SVA Forum

caroline · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 2:18 pm Post subject: Twittiquette

For all you twitterers - if someone follows you, is it polite to follow back? What are your "rules" for tweeting? What kind of a balance between chat/business/advice/sales do you strike?

I was using www.twollo.com to get followers but to be honest, it's all a bit spammy... I'm testing a new theory and will let you know results....

And an extra question - when/how do you usually check Twitter?
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secretary4hire · Star Poster Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 347

I never follow people back just because they're following me. And specially over the last few days as there have been several well dodgy ones that I've actually had to block.

I must admit my thinking has changed recently of the "striking a balance" you mention Caroline. At first, I was thinking I should use it as a "selling tool" as it should be very strictly business, but I've absolutely changed mind on that as it was just way too formal for me. All the other tools (social networking, blogs website etc) are used for that purpose so I've softened and think it's more personal when you get to know who people are and how they tick. And it must work as I've had work solely on the back of Twitter already. For me, I like to present a more "real" or "friendly" face than the norm. What does everyone else do?

Must admit too, I'm not into these other apps like Tweetdeck etc either. I purely use it when I'm at my desk and that's it. And it depends on how much I am how often I check in. But usually every day, even if I don't tweet every day.

Marj
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OfficeStuff · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 3:34 pm Post subject:

I don't follow everyone who follows me either - it would just take tooo long to read all the tweets!

I suppose because I wasn't sure of Twitter at first I stuck to the "what are you doing". Some seem to have enjoyed the postings on how I kept my mum busy during her stay! So I like to mix the what I'm doing as far as work is concerned, so people see that I'm doing transcription and book-keeping etc, with the personal so that people can see what sort of a person I am.

I must confess I get a bit irritated by the purely business tweets and would prefer to get to know the people behind the formal business tweets. Most of those I follow whose tweets I read are highly amusing!

As to how often I log in to Twitter, well, what can I say? It's addictive... so every time I log into SVA, I have a peak at Twitter when I've logged out! I've obviously got the bug, as has my brother-in-law!!! Laughing

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erobe · Star Poster Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Derby

I don't follow everyone back either.

Twitter, like other social medium is a relationship building tool. Tweeting purely for business is not likely to get you a significant amount of custom, the edge these days is in relationship building.

A balance of business, personal and retweets is ideal.
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Above Parr · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 5:18 pm Post subject:

I started off following everyone but have backed away from that and now try to only follow people I am interested in reading about...

The obviously automatic tweets get on my nerves after a while, especially when there are several every minute!
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Lisa Hoare · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject:

I'm reasonably new to it, but I don't follow everyone, if I have time I check what they do and then decide.

For now the people I follow are VAs (so I can get to know them, same as on here), some business people (online marketeers, SEO Co's that kind of thing) and some general stuff I am interested in (retro, clothing, music etc). I don't Tweet very often, but I intend to have a mix of personal and business.

I use Tweetdeck open as long as 'mute' is on, I check it every now and then for direct messages.

It's quite good fun, but a terrible time thief :( !!

Lisa
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jackie · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject:

The only two people following me that I don't know are professional marketeers and obviously I'm not interested so haven't followed them back.

They're probably no longer following me (haven't checked) because I hardly ever use Twitter. I don't really 'get' it - although I saw the great Gadget Show experiment using Twitter and Facebook recently, with Twitter winning hands down.

As for Tweetdeck etc, I've absolutely no idea what that is! (and don't want to know, thanks!)

Emma Ewers · Star Poster Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 112 Location: Essex

Ah Twitter - I usually follow those that have followed me initally to see if they bring any value or have anything interesting to Tweet which I can then retweet for the benefit of my followers.

Building relationships is essential on Twitter and I agree with Marj it is much nicer to get to know the person behind the Tweets. As an example recently I have been tweeting about Rolo (the cat) and even started a blog about him which is getting quite a good reception and struck a chord with a few of you on here (thank you for all your well wishes BTW he is getting much better.)

I would say I use Twitter 80% personal, RT's and getting to know followers and maybe 20% business. Like Marj I have had some business and have made some excellent contacts with some companies and small businesses on Twitter.

By the way Caroline I am following you but you are not following me huh

I use TwitterFox for firefox as well as Shareaholic for Firefox - both plugins for the firefox browser - that way you can still be logged in to Twitter not miss an important Tweet and still work away happily.

The best way I find to manage the tweets posted by those that you are following is to skim read and pick out those that are of immediate interest to you. Save their tweet and you can click through to your favourites tag and visit their page whenever you want to read through their updates.

The best ways to get new followers, that I have found, are;

Tweet things of interest to your target
Be yourself
Use keywords
Use Twitter search or the fab new plugin on Twitter (type in "I need help with ....." or "I am looking for ....." which will bring up all recent Tweets in realtime.
Strike up relationships with other individuals, before you know it some of their followers begin to follow you and so on.
Post special offers, freebies and retweet your followers offers and freebies.

Just a few to keep you guys on your toes :)

Emma
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caroline · Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 10:54 am Post subject:

Part of my new plan is to not follow ANYONE really - although dim-witted me didn't actually switch off the Twollo linking so I need to go in and clear it all off again...
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