The Twitter Way - Book One / LIFE: Twitter As A Way of Enlightenment

By John Oakley McElhenney

I believe in this Twitter rally cry: I AM HERE, NOW! (I don't believe in auto-scheduled-non-human tweets. If you tweet, you should be there to respond when I RT or Tweet back at you. I believe.)

Twitter is the flash-point for so many of the changes in social media, online interactions, and even business development online. Our writing ideas and focus about social media are constantly being challenged by new developments and apps. Twitter is a foundation app, get to know it and you will get to know yourself.

Twitter is a powerful social media tool and research platform. It can be an advertising and promotional network, but that's not the best and highest use, unless you are Dell or Best Buy. Even if you are Local Pizza A it is better to include real conversations as part of your tweets. Don't just blast coupons. Talk about them. Suggest toppings or specials. Sure, coupons are great and coupons can drive business, but give a little bit more and you will get more followers and potentially more happy customers.

The Essential Twitter Lessons

Twitter is about conversations.
Twitter is about research.
Twitter is about authentic voices.
Twitter is full of scams and spammy tweet-bots.
Twitter tools are essential for using and understanding Twitter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483534244

Book preview

The 1-2-3 Guide to Twitter

Okay, here’s the one two three guide.

Join Twitter, Use Twitter Properly

Don’t Use Auto Anything

Be Honest

In a recent war of tweets I wasn’t nice. For those who started following me as a result of last nights flame wars, welcome. I believe in being honest on Twitter. And even if that gets a little heated, I also believe on outing the abusers or gamers of the system. It’s fine if you want to spam, porn post or work really really hard to get 50k+ followers in less than 5 months…That’s all fine. For you. Not for me. So if you choose to do that, don’t expect me to play nice either.

But I was genuinely intrigued by the DMs I got while I was railing at a Twitter abuser. Here is what I learned. And again, these are MY personal opinions so take a shot at them if you think I’m off track.

1. Use Twitter Properly

Twitter is sometimes called a micro-blogging system. I think of Twitter as an OPEN IM forum, where I can broadcast a message to a lot of people at once. And I choose to Tweet things I think are a.) funny; b.) useful or interesting; c.) tips and tricks; d.) business related links around my area of  interest. [cause if you meet the social media expert on the road, run the other way]

2. Auto is BAD

Twitter is about REAL PEOPLE in REALTIME. Once you go into Auto-Responder mode of any kind you have become a robot or a marketing gamer. There is no good reason, NOT ONE, for using an AutoDM or AutoResponder or AutoFollower. The only good thing about Twitter Spam is it hits the AUTO-BOTS the worst, in the best way, AUTOmatically!

If you auto-me what have you done? Engaged in a conversation? No. Done me a favor by allowing me to DM YOU now? Bad logic, NO! Started the conversation between us? About what exactly? NO.

My belief is if you AUTO-anything on Twitter you are spamming or gaming the folks who use it properly, for conversations. Twitter is about REAL PEOPLE in REALTIME.

So, Twitter can be for business too, you say. Yes, but engage with me or be quiet. If I subscribe to your AWESOME DISCOUNT INKJET DEALS tweets, that’s my choice. And yes I could derive some advantage from following that account when I need to buy ink. And how cool [not] that the big boys are figuring out that they can give exclusive deals to Twitter followers. Whooo boy, that’s a relief, cause I’m sure the DEALS they are pushing via other channels (email, web, tv, mailings) are not as good. Well, my Tweets that’s just not true. It’s just another form of advertising DIRECTLY to you. Not bad, if you OPT-IN, but hard as heck to OPT-OUT.

3. Be Honest

So the last one covers a lot of ground. In your opinion what is honest? That’s the question for you to answer. I know what mine is and I have spoken some of my personal biases above. But the one thing I will say about Twitter and Honesty: Reputation is built over time. And if you provide value to people, over time, you will build a following. Maybe not 50k+ like my friend in the examples above.

Take the time to be honest. When I asked the Mr. 50k why he AutoDM’d he responded by saying it gives people a chance to DM him back. AND