How do we form the best relationships; bring our best to them; build environments that nurture them; and measure our success?
Join the Comment Box Conference. Ask questions. Discuss answers. Meet people in the comment box. Find out.
Lucretia Pruitt
Lucretia Pruitt, also known as GeekMommy has been blogging since she had to hand-code her site’s HTML back in 1997. The advent of push-button blogging was a god-send as it allowed her more time to write needing less to publish.
Then in 2007, she got sucked into Twitter… and microblogging entered her world in a big way. Already a student of Social Media tools, she’s spent a lot of time analyzing this medium. Catch her hanging around a dozen or more social media sites at any given moment – just look for GeekMommy! She’s here to talk about …
Twittering the Way that Works Best for You
- Twittering At Volume
- Twittering Only To Family & Friends
- Twittering As A Company’s Face
- Twittering As An Individual, When Not Representing Your Company
- Twittering To Get A Retweet – Size, Link, Description
Folks on Twitter People look to her for leaderships, best practices, outright wittiness, and a huge heart. Who’s got the first question? Let’s get talking!
Follow @GeekMommy at Twitter.
Thanks for the opportunity Liz!! 🙂
@geekmommy
Lucretia,
The good news is that your travel plagued voice won’t be stressed in the comment box!
How was the travel? Did you Twitter the whole trip?
Hey there ladies! How is everyone! Hadn’t talked to you in a bit Lucretia! Wanted to stop in and gleen some more of your wonderfulness!
I didn’t twitter nearly as much as usual – but I couldn’t go and not twitter! Would’ve felt like I was missing something.
Sarah Austin (@pop17) lost her iPhone on the trip down and even tho she doesn’t twitter much – was jonesing watching the rest of us doing it – so we loaned her various devices to connect. It’s one of those “once you twitter, you feel like you want to ‘share’ everything with your twitterpals” phenomena I guess!
Hi Lucretia, I’m a happy follower of you (though I sometimes lose you in the noise). What do you use Twitter for the most?
How crucial is it to keep a constant presence on Twitter? For example, using Twitterfeed and Twuffer when you’re not personally tweeting?
Thanks!
@mombloggersclub
Hey Amanda! Hey Jennifer!
Sorry you had to wait to get in the door!
Ooh Todd! tough question. I think I use it most to connect with people – especially people who geographically I normally wouldn’t be able to – but I also use it to learn. I’ve been challenged so much more on that front in the past nearly 2 years on twitter than I have the previous 10…
And then again, I love sharing stuff I’m doing there too. Hm.
So to put it concisely? 3 words in no particular order: Learn, Share, Connect.
Love the “random muse” in your bio. If that wouldn’t entice me to be here, I don’t know what would.
It also highlights the importance of an effective bio!
Nice. Learn, Share, Connect. Are you on all day long, or do you do it here and there?
“Learn, share, connect” is a great distillation.
I think that those three words hold true for myself and also those that I choose to follow.
@beanfair
@Amanda – thank you so much!! That’s a nice affirmation and right back at you! 🙂
@Jennifer – that’s a very complex question! I think it’s hard to define the “shoulds” on Twitter until you’ve defined your “goals” – are you using Twitter to keep a constant presence in the minds of your followers? Then perhaps making sure that you are tweeting at least once or twice a day is a good idea – and if automating it makes it easier? Go for it.
If you’re trying to actually converse with your followers, then maybe not. Automation is one of the ‘big hot topics’ right now. I think it’s more a matter of deciding what you want to achieve with your Twitter account and then figuring out the best way to do that.
I personally don’t use auto-tweeting services because I only use Twitter to converse with folks and that would be more like leaving a voicemail for someone.
But – if I were trying to make sure that my customers remembered they could find me on twitter? That might be a different way of doing it.
It was no problem! I can wait:) Love to “talk” to you ladies!
@beanfair – thanks! I have changed my twitter bio a bit since I started, but the ‘random muse’ stays in there! 🙂 I think it’s about as close to a 2 word descriptor as I could get!
Very much agreed however that Bios are important… it’s kind of the quick way of getting to know someone before committing to reading their tweetstream.
@Todd – oh yeah, I’m on all hours of the day!! But then, when I do take breaks, a lot of folks don’t notice – because when you have a solidly flowing tweetstream, you don’t always notice that one particular voice isn’t there. I’ve had people say they thought I was on 24 hrs – but it’s just an illusion. 🙂
Thanks for your insights. I use Twuffer on occasion, but I much prefer conversing with people myself than via a robot.
Thanks again.
@mombloggersclub
Great answer @comment13
Do you use Twitter to “advertise” your site and ventures regularly? I rarely see you doing this…but maybe it’s getting lost? How do you feel about chronic advertisers (I”m guilty of this occasionally)?
I use twuffer when I really think one of my students has done an outstanding job on one of their blog posts. If they live in a very different time zone than I do, I like my tweet to go out when they, and their locality, are most likely to see it. I think Twitter has real value in connecting with those in your neighborhood as well as across the world.
Other than that, I tweet in real time.
@beanfair
@Amanda – you know, I don’t so much. I will post a link to recent blog-posts, but I’ve kind of found that the link in my bio gets people to my site far more effectively than always trumpeting it.
I don’t really have a problem with ‘chronic advertisers’ as long as their site or their links are adding value. I mean, if you just post a link like “http://www.mysite.com – come see!” well, that would get old. But “we’re talking about twitter on http://www.mysite.com right now, come share your ideas”? Well, I’d be inclined to click on the second one.
It’s more about someone telling me *why* I should click through to a site on twitter, for me! 🙂
@bean – that’s a novel use of it! I like it! I don’t really worry so much about timezones, b/c of things like twittersearch (summize) allowing folks to search for @’s – but I can see why it would be a great practice for it to show up during ‘peak times’ for your particular student!
I also almost always tweet real time too
“It’s more about someone telling me *why* I should click through to a site on twitter, for me!”
This is a concept that I really seem to struggle with getting through to my students. This is true in promoting their sites or in sharing resources. Maybe you can address this as part of “tweeting for retweets”?
I’m finding the more followers I have, more and more people are pulling at me and wanting a piece of me for various reasons. I try to respond to everyone, but, in doing so, I am torn away from my work and plans.
How do you manage and respond to your network so it isn’t cutting into your productive time?
Lucretia – LOL Don’t you love illusions when they work in your favor?! 🙂
Ok, here’s another question. How do you engage with people you’re just getting to know? I usually start with looking at someone’s blog and making a comment or something. Sometimes I’ll ask them advice about something, or share a laugh together, just being silly. I love just being nice to people.
But a lot of times, I don’t know where to go from there, and things drift off… How do you keep it rolling, and relationships growing? Maybe it comes back to “Why am I on Twitter to begin with?” For me I think I’m on Twitter to build relationships that will help my business grow. Any suggestions?
Glenda – I run into that problem too. Is Twitter taking me away from work, or is it where I’m going? hehehe!
I’m always afraid if I schedule my tweets someone will think I’m on and start talking back…but when I don’t answer, they wonder where I went.
@Glenda excellent question!
(stops writing reply to @glendaWH for info on AccessCamp and will use Google instead until I have a specific question that needs her expertise and guidance)
@Amanda I have that concern too! I’m always live tweeting and if it changed…
@Glenda – you know, that’s the hardest part of having a growing network!! I’ve kind of found that it’s better to give myself “time to twitter” in my schedule, and then when it’s “time to go back to other things” I actually twitter something to that effect like “Love you guys, but have to get some work done – see you in a bit” and I’ve found that while some people keep twittering, they don’t mind when I don’t reply for a few hours. Usually, if it’s too long, I DM back instead.
As far as the “can you do X, Y, or Z? for me” requests, I’m also finding that just saying “you know, I’d love to, but I’m kind of buried right now, maybe next time” is greeted with understanding.
If a dozen or more people twitter me the same thing? I’m resorting a lot to “wow, okay everyone who said X – my response is…” type answers.
@bean, I don’t mind receiving replies! But, when typing w/ 1 thumb, it all adds up.
@Todd – now see, I think you’re great at making connections!
I think it’s more a matter of how you visualize a connection. Since Twitter is like a giant (and fascinating!) cocktail party for me, I assume that some relationships won’t ever get beyond the “ooh good to see you again!” stage, some will go to the “let’s talk outside of here” stage, and some will become the “if I don’t talk to you at least once a week outside of here, something is wrong!” stage.
Just like in our offline lives, we connect with different people on different levels. I think it’s why if you look at your tweetstats you @ some people more than others, it just happens that way.
Don’t pressure yourself to make connections that aren’t happening “deeper” – work on the ones that are that way of their own accord. 🙂
@Glenda – it adds up even when typing with more than just a thumb! You are always amazingly generous in your tweets and assistance to others, I’ve seen it! 🙂
May I ask an ‘avatar’ question please?
@Amanda – you know, that ‘fear of changing your habits’ thing (like scheduling tweets) gets me too. I’m afraid if I change my behavior too much people will be offended.
It’s always kind of a challenge for me to make a ‘big change’ when it comes to Twitter.
I think you have some leeway as a company, but not as much as a “personal account” when you are shifting how you approach it.
@Hils – absolutely, ask anything you like! 🙂
@glenda I bet it does and I don’t always remember it. Sometimes with such great resources available to us via twitter I wonder if we get too lazy. Sometimes asking for info is a great conversation starter on Twitter but that isn’t always the case. I wonder if it contributes to twitter fatigue?
What do you think Lucretia?
@beanfair
@Lucretia, thanks. I may need to practice “No”. 😉 Tho some are great ops like presenting at AccessCamp, but it means juggling everything else.
I try not to open Tweetdeck til after my morning’s work time. That really helps!
OK – I have two lives that I join together – professional and private and the private one is helping to save a dog breed – so I use one of my dogs as an avatar for everything. Elsewhere folk would recognise me my by dogs – but I just read this saying that using pets as an avatar:
“Don’t use inanimate objects or pets. Unless you’re joking, marketing a product, or psychically channeling your hamster.”
http://hivelogic.com/articles/2009/02/why-your-avatar-matters
any views please?
Hils
@Bean – I think you’re right that it can be a good way to a conversation – but it’s also kind of like being the doctor at a cocktail party… if everyone walks up to you and says “hey, Doc! Good to see you, I’ve been feeling this pain in my elbow lately…” you start wondering if they like anything about you except for needing advice or help.
Sometimes, it’s just more fun to tweet something out like “wow – has anyone ever had a pain in their elbow that only happens when they have their arm straight down?” and then see who is interested in talking about it rather than targeting one specific person… it also shows you who else on your twitterstream a) knows stuff, and b) is interested in talking about it.
Lucretia – Thank you! You confirm what I have been subconsciously doing… just letting relationships develop spontaneously. I have a handful of people I’m getting close to and I’ve only been doing this for a few months.
The analogy to real life is perfect (because Twitter is actually real life 🙂 ). Relationships don’t develop overnight… they take their time. For every one that ends up being important, there must be dozens that somehow don’t develop. Thanks for helping me take the pressure off of me!
Bean, I agree its easier to tweet than to google at times.
@Hils – there are *so* many people out there who will tell you why you should or shouldn’t do something on Twitter… give them all the weight you would anyone who doesn’t know what you’re trying to achieve with it.
The thing is? People need stuff to write about in blogs – and as any English professor worth his/her salt will tell you, definite language makes for better reading. “You can” isn’t as powerful an argument as “You should” or “You must” when it comes to good writing.
But is good writing the same thing as good advice? Not always.
Even if you look at that article, I see that the author mentions Jason Calacanis using his bulldogs as an avatar, and I see Scot from Laughsquid’s usual “technosquid” avatar in there too.
At best, there are “best practices” for achieving what you want to with Twitter. Love having your dogs as your avatar? Keep it! But consider maybe having someone design you a custom twitter background with your photo (mine was done by @hughbriss of twitterimage.com – http://twitter.com/GeekMommy) so people can see you in one of the two places…
Do what makes people recognize YOU – which may not be the thing that works for everyone else! 🙂
Wow! Unfortunately I came to the convo a little late and have rapidly been trying to catch up. I don’t Twitter yet, but am on the verge. My goal is to gain clients, recognition, a sense of community…etc all for my interior design business. I don’t notice that people near me “get” social media as something real, but I think it could help me build my business. Where do I go for overall guidance about how to do this? All I know thus far is to watch how others do it, even if they’re in a different industry. I want to grow my business to include writing projects and overall creative consulting. Think Twitter is helpful for this? Where can I learn good Twitter basics?
Glenda: I totally get that! Some days I tweet once so that folks know I’m alive, then I go do other things for a few hours before coming back!
Part of the reason I don’t use clients like TweetDeck… easier to close a tab for me than an application! 🙂
Time for Andy Sernovitz to take over – I’m still around if you want to follow up, but I’ll also be over reading what Andy has to say!
http://tinyurl.com/cektoh
Feel better now Lucretia – thank you 🙂 Only a twitter person for three days – learning from Bean! But I did design a background (my professional life) but maybe will have to take a photograph too…
thank you again from Hils
Lucretia, I have no problem closing tweetdeck! I use it cuz I like the auto-updates. What do you use?
@Lauren: Twitter can be really great for building relationships.
It’s honestly not the most effective tool yet for networking locally (it will be in the long run) but things like tweetups and twestival (www.twestival.com) provide you with folks in your area who are avid users.
Additionally, making sure that you put your twitter ID in places like your linkedin profile or on facebook helps.
For tips for new users? I tend to direct people to Darren Rowse’s http://www.twitip.com/ which has a lot of great information for new users! 🙂
About the backgrounds, do those only benefit people using twitter.com?
[dang, we’re out of time for this session}
@Glenda – I’m a weird creature, I use Firefox with multiple tabs – the only time I use anything else is when I’m on my phone and out and about! 🙂
@lucretia, I was using FF for twitter, but constantly refreshing was a pain!
@glenda – I keep Summize running in a window with “@geekmommy” in the search – it just tells me when there are new things…lol
But yeah, I get the allure of tweetdeck, I’m just resisting b/c it means I’ll spend even more time on twitter! 😉
@Lucretia, I hear ya!