I get this question a fair bit from new Twitter users and while I think Tweet frequency is an important topic (one I’ll cover in a future post here at TwiTip) I think that there’s another more important aspect of successful use of Twitter that I’ve not heard many people talk about…

Silence….. (cue the crickets and tumbleweed).

Regular tweets may well be an important part of successfully using Twitter but one thing that I’ve found equally important is regularly ‘not tweeting’.

Four reasons come to mind:

1. Pausing in your tweeting creates room for your followers to respond

I once ‘followed’ someone on twitter who tweeted so much that as one of his followers I felt as though he really wasn’t interested in interacting with me because he was really having a conversation with himself. There was no real room for me to say anything because he tweeted so fast and on so many topics that – well I wasn’t needed.

2. Pausing in your tweeting can keep conversations from getting muddled

Tweet too quickly on too many topics and conversations quickly become muddled and confused on Twitter. The problem is that followers see your tweets at different times and respond to them as they see them. As a result you can be getting replies to multiple tweets that you’ve done all at once. Tweet too much and you can forget what you’ve tweeted.

3. Pausing in your tweeting gives you time to consider saying something worthwhile

If you’re tweeting fast and furiously there comes a point where…. you start tweeting jibberish. Take a break – pause – consider why you’re using Twitter, consider how your followers might be impacted by your tweets. Are you being useful? Are you saying anything worthwhile? If not – maybe it’s time to take a break and consider your next tweet.

4. Pausing in your tweeting can give your followers ‘tweet relief’

Sometimes incessant tweeting is just plain annoying for followers. I know from personal experience that on my most prolific days on Twitter where I’ve not given my followers (and myself) a break – that I’ve lost followers. It’s like when you go to a party and there’s one guy there who just talks and talks and talks all night – mainly about himself. Usually by the end of the night he’s in a corner with the one person who hasn’t been able to get away (or is too drunk to do so). No one likes a loud mouth. Take a break.

Sometimes less is more.

A few questions to ask yourself as you Tweet:

• How much have I tweeted today?
• Am I being useful to my followers?
• Am I just tweeting for the sake of it or is there a point to my tweets?
• Am I listening to my followers or just talking and listening to myself?
• Should I make a note of the next tweet I’m tempted to post now and put it up later?

I’m interested to hear your thoughts – do you consider your tweet silences as well as your tweets?

© 2008 TwiTip Twitter Tips.



When Tweeting Less Can Help You be a More Effective Twitter User