Twitter Favorites - Tips to Archive & Search Equals Value
One of the great perks of social media is the wealth of information that is always being shared. There is always an ongoing stream of quick valuable insights, tips, reviews and just great conversation. The caveat of that is capturing, managing and putting to use the wealth of information that is being relayed.
There comes a time when the amount of information is more than just a couple of posts. It then becomes necessary to evaluate how that information is being effectively captured and managed. Ask yourself, three quick questions:
- What is the best solution to capture and archive information?
- How quickly can the information be accessed?
- Is it easily searchable?
One of my favorite social media sites that provides a wide variety of information is Twitter. The flow is frequent, albeit at times, overwhelming. The variety is as wide of a net that can be cast into the information stream based on who and what you follow. The flip side though is that you can’t always be focused on what is being discussed at that given moment.
When a topic of conversation comes into your Twitter stream that is of interest but not what you are currently focusing on, with just a couple of clicks the information is garnered as a Favorite for later digestion. Over time, you accumulate another long list of Favorites, but what do you do with them?
Here’s a simple procedure to harness that information for later use when you have time to focus. Add your Twitter Favorites to a feed aggregator such as Google Reader.
From your Twitter Home page - go to your Favorites
Using Firefox - the process is automated:
Capture your Twitter RSS Feed
- Right click on the page
- View Page Information
- Select Feeds
- Scroll to Your Twitter Favorites
- Click Subscribe
- Add to your reader as normal
Using Internet Explorer :
- Capture your Twitter RSS Feed
- Right click on the page
- Select View Source
- Find the link for the feed (i.e. http://twitter.com/favorites/12345678.rss)
- Add subscription manually to your reader
Now your favorite bites of information is at your fingertips - ready to be search and archived. Later, when you vaguely recall a post that would help complete a project, just search your feed reader and voila - information found and time saved.
The Point
It’s great to have a wealth of information but if you can’t put it to use then there is no value. By putting in place simple and semi-automated procedure that captures and archives information until it can be utilized, you’re increasing the value on not only the information gathered but more importantly on your time.
TweetLater - Follow the leader, but which leader .… or just simply lead?
Recently there has been much to do about the use of Twitter add-ons and extras such as TweetLater that can be set-up to welcome new followers via public reply or direct message; automatically follow new followers; and set-up scheduled tweets. See my post How Do You Say It’s a Pleasure to Meet You! Too much of a to-do about well, not much. It’s so easy to get swept up into the roar of crowd about what is considered proper etiquette, acceptable and deemed appropriate.
Since I am a newbie of sorts in the social networking scene, I have fond myself jumping this way and that way. All the while wanting to do what is considered socially correct in the business networking circles; aka - the majority in Twitterville. After switching the Outllook rules that forward notices to TweetLater on and off several times over as many weeks, I think I’ve had enough. Actually, I know I’ve had enough.
I use TweetLater to acknowledge new followers. I don’t spam them with a link to my website. My website is in my profile so there isn’t a need. I simply want a timely tweet to let my new followers know that I appreciate their interest. You can’t be hooked to Twitter 24/7. I can’t – between building my Virtual Assistant practice and raising a family that involves keeping up with an active 2 year old – their ain’t no way, Joe!
The Point
As the adage goes - you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. So I’m pleasing myself and taking the lead. TweetLater helps me manage those that follow me. I can then go back as time allows and view a new follower’s site, see if I want to follow them (9 out 10 times I do) and send a more personal reply commenting on one of their blog posts or their website.
Photo by martellobrasile
Just Tweet It - Find Followers and Promote Your Business
Are you new to Twitter and not getting the quality of followers that you would like to have? Not finding those that have like-minded interests? Tired of scrolling through what someone is eating for breakfast and lunch? Just Tweet It will help you find those that want to network with the same intent and with quality information to share. As stated on Just Tweet It’s website:
“Add your name to the directory and get found or find others like you!”
Just Tweet It is a directory listing for Twitter users. There are over three dozen categories, both business and personal. Create a listing with your name, twitter url and a brief bio. This is a great resource to promote your business and interests.
I discovered this tool from none other than a tweet from @GrantGriffiths , a self-described Home Office Warrior who gives information freely and who I follow. Grant tweeted his latest blog post Twitter Tool – Just Tweet It. The Twitter caveat is that Grant found out about Just Tweet It from a tweet made by someone he was following.
The Point
Finding Just Tweet It is a perfect example of how Twitter works; tweets become viral and spread rapidly. Information is shared and passed on to others. Incorporate Twitter into your daily routine. Create a Twitter profile, list yourself on the Just Tweet It directory and then find others that share your interests and start following them. See how far you can spread yourself around Twitter World.
Photo by Jacob Whittaker
How Do You Say - It’s a Pleasure to Meet You!
In my previous post, I shared Tweet Later; a Twitter tool that sends auto-responses to new followers either publically or through direct message. While I don’t subscribe to all “twitter etiquette” that many feel businesses should adhere to, there are a few common sense “rules” that should not have to be explained but it seems more often than not, it does.
So, how do you welcome your new followers on Twitter? Or, do you even acknowledge them?
When you set-up an auto-response to acknowledge a new follower, it should be just that. Links to your products or services should not be included. It is just simply not proper etiquette; it’s spam! If you have set-up your profile properly, then your website is listed. More times than not, a new follower has already checked out your website; unless they are the ones that have 1200 followings and only 100 followers; their intent then is to spam you.
Put it into perspective as it relates to your physical surroundings. If you are meeting someone for the first time, you wouldn’t be shaking their hand and asking them to buy your product. Would you?
The Point
Twitter is to socially connect with those that you have common interests in, whether it is personal or business. Yes, it is a great tool for internet marketing and promoting your blog; just not in a spammy way. Treat that your followers the same as you would if you were meeting and chatting face to face. Great them openhanded; a warm friendly thank you note is simple and genuine! It doesn’t mean you have to follow them, just be polite and say hello.
Photo by rumpleteaser
Do You Tweet? 9 Tools to Enhance Your Twitter Experience
Despite its critics, Twitter is a useful micro-blogging tool entrepreneurs can utilize in a social networking setting to build relationships, promote their blog and market their business. This post is not to debate the pros and cons of Twitter; whether it’s viewed as professional or otherwise; nor is it to cover proper tweeting etiquette or what is and is not considered spamming your followers. My intent is to provide you with nine tools that will simply enhance your Twitter experience.
Ping.FM
Do you have multiple social network profiles that you want to keep a daily presence without spending all day doing it? Ping.fm saves you the time and effort. Ping.fm will send a single post across 26 social networking platforms at one time. It utilizes the same 140 character limit as Twitter. Sites in addition to Twitter include: Facebook, Plurk, LinkedIn, MySpace, Google Talk, Delicious, and many more.
Tweet Later
Tweet Later works for you while you are away; whether you’re traveling, focusing on a project or simply living life. Tweet Later can be set-up to welcome new followers automatically either publically or by direct message. It will, at your election, automatically follow those that follow you. You can also schedule pre-scripted Tweets to broadcast while you’re away. Scheduled tweet is a great tool to alert followers of a new post on your blog.
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