How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Tweet

All right, it’s confession time: I used to hate Twitter.

Like many of my journalist brethen, I was skeptical, if not dumbfounded, by this microblogging platform. As a pen-to-paper, Microsoft Word kind of girl, I wasn’t crazy about the idea of the Twitterverse stepping on the toes of the print I’m still so enamored by.

But four years later, I use it on a daily basis for one of the magazines I work for and am secretly (OK, not so-secretly) truly lovin’ it. Because Twitter works, even for us print-minded folk—and here’s why: 

It’ll Help You Get Leads

My morning starts with monitoring my Twitter account and checking out my modest (but useful) list of followers and those that I follow. Though many see Twitter as a way to drive traffic to their site—and yeah, that’s always nice—I primarily use it to see what else is out there.

My identity: a shopaholic who finds local slants to national trends. By being careful about who I follow, I’ve got an address book full of new contacts, daily story ideas from profiles of local shops to a fabulous new line to a new GM—all without having to inefficiently trek through the streets. Bottom line? Put the spotlight on others, not just yourself, and reap the benefits.

It’s Easy to Check Out the Competition

Without a doubt, there are tons of writers out there. And while the particular magazine I write for gives me a nice niche, the bottom line is that a lot of inspiration is derived from, well, people like yourself (that whole “great minds think alike”).

Following competitors is a discreet way to see what’s happening on Twitter, and the world at large. Don’t steal ideas, but do develop a list of what’s already out there so you can make it your own with a personal twist centered on your client’s needs.

You’ll Make New Friends

OK, so Twitter isn’t elementary school—just because you let them use the pretty crayon doesn’t mean you’ll be BFFs, but love is love no matter what the medium.

You’re mailing articles to your sources for one simple reason: It reminds them that they are relevant to you. Whether you’re a writer or a tweeter, these relationships are still symbiotic. Think of it this way—you send an article on dogs to a friend, and the next time they see a cute puppy, they think of you. By narrowing your focus to a particular niche (travel, fashion, education), you’re explicitly telling others what your publication is all about and gaining credibility.

Use the “@” symbol. Take the extra minute to track down the subject of your article’s Twitter handle—chances are, they’ll retweet, which gives you prominence. (And it’ll definitely stick out more than just an e-mail, believe me)

It’s true; I’m a firm believer that print will never die. And while I used to see Twitter as the enemy to print, it’s easy to see it now as a (limelight-stealing) friend. And in time, I’ll be calling myself a social media-print-MS Word kind of girl.

And I’m all right with that.

Related articles

• 5 Tools for Making the Most of Twitter Lists (oneforty.com)

[image: stevendepolo]