Chris, I'm always interested when you comment that you use SocialToo to autofollow back. Are you not concerned that there should be some kind of vetting process when you choose who to follow?
Chris Brogan
· 5 months ago
The truth is, at over 500 new follows a day, I'd have to turn "vetting" into a part time job. Instead, I follow everyone, and then go back and weed out the weirdos. See also "I don't read every tweet."
Make sense?
Matt Burgess
· 5 months ago
Oh yeah, definitely makes sense... and it's what I thought was your reasoning... guess it all comes down to scale. Just was interested in if I was on the mark or jumping to conclusions :)
Paul Singh
· 5 months ago
Chris, would you mind elaborating a little further on how you go about weeding those people out? (Disclaimer: I'm working on a personal noise filter for Twitter called Philtro -- I'm just curious what your specific workflow looks like.)
FWIW - I ran into you on an Austin streetcorner back at SXSW and, IIRC, Nan Palmero introduced us.
Christopher Ming Ryan
· 5 months ago
Hey Chris. Thanks for this info. What's more important to you the community you build on your blog or the community that your are leading/following on twitter. I ask this because I'm struggling to build a community on my blog but I am finding that the "conversation" on my posts is happening on twitter... but it's not a real dialogue - it's more of a retweet thing. I'm not complaining but I think that for old bloggers like yourself (heh heh) who built a following pre-twitter - you might have some interesting thoughts.
Chris Brogan
· 5 months ago
Twitter is a stream where all the "value" blows away. You need the blog to keep a salient record of your thoughts and your bigger ideas. With that in mind, I don't mind that conversations happen on Twitter, because the real goal is conversation, period.
Make sense?
Nate
· 5 months ago
This is a very helpful post so thanks for taking the time to answer these questions! A lot of these are things I've wondered about, and I will wonder no more.
I can't believe you get so many retweet requests. Requesting a retweet just seems wrong to me. I wouldn't be able to ask someone to do that.
kevinarth
· 5 months ago
In my view, if what you post has value to my followers, I'll retweet you. If I have an established relationship with you and you ask, I'll probably do it for you unless the content is frivolous. If our relationship is new and you constantly DM me asking for retweet, I'll tire of it quickly and drop you.
jlbraaten
· 5 months ago
I've been reading for about two months on and off now. This is my favorite post yet. Very helpful, insightful and fresh post on using Twitter. Thanks, Chris. @jlbraaten
I think every social media person's dream is to be tweeted about by Chris Brogan. Or better yet, mentioned in a blog post.
What I don't understand is how you don't get burned out. Even on vacation, you were on Twitter. After a while, I get tired of social media and need to step away from the continuous sensory overload. How do you recharge? How do you stay fresh?
Chris Brogan
· 5 months ago
How do I recharge? Great question. I'm on a 2 week vacation where I get to permit myself to NOT pay attention to mail if I don't want. I haven't answered more than 2 phone calls (one was ridiculous and the other was life-changing).
Twitter rarely takes away from me. It gives back. It's like watching a bunch of otters at one point, and like work and thinking at another.
Recharging, however, is a larger story. : ) Will put that in my newsletter.
Lynette Cornell
· 5 months ago
See, I find mail a total recharge (Well, I *did* until it became heavily composed of student loan letters.). Twitter is a constant stream of information my brain has to process. At least it's not flooded with MJ tribute tweets anymore.
Otters? Cute and playful and endangered?
Aside from how you use Twitter, I'm curious how you read blogs. I presume you use a reader. How do you deal with so much blog content? How do you filter through all that reading to find the golden nuggets?
Ric Dragon
· 5 months ago
Nice humanizing post. Think you might burn out on it?
Chris Brogan
· 5 months ago
Not exactly. I think of Twitter (or whatever comes after) to be the next dialtone. It's actually helped me immensely.
David Spinks
· 5 months ago
Very nice Chris...I think this will help a lot of people understand how to use twitter well (although it's not necessarily the right way for everyone)
I didn't know you used seesmic...I'm a big proponent of it.
Do you find that you get a lot of spammers following you because you do the auto-follow thing? I'm considering it, but then I feel like people will follow me just for the follow back.
Chris Brogan
· 5 months ago
Yes, they do. But know what? What do NUMBERS matter? It's ACTIVE NUMBERS that matter. No matter how many people follow me, it's the number of folks who take action that matter. Make sense?
Danny Brown
· 5 months ago
Twitter is a cloud system. You've obviously built up some great contacts and community through Twitter, which obviously replicates itself here on your blog.
If Twitter died overnight (or when you're napping - delete where applicable), what service would you replace Twitter with and do you save details of who you'd take over to that other service (if you're not connected with them there as well)?
Chris Brogan
· 5 months ago
I guess Facebook, but grudgingly.
Laurie Ruettimann
· 5 months ago
This? This is golden.
I’m just like you. We all start somewhere. Believe me, it’s a meritocracy. There’s no “man” holding you down.
Laurie Ruettimann
· 5 months ago
This? This is golden.
I’m just like you. We all start somewhere. Believe me, it’s a meritocracy. There’s no “man” holding you down.
Daniel Decker
· 5 months ago
Good stuff. I think, like most things, we get out what we put in. Twitter is the same. If someone is using Twitter only to grow a following (all about ME), they'll likely have trouble getting others engaged. If they are using Twitter to join and create conversations while also adding value to others, there's a much better chance to succeed and grow. People can sniff out those who are just using it to leverage a product or pimp their own junk.
For me, Twitter has been amazing at helping me connect. Made many great offline and online connections. Generated business by genuine connections. Met some really neat people with great perspectives.
Get In The Hot Spot
· 5 months ago
Sorry if I didn't understand but I'd like to know why you follow all the tens of thousands back if you're not going to read them. Do you find it annoying when you get a "Thanks for the follow" direct message back? It's all interesting stuff and I started in April so there's still a learning curve going on.
1.) I'm not going to read EVERY WORD. I do read them. I sample new posts every day. Think about it like this: I've set up a telephone network. I don't necessarily have to call you every day for it to be useful. I call you when I'm thinking of you. Same thing.
2.) I LOATHE those messages. Google "robot behavior"
Thanks!
Marianna Hayes
· 5 months ago
I realize this post is about TWEETING, not the use of TWITTER, but you didn't mention Twitter search (or did I miss it?) or hashtags. Do you ever use search and @reply or generally seek to reach beyond your existing community to grow it or just add value to the greater good? I mean, 80K+ is a pretty nice-sized world to manage - I totally get if you never do anything else. But I am curious about your take on relationship building possibilities with those pieces of the Twitter puzzle - especially for those of us who are still growing our community.
Chris Brogan
· 5 months ago
Great questions. I use search ALL the time. Not to grow my community, but to find things that matter to me. Really good question.
I work on relationship building all the time. : )
DianeCourt
· 5 months ago
A stellar example of leading by example, Chris. Your focus on building and community and enriching conversation shows in the continuity between your blog and your Twitter posts and exchanges. To wit, your near trademark closing with a question - a turn which in your posts always rings sincere not contrived as it might elsewhere. When one offers thoughtfully expressed analysis, informed opinion and just plain good information in that spirit a growing following is natural - and well-earned. The "social phone" - a great image. Thanks for sharing your approach and your insights. (@dc2fla)
Honeybee Consulting
· 5 months ago
Now, you see? This would've been really handy for my post on Tuesday! Very inconsiderate of you to post a day late. :)
I have often wondered how you manage your stream; there are lots of people who "follow" as many people as you do, but they seem to interact only with a small, select group of people (their "inner circle", if you will), whereas your approach seems far more personal. Even with the aid of SocialToo (which clearly speeds the process for you), I'd be interested to know how much time per day you *actually* spend using Twitter; I have only the tiniest fraction of your followers and I could easily spend a whole day reading what everyone has to say.
In any event, I find information like this extremely helpful. Most days, I feel like I'm doing this right, but when I question myself, reading something that reinforces my approach tempers any frustration that I might be having. Happy to report that it seems like patience (when it comes to @mentions and RTs) and active participation are starting to pay off.
Chris Brogan
· 5 months ago
Well there you have it. Happy to share. : )
SEOcopy
· 5 months ago
Once again a great post. You have RT'd things for me & it was appreciated. I will admit it had nothing to do with me nor my blogs. I was not surprised and yes, I was very thankful that you did (it was for cancer I think) anyway point is we won't become like you and quite honestly I like who I am so no offense lol. One question though I need a Online LinkDaddy can I use you? :D
Batman
· 5 months ago
To tweet, or not to tweet? That, is the question. :)
Thanks for an informative post, Chris.
elysa
· 5 months ago
I'm not sure why I'm surprised that people DM you to ask for RTs ... but I really am. You've retweeted random things of mine and it's always fun to check tweetie and see you have 47 replies. When I read Guy's how I use twitter I was expected several people (especially you) to borrow the idea. I kind of want to do it for myself as well. I get a lot of random n00bs asking me questions.
Thanks for always providing knowledge for us high information sorts! Hope you're enjoying your vacation.
BostonLogan
· 5 months ago
Useful and interesting post...It's helpful to know how you manage so much volume.
We're not there yet, but we're working at it (one relationship at a time, no robots for us). We endorse this method: "be helpful, share, communicate, use @replies a lot." Great advice!
Dr.Mani
· 5 months ago
So... Guy prompted you to do a "How I Twitter" thing too, did he?! :-)
Mine is here - I called it "27 Months of Twitter - Insights, Lessons and Suggestions to Make the Most of Twitter"
thnaks for the ripoff/homage tips about using twitter a:)
Mark William Schaefer
· 5 months ago
Chris, I always love your honesty and energy -- even when you're on vacation! I learn a lot from you!
mbowlersr
· 5 months ago
Great post with helpful tips. I like the be helpful, share, communicate, use @replies a lot. Being organic has been more original and down to earth. Thanks
Steve Rosenbaum
· 5 months ago
Thanks, Chris. This is powerful stuff and helps us all get a handle on how to harness twitter and social media.
iconic88
· 5 months ago
Chris, I like how you see Twitter as the next dialtone.
IMHO, I see it as a 'trust-tone' and a 'trust-zone'.
As a 'trust-tone', Twitter is more powerful than any YellowPages (or Google), because trusted word-of-mouth beats hands-down any optimized website and/or paid ads from companies.
If your car breaks down, you have a couple options. Look into a phone book, Google or ask a friend.
Even if you look through a phone book or Google, you still have to decide who you trust.
IMHO, we are more than likely to contact someone we trust. That could be a friend IRL, family member, or friends on Twitter.
Thoughts?
lindabateman
· 5 months ago
Chris -
It seems there is a stigma to being active in social networking. Have you experienced the same problem? Certainly there are a ton of people out here who are in awe of your social media prowess and would like to emulate your success.
I have been interested in social media marketing and networking for quite a while now and have had to stand the fight that it is a viable form of marketing, while others have criticized me for the time I spend reading, commenting, posting and tweeting (tweeting is only lately).
How would you relay your experiences to us underlings who have to face that kind of problem? Is the answer to just "hang in there"?
Marcy
· 5 months ago
I think it's nice that you actually can still reply to at least 75% of what you get. With that many followers, I don't think I'll ever manage to. You mentioned you just follow back those people who follow you.. Don't you think it would be better to choose who you follow?
Bob Denning
· 5 months ago
I tweet when I don't have to and I don't tweet when I should have! Arrrrghghh!!!
All Comments
Make sense?
FWIW - I ran into you on an Austin streetcorner back at SXSW and, IIRC, Nan Palmero introduced us.
Make sense?
I can't believe you get so many retweet requests. Requesting a retweet just seems wrong to me. I wouldn't be able to ask someone to do that.
@jlbraaten
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/best-of . Maybe this one isn't the best? (hehehehe)
What I don't understand is how you don't get burned out. Even on vacation, you were on Twitter. After a while, I get tired of social media and need to step away from the continuous sensory overload. How do you recharge? How do you stay fresh?
Twitter rarely takes away from me. It gives back. It's like watching a bunch of otters at one point, and like work and thinking at another.
Recharging, however, is a larger story. : ) Will put that in my newsletter.
Otters? Cute and playful and endangered?
Aside from how you use Twitter, I'm curious how you read blogs. I presume you use a reader. How do you deal with so much blog content? How do you filter through all that reading to find the golden nuggets?
I didn't know you used seesmic...I'm a big proponent of it.
Do you find that you get a lot of spammers following you because you do the auto-follow thing? I'm considering it, but then I feel like people will follow me just for the follow back.
If Twitter died overnight (or when you're napping - delete where applicable), what service would you replace Twitter with and do you save details of who you'd take over to that other service (if you're not connected with them there as well)?
I’m just like you. We all start somewhere. Believe me, it’s a meritocracy. There’s no “man” holding you down.
I’m just like you. We all start somewhere. Believe me, it’s a meritocracy. There’s no “man” holding you down.
For me, Twitter has been amazing at helping me connect. Made many great offline and online connections. Generated business by genuine connections. Met some really neat people with great perspectives.
Many thanks, Annabel Candy (http://inthehotspot.wordpress.com/)
1.) I'm not going to read EVERY WORD. I do read them. I sample new posts every day. Think about it like this: I've set up a telephone network. I don't necessarily have to call you every day for it to be useful. I call you when I'm thinking of you. Same thing.
2.) I LOATHE those messages. Google "robot behavior"
Thanks!
I work on relationship building all the time. : )
I have often wondered how you manage your stream; there are lots of people who "follow" as many people as you do, but they seem to interact only with a small, select group of people (their "inner circle", if you will), whereas your approach seems far more personal. Even with the aid of SocialToo (which clearly speeds the process for you), I'd be interested to know how much time per day you *actually* spend using Twitter; I have only the tiniest fraction of your followers and I could easily spend a whole day reading what everyone has to say.
In any event, I find information like this extremely helpful. Most days, I feel like I'm doing this right, but when I question myself, reading something that reinforces my approach tempers any frustration that I might be having. Happy to report that it seems like patience (when it comes to @mentions and RTs) and active participation are starting to pay off.
Thanks for an informative post, Chris.
Thanks for always providing knowledge for us high information sorts! Hope you're enjoying your vacation.
We're not there yet, but we're working at it (one relationship at a time, no robots for us). We endorse this method: "be helpful, share, communicate, use @replies a lot." Great advice!
Mine is here - I called it "27 Months of Twitter - Insights, Lessons and
Suggestions to Make the Most of Twitter"
http://bit.ly/ZTrds
All success
Dr.Mani
IMHO, I see it as a 'trust-tone' and a 'trust-zone'.
As a 'trust-tone', Twitter is more powerful than any YellowPages (or Google), because trusted word-of-mouth beats hands-down any optimized website and/or paid ads from companies.
If your car breaks down, you have a couple options. Look into a phone book, Google or ask a friend.
Even if you look through a phone book or Google, you still have to decide who you trust.
IMHO, we are more than likely to contact someone we trust. That could be a friend IRL, family member, or friends on Twitter.
Thoughts?
It seems there is a stigma to being active in social networking. Have you experienced the same problem? Certainly there are a ton of people out here who are in awe of your social media prowess and would like to emulate your success.
I have been interested in social media marketing and networking for quite a while now and have had to stand the fight that it is a viable form of marketing, while others have criticized me for the time I spend reading, commenting, posting and tweeting (tweeting is only lately).
How would you relay your experiences to us underlings who have to face that kind of problem? Is the answer to just "hang in there"?
Arrrrghghh!!!