There’s not a gardener worth his potting soil that would plant seeds only to abandon them forever.
But, in social media, we often leave a trail of activity that we never check up on again. And in the process, we lose a ton of potential insight.
With this in mind, I took a look at my last 1,000 (or so) Tweets and tried to dig up some knowledge. Here is the fruit of my labor:
1. Don’t just duplicate the headline.
Besides feeling all impersonal and robot-y, it just doesn’t intrigue (exception: when the headlines are at a Gawker level of good).
Of course great headlines make for great Tweets. But my highest-performing Tweets were ones where I:
2. Act like a person.
The appeal of social media is that people get to connect with other people. If they just wanted headlines, they’d just subscribe to RSS feeds. People want context, flavor, texture and personality in their media diet. Twitter affords that opportunity.
Do not disappoint. Some of my best Tweets were corny puns and jokes about news. (But be aware, some of my most-ignored ones were cut from the same cloth, so if you’re going to be funny, be actually funny. Easier said than done).
3. Actually use hashtags.
I know, I know, I felt dirty at first using them because it feels so desperate but it actually works. People don’t know who most other people are, but they do know the topics that interest them. Using a hashtag enters your stuff into a conversational sphere you might not have otherwise entered.
But make sure the hashtag you’re using actually exists (for your intended purpose). For instance, in the content marketing industry you might want to use something like #content to hashify your Tweet. But, that’ll put you in the realm of people talking about things that make them happy, or content. Your Tweet will look like an alien from another planet here.
For example:
Bought the cutest shorts for malia, thanks @_givebackthesun for pushing me into making a purchase #content
— Megyn Tyrell (@MegynTyrell) May 21, 2012
Check to see that a hashtag is accurate, active, and accepting (i.e. are other people sharing content that is relevant to your content?)
Using hashtags might feel contrary to the advice in #2, but here’s why it is not: People like organization and filters around content. Hashtags help to position your stuff on the right radars.
4. “A quote is worth a thousand clicks.”
Not a real quote, of course (but you can totally quote that and Tweet it from this post!) I noticed that when I cut to the heart of the matter of a post by pulling out a key phrase or a key line, it resonated with people. Don’t just regurgitate the headline, share the line that caught your attention or gave you the chills in the first place. It’s likely to hit home with others, too.
5. D.R.E.A.M. Data rules everything around me.
People want to share something that is valuable to their following. A strong statistic is the quickest way to make a point and give perspective and context in less than 140 characters.
6. Tweet first, ask questions later.
I’ve become more effective (e.g. more people are clicking on my stuff) as I’ve produced more content. Not only does the pace of your production make you more relevant, but each Tweet is a chance to connect with someone. The more, the merrier. But don’t hijack people’s streams. Pace your stuff out evenly throughout the day, see what resonates with your following, and learn as you go.
On to the next 1,000.
[Image: kevin dooley]
