"My #1 Twitter Tip…": Smart Advice From 36 Twitterers

By Harry McCracken | Friday, March 27, 2009 at 9:05 am

A major part of the world of Technologizer continues to happen over at Twitter, where I’m @harrymccracken (you can also get a simple feed of all Technologizer stories at @technologizer), and the whole Technologizer conversation keeps on keeping on, in convenient bite-sized chunks. My recent post What I Know About Twitter was a hit here, so I decided to collect more Twitter tips by asking some savvy Twitterers–namely, my friends over there–for their best advice. I tweeted:

@harrymccracken

I need lots of tips for getting the most out of Twitter for a Technologizer story. What’s your #1 tip? If I use, I’ll credit and link to ya.

And I got tons of good tips in return–all of which you can read after the jump.

@wpgrant

My #1 tip: (and this is part silly and part the truth): Don’t try to read every tweet, it’s bad for your health.

@alexkrasne

@ reply popular tweeps to help build your cred. that said, use twitter to build relationships, not followers.

@KristinMiller

participate- ask and answer questions. Can’t fully appreciate twitter if you only read posts. (imho)

@kmonson

take a day off each week to preserve your sanity. A Twitter sabbath, as it were. Good for the soul and for relationships!

@kellieparker

don’t feel obligated to follow ppl that follow you. don’t feel bad if ppl you follow don’t follow back.

@carmilevy

Customize your backdrop image to incorporate your value prop and key contact info. Leverage your Twitter presence.

[HARRY ADDS: To tweak your backdrop, try a free tool like MyTweetSpace.]

@dcbriccetti

Use a client with flexible filtering, like Simple Twitter Client

[HARRY ADDS: dcbriccetti is the author of Simple Twitter Client…which is still worth checking out!]

@TravelTweet

If you need lots of tips for getting the most out of Twitter, take a look at this http://bit.ly/RmFr9

@maryhodder

have multiple accounts so that you can segment topics, then use topic feeds on top of that to further segment

@sashok

Don’t try to follow every1 u can, since a little known secret is that u can only follow 2000 ppl; rather, Twitter is more ’bout how many ppl are following u; It’s bout makng a community and pulling together an audience, talking 2 them directly;

[HARRY ADDS: Yup, that’s more than 140 characters–it was a two-tweet tip, and I merged them. Same thing with at least one other tip here. Shhhh.]

@peter_may

Don’t just blindly follow someone you don’t know who follows you – they’re probably just trying to sell something

@miguelrios

Use real-time tools like TwitScoop and Twitter Search to keep track of what’s going on in the Twitterverse…Then use the #tags shown by those real-time tools to contribute.

@louisgray

Twitter Tip: Always know where your data flows, and participate where it lands. (Facebook, FriendFeed, etc.) Also, listen.

@ScubaSue

I always think of ideas/musings in 140 characters or less. 🙂

@sharlalane

#1Do NOT -tweet- “what are you doing right now”. in FB lingo “Sharla is tired of reading what you had for lunch on twitter

@jarodmorrison

don’t just ask a question, use the search.twitter.com or tweetdeck search to find answers and to find people to follow.

@danfrakes

You don’t have to read everything.

@AuroraDizon

Use search, check out featured people and add people you know (ask ’em)- customize your page to make it feel personal.

@Pago

I think it’s really important to not only read feeds but respond directly to tweets. This is a perfect example!!

@Ed

#1 Twitter Tip: Treat the support staff right. There are amazing things folks will never know about the crew. God runs Karma

@thatitalianguy

#1 tip: be active in the community by tweeting at least once per day and participate in people’s polls and questions.

@jeffporten

1) follow professionals who know you. 2) build a small network. 3) be witty. 4) benefit from being on their daily radar.

@AlexDLWS

twit-tip: Use twitter search and the # sign to interact with your market. Any size market is likely to have some buzz.

@kilikopele

Tip: Don’t build network searching for PEOPLE. Google for Twitter+SUBJECT instead. Connect to those who dig what you dig.

@wendyperrin

Write tips that people will want to retweet.

@Disputatore

Use TweetDeck, filter by username, browse, mark all read, next! #1

@iphwin

#1 tip: Follow ppl that matter 2 U. 2 much “noise” in the Twitterstream otherwise. (I’m sure U will hear this again.)

@ChavesH

Remeber the world is watching. Be a responsible digital citizen. Like Mike Ribble’s nine elements. http://tinyurl.com/5eql9r

@wendyperrin

Use Twitter to say not what you’re doing but what you’re reading…OR what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

[HARRY ADDS: Hey Wendy, that’s a second favorite tip.]

@globtrav

Help others by tweeting with search in mind. #tip #twitter

[HARRY ADDS: If you need a guide to how to use hashtags, check out this one.]

@scobleizer

Use friendfeed. Seriously. It lets me put my favorite Twitterers into lists and separate them. So, I can put techies onto one list, my family into another, famous actors into another, famous sports people into another, etc

@vinko

Aside from Robert’s suggestion, you can also take a look at TweetDeck to organize your followees into groups.

@guruvan

I have to agree with Robert. At his (video) suggestion I’ve tried using FriendFeed and Tweetdeck (or PeopleBrowsr) together, and the combination gets more out of and into Twitter than all other techniques that I’ve used combined.

[HARRY ADDS: Yep, that’s more than 140 characters, too–it, and a few other tips here, were submitted via FriendFeed, which breaks the 140-character limit.]

@shey

Don’t get caught up in the race to get more followers. Be social and spark conversation.

@wwwendyyy

(1) Use Tweetdeck to filter your feed so you’re not annoyed by overzealous tweeters, and you never miss the good stuff.

@wwwendyyy

(2) In the age of DVRs,never, ever livetweet a juicy sporting event or TV show (especially Lost).

@wwwendyyy

(3) Always remember Twitter isn’t all about self-promotion. Don’t sell yourself, your stuff, or anything else. It annoys people.

[HARRY ADDS: Looks like there’s a correlation between having multiple Twitter tips and being named Wendy.]

@TechPR

This may sound archaic, but, evangelize Twitter in real life. That is, your colleagues, co-workers. The more it’s threaded into functions, online and offline, the more relevant (and, ultimately, useful) it becomes as a professional tool.

And let’s end this thing with a tip from…me:

@harrymccracken

My #1 Twitter tip: Don’t let anyone tell you there’s a right way or a wrong way to use Twitter. You’ve gotta find YOUR own Twitter.

Any more tips? Or Twitter questions that need answers?

29 Comments

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I need lots of tips for getting the most out of Twitter for a Technologizer story. What’s your #1 tip? If I use, I’ll credit and link to ya.

My #1 tip: (and this is part silly and part the truth): Don’t try to read every tweet, it’s bad for your health.

@ reply popular tweeps to help build your cred. that said, use twitter to build relationships, not followers.

participate- ask and answer questions. Can’t fully appreciate twitter if you only read posts. (imho)

take a day off each week to preserve your sanity. A Twitter sabbath, as it were. Good for the soul and for relationships!

don’t feel obligated to follow ppl that follow you. don’t feel bad if ppl you follow don’t follow back.

Customize your backdrop image to incorporate your value prop and key contact info. Leverage your Twitter presence.

Use a client with flexible filtering, like Simple Twitter Client

If you need lots of tips for getting the most out of Twitter, take a look at this http://bit.ly/RmFr9

have multiple accounts so that you can segment topics, then use topic feeds on top of that to further segment

Don’t try to follow every1 u can, since a little known secret is that u can only follow 2000 ppl; rather, Twitter is more ’bout how many ppl are following u; It’s bout makng a community and pulling together an audience, talking 2 them directly;

Don’t just blindly follow someone you don’t know who follows you – they’re probably just trying to sell something

Use real-time tools like TwitScoop and Twitter Search to keep track of what’s going on in the Twitterverse…Then use the #tags shown by those real-time tools to contribute.

Twitter Tip: Always know where your data flows, and participate where it lands. (Facebook, FriendFeed, etc.) Also, listen.

I always think of ideas/musings in 140 characters or less. 🙂

#1Do NOT -tweet- “what are you doing right now”. in FB lingo “Sharla is tired of reading what you had for lunch on twitter

don’t just ask a question, use the search.twitter.com or tweetdeck search to find answers and to find people to follow.

You don’t have to read everything.

Use search, check out featured people and add people you know (ask ’em)- customize your page to make it feel personal.

I think it’s really important to not only read feeds but respond directly to tweets. This is a perfect example!!

#1 Twitter Tip: Treat the support staff right. There are amazing things folks will never know about the crew. God runs Karma

#1 tip: be active in the community by tweeting at least once per day and participate in people’s polls and questions.

1) follow professionals who know you. 2) build a small network. 3) be witty. 4) benefit from being on their daily radar.

twit-tip: Use twitter search and the # sign to interact with your market. Any size market is likely to have some buzz.

Tip: Don’t build network searching for PEOPLE. Google for Twitter+SUBJECT instead. Connect to those who dig what you dig.

Write tips that people will want to retweet.

Use TweetDeck, filter by username, browse, mark all read, next! #1

#1 tip: Follow ppl that matter 2 U. 2 much “noise” in the Twitterstream otherwise. (I’m sure U will hear this again.)

Remeber the world is watching. Be a responsible digital citizen. Like Mike Ribble’s nine elements. http://tinyurl.com/5eql9r

Use Twitter to say not what you’re doing but what you’re reading…OR what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

Help others by tweeting with search in mind. #tip #twitter

Use friendfeed. Seriously. It lets me put my favorite Twitterers into lists and separate them. So, I can put techies onto one list, my family into another, famous actors into another, famous sports people into another, etc

Aside from Robert’s suggestion, you can also take a look at TweetDeck to organize your followees into groups.

I have to agree with Robert. At his (video) suggestion I’ve tried using FriendFeed and Tweetdeck (or PeopleBrowsr) together, and the combination gets more out of and into Twitter than all other techniques that I’ve used combined.

Don’t get caught up in the race to get more followers. Be social and spark conversation.

(1) Use Tweetdeck to filter your feed so you’re not annoyed by overzealous tweeters, and you never miss the good stuff.

(2) In the age of DVRs,never, ever livetweet a juicy sporting event or TV show (especially Lost).

(3) Always remember Twitter isn’t all about self-promotion. Don’t sell yourself, your stuff, or anything else. It annoys people.

This may sound archaic, but, evangelize Twitter in real life. That is, your colleagues, co-workers. The more it’s threaded into functions, online and offline, the more relevant (and, ultimately, useful) it becomes as a professional tool.

My #1 Twitter tip: Don’t let anyone tell you there’s a right way or a wrong way to use Twitter. You’ve gotta find YOUR own Twitter.

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