Twitter Soapbox

I've recently gotten really excited about Follow Fridays on Twitter. While I am aware that this makes me a complete nerd, there are also some business merits to consider.

When comparing Facebook to Twitter, this is the analogy I have been making: Posting something on Facebook is like hosting an intimate gathering in your living room and making a speech. You'll reach the people in your room, and they may or may not pass it on to the people they have over next day.
Inversely, Twitter is like holding a Town Meeting, and giving a speech that is being broadcast live to all of the News stations around the world. You reach a broader audience, and have a much likelier chance of someone else passing your information along.

There is a fine art to Tweeting successfully. Hashtags should be treat as your SEO (search engine optimization) markers. Though there is also something to be said about being cutsie with them from time to time. ;)

Retweeting people who have a large fan basis, or conversing with them is a great way to garner new followers. However, the key to a plush follower list seems to be a Follow Friday routine. Here's my secret.

Everyone whom I follow who isn't a standard pop culture celebrity, or is someone I know doesn't want a shit ton of anonymous strangers following them, gets put into a tweet structured like this: #FF #9Tails #Toronto @Aphrodizia_ca @GabrieleAngel @Denof9Tails @SylvieGothika @lady_shayne @rubymoans @The_Mad_MiLASH

I have a document that I update about once every two months to include new people that I'm following, and excluding anyone that I've stopped following. Then I just have to copy/paste them all into place on Friday morning.

It's good practice to @reply to anyone who has retweeted you. If you can strike up a conversation, you may even get a follow back! In fact, I've recently cultivated a Twitter Friendship with someone who will retweet my promo tweets when I give her the heads up. This may or may not become a regular thing. But even if it was only a one time thing, that's still getting the word out there!

It the event that you don't believe that all of this effort is worth it, let me leave you with this tidbit: in the days since I have implemented this practice, I have more than doubled my following. You be the judge.