Twitter Is Pencil and Paper
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a first grade teacher. I see Twitter as a 21st Century version of pencil and paper. I do believe that we can invent millions of ways to use paper and pencil. No rules are the right way to use it … draw, write, scribble, make circles over and over, be a poet, be a novelist, make a journal. Twitter is just as open and flexible.
I’ve never been one for rules.
What prompted this list was not a rant.
Here’s what happened.
About a week or so ago, on a Saturday, I was going through the people I follow on Twitter — people I’ve met at events, people I’ve talked to on Twitter, or people who follow me that I follow back. Over the course of a few hours, I reviewed 61000+ accounts to find those who were no longer active. I started by sorting out those who hadn’t tweeted for 90 days or longer. Then I started looking at their tweet counts — some tweeted less than once a day. That’s less than 365 tweets in a year!
As I was deleting the Twitter Quitters, I started thinking of people — some of them on TV — who say
- “I tried Twitter and I don’t get it.”
- “No one would talk to me.”
- “It’s stupid and silly.”
or things like that. Which led me to think, they weren’t really ON Twitter, meaning some people leave Twitter before they figure out what all of the excitement is about. They never get the Twitter experience. And that happens because they approach thinking it’s supposed to be something different than conversation.
And at some point memories of Jeff Foxworthy’s litany of ways to tell “You’re a Redneck” popped in my head and I was suddenly channeling him and tweeting with the hashtag #yourenotreallyontwitter and some folks joined in.
- If you average less than 1 tweet a day, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- If you haven’t tweeted since 2011, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- If you never tweet about anything but yourself, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- @mikeyb95 pointed out: If you haven’t connected 2 total strangers #yourenotreallyontwitter
- If your avatar is still an egg 6 months after you got here, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- @jfouts noted: If you don’t reply to mentions. Ever. #yourenotreallyontwitterâ
- If your avatar is a picture of someone else, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- @ValaAfshar added: If you use twitter as a megaphone, instead of a telephone, then #yourenotreallyontwitter
- If your only follower is an account you also own, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- If someone else tweets for you, #yourenotreallyontwitter , they are.
- @Tivitamivita added: If you never tweet about anything but #social media bla bla, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- If you’re only talking to certain people because you know it will raise your klout score, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- @MaureenAlley contributed: if all you tweet are Pinterest-only tweets #yourenotreallyontwitter
- If your every tweet is 1 link and 9 hashtags, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- If you think of your follower group as your “list” my guess is that #yourenotreallyontwitter
- @CraigFifield cited: if you tweet a large % of famous quotes #yourenotreallyontwitter #youareactuallyboring
- If your last 40 tweets went to strangers you don’t follow and all say “buy from me,” #yourenotreallyontwitter , you’re a spammer
- @Theatresaurus made the observation that: if you think you know the rules of twittering #yourenotreallyontwitter
- @erin_mcmahon threw in: If you think you can make one-size-fits-all rules about what it is to be on Twitter, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- and I replied: and if you think there aren’t any rules #yourenotreallyontwitter — treating people like people counts here too. 🙂
- @CarltonHawkins remarked: If your every tweet is 1 link at 9 hashtags, #yourenotreallyontwitter
- If you only ask for retweets from famous people #yourenotreallyontwitter
- @mikeyb95 stated: If I can’t learn about you from your bio #yourenotreallyontwitter
- And finally, if you unfollow someone as soon as they follow you back …. #yourenotreallyontwitter but you already knew that.
- @NarissaTweets reminds us: If you’ve never made a #TwitterTypo #yourenotreallyontwitter
And one for those who already know all of those –
Now of course if you have a Twitter account and a password that hasn’t been hacked by a phishing scam link you clicked in an AutoDM discussing the nasty things being said about you, you’re probably on Twitter.
What I hope is that you’re talking to folks, finding great content, learning things you wouldn’t find anywhere else, and building a neighborhood on the Internet that reflects you most uniquely and doing it just the way you find right.
After all my Twitter isn’t your Twitter and you get to pick. 🙂
But I hope you won’t be a Twitter Quitter until you find out what it could be about.
Be irresistible.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!
Chris Eh Young says
February 28, 2012 at 7:45 AMIf you’ve never deleted a Tweet so as not to offend someone. #yourenotreallyonTwitter
If you’ve never had someone challenge your views or opinions. #yourenotreallyonTwitter
If you’ve never taken a great conversation and moved it offline. #yourenotreallyonTwitter
Bob Dunn says
February 28, 2012 at 8:50 AMLiz, I love these… every one of them is spot on : )
What people don’t realize is not only does this make them look pathetic on Twitter, but can lose me as a blog reader as well. Nothing more frustrating than to go to a blog I have discovered, and click their “Twitter connect” icon only to find out how pathetic they are on the platform. Or worse, yet, see if in a sidebar on a Twitter widget stream.
Erik van Erne says
February 28, 2012 at 10:45 AMThanks, great list
Kathleen DeCosmo says
February 28, 2012 at 10:49 AMI enjoyed this Post Liz. Well done.
Andreas Wiedow says
February 28, 2012 at 11:04 AMThere’s def some bloggers I’d like to compile in a Top Bloggers List on my website.
You’re one of them.
What’s your policy with that ?
Teresa de Grosbois says
February 28, 2012 at 11:05 AMOne of the funnest blog posts I’ve seen in awhile. Thanks Liz! 🙂
Tim Brand says
February 28, 2012 at 11:19 AMGreat list! Thanks for the read, it gave me a chuckle 😛 I’m going to use that hashtag now 😉
Kim Reynolds says
February 28, 2012 at 11:21 AMI wish all the churners were literally #notreallyontwitter
Fun post. Thank you Liz! 🙂
Linda Day Harrison, CPM, CCIM says
February 28, 2012 at 11:22 AMHi Liz,
Love your thoughts, great post!
Thanks,
Linda
Sharon says
February 28, 2012 at 11:30 AMOMG! LOL…to true. And I am the QUEEN
Sharon says
February 28, 2012 at 11:31 AMYeah,lemme finish that thought, queen of twitter mis-spells 🙂
Sharon
Leah Segedie says
February 28, 2012 at 11:38 AMBest post EVAH!
Kimberly (WeAllAreArtists) on yes, Twitter says
February 28, 2012 at 11:45 AMHey there-
OK,I am ROLLING on the floor here because I have only been on Twitter for like 2 months. So I set my phone up to send me a text if anyone was following me (my bf does that but she is into that vampire stuff and had a huge following). Well I got up the second day and there was a text that YOKO ONO was following me. I hadn’t had my coffee yet. So I said, “No fucking way.” to the dog, the only life form present at the time. And I went and made my coffee.
I then signed into Twitter and sure enough, there she was, with the official little sign. She is way at the bottom of my Followers. I guess she caught my tag or something, liked the bio? Who knows? Have I heard from her? Nah. I sent her a thank you for following me. I send everyone a thank you because I am a Southerner and a slave to convention and a dork.
Anyway, adored this blog list. I abhore all of the self promotion. I realize it is a necessary evil and if and when I finish my writing, I know I shall do the same. Also the pontification. Good God. And the quotes, who knew dead people were so chatty? Thanks again. I look forward to reading your tweets. Peace K
John Sullivan says
February 28, 2012 at 11:52 AMYou are spot on Liz . I admit that I still really don’t get twitter. What Are the Steps and items that need to be done to GET IT — Sully
Lisa Marie Mary says
February 28, 2012 at 12:22 PMThis is awesome and timely and wonderful, as I’ve been missing ‘the twitter that was…’ a lot lately. Trying to liven it back up for myself by dropping some and chatting up others.
Anne Thomas says
February 28, 2012 at 12:22 PMstill getting the hang of twitter .. I think that’s an awesome list
Gregory Jackson says
February 28, 2012 at 1:09 PMThanks Liz, super post!
artrotter says
February 28, 2012 at 1:10 PMYou have more than some point here so… #ImnotreallyonTwitter
Saul Fleischman says
February 28, 2012 at 1:10 PMIf your timeline is the .rss from one site and nothing but, no RTs, no interaction, #yournotreallyontwitter
Catherine White says
February 28, 2012 at 1:50 PMTwitter is my favorite platform, and one I’ve made work for me.
Great post Liz.
Larry Louzon says
February 28, 2012 at 2:04 PMHow true those are. To follow back I look for those who “are on twitter” Your list will help me filter some more.
Iggy Pintado says
February 28, 2012 at 2:21 PMGreat list, Liz! Can I add one?
If you can’t communicate in less that 140 characters, #yourenotreallyontwitter
Thanks for sharing, Iggy
Chris Cree says
February 28, 2012 at 4:53 PMI find that the more work I have to do the more I’m not really on Twitter. There are only so many hours in the day. 😉
Kate says
February 28, 2012 at 5:06 PMWhat if you tweet every five/ two /1 minutes? What if you twitter every last little thing. What if it is just too much irrelevant information. What if your tweets become visual/mental clutter? What if its boring? What if you just tweet too darned much? Maybe you’re not really on twitter…maybe you’re just annoying. Maybe you should just get to work. Anybody??
Craig Fifield says
March 5, 2012 at 8:36 AMHi Liz,
I was away when you posted this and just wanted to say thanks for the mention!
Good idea for a post – it’s nice to see that to see that others are with me noticing the Twitter BS.
I don’t care how (automation) or why (dreams of riches) someone ‘works’ Twitter but I do care when they don’t use their brain.
Ted Rubin says
March 5, 2012 at 8:57 AMGreat post Liz… as always. And I agree as far as the engagement and interaction part of Twitter. But I think it is important to point out, and make people aware, that Twitter has tremendous value as a real-time search platform and many use it this way without ever tweeting or interacting in any way, in addition there are a tremendous amount of lurkers who suck up conversations, content, and info without ever tweeting themselves. In my opinion, there is great value in those masses and they should not be overlooked. I not only interact and engage on Twitter, but I publish a great deal of original thought as well as information about things I am passionate about or working on, and want all those who are simply absorbing content, searching for something interesting or valuable, and watching, to see be able to have access.
artrotter says
March 13, 2012 at 12:11 AMGreat post Liz
Nicolas Liu says
March 13, 2012 at 12:15 AMGreat list 🙂
Gremlin says
March 13, 2012 at 12:17 AMIn the last couple weeks, a huge percentage of my tweets have come from pinterest.com, which should break a rule here. But that seems to be the sort of thing my followers like; at least one in ten of those tweets is favourited.
If that were the only thing I ever tweeted, it would just be an advertisement for pinterest.com. But I also tweet a daily link to my webcomic, and usually a smattering of random thoughts and replies.
Annette says
March 13, 2012 at 12:24 AMWhere is the Retweet button?
Karleen Harp says
March 13, 2012 at 12:37 AMWhat a talented Edutainer you are Liz! Love this list!
Tom Laing (@tomlaing) says
March 13, 2012 at 12:39 AMGreat post Liz, loved it!
Elza says
March 13, 2012 at 12:47 AMI am really on twitter
Lucas Wyrsch says
March 13, 2012 at 1:39 AMThanks Liz for sharing this great list with us!
Twitter is an early warning system, our personal modern style telegraph that connects us to the world and enables us to switch from the first and second fundamental interactions in physics, Newton’s gravitation (your offline world) and Maxwell’s electromagnetism (once you switched on an electric bulb or an electronic device) to the third, strong interactions of quantum mechanics (your personal network of your strong ties) and fourth fundamental interaction of physics, the weak interaction (your social network of your weak ties).
And as you mentioned in point 3 (If you never tweet about anything but yourself, #yourenotreallyontwitter) twitter isn’t about me, it’s about us!
Have a great Tuesday!
Best,
Lucas
Srivatsan says
March 13, 2012 at 1:41 AM#Iamontwitter !!!
Robert says
March 13, 2012 at 3:55 AMGreat Stuff!! Always enjoy. Best, Robert
Anton says
March 13, 2012 at 4:25 AMNice post Liz!
Kathleen DeCosmo says
March 13, 2012 at 6:35 AMThis is Classic!! Loved this and the style you wrote it in.
Michael Grosheim says
March 13, 2012 at 6:54 AMGreat post. All true. As an added note, along the lines of @jfouts note, “If you donât reply to mentions. Ever. #yourenotreallyontwitterâ – a continuation is:
If you claim to be a social media “expert” and don’t reply to mentions #yournotreallyontwitter and #yournotreallyanexpert.
The unfortunate part is I can think of about 5 so called experts selling their “expertise” that rarely if ever engage with their followers and mentions. A few of the most sought after, highly respected ones at that.
Jen says
March 13, 2012 at 7:36 AMIf you still have a flip phone #yourenotreallyontwitter
Sharon McRill says
March 13, 2012 at 7:51 AMThanks Liz
Love your blogs, always get something out of it!
Let me know next time you’re in MI, would love to connect.
Charles Pixley says
March 13, 2012 at 7:58 AMLiz, you are constantly irresistible am only practicing harder because of you.
Twitter is still somewhat of a mystery though i use it a bunch everyday.
The Social Media circles and methods are daunting to master, and obiviously take time, content, connect-ability and readers, but that never stopped me before.
Thank you for your valuable voice.
kratom east says
March 13, 2012 at 9:34 AMGreat blog…. made me smile today…. very funny , I really enjoyed it …Thanks !
Teresa Lynn says
March 13, 2012 at 9:54 AMThanks for this Liz. It’s all true and made me smile. It turns out, I’m on Twitter! 🙂
Graham says
March 13, 2012 at 10:02 AMGreat list. To go with the one about having someone else tweet for you, how about using a bot to tweet the same stuff endlessly!
Craig Daniels says
March 13, 2012 at 10:28 AMThanks Liz, this brought a smile to my face that will last all day.. 🙂
jRuth Kelly says
March 13, 2012 at 10:30 AMGreat post, Liz! Made me smile! 🙂
Don Coleone says
March 13, 2012 at 11:41 AMVery True
Lori Ruff says
March 13, 2012 at 2:10 PMLiz! You’re a hoot! Very insightful way to hep people understand the “write” way to use pencil and paper (i.e., Twitter)
Cyndee Haydon says
March 14, 2012 at 6:42 AMPERFECTION – everytime I read this I smile at all the wisdom – thanks Liz showing your brilliance once again ;D
Mark J Carter says
March 14, 2012 at 6:52 AMThanks for saying what so many of us were (and are) thinking!
It’s amazing that this far into the “Twitter Experience” people still don’t get that it’s all about relationships…
What if people treated offline networking this way all the time?
Marc Zazeela says
April 17, 2012 at 6:41 AMThanks for sharing your thoughts Liz. I don’t get the whole “rules” thing either. I like the pencil and paper analogy. When did anyone ever tell you how you were supposed to use them?
So, who gets to make the Twitter rules?
Cheers,
Marc