Twittin' Secrets: The 100 World's Greatest Twitter Tips & Twitter Secrets

TWITTIN' SECRETS (part 3)

• TIP #37: Along with your inherent knowledge and the daily activities of your personal or business life, you can easily augment your postings with great content you discover online. Do occasional searches on Google, Google News, CNN, Technorati, or some other search engine using various keywords to find related stuff of interest you can tweet about.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #38: Use Twitter search (http://search.twitter.com/) or Twitscoop.com to find interesting topics from other Twitter users. Yes, other Twitter users (not necessarily followers) can serve as birddogs, finding some amazingly interesting and related stuff you can post or reTweet.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #39: Automate your bird-dogging of interesting info by using a system such as Tweetbeep.com (or set-up filters in Tweetdeck ). If done with good keyword forethought, you can get daily tweet reports by email from fellow Tweeters with virtually no effort. This is equally effective as a way to gain knowledge, insight and news about any area of interest you might have. I call it the "Twitter Bird Dog Strategy."
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #40: At Tweetbeep, also set up monitoring of every keyword or phrase associated with you and your business - especially your Twitter username(s). It's an easy technique to keep abreast of your industry news, public chatter, branding issues, negative rumors, PR and JV opportunities, and your competition, all in a highly automated eavesdrop like manner.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #41: Before long, managing your Twitter timelines, chats, searches, followers and posts can become overwhelming. The challenge of handling multiple account is made easier with tools such as Easytweets.com. Or you might prefer to run a desktop client such as Twhirl (http://www.twhirl.org/) which offers a plethora of features. However, my preference in desktop applications (Mac or PC) is TweetDeck (http://www.tweetdeck.com/). With TweetDeck you can (and should) set-up columns which sort, filter and categorize all your various Twitter timelines and posts into groups so that you can listen, work, bird dog and tweet very efficiently. You can also monitor the local or global Twitter buzz.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #42: In my opinion, at the time of this writing, nothing beats Ping.fm for posting. While Twitter is the focus of these 50 Twitter Tips, rest assured there are many, many other Twitter-like systems, blogs, and social networks which can be posted to. Ping.fm helps you to set-up multiple accounts across many of these platforms so that when you submit a Ping.fm post, it is pushed out to multiple social systems: Twitter, Facebook, Plurk, Pownce, LinkedIn, Identi.ca, FriendFeed, Plaxo, Bebo, Mashable, Kwippy, Jaiku, and Rejaw. Simple and effective. A comparable system worth exploring that reaches some of the same Social Services as Ping.fm and others is Hellotxt. Hellotxt allows easy posting from the web, by email and by Mobile device.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #43: After the "Syndication Lightbulb" goes off in your head as the result of setting up Ping.fm, you'll soon realize that many of the systems which Ping.fm push to, extend your post distribution even further. Likewise you'll find yourself in the never ending world of social connectivity, RSS feeds, syndication and mash-ups... soooo many systems can be connected. It's your job to follow the paths of push and pull to weave the most effective web of connections and distribution your time permits. BUT... one word of advice: if you plan to use a system, take the time to genuinely set it up, read the FAQs, and understand it's purpose, features and benefits. My rule of thumb is this: I do not embark in any new system unless I have at least 45 minutes to invest in setting up a profile, reading FAQs, exploring the community and understanding if and how it might be beneficial to my goals.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #44: Keep a running list (in one location) of all systems, usernames and passwords. You'll kick yourself if you skip this step. Go back at least once a month and look at each system you have an account at. Update information and links on all profiles to be current. Ping.fm connects to a dozen other systems, Friendfeed connects to over 40 and Mashable connects to 72 plus! The best strategy is to carefully select those that seem to best fit your goals. More is not necessarily better.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #45: To find more friends and followers beyond your existing connections and databases, you may visit related Twitter pages (or even competitors) and follow select people you find. Remember, quantity is not the end game here, it's followers that are interested in you or your topic and will listen or contribute. If you follow 10 people, the odds are good that 2 or 3 will follow you back. Select carefully by visiting potential follower Twitter pages, look at their 160 character bio, linked page, and following/follower ratio.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #46: Once you have a few friends or a few dozen friends and followers onboard, you can expand friends and connections further using tools such as: Crazy Bob's Twubble (http://crazybob.org/twubble/) or Ask Mr. Tweet (http://www.mrtweet.net/ ) - both search your friend graph or extended network and recommend people who you may like to follow (and who hopefully will follow-back). To prune your following/follower list, I again recommend "Less Friends ." (see tip #13)
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #47: Don't do anything that smells of SPAM. If you do, you will likely have your Twitter account suspended and you'll feel like a green fly on fresh Twit. What does Twitter consider SPAM? Read here: http://twitterhelp.blogspot.com/2008/08/suspended-accounts.html
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #48: Hear Yee, Hear Yee... I've recommended TEXT tweets, image tweets and video tweets; but there is a wonderful personal quality to voice (or audio) tweets. This can be done with services like CellSpin (http://www.cellspin.net/), Jott (http://jott.com/jott/twitter-jott-link.html) or TwitterGram.com. Speak and record by phone, mobile phone or upload your audio. TwitterPhone (http://www.twitterfone.com) takes this one step further by allowing you to listen to your Twitter timeline, record tweets and respond back to other Twitterers - all by mobile phone. TwitterGram.com lets you upload an mP3 and attach it by link to a tweet. Ping.fm in conjunction with SpinVox (http://ping.fm/spinvox/) lets you speak your message by phone thereby converting it to TEXT and posts it to your social networks (including Twitter).
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #49: Twitter posts, if done well, can be very valuable or interesting tidbits of information. However, even the most attentive follower will not read all your posts. Thus repurposing previously tweeted posts is a good idea provided you do it with prudence. On posts you feel are particularly interesting, repost or reTweet these with honesty.
  
  EXAMPLE, you might say things like:
  
  
  • In case you missed it...
  • Last week retweet...
  • Repost of popular tweet:
  • Popular Retweet-
  • Last weeks favorite...
  • Did you see this?
  • Today's playback post:
  • Personal reTweet:
  • Today's Rewind:
  • Retweet Rewind:
  • Double Take:
  • Rehashed Twit:
  • Recycled Twit:
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #50: "Twitter Roundup" strategy (part 1): This is a more immersive or interactive variation of Twitter Tip #49 (above) combined with Twitter Tip #35. Using PollDaddy for Twitter, you create a weekly (or monthly) summary (or "Twitter Roundup") of your best tweets of the past week. This could of course be posted on your blog, but it becomes interactive if you also post it as a poll. In either case, make a big deal out of it (and think SEO). Post a link to the poll in Twitter (and thru Ping.fm), but don't stop there. Add each "Twitter Roundup" to your site (as a link, a page, or an RSS feed). As of this writing, PollDaddy does not hyperlink URLs within their poll questions (as they should), but they say it's in the works and things may be linked-up by the time you read this - if not, send PollDaddy a request.
  

  EXAMPLE PollDaddy "Twitter Roundup":
  http://poll.fm/itx8/
  
  EXAMPLE "Twitter Roundup" Blog Post:
  http://danhollings.posterous.com/twitter-round-up-which-dhollin

  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #51: "Twitter Roundup" strategy (part 2): This is repurposing content (yet again). It's simple and completes the process. Let's review the "Round-up" strategy:
  
  Here's how you do it:
  
  
  1. Post a week of tweets
  2. At end of week post a Roundup poll of the weeks best tweets.
  3. A few days later, post the Roundup winners (example below)

  EXAMPLE 140 character Twitter post:
  And the winner is: Twitter roundup from last week. #1 http://twurl.nl/grqzd0 #2 http://twurl.nl/0bp0of Original poll: http://poll.fm/itx8/

  There is nothing wrong with reTweeting your own stuff, but it can look kinda boring, self-serving, or spammy if you just post the same stuff over and over. My Twitter Roundup strategy allows you to consistently reTweet your stuff on a weekly basis (literally THREE times if you like), yet it is seen as genuine Tweeting, a poll, and a winner! It also incorporates your blog to further expose your Twitterings.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #52: Promote your Twitter "Static" pages. What the twitten heck do I mean? If you examine the "Twitter Roundup" blog post above, you'll note that the links do not go to my Twitter home page; rather they link to static pages generated by Twitter which feature individual tweets you've made.

  TWO EXAMPLES (note different URL yet same static page):
  http://twitter.com/dhollings/statuses/892937113
  http://explore.twitter.com/dhollings/statuses/892937113

  Finding these static Twitter pages is not intuitively easy, but here's a Twitter Secret strategy...
  
  Feed your Twitter post timeline into your blog, website, a system like Mashable.com or pull your feed up in a feed reader. This can be done by grabbing (copy/paste) your RSS feed from the bottom of your Twitter Profile page.
  
  
  
  The Twitter timeline RSS for Dan Hollings looks like this:
  http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/9466382.rss
  
  Now, if you go to Mashable (or wherever YOUR external Twitter feed is displayed) you can click each of your hyperlinked posts and you'll likely go to the static page for that Twitter post. Now you can copy the static page URL from your browser window and make twitten hay while the sunshines.

  EXAMPLE Dan Hollings' Mashable Twitter Feed: http://my.mashable.com/dhollings (click Twitter links in upper left)

  Why do all this? Every static Twitter page has SEO value and/or independent promotional value, but without promoting and applying a little link love to these static pages, they sorta wilt away like late summer dandelions. The "Twitter Roundup" strategy is the ultimate in repurposing your Twitter tweets and Twitter static pages for maximum benefit.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #53: Eat your children and feed your favorites. OK, I know, that's a wild and crazy statement, but in the world of Twitter it makes perfect sense. By "eat your children" I mean don't be afraid to bookmark (save as Twitter favorites) your own top Twitter posts. You need a running list of posts that you feel are your best so you can feed them out to other sites and repurpose easily.If this seems too self serving, get over it, or use a separate Twitter account for this purpose. Perhaps create an account that has no other purpose but bookmarking your favorites is a good idea (just remember to link this up to your primary Twitter account). You might even call it: username_favorites.
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #54: Create a special "Twitter FAVORITES Account" (perhaps even your primary account) where you "bookmark as favorite" posts from your followers. Of course you can also sprinkle in your own favorites, but here's the psychology behind this strategy... Your followers want to be recognized - no question about it. And YOU want your followers to be attentive to your Twitter posts. If you make it known that you POST great tweets from followers and promote these favorites, fellow tweeters will love you (and pay attention to your tweets).
  
  Here's how you do it:
  
  
  1. Only favorite followers. NO follow, NO favorit-ing.
  2. Do not accept random submissions at any time.
  3. Once a week (or monthly) tweet a "Request for Favs" post
  4. State something like, first 10 only, or before 12 noon please.
  5. Post @dhollings fav tweet request + Twitter static URL.

  TWO EXAMPLES:
  (Tweet something like this)
  Seeking great tweets of week for my popular FAVS page. Submit yours by posting: @dhollings fav tweet request + Twitter static URL. First 10.
  - - - OR - - -
  Submit your best tweets of week for popular FAVS page. Submit yours by posting: @dhollings favorite contest + Twitter static URL. Today only

  Another idea... Consider mentioning your "FAVORITES" in your auto-responder to new followers.

  EXAMPLE:
  "Hey, send me one or two of your best Tweets and I'll feature them in my Favorites!")

  NOTE: The format for feeding your favorites out to other sites is:
  http://twitter.com/favorites/USERNAME.rss
  ==> Tweet This


• TIP #55: Claim your Twitter micro-blog at Technorati. Yes, Technorati allows you to claim and PING (promote) any blog you own. Isn't Twitter a blog? OK then, let's claim it.EXAMPLE: Here is Dan Hollings' Twitterings at Technorati: http://technorati.com/blogs/twitter.com%2Fdhollings?posts
  
  
  • Step 1: http://technorati.com/account/blogs/#start_claim
  • Step 2: Enter your Twitter Username's URL: http://www.twitter.com/USERNAME
  • Step 3: Choose Post Claim
  • Step 4: Grab just the URL within the post claim CODE and post that as a Twitter tweet (or temporarily add it as your Twitter BIO URL).
  • Step 5: For example, if Technorati states you should post Technorati Profile Use only the URL http://technorati.com/claim/xyz and post that as a Tweet on Twitter.
  • Step 6: Once you've posted your Technorati claim URL to Twitter, return to Technorati and confirm your claim. 
  • Step 7: On a regular basis (perhaps daily or weekly) go to http://technorati.com/ping to PING your Twitterings.
  • Step 8: To extend your PINGING out to places like Weblogs.com, Blo.gs, Feed Burner, Syndic8, NewsGator, My Yahoo!, PubSub.com, Blogdigger, BlogRolling, BlogStreet, Moreover, Weblogalot, Icerocket, Google Blog Search and other places; try http://pingomatic.com
    
    ==> Tweet This
  
  
  

  MORE TWITTIN' SECRETS...

  in the series of 100 Twitter Tips, visit:
  
  • ===> Twittin Secrets #1-18 (part 1 at Google Base)
  • ===> Twittin Secrets #19-36 (part 2 at Squidoo)
  • ===> Twittin Secrets #37-55 (here at Google Knol)
  • ===> Twittin Secret #56 (at PRweb)
  • ===> Twittin Secret #56 (iPhone Mobile Version)
  • ===> Twittin Secret #57  (I'm Feeling Lucky Strategy)
  • ===> Twittin Secrets Tip #58-72 (live at Xanga)
  • ===> Twittin Secrets #73-83 (all available at link)
    
  • ===> Twittin Secrets #84-92 (live at HubPages)
  • ===> Twittin Secrets #83-100+  (plus the iGoogle iTwitter Tab)
    
  • ===> Twitter dhollings (Twittin' Secrets Author)
  • ===> Twittin Secrets (Primary Site)
  
  
  NOTE: Feel free to use, expand upon, comment and share these Twitter tips, secrets & strategies as you wish (all 100 are free), but please credit or link back properly so that everyone may benefit from knowing the original source. I welcome feedback and commenting which will be available at many of the posted locations -OR- you may post to a Tweet Channel
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