March 10, 2009
The Mic Is On: Mark Davidson on The Art of Self Promotion
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 6:55 pm
It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
Guest host Mark Davidson, Social Media Promoter
Man about Twitter, Internet strategist, and social media manager, Mark Davidson, will be here to talk about nuances self-promotion and Twitter.
- Is self-promotion an art or a science?
- What’s good and bad self-promotion?
- Is it ever good to be shameless?
- How do you get other folks to promote for you?
- What’s the secret to promoting on Twitter?
And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)
Oh, and bring example links about your ideas.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
image: sxc.hu
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240 Comments to “The Mic Is On: Mark Davidson on The Art of Self Promotion”
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Delaney said
Hi Liz! Hi Mark!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Delaney!
I can tell already this is going to be wild. Mark said he had to get his bronzer.
Delaney said
Well, it was 80 degrees today I’ll send some warm air and sunshine up your way!
Mark Bao said
Excited to hear the conversation around this topic!
markdavidson said
Hello!
ME Liz Strauss said
It was a typical London day in Chicago today. Not too cold but very foggy and rainy. I was glad that coat had a hood.
Julie M said
I am new to this. Hi!
Delaney said
I’ve been asked to do a speech to a Young Professionals group (ages 21-40) on topic of using social media for recruiting, marketing, and customer service. Would love to ask Mark and others for links to help me put something together.
Julie M said
I am from Chicago – I GET it about the weather there – don’t miss it… love the sunshine in CO
Joe said
Hey Liz, Delaney and Mark.
Did you see Wendy’s interview on the Today Show this morning?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/29613344#29613344
So good to see a friend do well, maybe not Self promotion, but still really great to see.
ME Liz Strauss said
Go Mark Go!!
Julie M said
So, how much promoting is TOO much??
Char said
Your stylist outdid herself!
markdavidson said
Hi Delaney, you may want to give @barbaraling a follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/barabaraling. She’s an expert in recruiting and a great resource for information.
Char said
Ok so here’s my humble take on this. I’m going to refer to Twitter as its where I recently saw a bad example or one that I portrayed as shameless. I eventually deleted this person because their updates were the exact same about 25 times a day! That to me is way way too much.
Naomi Dunford said
Hey party people! Just stopping by for some midnight (GMT) open mic blog love. Nice to see you, Liz and Mark!
ME Liz Strauss said
#12
Too much promoting is when you have the sale and you keep selling.
markdavidson said
Hi Julie M,
There’s a fine line between promoting, being viral, and generating the perception of spam. You have to actively monitor people’s response and/or reaction. Online promoting is an active process. It’s important that we listen and interact with our audience.
markdavidson said
Hi Char,
Thanks!
Naomi Dunford said
“You have to actively monitor people’s response and/or reaction.” Agree a gazillion percent. Promotion of any kind is not a set-it-and-forget-it activity. Like any kind of marketing, you need to know what the market will bear. What they’ll bear in a newsletter is very different from what they’ll bear on Twitter, and so on.
Mo said
Hello all..First time here.
ME Liz Strauss said
What’s the easiest way to get people’s attention without bugging them?
markdavidson said
Char,
That would be an excellent example of spam. Notice my timeline over the last hour or so. I linked bombed Liz’s URL but I did so in a humorous way to be draw attention and to make it interesting. First we must create interest, and then we must engage. Always remember to include your audience when promoting online. As Liz likes to say, “It’s not about us, it’s about them.”
Julie M said
I think I get the real obvious spamming — 25 of the same updates a day? Yikes! So, at point is it okay to say, hey I got a blog here and it may worth checking out?
Char said
I think it needs to also be well thought out and not just hit em with a zillion messages and run. I guess this is where the conversation comes in to play.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Mo! Hey Naomi! Hey Char! Hey Julie! Hey Mark Bao! Heeeyyy Joe!
Jonathan said
Hi Mark
Weather in the South Pacific is perfect. Massive heat faded back to balmy.
Starting to REALLY enjoy making the TV show
Jonathan
Julie M said
I like the sense of humor Mark… that is a good tactic.. I think humor is often difficult over the computer sometimes. People have to ‘get’ you sarcasm, which I have plenty of. BUt, sense of humor can be a great way to promote, I think.
Naomi Dunford said
# 21. Be delightful. Of course, it’s always hard to know if you’re being delightful or not, but if everybody and their mama is doing it, it’s probably not delightful.
Kind of a different take on being remarkable, but in a positive way. Because a Purple Cow is not BETTER than a regular cow. It’s just purpler. Find a way to be a positive purple cow, and people will naturally be interested in what you have to say.
ME Liz Strauss said
#24 Julie,
You gotta tell me WHY it’s worth checking out.
Char said
I like it when someone takes the time to direct something my way they think I may be interested in. Obviously its easier to just send a mass message and hope for the best but you risk annoying many people and turing them off immediately
Julie M said
Char,
Yes, not a fan of the hit and run’s!
markdavidson said
Hi Liz,
You know the answer to that one. Thanks for lobbing me a grapefruit.
I like to use a combination approach of humor, information, and active engagement.
Whether it’s on Twitter, Facebook, or any other social media site, I think it’s important to be interesting and to be interested in what other people have to say. Active involvement and engagement is critical to self-promotion. Otherwise, it’s just noise.
Now that’s my approach. Others have a different approach. Some people take more a a P.T. Barnum strategy to online promotion. Ultimately, regardless of the approach or strategy, we have to create value for our audience.
Jonathan said
Mark
Re “I linked bombed Liz’s URL but I did so in a humorous way to be draw attention and to make it interesting. First we must create interest …” I’m always leery of doing this – thorught it might annoy my peeps. But guess could give it a try. I’ll risk anything
Mo said
Twitter is like an email subject. You scan your subjects and decide what you are going to focus on. You tweets are the same. Capture attention that readers will pick up on and want to know more. What bugs me the most is URL’s with no content
dejon97 said
I’ve been on twitter for three weeks. My approach is to use it as an instant information tool and, more importantly, as a relationship building tool. In my over twenty years of experiences, solid relationships drives business.
ME Liz Strauss said
Naomi,
I love this …
Because a Purple Cow is not BETTER than a regular cow. It’s just purpler.
And I don’t necessarily need one. You gotta tell me why I need a purple one.
Julie M said
Liz,
Good point on the WHY – thanks… What are the thoughts on the auto DM’s with promotions?
Marti said
Good evening Liz, Mark Davidson, Mark Bao, Julie, Joe, Char and Naomi
Hope this finds all of you well!
I think it’s too much on Twitter if you mention yourself, your blog, merchandise, whatever it is you’re promoting, more than you just “chat” or mention OTHER people’s work.
Delaney said
OK Mark. Just sent message to Barbara Ling on Twitter. Thanks for the referral.
Shane said
what about doing different things every day.
one day humourous
one day reporter
one day informative
one day educate
one day charitable
one day nice
one day controversial
one day promote
just be real/yourself
Jonathan said
Naomi … # 21. ” … Be delightful. Of course, it’s always hard to know if you’re being delightful or not, but if everybody and their mama is doing it, it’s probably not delightful.
Kind of a different take on being remarkable, but in a positive way. Because a Purple Cow is not BETTER than a regular cow. It’s just purpler. Find a way to be a positive purple cow, and people will naturally be interested in what you have to say.”
That is BRILLIANT.
Seth Godin would be turning in his grave. Oh … but wait, he’s not dead.
Naomi Dunford said
#35, Mo… “Capture attention that readers will pick up on and want to know more.”
I think the “want to know more” is critical not just in getting them to your content, but also once they get there. How many links do we click on, give them a quick scan and leave, never to return. Giving a strong call to action can maximize the value of the attention, even if the amount of attention itself might be smaller. 10 people who come and stay nets a much higher value than 1000 people who come because of an interesting headline and then leave again.
Marti said
Oh gosh a bunch more people showed up – hi everyone!
markdavidson said
Julie M,
Great question! First, don’t link spam without engaging. Using Twitter as an example, most of my blurbs are @Replies. The last time I checked, @ Replies were 92% of my blurbs. So when I do broadcast a link, I think it tends to have more gravity because I’ve demonstrated through pages and pages of blurbs that I’m interested in having a dialog with the people who follow me, rather than just endless pages of what’s important to me. I also like to try and involve people as often as I can in any conversation or dialog that I’ve initiated.
Active engagement, whether it’s on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media site is critical to self-promotion. We have to be genuinely interested in other people first.
The key word there is “genuinely”.
Delaney said
When someone new follows me, I always go check them out and try to see why. What do we have in common that I might want to follow back?
markdavidson said
Hi Jonathan!
ME Liz Strauss said
Jonathan,
You’re delightful! “linked bombed” I love that.
If you really like what you pass on, I think it’s a good thing.
If you pass on junk, it’s annoying.
If you clog someone’s DM box, you’re invading their privacy.
Delaney said
I do “unfollow” anyone who doesn’t update in over a month or who only tweets on their company/product/book etc.
Julie M said
Shane,
I like the last point – Be real/yourself. That is what I try to to and I will have conversations with peeps that share my interests..writing, travel, teaching, fitness, wine, etc. I think it is good to make a connection
markdavidson said
Hi Mo!
Naomi Dunford said
#39, Marti. (Re: mentioning your own stuff more than other people’s) I think a 10:1 ratio is about the most an average follower can take. 10 parts conversation and promoing others, 1 part promoing yourself. Of course that’s a totally arbitrary number, but the way you see some people, you’d think it was the other way round.
markdavidson said
#30 Exactly, Liz!
Bean said
#35
“Capture attention that readers will pick up on and want to know more. What bugs me the most is URL’s with no content”
I second that one. I need to know something about a link before I take the time to click on it. I want to know whatand why I should click. The tweets that just say Posted:some tinyurl gives me neither.
Delaney said
@Mark and everyone. What do you think of someone (I won’t mention the name) who puts up links several times a day but NEVER responds personally to anyone?
markdavidson said
#25 Exactly Char!
Mo said
Hello Mark
markdavidson said
#34 Jonathan,
Watch the number of times I did it, how many times I did it as an @ Reply, how actively engaging I was, and within what time frame.
There’s a fine line between properly executed self-promotion and spam.
Delaney said
Do you agree that social media has replaced email?
http://bit.ly/xG801
Char said
I do wonder sometimes why people select to follow me. I check them out and I can usually tell what promotional angle they are going to hit me with. I’m usually right. Within a day I get DMs about everything from subscribing to their site or a link to a product to buy or a direct ask for referaals of who they should target. The funny thing is sometimes I thin if they just got to know me a bit and we actually had a few conversations I might have been more open to at least hearing their pitch.
markdavidson said
#36 “I’ve been on twitter for three weeks. My approach is to use it as an instant information tool and, more importantly, as a relationship building tool. In my over twenty years of experiences, solid relationships drives business.”
Yep.
Ria said
Someone asked about auto DM’s on Twitter… it’s just a big turn off.
But as far as doing different things… my approach is just BE YOURSELF. You know… if you’re not funny, don’t try humor. If you’re not controversial, don’t try to be… anyone your not. My #themeword for 2009 is AUTHENTICITY… across all mediums.
markdavidson said
#37 Or better yet, collect all colors.
Jonathan said
Solution to this?
I always have trouble carrying on a REAL real conversation on Twitter with one other person… because I feel I’m excluding other folks.
That’s why I think the quick staccato replies that Liz, Chris Brogan, Perry Belcher, Mark Davidson and Calvin (mayhemstudios) use works so well. Talking to lots of folks simultaneously.
There’s a lot of people wanting to feel like they are PART of something and that they belong.
On Twitter they get that chance with Liz and co …
I’m not so good at it.
Shane said
#50 Julie M
that’s the best one! Its a pink cow with purpler polka dots.
Joe said
Mark, I almost never use Twitter, but I’m fairly active on LinkedIn.
Any suggestions on how to (non)promote my business there?
markdavidson said
#40 Delaney,
It’s also important to promote other people when and where appropriate. @chrisbrogan and @lizstrauss are masters of this.
Not only is it good karma, it’s just plain good.
Char said
In response to Delaney #55 I think we may be talking about the same person – haha! I eventually deleted them as they offered no value and zero conversation. So in the end it was just clogging my screen with their constant spam about their product. That to me is an example of completely missing the boat. I even tried to gently DM them with some helpful suggestions and never heard back. Oh well
markdavidson said
#28 Julie M,
I also think that by having a sense of humor, it shows that we aren’t taking ourselves *too* seriously. I think @chrispirillo is a master of this and is a key reason behind his success online.
Stephen Kastner said
What do you think people’s greatest fear is when considering becoming social?
Axel Schultze said
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Great experiment – I bet that less than 2% is reading my comment – if you do just mention it. That would either demonstrate that campaigns like this one is either completely useless and what we consider NOISE – or actually interesting what we consider DIALOG. You decide
=====================================
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@AxelS
Marti said
#55 Delaney, you’re right, it’s annoying when someone doesn’t respond to anyone. I know the high-end people are probably swamped and can’t always reply back, but they can surely find tome to reply once in a while.
ME Liz Strauss said
Jonathan,
Talk to one person and assume the other folks are listening. @ multiple people with the same response and don’t worry. We understand … you can’t keep with everyone in the stream.
markdavidson said
#38 Julie M,
Never use an auto DM. Ever. ‘Nuff said.
BJ said
I’m totally hooked on Twitter and feel it has helped our nonprofit engage with a new audience. I use it to not only promote our news and events but to share information and to shine a light on the great work other organizations and other technical women are doing.
Jonathan said
I’ve found that to interactively give, give and give is the Twitter path that works for me.
Listening carefully to your point Mark about timed conversation. I ‘TRY’ to do that.
Marti_L said
I like to drop a one-liner joke in every now and again, just to lighten everyone’s mood. I keep a Word doc of them so I always have some handy
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hi everyone!
Joe, how fab was Wendy this morning!
Brooke said
Hey everyone. Good tv interview that you posted!
Mo said
My thoughts on following are probably the same as everyone else. If someone sees I’m following them and they have no interest in who I am then they will not follow. Twitter I believe is an introduction of who you are. If they do not follow you back, they are not interested or you have not seasoned your Tweets.
Naomi Dunford said
66. Joe, I think that’s a very common question. On one hand, we get all this advice that says, “Promote on Twitter (or Facebook, or whatever…) because it’s a license to print money!” And on the other, the same experts are saying that you shouldn’t over promote. So what gives?
I think the real trick to networking on Twitter is the same as networking at non-work events. Say you do whatever you do, but you also ballroom dance and knit. When you hang out with other ballroom dancers and knitters, what you do for money invariably comes up sometimes. You are promoted on Twitter et al simply by showing up and playing with the other kids in the playground.
It’s not as direct as other forms of marketing, and it doesn’t have as many measurable metrics, but the connections mean more when they’re backed up by an honest relationship instead of, say, a sales page or banner ad.
Joe said
Hey Ms Glenda & Brooke,
Yeah, I think Wendy did a great job On National TV no less!
Delaney said
@Char @Marti I think they are trying to build traffic to their site and you’re right, they probably do get lots of responses and can’t respond to all…but…I’m feeling used…
markdavidson said
#39 Marti,
Agreed. 92% of my blurbs are @Replies. I also go out of my way to RT and to recommend other people to follow. It’s important to actively engage and interact with our audience. The ability to engage is what makes social media such a powerful tool for promotion.
Shane said
I used to auto-dm but I’m better now – turned it off. Here’s a poll I made on auto-dm’ing if you’d like to fill it out. http://twtpoll.com/?twt=br6vk0
Jonathan said
Liz “Talk to one person and assume the other folks are listening. @ multiple people with the same response and don’t worry. We understand … you can’t keep with everyone in the stream.”
Now that makes sense to me. I asked for suggestions for best conference call recording system today – The conversation went for a while and eventually many joined in.
Might do more of that. It sure was open and honest. And I got answers
Julie M said
Shane #65 I am a purple cow with rainbow dots… some people call me Jack (as in all trades, master of none), which is why I don’t have a specific niche on my blog. I love everything!
Mark#73 I don’t. I guess it seems so fake, I never really thought about doing auto DM’s, I just wanted to hear what others thought..
markdavidson said
#41 Hi Shane,
Syntax is important too. As Liz likes to say, “Write about what you want to be known for.”
Focus is important. People will make subconscious associations with you and cognitive attachments to your brand. Be mindful of this.
Brooke said
I think social networking is a great idea for many – the main reason I am a part o it is to get to know new people. But in the process I always learn something new.
My question is – is it all worth it? Twitter, LinkedIn etc?
Delaney said
@BJ Nice website. I like your list “stay connected by…”
Julie M said
Marti #76 Great idea, having one liners handy.
I have seen people post inspirational quotes, too. Thoughts?
Joe said
Naomi, thanks. Sometimes though, it feels like you keep giving and giving and no one seems to reciprocate.
Jonathan said
Mark
Whoa. That is PURE GOLD! Let me repeat it.
“…. 92% of my blurbs are @Replies. I also go out of my way to RT and to recommend other people to follow. It’s important to actively engage and interact with our audience. The ability to engage is what makes social media such a powerful tool for promotion…..”
That’s the hot solution for Twitter I believe. Very clear thinking.
Char :: Keystrokes said
Evening all! Added Keystrokes to my name this evening since there is another Char here tonight (Hi Char!).
Did everyone read Lorelle’s post on BlogHerald today about the Dream Team of Blogging & Social Media? http://is.gd/mL7m Such a great post.
Char said
I understand people can’t always reply to all their @ replies or even their DMs. But then after reading all of the messages if there seems to be a trend or similar line of thought then why not update your status with a general message sent out to the masses maybe? At least it shows an effort to connect with your audience. More often than not though I see 10 more updates all the same, asking people to “check out my great X product at x website – link”
Naomi Dunford said
88. Brooke, I think it depends what you’re comparing it to. Worth it compared to sitting around watching TV? Totally. Worth it compared to a targeted PPC campaign (or whatever your traditional marketing flavor)? Depends on what you’re looking for. For me it’s worth it because of the people I get to meet. I live in the middle of a field of sheep, so even if I didn’t make a cent, I’d be grateful forever for social networking.
Mo said
Brooke said “I think social networking is a great idea for many – the main reason I am a part o it is to get to know new people. But in the process I always learn something new.
My question is – is it all worth it? Twitter, LinkedIn etc?”
Will Rogers said there is only 2 ways to learn something new. First is by reading and second is to listen to people who are smarter than you..
I learn everyday from people on Twitter.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Mark, Hey everyone,
Would you respond to comment 71?
markdavidson said
#55 Delaney,
I can think of two very successful people who do that and it works for them… Mostly because they’ve earned it. They’ve already established their reputation and value over a period of years.
Very few people in social media can do this.
Shane said
#87 Hi Mark
Thanks, well put. I think it helps to just engage in conversation when your intention is that you are genuinely interested in people and their well-being. No matter the topic, people see through to your true intent.
Marti_L said
I don’t understand people who drop a link then aren’t around. If you want to engage people you have to be there for the conversation, otherwise it’s like commercials on TV. I actually saw a discussion on LinkedIn saying that it was a GOOD thing to not tweet more than once an hour. Once an hour? How can you have a conversation like that?
Jonathan said
What seems to get the most RT’s for me on Twitter is when I find amazingly useful resources for folks and post a link to them.
Then every so often, place a link to my own site.
Bean said
#90 Julie
Personally, I like the occasional inspirational quote. I appreciate the diversity in tweets. It also gives me another sense of the person.
Mo said
Axel…I read it
Char said
Hi other Char!
Naomi Dunford said
71. I noticed!
markdavidson said
#59 Delaney,
Yes in many ways. Email is still viable for notifications, subscriptions, confirmations, and newsletters.
Threaded conversations via email however… I rarely do that anymore.
markdavidson said
#60 Char,
“The funny thing is sometimes I thin if they just got to know me a bit and we actually had a few conversations I might have been more open to at least hearing their pitch.”
Exactly.
Marti_L said
#90 Julie
Thanks! I like the inspirational quotes too.
Jonathan said
Liz…
RE 71 from Axel.
Very good point. I missed it.
Most Tweets are like that – leaves in a stream that goes past and is gone – most people do not see them.
markdavidson said
#64 Jonathan,
“There’s a lot of people wanting to feel like they are PART of something and that they belong.”
Fantastic point. Making people feel like they are a part of of something and that they belong is *everything*.
All online promoters are also community builders. In my opinion, this is a key distinction between online promoters and internet marketers.
Liz Strauss is an excellent example of someone who connects people. We can all learn from her.
Char said
I agree Bean #103. I think Twitter and other social network sites are just that, social. I think some folks get too caught up in trying to appear intelligent, witty, successful, etc., they forget the key ingredient, be yourself. You can’t be “on” 24/7. Sometimes you are just having a cup of coffee and reading the funnies. I don’t think that means I’m going to stop reading your blog on the economy, if anything it makes you more approachable.
Shane said
#90 & 109 Marti_L & Julie M
I like the inspirational quotes too particularly when I’m having a down day. I just don’t like it when that’s all a person does day in day out.
Marti_L said
“Is it all worth it?” It has been for me. I mostly just have conversations with people, and occasionally sprinkle in a link to my book or CafePress items, and I always see a spike in sales after mentioning on Twitter. But I don’t just say “Hey, buy this!” I always say what the product can offer the potential buyer (a cute seasonal graphic, or a way to stop forgetting things or overcoming failure).
Brooke said
Naomi – I totally agree
Mo – yyup – I always learn from others
I am with Naomi – I would SN even if I wasn’t mktg at all. I love the people!
Andrew Lightheart said
Hey guys
LOOONG time no Open Mic!
Stephen Kastner said
Do any of you have multiple Twitter personas?
Mo said
#110…Thats the point of following people …You can click on their account and catch up with what they are saying and you can fave those tweets that caught your eye and look for more instead of hoping to catch one here and there. I have 2 accounts The first is to help Nicotine addicts and the second helps addicts to Religion …how ironic they both started by following others…
Jonathan said
Re 71.
So this proves something:
On Twitter
1. RTs are important
2. Conversations are important
Because by contrast, a statement made once (like in an email broadcast) is hardly seen by anyone… yes?
Liz said
As an outsider, just remember what you judge to be clever can easily be seen as annoying if you repeat it a lot of if a lot of people copy you.
I don’t care for 1) endless inspirational quotes that come off some website somewhere; 2) people who only RT other people’s Tweets and 3) people who only broadcast (no responses).
I will say there has been an improvement in some respects. In May/June 2008 it was very common for bloggers to send out endless RTs announcing their latest blog entry. It was obnoxious and people gradually stopped saturating their Tweetstream with self-promotion over the summer.
markdavidson said
#66 Hi Joe,
I personally favor Facebook over LinkedIn for what I do. To me, LinkedIn is basically a resume. I’m more interested in what people are doing right now, rather than what they’ve done in the past.
Social media and the internet in general is a dynamic and fluid communications medium. When connected properly, different sites can offer value. The key is knowing when, where, and how; and it what order or combination.
To answer your question properly, I’d need to take a look at how you are currently using LinkedIn.
Naomi Dunford said
OK, I have a question. What’s the purpose of faveing tweets? I think I don’t get it. Is it kind of like social bookmarking?
Char :: Keystrokes said
#117 – do you mean different Twitter accounts for your different sites/areas of interest?
That is something I totally have considered since I have multiple unrelated niche sites, but have decided against it for now. My Twitter profile and background make it pretty clear that I tweet about lots of different things.
ME Liz Strauss said
Thank you for saying that, Liz!!
Clever often isn’t attractive.
Char said
I personally like when people ask for opinions and thoughts on a topic and include a place to share those. Oh wow, sort of like this blog conversation! haha!
markdavidson said
#70 Hi Stephen,
Rejection, being ignored, or feeling “stupid”.
Andrew Lightheart said
Just been reading down the conversation.
One person who stands out in my mind recently was a guy who DMed me for following him… but it was a really message!
He said ‘ I first read meditator as mediator and said poor guy [it says I'm a daily meditator]. Now at least I know ur centered. Thx for folowing my msgs for emerging ldrs.’
I was so blown away that I DMed him back, and sent out a tweet telling everyone this is what he’d done.
I think people who’ve been genuinely funny, or especially HELPFUL stay in your mind.
That’s the best self-promotion.
Then if you do a bit of SSP (Shameless Self Promotion) it’s cool, people are genuinely interested.
I like a ratio too – I reckon 50:1, though!
I remember going to Liz’s twitter page and seeing how many @replies she made. Something went ‘poing!’ in my mind.
*pant pant*
Can you tell I’ve just had more than eight hours’ sleep?!
BJ said
I fave tweets as a sort of scrapbook of tweets I really liked. But I also like to look at others’ faves as a way to get to know them. In addition to their own tweets, it helps give me a sense of whether this is someone I’d like to follow.
Mo said
OK could someone explain how RT’s work…is it simply saying the same thing someone else says?
Char said
I’m completed ignorant to this fave tweet thing!!
Stephen Kastner said
Yes, I have 4 active accounts, one for local regional media, one for design work and coding, one for sex magazine I publish and one just for Twitter issues.
Jonathan said
To Stephen Kastner
“Do any of you have multiple Twitter personas?”
No just the one.
I did however protect several names and brands of mine but don’t use the accounts.
BUT I know someone who has several accounts and converses with himself in a highly contentious way to polarize and get attention. Daft trick that – give me authenticity any day
markdavidson said
#71
“Delaney, you’re right, it’s annoying when someone doesn’t respond to anyone. I know the high-end people are probably swamped and can’t always reply back, but they can surely find time to reply once in a while.”
@lizstrauss, @alohaarleen, and @markdavidson make the time.
BJ said
#117 I have three Twitter accounts. One for our nonprofit as a whole (@anitaborg_org), one for our annual conference (@ghc) and one for personal use.
caroline said
Hi!
markdavidson said
#74 BJ,
I’m quoting you just because that’s an awesome post.
“I’m totally hooked on Twitter and feel it has helped our nonprofit engage with a new audience. I use it to not only promote our news and events but to share information and to shine a light on the great work other organizations and other technical women are doing.”
Stephen Kastner said
#126 used to it… being the new kid is an art in itself.
Naomi Dunford said
129. Mo, people RT so that they can communicate what you just said to different people. Like, my followers are different from your followers, so I RT what you say to get the word out.
I asked for RTs when we did an emergency fundraising effort for a victim of domestic violence — my own readers gave, but then we got another $5000 in a few hours from people I’d never heard of, mostly from RTs.
Julie M said
What if you don’t have a “product”, excepted articles on sites and a blog that you just want to pass on your thoughts to a wide audience?
Delaney said
Mark #133 Liz is VERY good about responding to the community. She makes everyone feel like we are her BFF!
Andrew Lightheart said
As opposed to THIS guy:
DM- OMG! I like you. You seem cool. Do you have facebook? Let’s connect and have fun there [link] –Take care!
Yeah right. Spam is not connecting.
markdavidson said
#75 Jonathan,
You don’t just try, you also succeed. You are one of the best people to follow on Twitter. You always engage people and in my opinion, are a master of the right mix between self-promotion and active engagement.
You are an excellent person to model on Twitter.
ME Liz Strauss said
Andrew,
I hope that was a good “poing!”
Char :: Keystrokes said
#132 – that is a good idea – I should probably grab Twitter user names for some of my brands.
Mo said
#133 I live in the same town that Demi Moore lives and cannot wait till I see her in the market this summer so I can ask her to reply once in a while…
thevixy said
So what do you think the most important thing is when your talking on Twitter?
markdavidson said
#80 Naomi,
Great post.
Marti_L said
I only have one Twitter account.
Regarding Retweets – since we’re all following and followers of different people, we reach different audiences. So if I see something cool, I can retweet it, and the people who follow me, but maybe don’t follow the original person who said it, will learn about the cool thing that the original person said. They may even decide to follow the original person if they go check out their stream and see a lot of tweets they like.
Andrew Lightheart said
@Jonathan ‘Give me authenticity any day.’
Amen. No tricks, please.
markdavidson said
This conversation moves fast.
Joe said
@markdavidson, Mostly I am asking and answering questions for some groups and connections involved in my interests and if I can help them in some way.
I’m just getting more attuned to the way things work on LinkedIn.
Besides, I found FB to be too restrictive on ownership of my info even before the new TOS debacle.
Jonathan said
129. Mo
RE RT: (Retweet) You just cut and paste the person’s entire Tweet including the person’s @ID and tweet it again. e.g
RT @JonathanGunson check out this free graphics site http://etc etc
Brooke said
#112 – great point
RT = reTweets?
DM = ?
markdavidson said
#92 Joe,
Making your blurbs “sticky” is both an art and a science. Like all things, it’s a skill. You will get better at it as time goes on.
One of the things I did when I first got on Twitter in July 2007, was to model people who I thought did an excellent job.
markdavidson said
#93 Jonathan,
Thanks.
Andrew Lightheart @alightheart said
@lizstrauss – yeah, you give good poing…
ME Liz Strauss said
#150
Mark,
That’s why I call it, part video game!
Mo said
Thanks everyone… Liz have you thought about doing this on UStream.tv
Char :: Keystrokes said
#153 – DM = Direct Message – a message you send privately to someone who follows you (and you follow them)
Brooke said
#154 – good idea mark. model other peeps.
markdavidson said
#95 Char,
“More often than not though I see 10 more updates all the same, asking people to ‘check out my great X product at x website – link’”
WIIFM. When promoting online, it’s important to create the value FIRST.
ME Liz Strauss said
You guys think this would be inappropriate on my testimonial page?
@lizstrauss – yeah, you give good poing… –@ALightheart
Brooke said
Thanks Char!
Marti_L said
RT= Retweet
DM = Direct Message (private between you and the person you are writing to)
markdavidson said
#71 Liz,
Successful deployment of cognitive bias FTW.
markdavidson said
#71 Liz,
And what *not* to do.
thevixy said
@markdavidson So what’s the most important thing, being yourself or telling people about your product?
Shane said
Is there a better way to follow this convo than pressing “re-load” every 10 seconds?
#158 Mo I agree Ustream would be fantastic.
markdavidson said
#101 Marti,
lol! Um, no. One blurb an hour… amazing.
ME Liz Strauss said
#166 Mark, I found #71 really rude.
Marti_L said
LOL @ Liz and her poing!
Andrew Lightheart @alightheart said
@lizstrauss
LLETWTHU (Laughing Loud Enough To Wake The House Up)
I’m totally up for that being my testimonial to you.
ME Liz Strauss said
#168
Sorry, Shane,
It’s part of the pre-twitter video game … heh heh
markdavidson said
#118 Mo,
“The first is to help Nicotine addicts”
I have your back on this one.
Naomi Dunford said
@ Mark — WIIFM? I don’t know that one.
ME Liz Strauss said
#172
It would go well under Brogan’s.
Char said
@Naomi – hahahaha! I just googled that! “What’s in it for me?”
markdavidson said
#123 Char ::,
I agree that yours was the right choice.
ME Liz Strauss said
Go ahead, Mark,
I’ll take this shift!
ME Liz Strauss said
So let’s get shameless or not …
Delaney said
What was the point of #71? To get us to click on his site? I would have anyway.
markdavidson said
#130 Char,
You can use your Twitter favorites to tell a story and as a way of bookmarking. I’m big on favoriting.
Andrew Lightheart @alightheart said
Speaking of meditating, I gotta go do my morning sit (9am in Singapore).
Thanks for modelling great self-promotion, everyone:
Being funny, helpful and TURNING UP!
I’ll try to not to be a stranger.
A
x
markdavidson said
Hi Carloline.
Marti_L said
I am befuddled by post #71 as well. An example of how NOT to promote? *grin*
Char :: Keystrokes said
Thanks Mark!
Mo said
Thanks Mark…I have to check out folks. I’ll see you next time for sure.
Shane said
#171 Marti_L
Don’t the Hawaiian’s say “Ono-Poingo”
Julie M said
Thanks everyone!! Have a good day/night!
Naomi Dunford said
Char, thank you! Never thought to Google. That’s what I get for trying to be a smarty pantsat one in the morning.
markdavidson said
#146 thevixy,
To create an optimal mix between humor, value, engagement, and self-promotion.
markdavidson said
#146 thevixy,
I also think that it’s hugely important to be approachable.
markdavidson said
#151 Joe,
Actively engaging people on any social media site is the way to go. Always.
markdavidson said
#157 Liz,
I knew those years of intense “training” until sun up would come in handy!
Marti_L said
Shane at #188 – Ah! What does “Ono-Poingo” mean? It sounds happy
thevixy said
@markdavidson I put up an ad online but got no responses. what’s the best way to promote my product?
markdavidson said
#162 Liz,
HAHAHAHA!
markdavidson said
#167 The Vixy,
“@markdavidson So what’s the most important thing, being yourself or telling people about your product?”
Yes.
Delaney said
I need to get off the computer. Thanks Mark and everyone else for the advice/comments. Thanks Liz for hosting again! Never did get a Klondike though. Save me one for next week?
Brooke said
I forgot about the Klondikes Delaney!
ME Liz Strauss said
You betcha! Delaney!
Go well!
Marti_L said
#196 thevixy – the best way to promote your product is to let people know what it will do for them….make their life easier or more fun, or answer a question they have (like how to get their life in order, which is why self-help books are successful). You need to make your potential customer see a benefit.
markdavidson said
#170 Liz,
Good point. Being clever seldom attracts people. It tends to repel them. Would you agree?
One important distinction to make about online communication is that people don’t take it well when one tries to prove how smart they are by either tricking one’s audience or putting them down.
One way to attract people online is to reach out, grab them by the arm, and pull them up. We can all be the king of the hill.
markdavidson said
#175 Naomi,
WIIFM: What’s In It For Me.
Joe said
@Delaney,
Here Catch!
Klondike coming your way!
Can’t let you go to bed without your Klondike, it just wouldn’t be right.
Shane said
195 Marti_L
Its actually “Pono” meaning peace, honorable, righteous, balanced
Joe said
Awww, it’s slowing down, I knew I should have brought the Klondikes out sooner!
thevixy said
@Marti_L well it would be more fun that i’m selling i guess… have to think on that.
Char said
I actually just read the twitter convo between that Axel fellow and Liz…wow…
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Char,
He’s a charmer -eh?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Good question Char! I assumed favourites were for going back to the tweets later, like a reminder, which I never get to. Maybe I’m doing that wrong.
Marti_L said
#206 Shane – awww, that’s nice!
#208 thevixy – what was your online ad (that got no responses) for?
Char said
OK well it seems folks are fading away on here….see y’all on twitter!
Char said
well Liz you handled him with grace and poise, well done. I might have been tempted to lower my vocab into more ummm, colourful language. haha!
ME Liz Strauss said
Glenda,
Some folks come by your page and read your favorites to get to know you better. It’s like an extended profile page. Or so I’ve been told. I don’t do them either.
thevixy said
@Marti_L i shouldn’t post it here… someone will kick my ass. but i’ll see if i can try some other things like discounts
Marti_L said
Liz is the epitome of diplomacy
ME Liz Strauss said
Aw Char,
It was easy. I used to teach first grade and my dad owned a saloon.
Marti_L said
#216 thevixy – I’m Marti_L on Twitter, you can DM me if you prefer more privacy. Will do what I can to help you
thevixy said
@Marti_L thanks… i’ll send u something soon
Marti_L said
@thevixy – happy to help
Shane said
Nice chatting with you all. Thanks Liz and Mark for keeping it real!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Thanks Liz. Funny, I felt looking at someone’s favourites was being nosey.
Dave Malby said
Dropping in to say hi!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Dave!
Hi, I think the party is about over!!
Marti_L said
Well, this was delightful! Got to meet and interact with lots of fun people! Thank you Liz and Mark.
Joe, I look forward to tonight’s poem.
Goodnight and cheers to all!
Shane said
#224 Dave Malby
Hi Dave – love the tunes you spin on Blip FM – you’re my favorite DJ fer sure.
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Marti,
Joe’s got a real challenge to write a poem tonight!
Brooke said
Thanks for all of great info you guys! That was an interesting evening!!
ME Liz Strauss said
Brooke,
You sure said that!
Joe said
You said it Liz & Marti, this will be a challenge for sure.
Robert Hruzek said
Earth to Robert: It’s Tuesday Open Mic Night!
Hey, sorry I’m late; howdy y’all!
Joe said
Self promotion is difficult most all of the time
Especially the way customers thoughts are changing
Do you send out flyers? Put them in windshield wipers?
Or do you try to sell your wares online by trying gaming?
Most of us seem to agree on one thing for sure
Using that Social Media way of doing things really outweights
All the old school heavy pounding pushing of yourself
And forever has ended and never again will see the light of day.
Burma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
Robert Hruzek said
Dang, did I miss everyone again?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hi Robert, just came back for Joe’s poem. Good one, Joe.
Tessy said
hey guys
Tessy said
i’m a new blogger in this site, and i have alot of things that i would like to offer to the public
Amy said
Nice poem Joe.
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night, Joe,
Sleepy swell!
Damien Basile said
If it doesn’t come from within then you are truly without.