Stepping Up My Twitter Game

Posted on January 14th, 2010 by Keith Ferrazzi

I'm trying to make my Twitter stream  more useful. Here are some ideas Ryan, KF.com's community/social media guy, had for me. I thought they might be useful for you too.

twitter1.    Start to post more questions. People love to answer them. This is a quick way to build community. If you ask the right questions as people will answer other people’s questions and connect that way.

2.    Give more tactical advice. Transform your inspirational thoughts into challenges for your followers. Try to think tactically and I think people will respond well. ex: “Next time you go to a meeting, call ahead and ask if they want a Starbucks. Ask the receptionist too :)”

3.    Host more impromptu “tweetups” when you have downtime in your travels. A great opportunity to do this is to invite people to any charity events that you plan to integrate into your travel schedule this year.

I also throw the question back at you: What you would like to see more of in my Tweets/Status Updates? Less of?

  1. Start to post more questions. People love to answer them. This is a quick way to build community if you ask the right questions as people will answer other people’s questions and connect that way.
  2. Give more tactical advice.  Transform your inspirational thoughts into challenges for your followers. Try to think tactically and I think people will respond well. ex: “Next time you go to a meeting, call ahead and ask if they want a Starbucks. Ask the receptionist too :)” or “Set one goal for this week that you’ll do every day. Make it simple, like “I’ll wake up at 5am”. Tell me about your experience.”  Then followup up later that week - “Did anyone set a simple goal for this week? Give me your tips for sticking to your goals in the New Year!” (Then I’ll RT people’s answers)
  3. Host more impromtu “tweetups” when you have downtime in your travels. A great opportunity to do this is to invite people to your charity events that you plan to integrate into your travel schedule this year.
Send a trackback!
8 comments // In Social Media
Bookmark and Share
« Previous Post Next Post »

8 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

  1. Keith

    I have been using location aware iPhone apps to check in to different spots like restaurants, coffee shops, and bars.

    Most of these apps auto post to twitter with a map location in the name of the spot where you are. It's like an impromptu meet up.

    Check out Gowala or Foursquare.

  2. Hi Keith. Saw you speak in San Diego awhile back. Great stuff.

    I've found a good social strategy is to be the hub to important information in your industry. This is not to say that you have to produce 100% of the content, but you need to be the one people remember when they say "I heard about topic XYZ lately...really interesting article on Keith's blog about it".

    An example of this strategy...

    Guy Kawasaki uses this type of strategy at alltop.com. If you follow his tweets, you'll notice that a huge percent (maybe all) of his tweets lead to a post on alltop that is very short and simply links to another website with full details. Guy is simply telling you about the information that is somewhere else (another blog).

    This is doable for a few reasons

    (1) you don't have to be a content producing machine. You're simply monitoring other people's content (there's tools for this) and then posting quick summaries of the content that your readers would be interested in. Just to be clear though, you are crediting the original authors with a link back if credit is due for some specific content you refer to in their post.

    (2) I'm a strong believer in people not valuing the idea generator as much as the person that turned them onto the idea. Turning your reader's on to all the latest and greatest info that is online sets you apart as "being in the know". You're the go to guy...

    I could on and on for days about this stuff. I love this social media stuff.

    Maybe we can chat about it in a discussion of your social media job opening you posted at Mashable.com? = )

  3. Jon thanks - I'm actually trying to do more of that. Guy is an amazing info hub, such a great way to be generous. As he would say, "eat like a bird, poop like an elephant. ie suck in the info in massive quantities and then spread it around!"

    re social media job, Ryan's the guy to talk to - ryan@ferrazzigreenlight.com.

    Been wondering about Foursquare... seems fun but not that useful?

  4. Nice, post keith, on a side note I'm actually doing what Guy is doing on my blog without knowing that Guy is doing it all along. The differences is I don't link to my blog post in twitter or even my bookmarks but to the original source, I only link to my blog post occasionally.

    You can see it live at my blog here

    http://affiliateredemption.com/blog

  5. Keith,

    Here's a thought. How about when someone asks you a question on Twitter you actually respond. Above all this other stuff, that would be where you could enhance your Twitter.

  6. I really feel good after reading it.It gives me an absolutly different way in seeing this product. Now I'm starting loving it.Now since thislooks totally luxurious, it surely deserves its equally grand tag with high quality

  7. for the immense think, but I'm rattling committed the new Zune, and hope this, as cured as the reviews both additional grouping feature typed, leave forbear you determine if it's the paw choice for you.

Leave a Reply