by Jimmy Jangles of The Optimus Prime Experiment – Follow him @jimmyjangles
So you have a twitter account and you think it’s a better read than Dan Brown’s new novel ‘The Lost Symbol’ but unlike Dan Brown’s 100 million plus loyal followers you have 33 and want 666. What do you do?
Applying this simple Angels and Demons Guide to Good Twitter etiquette will help you get and keep those followers you deserve!
Angels:
- Write interesting tweets. People read The Da Vinci Code because it was a gripping yarn. Tell people how you took down the Illuminati. No one cares what you ate for breakfast or that the library had that book you wanted.
- Angels link to things that are useful. Dan Brown is always giving the reader the facts with a twist. Angels who link to useful information are sharing the love and make their halos bigger…
- Remind your readers who you are. Dan Brown refers to Robert Langdon’s Mickey Mouse wristwatch to remind the reader the way the character thinks. What makes you a special twitterer? What will people remember about your identity?
- If using Twitter to inform followers of new posts, use clear, meaningful tweets. When angels tweet a url like U2 Concert Set List from New Jersey, their followers are more likely to click that link over “this is my new blog post”. The more specific the tweet, the better chance your followers will bite.
Demons:
- Dan Brown is often demonised by the critiques for producing some really odd sentence structures. “The famous man looked at the red cup” arguments apply to tweets as well. Make your tweets reader friendly. Don’t be a demon by tweeting random gibberish. Your followers want easy to read tweet turners!
- Every Dan Brown story has a plot twist. So don’t be a Leigh Teabing and turn on your hero (followers!) by going trying to kill them with gross amounts of advertising, special offers and non-related info and spam. Stay on target with your message. Readers will follow your tweets for the tea and not the killer cognac.
- Dan Brown created the current puzzle solving mystery in a book band wagon. Don’t be a demon and bluff your way through tweeting other people’s plots. Don’t present another persons tweet as your own. Good etiquette demands you make an acknowledgement.
- In a similar vein, if a news event inspire you, don’t simply retweet it, share your short original view on it. Some twitterers attract terrific numbers of followers by simply providing wise commentary on the news events of the day. Are you up to it?
Employing the hints and tricks in this guide is a simple and effective way to getting and keeping followers. Got any more Angel or Demon like tips? Leave a note in the comments!
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@jasondrohn
Awesome post. “Angels link to things that are useful. Dan Brown is always giving the reader the facts with a twist. Angels who link to useful information are sharing the love and make their halos bigger…”
This is true in all forms of web content, not just tweets! What really draws in readers and followers isn’t necessarily the news itself, but the twist you put on it! Well done.
– Jason
@susanbirk
I would add: Keep it real. Be yourself. Be genuine and honest, but tactful. Think more in terms of connecting with people and sharing good information than self-promotion.
@jrgriggs
Demons: Dan Brown often makes up facts to back his story. He does this because the truth would make his stories laughable instead of believable. Do not do this to your followers. Give them the truth when you are trying to convince them of your point of view or a product you offer. Do not promise $1 million tomorrow for doing what you say. Be straight up and they will trust you.
@barbaraling
I adored The Da Vinci Code, manfully worked my way thru Angels and Demons, perused The Lost Symbol, and wait a sec, this post centers on Twitter. Let me back up again.
Instead of being a Leigh Teabing, you must choose…but choose *wisely*….your tweets. You never want something negative associated with your Twitter ID. (and points go to whomever gets that Crusades reference.
)
@mylittledrummer
Some excellent tips here on etiquette that everyone could use!
@cookandgee
There are some great tips here. My favorite was the one about being specific. Sometimes Twitter is so fast, you just tweet without giving it much thought first. Anyhow, I will keep these things in mind when the urge to tweet hits me again.
@jimmyjangles
I’m thinking now I should have made some Digital Fortress references about being too insular a twitterer and not looking to the outside world for help……
@sharonandalex
Thanks for everything you blog here and as Problogger Darren. I’ve learned so much from watching and reading your posts … Not only about blogging
.
This is one of your most unusual and fascinating pieces. I appreciated the content and especially loved the style.
As always, thank you.
This should become everyone’s twitter mantra:
Susan:
I would add: Keep it real. Be yourself. Be genuine and honest, but tactful. Think more in terms of connecting with people and sharing good information than self-promotion.
Nicely put.
@DanCosgrove
Definitely the quality vs. quantity school of twitter. People really need to start giving credit; whenever I look up martial arts news I always see the exact same post over and over… and over.