I’ve been blogging for well over three years now, and am constantly amazed how much stock people put into Facebook and Pinterest. Yet, Twitter is just as powerful as they are if you use it correctly. I’ve heard many arguments that the other social media outlets are their most traditional traffic generators. I can see that happening if you’re a DIY and Food blogger. If you’re not then, I’m willing to bank that you’re going to gain more traffic from other avenues more or you have the potential to do it. Twitter is one of my top referrers of my traffic on my blog. That also has a lot to do with the fact that I spend more time on Twitter than I do any other social media outlet.
That wasn’t always the case for me! In fact, when I first saw it I was overwhelmed by it. I just thought it was nothing more than a bunch of people advertising stuff and trying to promote their websites. Which in many ways that truly is the case! However, there’s a BIG HUGE BUT in this case. If you know where to look and how to set up your Twitter account, you will find there is a lot of gold to be found.
I had someone ask not too long ago how do you use Twitter and what are the benefits of using it? I use Twitter to connect with like-minded people in a very timely manner. Plus I enter as many Twitter parties as I can get into as my schedule allows. As a result, I make a lot of my business connections on Twitter because their representatives are involved in the Twitter parties too.
First Step to Twitter Mining
I can hear your head spinning wondering how to do this just by looking at your Twitter account. After you’ve created your Twitter account, the first thing I would suggest you do is do a search for your like-minded folks. The way you do that is by typing in your keywords on topics you write about or interest you. For example for me it’s homeschooling, marriage, books, movies, video games, and, etc.., I go through a couple times a week and follow anywhere from 20-50 people that Twitter pulls up based off of those search results.
Now you’re following all of these people, then what?
That’s simple. Make your own Twitter party by introducing yourself. When I have spare time, I go through and I start chatting with people who are on my list. I use their profile information and start up a conversation with them just like I would if I were in an actual room with them. If they are online too, chances are high, we’ll end up talking with each other. If we get along well enough then I’ll add them to one of my lists I’ve created. If you don’t know how to do that, be sure to check out my how-to video on list building on Twitter I made. Then we share each other’s stuff on Twitter and hold conversations as we can with each other.
Jump into Live Twitter Party
Twitter parties are a lot of fun once you get used to doing them. Many Twitter parties offer up some neat prizes worth trying to snag. Be sure to RSVP on the sites that have the RSVP forms for each individual party. I am a Tweetdeck fan and will be as long as it works. You can see how I use it by checking out my how-to video on doing a Twitter Party. I do have a few different videos for Tweetdeck on my YouTube channel. You can join us for our Twitter party that gives you more blogging tips #BloggingTidbits.
There are also a lot of different Twitter chats that meet weekly for various different topics. I found a bunch of them yesterday trying to find a way of gaining more interaction on my own Twitter account. Be sure to check out the Twitter Chat Schedule to find one or more that interests you.
This little guide gives you a run down on finding the nuggets of gold in the Twitter gold mine world. In fact, many people I know have gained their big opportunities as a result of being active on Twitter. The Twitter parties I’ve been in have been very helpful in teaching me valuable bits of information too.
Just in case I didn’t answer your questions concerning Twitter be sure to check out this grand list of Twitter tips and tricks from GrowMap. If you’re not following me on Twitter, please be sure to add me there.
What is your favorite thing about Twitter?
Great tips! I would agree, that Twitter is more beneficial and interactive than Facebook. Instagram has been my obsession for the last year, and it’s amazing how much you can grow on IG. However, Twitter is a great way to get recognized by your pees, industry, and clients.
Sarah,
I need to do more with IG for sure! I haven’t found the magic formula for success there either. Of course, I’m terrible with images! I need to grow in that arena big time.
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting.
I have just started really getting into trying to learn twitter. Like you I found it very intimidating and I still do not have a full grasp on how to use it. This post has fantastic tips. I will be saving it for later!
I’m glad you found these tips useful. Twitter has many benefits to it that other social media outlets don’t have. It’s just a matter of getting use to it for sure. I love it now that I’ve taken the time to learn how to gain the most from it.
I need to take some of these tips and start interacting more on twitter. I get these updates and read a ton of info but it is overwhelming sometimes. I get so easily side tracked and need to focus on some of these tips you planned out. Thank you!
Melissa,
I get easily side tracked a lot too! That’s one of the reasons I am probably not bigger than I am. That and the fact that I always have three little kids and others pulling me away from getting work done.
I hope these tips help you. Always feel free to ask questions.
I love this post! I am one of those people who are really comfortable with Pinterest and Facebook, but still figuring out Twitter. This is so helpful that I am dragging this link into my toolbar!
Thank YOU!
-Lory
Lori,
I’m glad that you found it helpful. I am the opposite. I haven’t jumped into the whole Pinterest stuff. I’m not overly succesful on it. Of course, I also struggle with creating images worth pinning too.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
I’ve been to a few Twitter parties and I really like them, but they move so fast! It’s hard to keep up, even when I use TweetDeck. Twitter is still a bit of a mystery to me, but I try to use it daily.
Stephanie,
I can understand your position. It does move pretty fast for sure. You do know that you can actually use the scroll thing on Tweetdeck to stop and scroll up and down throughout the party? Check out my Youtube video showing you that neat feature if what I said doesn’t make any sense.
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting.
I couldn’t agree more with this pist! I have seem the success with using twitter in such a short amount of time and can’t wait to use your other tips to continue to make it grow!
I’m glad you stopped by and commented. I hope you find your gold mine.
I’m so glad you linked this up at the Momma Told Me Link Party. I needed this!!!
I’m glad you found it beneficial. I hope you find your gold mine too.
This year everyone seems to be growing their Pinterest following, but you are correct unless you are a food or DIY blogger your pins are not going to take off. My most popular pin is a fish recipe I had saved to my computer; the only reason I pinned it was so I wouldn’t lose it during a computer conversion. Most of my blog pins do nothing. Same thing with my Facebook page, but my scheduled tweets almost always get activity. Taking the time to figure out how to create a pin-worthy post or button is not where I want to spend my time right now, but tweaking my twitter lists is something I could easily do. I have one huge private list that has gotten so big I no longer use it – or twitter for that matter. I also love twitter chats and have met some of my favorite bloggers through them. Thanks for the Twitter chat schedule. Great post – I’m pinning it.
Savvy,
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting on my blog. I am glad you found this to be true for you too and beneficial. I would love to see my posts take off on Pinterest, but I am terrible with images obviously.
I do love Twitter parties with a passion, and have met most of my friends there for sure.
Excellent tips! I hadn’t though to search for like-minded people weekly. I’ll have to try that.
Twitter is one of my top traffic sources, Facebook does little for me unless I pay to boost a post. Boo. Yay for Twitter. 🙂
I am new to blogging and so far I like twitter the most for social media.
WOW! Thank you for sharing this. I can admit that I honestly do not like using Twitter. I’m one of these people who rather pick one platform and roll with it. I do, however, have a Twitter profile “just because” LOL.. I also made it a duty to start engaging more on my Pinterest boards too. But like you, over my many years using social network, my number one traffic generator has been Facebook (for me). I LOVE your tips here and I will implement this.
Janelle
I can relate to not liking Twitter. I shook my head in bewilderment over it my first year of blogging. Then someone taught me how to do a Twitter party, and I became HOOKED. Now you can find me there quite often throughout any given day tweeting it up with the rest of them.
I still get a pretty decent amount of engagement from FB, but I’m definitely not a queen bee there. Even though, I do try because I like to carry on longer conversations too.
I’m glad you found something useful here. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
What great tips! I have never thought about doing a search and following 20-50 random people. I will definitely have to try this out. Thanks for the great tips. I’m pinning this !!
I’m glad that you found some good tips here. Twitter is a lot of fun when you find like-minded people on there.
These are really great tips! Thank you so much! I’m using Twitter more and more and I’ve found that it’s a lot more efficient than Facebook/Google+/Pinterest but there is still so much more to learn 🙂
I have found that blogging and social media is always changing. I hope these tips help you.
Good tips! I’m focusing on FB and Pinterest right now, but Twitter is next!
That is smart to focus on a particular social media account at a time.