By Jan Carroza
I think Robert Scoble is right on about what the secret, or the opportunity, is that Twitter presents us. I stumbled on Dave Fleet’s response to Robert Scoble’s post that “following more people doesn’t guarantee you’ll get more out of Twitter.” I think Fleet is wrong. I thought this was worth some full-blown discussion about following policy. Should you follow everyone who follows you?
I loved and agree with Scoble’s post on the secret to Twitter. Following people should not be about “gaming” the system to get the most followers.
The value Twitter offers is to meet new people and keep up with people you know. Connecting. Engaging.
Finding and making new connections is the point. Enrichment. Expansion of your horizons.
Quantity for the sake of size isn’t what’s important. It is to be expected that the number you follow will increase as you explore new conversations.
Expect Expansion: Follow Friends and Colleagues as they join Social Media
Let me give you examples from my own experience. I find that most of the people I work with in the B2B and marketing spaces have been slow to join Twitter. They don’t get it. They are still suspicious. They think everyone is “gaming” to get the most followers, and haven’t yet found their Killer App or the compelling reason to join.
Marketers who haven’t found Twitter yet? Right. The good news is that I’m finding more and more of my pre-Twitter network slowly coming in to join. The same has been true of watching them participate in LinkedIn. I still know some very savvy marketers who haven’t felt the need…yet. Just this week, a client finally joined LinkedIn. It was only a matter of time. I expect at some point the holdouts will continue to join and participate, and I will see them and connect with them in these other spaces as well. I look forward to it.
Industry hash tags are still new outside social media and technology users. Maybe 40 people contributed at the #ResponseExpo tag during their meeting in April. Two other shows I attended had little or no presence. It’s just a matter of time until meetings and attendees create and find value with Twitter. These are natural ways followers grow that continue to be meaningful.
Expect Expansion: As You Meet New Folks in Business at Conventions, Events
I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people at Social Media Club events for both Seattle and Tacoma as well as at Tweetups in Edmonds and on Bainbridge Island during Washington State’s wine celebration. At each event, I’ve met new, interesting people with lots to share. Back home, I can keep up with their projects on Twitter (as well as Facebook and their blogs). These new friends are a source of support, education, and humor. The same is true for the Bainbridge Island blogger group. These folks are writers and social media marketers eager to be early adopters so finding and following these folks is to be expected.
I’d say Twitter has increased my ability to enjoy all social media. I meet people in LinkedIn or elsewhere that follow me on Twitter. I find great blogs I never would have discovered without it. My Twitter followers grow because I have meaningful relationships with them on other social media.
Expect Expansion: When Interesting People Find You
I meet interesting people in far off places I would never meet otherwise. Just today I was followed by a German realtor with wonderful pictures to share of the Black Forest. Without Twitter I wouldn’t have had this experience and certainly not met someone who lived there!
You can definitely continue to get more out of Twitter by following more people. Several tools will help you manage your Twitter experience so you aren’t overwhelmed by the volume and you can continue to enjoy your journey. See Your Twitter Policy: Who Will You Follow?
Tags: Dave Fleet, LinkedIn, Robert Scoble, Social Media Club/Seattle, Twitter following
Jan,
Great post. It’s true people try to game the system, but the only people they are fooling are people who don’t have a clue.
There is a case to develop a sort of critical mass of Twitter followers to get people to follow you back however. To do that properly you engage and follow people that like to communicate, not simply get 5,000 followers you have no idea who they are.
Keep it up, and thanks for the shout out to SMC Seattle! Glad to have you as part of the community!
Kevin
President of SMC Seattle
Thanks for your thoughts on “gaming” and using Twitter to build relationships. You do a great job of it and folks should know they can follow you @KevinUrie, @SMCSeattle and #SMCSea to see the great events you guys put together. Thanks for all you do to pull everyone together.