As Twitter continues to mature, so does my usage of it.
I'm rapidly approaching my ten thousandth tweet (yes, that's 10,000) and I've had a lot of time to determine how Twitter works best for me.
Notice that I didn't say "how I work best for Twitter."
That's important, because I regularly hear people ask me this question.
"How often should I tweet?"
The person asking the question is usually riddled with Twitter anxiety (Twanxiety?) as though I will provide them with a magic number that will solve all their problems.
My answer, however, isn't a number.
It isn't a frequency either.
I simply tell them, "I tweet like I eat."
What does THAT mean?
It means Twitter doesn't run my life. I do.
Twitter is always there. That means the conversation is always taking place. It never stops!
Recognizing this truth, there is no way anyone could ever possibly keep up with Twitter and more than you could replay your day and not miss what is currently happening in your life. It's just not possible.
To go back to the analogy, when do I eat?
I eat when I am hungry or when food is placed in front of me.
Let's apply that to Twitter.
Being hungry means I have something very specific to say. A thought comes to mind. I take a photo that I want to share with my followers. I come across an interesting web site or article. Whatever it is, it means I have something worth tweeting.
And having food placed in front of me doesn't necessarily mean I am hungry. But it does mean an opportunity to eat has arisen. I like food and sometimes I will eat just because it is there. I know. It's a bad habit.
Regardless, there are breaks in my day when I peek in and see what's happening on Twitter. I catch a snapshot; a moment in time. And if there is something that catches my attention, I will enter into the conversation. It's like a little snack.
I certainly understand some companies remaining vigilant on Twitter so they don't miss any customer support tweets.
But that's not me. And that's not the majority of Twitter members.
I call the shots on my Twitter usage.
I determine when, who, what, where, why and how.
You shouldn't let anyone tell you how to run your life. So why would you let anyone else tell you how to use Twitter?
As for me, I tweet like I eat.
Please pass the mustard.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below.
I got past that 'I wonder if I'm tweeting too much...' when I reached my 1000th tweet.
You're right! Why bother with this particular question when the system's there at your disposal?
This might help the ones seeking answers on Twitter usage at the moment:
http://mashable.com/2010/01/12/zen-social-media/
My tweets are usually just some random thoughts on current issues as well as those 'normal' tweets for beginners about life in general. Occasionally, I RT-ed tweets on info that I found useful, mostly tech stuff.
But these tweets, esp those on random thoughts, made people feel slightly closer to me. I once worked for an online system tech team for AIESEC (a global student organization). This team consists of members from all around the world, and the only platform to connect us all is Internet and all the social media sites.
A guy in the team messaged me once, "now av i ever told you you come across as one refreshingly nutty and witty lady? Thanx to ur twitter stream, that's the image av formed of you!"
So there you go! Let Twitter work for you, not the other way around.
You tweet like you're eating. What I conclude is that your tweet is your primary need.
It is good using twitter in your daily life. I also tweet often but not without thinking well what is on board.
Tweeting 10,000 times is a very big for big time internet marketer like you.
Has any one seen the ebook on ---- 5 Marketing Strategies On Using Information Products to Make More Money:
I use Twitter for a number of purposes. The primary purpose is to express my thoughts on a variety of subjects -mostly current events. I try to make my Tweets humorous or provocative, and I invite responses, which I occasionally receive, but would appreciate more.
I also Tweet to make people aware that I wrote a book for first-time entrepreneurs called "Don't Let Your Dream Business Turn Into a Nightmare", which i would really like people to know about as it can help them avoid some of the really serious mistakes that small business owners can make.
I also Tweet to make people aware of my writing and video production services, in the event that i can be of value to them in their business or writing projects.
So, for men, Twitter is a way of entertaining people, sparking conversation and interraction, and also letting people know what I have to offer that may be of value to them.
Alan Stransman
Author
"Don't Let Your Dream Business Turn Into a Nightmare"
www.mybusinessnightmare.com
I was just wondering that the other day, after noticing I have over 1500 tweets now. Am I tweeting too much? Is it worth being a part of twitter if I (obviously) can't keep up? I appreciate the analogy; it helps me make sense of twitter as a part of my life and social network.
http://twitter.com/MissionMusings
Joel,
This is a good, succinct analogy that I think most people will relate to.
Twitter, like every other tool, is there to work for you. It's easy to get drawn into the experience when starting out. It can become overwhelming to the point where these tools are dismissed as "nonsense" or that it "takes too much time" - if they haven't done that at the beginning.
You have to be careful when people or companies out there promote Twitter (or another tool) as THE answer. Judicious use of Twitter, Facebook, email, etc. - in a manner that supports your objectives (business, personal, etc.) - is really the way to go.
You're at a buffet - take some salad, have some soup, try a couple different entrees...and don't forget the desserts! :)
I'm up to 211 tweets. I only started really using Twitter in the past few weeks but it is slowly becoming more addicting. I love hearing the news first. I don't always Tweet, sometimes I just read.
Very good and true article Joel. I have only started using Twitter, properly, recently. It is a great place to show your expertise or just to show something of interest and I agree that, it is much better to tweet when you feel like it, rather than having a set pattern.
When used properly, Twitter is a great marketing tool.
I should probably join in the bandwagon too should the need arises.
There's also sites like Plurk and Tumblr just to name a few.
What about you Joel? Is Twitter the only one you are using?
What about the rest of you guys?
Good stuff Joel. Thank you so much for sharing this infromation with us. ArticlePlayground's Twitter page is growing too =)
Gosh I am a compulsive eater...
I get your point though. I have loved Twitter for a long time. I am less in love with it right now... but that will pass and I will be hungry for tweets and tweeting when I feel like it.
I only tweet if I want.
Just share good things
I have days when I feel like saying things on Twitter all day. Other times, I'll go days without having anything to say.
People have all kind of different uses for Twitter. I tend to like to follow people that I find interesting. People who I'm interested in what they're thinking and doing. And if I like what they're thinking and doing, then I'll start following their blogs and consider buying their products.
I've unfollowed plenty of phonies. Some "Internet Marketing Consultants" tend to abuse Twitter. I hate when people treat Twitter like a place to rerun the same commercial over and over again. Some people are so concerned with expanding their marketing that they forget the social aspect of social media.
I like your analogy. I do the same thing. I tweet like I eat. It works for me. No Twanxiety here.
I can't believe you actually spent time writing this stuff! haha who cares how often everyone else tweets on twitter?!
Joel --
Great post as usual. Thank you. This post answers a question that has been swirling around in my head for awhile now. My only question is: what if I'm on a diet?
Daniel Hall
Great article Joel! And I have to agree with you. It's not the number of tweets, it's the quality of the tweet. If you don't have good content, no ones reading your tweets. If you are not connecting and interacting, no ones reading your tweets.
That mustard you're asking for has to be for the meat. And the meat of your tweets are usually worth eating up.
Thanks,
That is also how I do it. I tweet when I feel like I have something to share. There is no one out there counting how many tweets I place.
I often forget to do both.
Hi Happy Tweeters one n'all - Joel thanks for the email to get me to this perfect post - Ive been wondering for a while now since I read your Twitter Power Book what you would be doing with your Twitter knowledge now I know - so thanks for the update - BUT But Now theres a new kid on the block in this universe of social networking or should I say updating - its yours truly "Google Buzz" I thought they would have bought Twitter out - But No they have come up with this extra-NOT-So-ordinary buzz system worked from within G~mail - that could be a winner for those folks who are fed up the way these other social sites likes of Facebook Twitter Myspace and the rest are performing - one thing for sure I bet you will be blogging about G-Buzz not to far in the near future
Alls Well that Starts Well
Phillip Skinner
I like your analogy and how you combine your everyday necessity and your marketing actions. marketing, eating, marketing, eating. Two of the best things a person can do. Well done.
Great post Joel,
I have Tweeted relatively few times, wondering how to engage people. Your analogy has cleared my thinking on this now.
Thanks, Phil.
the balancing act for social presence will always be a challenge....i try to take the approach that info I like I share.....natural and organic tweets
That's well put and worth taking on board. Thanks Joel
Very nice analogy. Tweet when you have something to say or share.
Twitter can be very time consuming if you let it, kinda like email.
Find what works for you and move on with your life and business, twitter is a tool, carpenters dont use their hammer alll day, they use it when needed to do a job, twitter is your hammer.
hi
I love the comparison. I have only just set up my twitter account just for my blog purposes, so really i am a complete newbie in twitter aspects but i did buy twitter power from you joel so i am hoping to apply all the techniques in there to really benefit me and hopefully drive traffic and follwers up a notch. thanks for the advice.
claire
Who ever invented twitter is a genus! I tweet a little. I need to do it more. After,looking at your tweets--10.000! Whoa!
I better get on the tweet!
I've found it much more interesting and rewarding to tweet and PM now that I've streamlined my followers and who I'm following more into my target market instead of just having thousands of Internet marketers bashing me all day long with their affiliate links. So, my tweeting is on the increase NOT because of timing or frequency, but because of increased interest in the people I'm conversing with.
I still don't get it! It sounds as if thousands of tweets are made but few are heard. Make 10,000 tweets and eat irregularly. If most others are doing the same it seems as useful to me as the noise sparrows make as they settle down for the night in their favourite tree!
Tweeting is so important to create a list of followers. Keep tweeting and moving on. I have seen that if I don't tweet my followers rating drops.
Hi joel,
Just in the day I saw people like you who can tweet for 10,000 people. Of course, this is fantastic for me. Maybe one day I will like you followed the millions of people for tweet, Just in my dreams. I congratulate to you on this success.
Hi Joel ,
How to sell more products online although I do not know English well?
Hi Joel,
You have been twittering a very long time. What I like about your tweets is that they are often relevant to the rest of us - we know more about you and you share valuable links and information.
I like twitter because it allows me to get a quick read on things. I tend to go in spurts with my twitters - find something I want to share and forget that I haven't been tweeting for several days and wonder it seems like a "Tweet and Run" - I've attempted to follow those who have like minded interests so that I don't just blurp into somebody's scene with my comments. And then the tweets fly by so fast somedays I wonder is it all worth it?
I have renewed my personal pledge to myself and my twitter tweeps to consciously build my relationships - tweet healthily to keep the food analogy - I've joined a couple of twibes.com to focus in on even more like minded tweeters. It allows me to see what my favorites are tweating and easily carry on conversations.
Thanks for you insights and keeping the discussions going!
Terry Loving
http://LovingVisions.com
Taking the Local out of Small Business
Thanks for the advice Joel. It can be overwhelming to think about the amount of information being spread over Twitter, & if you are doing too much or too little. Tweet like you eat, I like that formula. But wait, in the US. over 60% of the people eat way too much! Guess that's why there is so much...stuff floating around out there.
Thanks again for the great info,
Greg
Like Joel, I also limit how much time I spend on Twitter. I tweet about 10 times a day, including retweets.
I love the gems I find as I scan the thousands of tweets that I could possibly see each day (I actually see about 100 of them). But there are always 5 to 10 gems in 100 tweets. Some I retweet. Some I enjoy just for myself.
I have found that the more I tweet, the more traffic my BookMarket.com website receives. Direct correlation.
It's not like many people see our tweets anyway. I think newbies think most people do see their tweets.
Even Guy Kawasaki often repeats the same tweets. He know we don't have a list just for him nor do we @ him very often. Not most of us. Nor do we often check their lists.
I'm not sure what Twitter is good for except for research (and it IS good for that).
great post joel you said you tweet like you eat that mean you spend a lot of time on tweeter and it's make growth your member but just 10 min per day so good enough..
Excellent! I didn't know there was Twanxiety...lol. I just happened to think that if you are that far down the line of things to worry about then you will be OK.
Twitter is pretty much automated for me, for better or worse. I think I could get more out of it though.
Thanks
Gregg Zban
The Guru Hub
Thanks, Joel. In trying to develop my nascent website, MattinglyMD.com, Energizing Your Health, I'm feeling my way through different ways to promote myself and the site. Social marketing, Twitter especially, is slowly becoming something I'm finding my way with. I know it's a valuable resource for serving by bringing cutting-edge information on how we can best and most easily improve our energy and take better care of ourselves. It's my fundamental belief that we all really want to be the man or woman we're called to be so that we can fulfill ourselves and take good care of our loved ones.
Many Blessings,
Jay E. Mattingly, MD (MattinglyMD on Twitter)
When I read something interesting (see good movie, hear interesting news) I share it with my family and friends. When I see something interesting on internet I share it with my friends on Twitter. I do not count how many times I share. Cheers, Maria