Twitter Groups is an exciting new application that was launched by a small U.S.-based technology company November 27. With it, I have almost doubled the number of people following my smallish organic gardening niche and have added more than a dozen new resources to my blog! In the span of 18 days, more than 1,700 groups have signed up on Twitter Groups, from the Albuquerque (New Mexico) group to the Zut Society. I predict big things for this innocuous little app.

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

At first glance, Twitter Groups doesn’t look very special. Go to http://twittgroups.com and you’ll find a plain-looking page with a Twitter Groups header, some text about Google Friend Connect, a bunch of ads and networking links in the right column. It looks deceptively simple. If you give it a try, however, I think you’ll discover that this tool will help you not only find the people you are marketing to but also give them an easy way to find you!

The big news is that on Monday TwittGroups.com joined forces with Google Friend Connect. Now you can connect with peeps all over the social networking universe. My Twitter group now has a Facebook-like wall that comments—even videos—can be posted to. I suspect Twitter Groups pages will not be “plain-looking” much longer.

Signing Up Is Ridiculously Easy

Before starting your own Twitter group, I suggest you explore some others to see how they are set up. Maybe even join a few. Many Twitter groups have very little activity. Based on what I’ve observed, and depending on your purpose, a broad framework will generate more activity than a tightly specialized niche. Unless, of course, you have brand recognition like ProBlogger, in which case your name alone will generate activity.

Once you have a feel for the application and are ready to start your own group, it’s a simple process. Click on Create Group located in the right column, fill in a few boxes and you’re on your way! Tip: Choose a short, catchy name for your hash tag (the shortened name that you will use in your tweets and that will show up in the Twitter Search application). For example, the formal name of the gardening group I started is Green Thumb Gardening Group, which is much too long for a 140-character microblogging platform like Twitter. So, in the hash tag box I call it #greenthumbs. Makes sense, right?

When you click on Submit, Twitter Groups propels you back to your timeline with an automatically generated, totally customizable tweet that goes something like this: “I just made a Twitter Group at http://twittgroups.com/[GroupName] for our [Group Name] group. Please Retweet.”

In less than a week, #greenthumbs has grown to 55 members—who are all into gardening! And when they joined the group, they also got to send out an automated tweet to everyone who follows them, thereby inviting their friends to join. Are you beginning to see the potential?

But That’s Not All

Each member of your group gets his or her Twitter name, Web site URL, and Twitter Group profile link publicly listed. Group members can also post links to their favorite articles, blogs, forums, photos, videos and wikis, as well as to events, with the option to send out a tweet that includes a link to the group! Now that Google Friend Connect has been added, your potential to connect with other peeps is even greater.

Just in case you can’t tell, I am enamored with this new Twitter tool. My only hope is that as it improves functionality (a Follow link was added over the weekend, which enables you to automatically follow group members without having to go to their profile), it also becomes more visually appealing. Regardless of how it looks, though, I am convinced this new application can help you expand your network beyond your expectations.

© 2008 TwiTip Twitter Tips.



TwitterGroups – A New Twitter Tool Will Help Expand Your Network [REVIEW]