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Over the last few days, I’ve run across a few articles about Twitter, Twitter followers, being blocked and the like. Lots of drama. Hurt feelings. People not acting like they are supposed to act. Since I’m not quite sure I know how I’m supposed to act on Twitter (and I am quite sure the Social Media Police don’t) I have for you the
Short answer: I do what feels right.
And, the
Longer answer: I like Twitter, but I use it mostly to socialize. Since I don’t socialize (online) that much, I don’t use Twitter that much.
I do promote a fair number of interesting articles if: 1. I like the article, and 2. there is a handy Tweetmeme button (critical).
I don’t use tools such as Hootsuite or Socialoomph. Perhaps I should, but learning these tools is just another task in a long list of tasks I find much more interesting.
I no longer check my followers list, and haven’t for months. I’m not regular on Follow Friday, sometimes I don’t even log on Friday.
I am probably “leaving money on the table.” That’s fine for now. When I get the cash flow, maybe I’ll outsource what I need to do to collect this money. Or find the table. Or whatever.
I don’t care whether you autofollow, or autodm, or whatever. Go for it, knock yourself out. I just ignore that stuff. If it’s working for you, more power to you.
If you’re boring, I won’t read your stuff. If you post so much boring stuff it gets in the way of the good stuff, I might unfollow you. But I might not. I’m lazy that way, I don’t care enough.
If I haven’t followed you back, rest assured, it isn’t personal. If you think I should follow you and I’m not, you’re probably correct. As it turns out, I have an ad-hoc policy of following people I talk to. You don’t need to retweet anything, just have something interesting to say. Talk to me. Easy peasy.
My point is this: I keep it fun and don’t worry about it.
See you online.
Life on Twitter is so much more fun when you’re not trying to game it for traffic. Don’t have time for that any more (though it did make a difference for a while, the continued benefit is negligable)
.-= Heather´s last blog ..GP: Website in a Weekend; Hacking and Stuff =-.
You know, it really is much more fun. And I will invariably visit people I am having fun with.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Blogging from a Tropical Island Paradise… with Wireless! (Bert Padilla drops in from Cebu) =-.
Funny story, even my Dad’s on Twitter now. Purely for the entertainment value; he joined conversations over the election coverage and seems to be having a blast.
Fun > ‘scheduled’ social media.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..GP: Website in a Weekend; Hacking and Stuff =-.
Fun is overrated!
.-= Ralph´s last blog ..Status Update May 2010 =-.
Don’t you have something to do? If not, let me know… =)
I don’t know what the rules are either, and I think I’d like to keep it that way. I retweet things I like, chat a bit, send out my new posts, and that’s about it. If I make someone mad, I hope they’ll get over it :)
.-= Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..6 Things That Get Easier About Blogging if You Just Keep Going =-.
Jean, and if they don’t get over it, most likely they have issues far more important than what you did or did not tweet!
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Red Shoe Blogger Follows Yellow Brick Road And Finds: No Wizard. No Oz. No Magic. No Message. =-.
I have to agree with fun being the overriding principle, it’s why I blog and why I twitter. When I see ads for getting more followers or monetizing tweets it turns a fun activity into a chore.
For me, tweets distill every “hey check out this site” email I’ve ever received into it’s purest form without clogging my inbox. I appreciate and enjoy that kind of interaction. I don’t understand why people want to turn twitter into “serious business”.
.-= Gabriel Novo´s last blog ..The Best Anti-Heroes on Television =-.
I hardly look at my RSS feed anymore, I just pick up links from Twitter. Exactly opposite from last year.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Social Media: Incremental Not Exponential =-.
right on, dave. people are way too worried about twitter rules or the right way to use it.
my own bottom line is that you might find customers on twitter – but probably not. you’re mostly talking to peers and interesting people. so hang out and talk to your friends about interesting stuff.
It’s funny. If I thought Twitter could pay my rent, I’d be all over it. But I just can’t see it, so I can’t be bothered.
I’m cool with whatever else anybody wants to do with Twitter. Just won’t be following them myself.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Hacked. I Feel So Violated, Again! =-.
Rules to live by mate (tweet by?). I couldn’t have said it better myself, in fact this is precisely how I use twitter as well.
.-= Josh Kohlbach´s last blog ..Dropshipped Business Cards In Less Than 30 Minutes =-.
It’s relaxing. I hate stressing out over whether or not somebody is following me. So I don’t!
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Estimated Reading Time Plugin : Sharpening the stick (technical tuesday) =-.
You mean social media is supposed to be fun and *gasp* SOCIAL?!?!? You must have it wrong! One must amass a huge number of followers and spam links to one’s products, posts, and affiliates!
LMAO people take Social Media way too seriously. As a matter of fact, they take LIFE too seriously. I mean, its not like we are gonna make it out of here alive so we may as well enjoy our time here as much as we can.
.-= Gurl´s last blog ..Why I fear being in a relationship =-.
Death and taxes, sweetheart, death and taxes. Everything else can ride.
LOL Sometimes if you really smart and crafty (or have an awesome accountant), taxes will even ride for a few months– though I’d not recommend that.
.-= Gurl´s last blog ..Fear=Motivation =-.
I’m totally with you here – Twitter should be whatever you want it to be, and if I don’t like what you want it to be, the solution is simple, I unfollow. No drama.
Complaining about what others are doing is such a waste of energy.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Social Media: Incremental Not Exponential =-.
I’m not sure I agree there. It’s a differentiator.
For instance, I look at unmarketing and it makes me puke. I think it’s important my followers know that.
.-= Nathan Hangen – Digital Emperor´s last blog ..Guess who Turned 8? =-.
I use Twitter for mainly a little bit of everything. Socialize, promotion and even for SEO. I obviously do all these sparingly as I do not want to scare my followers away. All in all, it is just like you said, it could be whatever we want it to be. Simple
.-= DiTesco´s last blog ..New Google AdSense For Search Ads =-.
Francisco, you will be my first stop when I want to change my current strategy. I like how you’re using Twitter a lot.
Also, Justin Germino (http://dragonblogger.com/) seems to have tools such as Hootsuite nailed.
I’m seeing a strategic/tactical combination there…
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Silence is Golden? Not according to Heather =-.
Like it or not, Dave, this post, and the comments are some of the best #followfriday suggestions I’ve seen yet! (not to take anything away from the very kind #FF you did earlier today – TY)
Interesting that I really agree about not being too worried about the rules – I just look at it as anything else done in public. Is this how I want to be remembered? Many a time I haven’t bothered to push the send button. LOL
I’m developing some cool friendships on Twitter, and I’m really grateful for that. Will they all lead to business? No, probably not, but if some of them it’s an added bonus. I *like* that.
Hugs and butterfllies,
~T~
.-= PicsieChick´s last blog ..Dive Into Me In Tenderness =-.
I think the business will come, and will come very naturally once we collectively get the hang of what we’re really doing.
It’s funny because I have absolutely no problem with anyone using Twitter anyway they want, within the terms of service.
It’s cool because I don’t have to follow them. With email, phone, even blog spam comments, unsolicited contact requires energy on my part, and I resent that. Not so with Twitter.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Silence is Golden? Not according to Heather =-.
I’m fairly hopeless with Twitter too. I know I should have an organised campaign and plan of action but I don’t. Still, when someone tweeted that I was a digital crusader to follow I added a few people to the list and one of those people was you. So I unearthed your twitter name and bob’s your uncle. Then I noticed I wasn’t following you which seemed a bit rude so I did. Phew!
.-= Annabel Candy, Get In the Hot Spot´s last blog ..8 Ways to Build Relationships With Bloggers Online =-.
We’ll get there, Annabel.
I’ve talked to a few of my local SF tech people, who really are the cool kids, and let them know I’ll be ramping up the Twitter promotion at some point. (seriously, living in San Fran, you really do know people, or know people who know people, it’s crazy that way)
From my point of view, the whole 3rd-tribe unscene, while fun and interesting, isn’t going to butter my bread like http://www.foundersfund.com/ (or whoever).
When all gets just too much, I just go surfing or something.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Social Media: Incremental Not Exponential =-.