The array of Twitter tools is growing rapidly, but I only want to focus on 3 of them that really enhance my use of Twitter and offer something to give my followers beyond the basic 140 characters: Pictures, video, and a super-easy way to share links (especially music).

1. TwitPic

TwitPic lets you upload pictures and automatically tweet links to them on Twitter. Think of it as “Flickr for Twitter”. Be prepared to spend an hour or two on the home page, because TwitPic uses a Google Maps mashup to show you where TwitPics are coming from around the world in real time–it’s very mesmerizing!

TwitPic also integrates with many popular Twitter desktop clients, such as TweetDeck. Pictures can be rotated, tagged, commented on, shared through social media, and embedded on your own website.

2. 12seconds

12seconds is a brilliantly simple idea: you record a video that is exactly 12 seconds long. It’s the video equivalent of Twitter’s 140-character limit. 12second videos can be embedded and they integrate with TweetDeck. Videos can be recorded using a separate webcam or your laptop’s built-in webcam. Videos can also be uploaded (but they cut off at 12 seconds… imagine that). You may be tempted to ask the same question people often ask about Twitter: what can you do in only 12 seconds (instead of 140 characters)? It turns out the answer is: quite a bit. For great examples, check out Julia Roy and Blog Squad. Here’s me:

12seconds for TwiTip on 12seconds.tv

3. TwittyTunes

TwittyTunes sounds like it should be for sharing music, and it is. But it’s much more! TwittyTunes is a Firefox add-on that sits at the bottom of your browser window. It lets you post a link to whatever page you’re on. It is so fast and easy to use, I don’t think I could live without it. TwittyTunes goes with FoxyTunes, which is also an add-on for Firefox for controlling music playback in your browser. The idea is that you tweet the music you’re listening to, but like I said, it does much more. Look at all the ways you can preface your link:

I use TwittyTunes for any kind of link I want to share with my followers (remember that sharing interesting links is one of the best things to tweet about). Even if you don’t like any of the choices for prefacing your tweeted link, you can use the Free Text or Free Text + URL options.

Of Course, There is More…

I’ve kept this list deliberately short, because I want to hear from you in the comments what your favorite sharing tools are for Twitter. Maybe we’ll give Darren some ideas for what tools to do community reviews about.

© 2008 TwiTip Twitter Tips.



3 Ways to Share Pictures, Video, and Music on Twitter

You’d think coming up with 140 characters would be easy. Twitter requires us to think differently about how to provide value. In approaching any kind of social media (and you could argue this includes blogging, too), I believe the two winning strategies are to provide value and engage with people. There is no one-size-fits-all tactic to support these strategies, but here’s how I answer the question “what do I tweet about?”

Know what your followers want

I won’t assume that what your followers want are the same things my followers want, but I think it’s safe to say that most people on Twitter want to:

• Get cool links to click on (and distract them from the work they’re supposed to be doing ).
• Get something worth replying to and having a conversation over.
• Get something worth retweeting to their own followers.
• Feel closer to others they like.

In other words, people like to have a good time, have their egos stroked, and be part of a group. If your tweets meet these “Twitter needs”, you’ll grow your followers naturally and accomplish the goals you have for using Twitter (fun, marketing, whatever).

Give your followers what they want

With the above points in mind, here are some ways to do this that really answer the question “What should I tweet about?”

• Share links to cool stuff your followers will like. You’ll know if you’re on the mark because you’ll get positive feedback in the form of replies, retweets, and direct messages. Sometimes these links should be a link to your own posts, but mostly they should be links to other stuff.
• Engage your followers directly: ask questions, throw a statement out there, do something to trigger a conversation. Directly addressing something someone else has tweeted with your own reply is a good way to do this, since the other person is almost sure to reply back to you. Often, tweeting a cool link will do this, but consider tweeting a great quote or an opinionated statement.
• Send direct messages just to say hello or to thank someone who retweeted a tweet of yours. Direct messages bring you closer to your followers. It’s amazing what can be accomplished by simply asking someone how they are.
• Retweet others when they post tweets you like and want to share. The more you help others, the more they help you, so retweet liberally (but not exclusively).
• Use multimedia tools, such as Utterli, TwitPic, or 12 Seconds to bring some variety to your tweets. People love to look at pictures, and short audio clips and videos are not a prohibitive time investment.

Variety is the key

Aim for a good mix of stand-alone tweets, replies, and direct messages. Link to a variety of things (including your own) both on-topic (if you have one) and off-topic. Twitter is a great place where you don’t have to be “on message”. You can relax and be a bit more personable. Too much of any one thing will drive people away, so keep a balance to your mix of tweets.

How do you determine what you Tweet About

© 2008 TwiTip Twitter Tips.



What Should You Tweet About?