@fleurdeleigh

Reflecting on the Twitter experience in 2009 and the social media understanding I’ve gained from one year to next, I felt it worth sharing particularly if you’re still feeling your way around the Twittersphere.  Hard to simplify, but I did manage to conjure what I felt comprised a successful formula to a positive networking experience.  I’ve noticed that when my formula gets out-of-whack, my Twitter experience goes flat.  I often fall into a rut during busy times where the “me” part takes over and the engaging/giving part takes a back seat causing a one -way unrewarding experience. Remember the mix varies and should be peppered to taste.  A glimpse my ideal formula; feel free to concoct your own…

Tweet ingredients & proportional mix

Value: 62%

What makes Twitter rock is that is that value packed tweets prevail. If you need info, help, breaking news, industry trends, food for fodder, a good laugh, or a litmus test of what’s hot right now you can find easily on Twitter.  Use search to pinpoint the info you seek.  I strive to provide humor, information, links, and resources for my followers. How else would they know how to properly burn bacon in 140 characters?  Pause and ask yourself…what value does this tweet provide.

You: 21%

There are people that I follow that bubble over with personality in their tweets.  The key here is to let your personality into your tweets but not to let consume your tweets.  When it’s all about you, you need no followers just a good mirror.  Contrary, there are people I follow that don’t allow enough of themselves into their tweets. While informative they have the vitality of a newspaper.  It’s a balancing act. Giving an extrovert a big megaphone can pose challenges. I struggle with the appropriate tweet mix in this category.  You, your social media presence is a brand.  Be you, be real, but be mindful of your personal brand.

Good manners: 14%

Visualize Twitter as a big cocktail party and employ your good manners. Be conversational, be a good listener, share the good stuff you hear (retweets!!), say please & thank you, and be charming.  Shed the auto DMs as they feel as insincere as a stranger handing out business cards enmasse at random.

Karma: (unmeasurable)

Good Karma matters. Last year I was the victum of a random act of viral niceness.  A “big deal” on Twitter gave me kudos, sent me many handfuls of cool new friends/followers, and eventually became a IRL dear friend. It felt good & I was hooked, thank you @unmarketing. The turning point is when you realize what you can DO for another here. If you take away one element for your tweet formula, make it this:

Make today matter. Make some else’s day. You’ll find it’ll make your own.

Twitter is an ideal arena to do good for others by giving recognition, introducing new followers, giving blogs and websites airplay, elevating and unifying your industry. Voila!!  That’s it.  Hope you weren’t expecting E=MC2.  As always…I love hearing from you. Please leave a comment about your personal formula below.

Leigh

(and for you mathy-mathy people…yes, I am aware