of the comments. But where do I get the ‘t’ from?
please help…
We are soon going to add a twitter roll to our blog, thanks for the advice!