Is Twitter More Important Than List Building?
December 29th, 2008
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by BobTheTeacher · Filed Under: Bob The Teacher Training · Business Blogging · Business Building · Social Networking · Twitter · Virtual Workshops · Web 2.0
For the last few years, the #1 skill for building your business online has been list building.
In fact, most internet marketing teachers say without a list, you have no business. This is because it’s very difficult to sustain most online revenue models without having subscribers and customers to communicate with.
Now let’s leave that argument aside and instead debate whether Twitter is more important than list building.
The truth of the matter is, Twitter IS listbuilding. Just in a different sense of the concept. Instead of building a list of subscribers who receive email messages from you whenever you like, Twitter builds a
list of followers who are able to engage in conversation with you and your network.
This may be even more powerful than the traditional list, especially with the tendency for emails to end up getting lost in a sea of Viagra ads and bank transfer requests from the wife of the ambassador of a foreign land.
But more important than getting attention, Twitter and other social networking tools is a relationship builder, not just a list builder.
Whereas the traditional list building mentality is your subscriber list gives you access to wallets…
The new media list building mentality is your follower network gives you access to ideas, connections, market research, partnerships, and profits. This multi-directional approach is more sustainable, and honestly, a lot more fun.
What do you think? Comment below…
Bob Jenkins
p.s. Later today, I’ll be asking this question of one of the leaders of social networking and new media marketing, Deb Micek.
Deb is the author of Twitter Revolution, and Secrets of Online Persuasion. She’s my guest expert to teach you about Twitter during the Discover Social Networking virtual workshop. There’s still time for you to join
us!
65 Responses to “Is Twitter More Important Than List Building?”
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| Bob Jenkins is an internet business marketing teacher, with ten years experience teaching teenagers and teachers. He is the creator of several online training courses that teach you how to get better customers and increase your profits. Specializing in social networking strategies for business and creating information products from teleseminars, Bob can help you use internet marketing tools and strategies to promote your business online. |
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Howdy Bob,
I believe that you and Deb are spot on
in many ways. The core message is that
“things change” …and they often change
in a way that “they stay the same”.
What I mean is a ‘twitter following’ *is*
a list.
Prior to the Internet, good marketing
teachers would say …build a list…
However, it was a snail mail list.
As the Internet emerged, good Internet
marketing Teachers, like yourself, Bob
Jenkins, would tell people to build up
an e-mail list.
Now, good social networking trainings
will say build up a facebook group or
a twitter following.
Now, the fact is, all these “lists” are
important.
Someone like Russell Brunson is making
a killing off his PHYSICAL mail list
which he got by building a ‘free’ email
list and selling products to get a full
and physical address.
Especially new marketers in the active
niches will befit from learning Twitter
from you and Deb.
Cheers,
Paulie Sabol
There is no “one source” for marketing. You need to analyze your business and understand your clients. Know where they are and know what medium they are using to communicate. Once you understand your clients then you can communicate successfully and promote your products and services to them where they will be. Social Media and tools like Twitter defines one type of marketing channel for communication. You need to consider all channels and target, target, target. Lists are targeted and can help build your inbound clients but then you have to continue the communications and reach out in various aspects providing useful information that your targeted audience is interested in on a regular basis.
I agree totally. It’s building relationships that is important. In doing that you need contact going both directions. Most people do have on blinders with email and yes, even the good stuff that they want gets lost amongst the Junk.
I totally agree with you. I’m not an internet marketer but a “user” of internet, and it would not have occurred to me to distinguish between Twitter and list building. I realize that there are differences between them,for example in how people act on Twitter and in the “old” list building mentality.
But in my simplistic mind, both are about repeated exposure to people with the view of building trust and eventually revealing opportunities to cooperate, participate or sell.
Keep up the great work,
Helene Desruisseaux
I have to agree with you. Twitter followers are a list of sorts. Have to keep up with the times. List building is fine, but need more exposure than that.
Hi Bob,
I’m noticing that the majority of my twitter followers are one-way communicators. Seems a bit self-centered, w/ little value being added. Do you think this is just indicative of people not getting the ‘add value’ mentality?
Thanks,
Forrest
Hey Bob-
As a communication expert, I’ve experienced first-hand the benefits of building my Twitter “list” or numbers of followers. What I love about it is exactly what you say in your post, Twitter is about building relationships and having access to not only someone’s email address but their ideas, opinions, connections, and partnerships — all in a win-win situation where you also get to know those you follow as individuals.
I laugh when people ask, “How much time is THIS going to take me?” As if the time spent on Twitter is wasted. It’s just the opposite. The question should be, “How can I best leverage my time to meet the most people and help them on Twitter?”
You’re spot on again, as usual — which is why I like you so much! We succeed by building relationships and communicating effectively. Twitter does that — on warp speed.
Warmly,
Felicia
http://Twitter.com/FeliciaSlattery
Hey Bob, first, a very Prosperous New Year to you! On Twitter as a list builder… Yes it can be great, but as you say, there is still the very important need to build your relationships with that list. Many of my most loyal subscribers come from Twitter, but not before building and honest and open relationship with them.
And, the more I hear from them (and you, Bob) the more I’m able to tailor my offers to them. (Here’s a small tip: I use a link in my Tweets to a survey page to find out exactly what a subscriber may be looking for).
Have a great week!
Jay
Bob,
I believe that building a list is vital to running a profitable online business. Communicating with people on Twitter is vital to building trust and getting exposure. So you need to do both to be successful. One is push, or interruption, marketing, the other is social marketing. I find that Facebook falls somewhere in between these two methods of reaching your target audience.
Bob,
Relying on Twitter is depending on people to keep coming to you whereas list building in the traditional sense involves you going to your subscribers.
As far as your emails getting lost amongst the spam goes, it can happen, but whitelisting reduces the chances. If you send a “newsletter” that contains content instead of just an ad for your latest product or promotion, your subscribers will watch for it and eagerly open it. That is what building a relationship is about.
I myself are on many lists that I will be unsubscribing from as soon as I finish my current project as they are nothing but ads coming into my inbox.
Email lists allow you to ask a question and get a response in a timely fashion when you want to know what subscribers want to see.
Twitter and social networks are providing traffic and sales, I won’t deny that, but like most of the “latest and greatest” thing could dissipate to be less effective than the time would warrant.
I will concentrate on email lists and my blog to stay in touch with my subscribers.
This is a very difficult question to answer.
I can see how a list is important – mine isn’t as they’ve never bought anything, but I guess that’s just bad luck.
I also use Twitter, sort of.
I have clicked ‘follow’ on a number of web pages where I’ve seen the symbol and I also filled out this form that gave me about 80 followers.
I’ve never visited any of the websites of these so called followers and I doubt they will ever visit mine.
I don’t really know if Twitter does anything.
I’ve set up my page and I can’t see any need to ever return to it. My blog posts are automatically added so I don’t have to go and do that.
I don’t use RSS or have a ‘follow me’ icon on my sites or blog as I don’t see anyone ever clicking on it.
I have no social site icons either as, to be quite honest, I think that if people saw them on my sites or blogs they would think I was extremely childish and would never take anything I said seriously.
I’m signed up to a whole bunch of ’social sites’(some ’system’ required it, but I realised the whole idea of these sites was pathetic for an adult and abandoned the idea). I have no idea whatsoever what they are supposed to do. I’d be too embarrassed to actually visit something like Facebook even though I wasn’t silly enough to use my real name or photo on any of them.
So, all in all, a list, if you can get them to buy anything, is good.
Twitter and social sites appear to have no purpose except to fill your page with images of people that have no life of their own – a bit like Paris Hilton fans.
I see you have a post “Get 1,000 Followers on Twitter.”
I haven’t read it but, I can’t see that 1,000,000 followers is really going to have anything to do with selling IM Products online.
Final Score
LIST 1 ~ SOCIAL SITES 0
I had taken a place in twitter and lost the password they will not help me now. What others use it for I will never know.
I have not been very successful building a list but I think the concept you are talking about is a sound one. My only problem is I have very little time for socializing online or in person these days. To many irons in the fire so to speak.
Do as you will but harm none
Great topic! You have brought up some great points. What I like about the way the new web2.0 social media is going is that is really is all about building relationships.
Blessings,
Lori
Bob,
Twitter is for me both a list-builder and yet another layer and mode of relationship building.
Bruce
Bob,
I believe, as do many “Listbuilding Experts” that facebook and twitter compliment and add to your list.
A good group of followers on either will help you build an email list once they start following you to your squeeze pages, website, etc.. and actually purchase/signup for one or more of your products and/or services. They can also help you identify and narrow down your focus to the items that they are interested in.
Rick
Hi Bob:
I tend to subscribe to the theory that there is no one size fits all. I think Twitter is an invaluable resource for some people; while there are other people that it might not be the best use of their time or talents. Just like learning is done in different modalities, the use of marketing mediums is different for everyone as well.
I initially joined Twitter back in June and didn’t do much with it and then went back to it in September and things have grown for me exponentially as I learned to use Twitter (+ it’s just darned fun:-)! But the key is that I enjoy that interaction and bantering back and forth; for others it’s just not an avenue they enjoy.
I have made some amazing connections and have lots of possibilities that are opening up for me directly because of my interaction with others on Twitter. The other key with Twitter is that it gives you a wonderful chance to actually help others and provide value and ask in real time “How can I help you?” which is one of the things that I love about Twitter!
Interesting conversation Bob; thanks for the opportunity to discuss it:-)
Hi Bob,
I also tend to agree. List building is indeed a must for any marketer but these days there are so many freebie hunters, that to build a list that is responsive is extremely desirable. Not forgetting of course that those who follow have there own followers who will also then follow you if they like what they see or hear. How viral is that?
Twitter also makes a marketers life a little less lonely too!!!!
Jonathan Lake
Well, I have been building lists for 50 years and was taught
to use every method available.
My Direct mail lists are beneficial and generate Income
My “IM” lists do the same.
My newspaper ads generate Lucrative lists.
But the most fun and very rewarding has been the phenomena
of TWITTER.
Not only fun, but financially rewarding if done properly.
We discuss these on our Weekly Public Talk Show: BMC Talk Show.
The key to all list building ios to BUILD a Relationship
with like Minded People and be willing to invest TIME and Energy
to do so.
Is Twitter replacing Traditional List Building?
I don’t think so, but it sure is a necessity in keeping
Your Sales Funnel Full.
Every Tweet is a positive experience for Me
Hi Bob
Can’t wait for your class. I have been on facebook and twitter for about 5 months and my followers grows but slowly so I’m anxious to learn how to use these opportunities successfully. I don’t want to grow so big though that I don’t have time to answer questions from those with whom I have developed a relationship. Most of the big “gurus” become inaccessable. The suggest some program but then there is sometimes no way to figure out what to do with it! Hopefully twitter/facebook will help me in never letting that happen to my customers/prospects/followers. I don’t want to do affiliate marketing just to make money. I want others to be as successful as I am (or will become).
Thanks for all you do.
Hi Bob,
I believe Twitter is just another option to build a relationship with your subscribers; in this case, a friendship. One thing though, I tend to stay away from Twitter due to hactic schedules, so I would think that the Twitter friends may not be as responsive as it could be… People would miss tweets that are not directed toward them if they aren’t on Twitter all the time. There are just too much tweets at any one moment. That’s the drawback.
-Jeff
While I have no doubt that building a list is important, for the person who is new to IM, that list building can be a real challenge. Twitter, on the hand, makes it easier for the new person to create a following without knowing (or having to immediately know) all the technicalities that go into building a targeted list.
Hi Bob,
Interesting theory!
I do agree that the New Way to Build a List online is to Use the Social Networking Sites. He or she who has the most friends, makes the most Money.
I think if used right, Twitter is a great List Building tool …but most people using Twitter are NOT doing it right…me included. That’s why I started reading a free ebook about it yesterday. That book is on my blog if anyone wants it.
Twitter is just of the many Social Marketing “tools”…but one that everyone should learn how to use…correctly!
Bill Vannot
http://www.BillVannot.com
Bob,
All marketing is based on relationships. It has always been and will always be I think.
If it is possible to use short messages then so much the better. Especially if they could be sent to a mobile phone (within reason of course). People mostly have their mobile with them but not their computer.
I like receiving emails and I do my best to keep up with them but I must admit that it is very time consuming and it easy to miss something.
I need to take a close look at Twitter.
Best Wishes and Happy Thoughts
Rolf in Denmark
Honestly I don’t really have much experience about list building but from what I see and experienced it takes time and experience to be really effective. While in social networking sites like twitter one gets to build relationships and rapport, to meet the person behind the list which makes it real. So I feel it is way to go. Cheers:)
I don’t know Bob, I haven’t done much with Twitter, guess I think of it as like Digg, I’ve done a few Diggs and it hasn’t gone anywhere! I’m the type that if I don’t see something in a reasonable amount of time, I loose interest and it goes to the way side!
Guess I need to check into it more?!
James
Bob,
Twitter is an amazing business tool that I will be learning how to more effectively use starting TODAY during your “Discover Social Networking virtual workshop” [your link to this is at the end of your post]
Through Tweets, I have been consistently successful in finding ‘room mates’ to share hotel rooms at Live Internet Marketing Events. Like jvAlert Live! Orlando coming up in February 2009, where I will be in the audience as you deliver the goods as a Featured Presenter.
Great debate, I agree with you Bob.
“Mr Emotions”
John Cussons
http://Twitter.com/John_Cussons
Hi Bob,
Very interesting and lively discussion. The Internet is so vast and changing so fast – it’s hard to figure which direction one should take.
Building a responsive list from scratch is hard work while social networking provides easy access to building relationships, but very time intensive for most people. The duplication of contacts is what wears me down – recycling my friends list on dozens of social sites was not making me any money.
Twitter is a great tool to cut through all the time wasting activities done on most social sites like Facebook or Myspace. Nevertheless, trying to focus on building my VRE properties, I still can’t find the time to keep up with the chit-chat.
Trying to get these socialites to visit your MLM or affiliate websites to buy what you have to sell is rarely productive.
I suppose, if you are already into content publishing with a following, you can develop an effective method to communicate with them using Ttwitter and drive back traffic to your blogs, forum or newsletter.
Fundamentally, Twitter is just a public extension of your IMs with messages that never reach you desktop. And that’s GOOD!
To Your Awesome Success
Houseofmax
It seems forever that I have hated being on someones’s list. There are some that send a half dozen emails a day. I’ve grown tired and weary of them and end up not reading them for all the redundancy in them. I’ve even stopped trying to get removed from lists, yet I still add my name when I think I’ve found the next great product to help make me successful.
I am new to twitter, but, seeing how you describe it as creating relationships, it is obviously a far superior means of reaching a targeted audience and it’s viral to boot.
I think Twitter is a great tool, but I would never give up my list for it.
Helene said “But in my simplistic mind, both are about repeated exposure to people with the view of building trust and eventually revealing opportunities to cooperate, participate or sell.”
That is an excellent observation. She really nailed it.
In repsonse to Clive – You are so far off the mark.
First, you have your blog set up to automatically post, and that’s all you do – So why would I follow you? Obviously you’re not Tweeting anything of value. If I just wanted to know when you updated your blog, I would subscribe to it.
Second, while social networking sites may be popular with kids, they are so much more valuable than that. They are the perfect place to network with customers and other marketers.
To each his own though. I know what web 2.0 sites do for me and I’ll keep on using them, but I’ll never give up my list.
I like Twitter…
I absolutely get the concept…
What I DON’T get is the whole “You follow me & I’ll follow you” thing.
I see lots of folks who have started following me that are following 1000+ people. Seriously! How do you follow 1000+ people???
I mean, I know “how” you do it but I don’t get how there can be any real reciprocal, relationship-building quality to that.
I follow about 50 people. These are people I know and already have a relationship with. I’ve also used Twitter to begin relationships with NEW people that have reached out to me in some way (and I have also reached out to others).
Just with 50 people, I can go 5 pages into my Twitter Homepage and STILL only be into 2 hours worth of Tweets…what happens when you are following 5,000 people? OMG!
So having a ton of followers is cool for ME…like instant email blasts to a big list…but I don’t see how I can add any value for THEM when there would be so much crap to wade through.
Bob,
I have just started learning about Twitter. I have been a member of Facebook for a while, and Twitter seems like an upgrade to me. It’s a new way to find like-minded people who may or may not be interested in pursuing my given business. However, these people may know others who are interested. It’s the beginning of the never ending referrals. This is the goldmine that I have been dreaming about! Open the flood gates to Twitter and let the list building begin!!
Bob,
I think Twitter can be a sort of list building tool, but I think
it has to come from two sites.
If I follow somebody I will always check if they are following me.
Otherwise it would be a one way traffic.
Hi Bob,
I’m only just starting with both list building and Twitter, but I feel you have to use multiple methods of communication in your business. The main thing is to build a relationship and provide value to your customers and then you will benefit from the law of reciprocity.
Learning how to use the social networks properly is going to be the key to achieving success with social networking. From what I’ve seen, most don’t have a clue how to use it properly.
We are just getting started with serious list building, so not experts. We do know that every time we Twitter about our blog or posts to it, we get tons of traffic. We have a plugin on our blog called FireStats, so can see the instant response. Twitter works. It may not be focused traffic, but is interested traffic. I think we are getting more focused traffic now since Denis is joining all the Citroën groups on Facebook and MySpace and following Cirtoën Twitterers. (is that a word?):0)We can tell they are coming back, some every day. Hope that helps. Our opinion is that Twitter works when combined with other social sites to build a list of focused people. Friend Find is sending people to our site as well.
Happy Holidays,
Denis and Carol
Hi Bob,
As always: good thinking and sound advice. I want you to know I follow that advice and have started Tweeting myself. Wait a minute … you are my first “Follower” on my Twitter site … How did you do that? From email list to Twitter Follower – there’s a valuable system there!
I actually felt a bit of a bliss hit when I saw that one of my favorite gurus was my first Follower on my “SeniorTweet” Twitter site. Keep up the good work. You are respected and your advice is valued.
My best to you and yours for a healthy, happy and prosperous 2009.
Val Spangler, SeniorTweet and Mister Senior Blogger.
Hey Bob
I think the other 40 people here covered it pretty well, so just going to toss my 2 cents in here :)
Twitter, and the other social websites, go a long way toward the “Know, Like, and Trust” you talked about at the IM Success Workshop.
Part of the changing landscape. Where 5 years ago you could put a subscribe button on your website and people would just happily fill it in and hit the “submit” button, now they’re not as likely to just sign up for no reason.
If you Tweet regularly, and actually build relationships, I believe that will lead to the point where people do trust you enough to then choose to join your mail list. Or they may just buy from you directly.
To me, I think a 100 loyal buyers looks a lot better than an opt in list of 10,000 with a industry standard open and buy rate, right? Loyal Tweeps will promote for you in a way that an opt in list never will.
My 2 cents worth :)
http://twitter.com/carlincomm
Bob,
I like to keep things simple. The way I see it, Twitter and all the other social networking sites (Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, etc.) are the tools of choice for “online prospecting”. However …
If you’re looking to seriously build a network marketing business, working your warm market and local leads should be your highest priority. Here’s why most people fail in this industry …
1. Not talking to people
2. Not talking to enough people
3. Not talking to the right people
4. Not talking right to people
5. Talking too much
Also, I have a very strong conviction about “Relationship Building” in regards to network marketing. Making friends and building relationships is wonderful … that’s what humanity is all about! … but spending time being everyone’s buddy online is most likely NOT going to create a paycheck for you.
I beleive the time, energy, and effort you put into building relationships should be with the people who become your business partners (team members). These are the folks you really want to get to know and build strong, lasting relationships with.
Hi Bob
I only recently joined Twitter and already I have 280 followers – thanks to Mr Tweet! However, the holiday period has been manic with so many posts (I’m following 450) that I haven’t seen them all.
I do wonder if it will get saturated. But, having said that, I see I have many followers who don’t follow many other people. So perhaps they are the ones who may respond to my tweets.
Either way, it’s still good fun!
I’m off to write a blogpost – which will automatically tweet itself!
All the best for 2009
Lynda
where your list comes from has importance in that twitter etc are people locked in to read what you have to say on subjects that they are interested in
but just having a list of nearly interested ones is not really any good
so having a list is not the answer
but
“HAVING A LIST OF BUYERS” is what you need so you get that from targeting your audience and then offering your product to fill their needs or find out what they are looking for and supply that if you can
kindest regards to you all
Drew
Tried Twitter and just haven’t gotten the hang of it. I believe if I once get tuned into the purpose of Twitter it will be very advantageous.
There are many Tweeple that would disagree with anyone who suggests using Twitter as a ‘list’ – there are a growing number of users who will immediately ‘Quitter’or ‘Un-follow’ you if you keep ‘hawking’ your products to them.
A lot of Twitter users see Twitter essentially as a medium to share valuable information, tips and to provide helpful advice. By the same token of course there are just as many that tweet you on every living breathing thing that they and sometimes that their neighbours are doing. I mean are we really interested in knowing when someone has had too much to eat or drink, or not had enough sleep, or are taking the kids to the beach, just bathed their dog or themselves etc, etc.
I am personally mindful that Twitter is not a quick fix or shortcut to effective list building.
Yes, I agree. I’m new to all of this, so I can’t offer any expert advice or wisdom on this subject. However, building relationships through twitter sounds like good old common sense to me.
I haven’t built a list using the opt-in method before. I know I’ll have to one of these days. Building a list using twitter sounds more personable than the opt-in method.
I know how to build a house, but not a list. Sounds crazy doesn’t it.
Wish you all a joyful New Year.
Hi Bob,
So many comments! The irony is, I found out about the debate from an email! Twitter is a highly responsive networking arena. People of all talents and experience can connect, share, and learn. Short,sweet, and fast. Here’a rare opp to grow, progress, and build trust. Emails work when one is away from Twitter. Mary MacIntyre
http://www.about-albuquerquenm.com
I still have no idea what this ‘twitter’ thing is all about but by reading the responses here it sounds to me like another tool for someone to follow a guru and get pitched to death to buy their products or services?
And what happens when some other money hungry internet marketer invent something similar, do we have to sign up with that too?
Oh Please…
I would have to say that they are both important. However, email marketing is becoming less effective because of the numbness to the advertising by some email list members. While that part may be true, it has never been about the list or the size of the list for that matter. Quality always beats quantity any day of the week. If you have a stable quality relationship with your list, then you are going to have good open rates and click through rates. If you just blast your list with offer after offer and no quality… few people will pay much attention to you.
You have to make certain that not only is your content high in quality, but the offers you promote and/or recommend need to be high in quality as well. If you want good lessons on how to treat your list, get on Eric Holmlund or Todd Gross’s lists.
Now for the Twitter half of the question. Twitter is an extremely powerful tool. I have only been on twitter for about 30 days or so, and have built up a list of about 1500 followers. I am not agressive in my approaches to gain followers, but I am very active on Twitter. I believe Twitter is 2 things. A good research tool, and a good list builder. Perry Belcher said it best when he said it should be used to build relationships… not promote products.
Dennis
Hi,
Thanks for the interesting comments and discussion.
I think Twitter has great potential for building
relationships, but it has a long way to go before
it can replace email as a list building and marketing
tool — especially, if you are using a top of the
line autoresponder/list mailing company.
Here’s the thing that makes me chuckle: When I visit
the websites and blogs of many of the people who are
promoting social networking, Twitter, and a dozen other
Web 2.0 stuff, as the greatest thing since sliced cheese,
what do I find? Why, among the first thing I notice is
a subscriber box, and an invitation to join their list!
So, even those folks are not willing to completely walk
the talk – to say: “Look at me, I don’t use email list
building, but depend totally on Twitter and Social
Networking.” Ha ha, believe me folks, that ain’t gonna
happen anytime soon.
So, I think email marketing is alive and well, and will
continue to be a very important part of online marketing
and relationship building activities. I think Twitter
complements it very well, especially in terms of building
trust, relationships, etcetera.
all the best,
Laurie
Followers, lists….building the relationship is the key. The tool used changes over time but the underlining message remains the same – build your relationship.
I feel both are helpful, except I think a lot of people join list, just so they ca get freebees!
I have never really got the hang of list building and use twitter with good results.
Okay I wrote an earlier post largely speaking
of Twitter as an evolution of list.
Now I will share my objections.
Twitter suffers from being more public.
That is, people can see who are following
you and that means, they can target your
“list” in a way someone cannot via email
and more, in a way that someone likely
would not with email because people are
so much more prickly about being emailed
verse being “followed” or invited to
follow on Twitter.
So to me the “propitiatory” aspect of list
is still only had via a customer/prospect
list that is private.
Warmly,
Paulie Sabol
Hi, Bob et al!
Great discussions above, so I won’t repeat most key points. For JIT Publishing Group, I prefer spending MORE time (but *not* 80 percent of time) using Twitter for its pure simplicity and multi-directional approach. One concept is it’s micro-blogging meets almost real-time chat (w/ added benefits). Twitter’s public nature Can Be a privacy issue; that’s why I use DM’s more than public tweets for 1-1 comm’s.
Paulie mentioned this specifically in his second comment. Spot on.
Bob mentioned gaining “access to ideas, connections, market research, partnerships, & profits.” Ditto, Bob. In fact, the “push AND pull” nature of communications via Twitter appeals highly to me. I try to add value to tweets, and often share a personal nugget which allows followers to connect with or perceive me as a *human* being (and not as a faceless company or large corporation). It’s about “people talking with people.” That’s why you’ll see the “I did XYZ” tidbits here and there on many “profiles.” It’s not all about marketing, and it’s not all about business. Twitter is now part of my overall marketing strategy and toolset for business, as well as a personal interface with like-minded people. I use it for many reasons…
I thoroughly enjoy following selected individuals and companies, because I often discover, learn, and then subsequently share more nuggets “by chance” than I ever could by conducting research as one individual. I’ve found some really great references, resources, tips, and other nuggets in just a few months by connecting via Twitter – @JoelComm first introduced me (via his e-mail list!).
Since then, I’ve learned seven time-saving tips I’ll share w/ you:
1. Use a 3rd party desktop client such as TweetDeck (set-up groups, filters, searches, etc.) or Twhirl, etc. Switch to Web interfaces for breaks or enhanced editing (larger fonts are easier on eyes).
2. Don’t worry about numbers, either way. Just focus on your comm’s!
3. Don’t use Qwitter – those numbers will make you “wonder.” Just turn that thing off and don’t worry about unfollowers. REALLY. ;)
4. Occasionally, I personally clear out “older” tweets which are no longer relevant to conversations. Why? So that NEW followers can easily glance through about 100-200 tweets max, to see if they want to follow or not (it’s easier to “get a feel” with lower volumes).
5. Segment your Twitter activities, just like segmenting a “list.” For example, for Dachshund “stuff,” Bob gave me the great name of @DoxieDenDiva – later, @DavidPreston and @WillieCrawford gave me the idea for the @LongestWiener (Longest Wiener Contest TM), a charity fund-raiser for animal rescue. Different purposes and totally NOT related to my profession of Information Security, IT, or personal brand. These accounts are “segmented,” that is, separate accounts. There is some duplication of followers, but who cares!? Nobody…
6. Later, I decided to establish my own “Twitter name brand” using @CheriSigmon (now my primary focus) for professional/business use.
Neither list is huge (the largest HERE is about 1,037 last check).
As Lon inquired, it’s easier to follow valuable tweets when you can contain the volume of the numbers followed. Easier when segmented!
7. By tailoring the content and not tweeting “too often,” I have found that the streams stay steady and consistently growing over time. The “6 degrees of separation” on Twitter is like “1 or 2 degrees.” A “map of connections” among Twitter users would be something I’d really like to see, but it evolves so rapidly. ;-)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, everyone. Back to tweeting now.
Regards,
Cheri
(and JackieLouTheDoxie)
http://www.twitter.com/CheriSigmon
Hi Bob,
While Twitter is still building a list, IMHO, it’s VERY different from my real estate investor list.
I think of twitter as more of a “cocktail party” where you’re talking about everything, not just your niche.
Whereas my list building people are SPECIFICALLY interested in learning more about how to invest in and make money in preforeclosures.
I guess what I’m saying is that my tweets are about a lot of personal/fun stuff, resulting in my followers being just as interested in Penn State football as they are real estate.
I love twitter to communicate, but it’s more for fun, and not as much for building profits in my online business.
Hi All,
Hey, I thought this was my secret. I am finding much more success connection with people in social networking circles than I am getting people to sign up for newsletters. Mike
I think all aspects of marketing have their place and their importance. That said, would I give up a mailing list of, say, 5K for 5K Twitter followers? Not on your life.
Twitter to me is a place to build community via conversation with real human beings AS a real human being. That’s valuable in and of itself, but w/ 140 characters it’s hard to set up a meaningful sales message without offending people.
Cheers,
Scot McKay
(or should I say, “@scotmckay”. LOL)
Hi Bob,
I’ve been in business for a long time and no matter whether it’s online or offline its not the size of the list that matters it’s the quality of the list. I find that although people follow and allow others to follow them on Twitter they are not a very targeted list for any kind of marketing or selling products to but it is a great way to build a relationship and tell people more about you as a person so once they like and trust you they will take a look at what you have to offer.
I would have to say that the best use of Twitter is to sift through all the people and find the few that you can build a relationship with that have similar interests to yours and then either get them on your “List” or see if you can help each other out by doing JV deals with them using each others list.
All the best to everyone for 2009…Let’s make this the best year ever!
Robert Garcia
Tampa, FL
Bob,
You are providing training that is so timely, thank you!
You always seem to have “the finger on the pulse” of what we need!
I agree, and see Twitter as a wonderful way to enhance (not replace) list building because one feeds the other!
I found these Twitter tips helped me:
1) Have a creative BIO
2) Have your own picture
3) Have a creative backround
4) Have an interesting “Twitter Personality”!
I updated my Twitter profile today based on these tips I learned and have an nice increase in followers
Thanks for everything!
Mike Saunders
http://www.Twitter.com/marketinghuddle
http://askbobtheteacher.com/free-intro.php
Download The Action Guide
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Hi Bob
I recently joined twitter and do not know much.
I think twitter is great. I set up to follow the people I am
learning from or with.
I hope my following will expand, reach my blog pointing
to my website.
If the blog offers real value and free assistance, I think it will work.
My blog and website are not finished but will be soon.
Thanks
Brian Foster
P.S. I loved you Cpanel Videos
You must have a list before you can have followers…
List building was around for a long time before the Internet came along. Used to be called building your customer base among other things.
On the Internet the list was the name of the game. It did not matter how you got people on the list just send them as many emails as you can without them unsubscribing because sooner or later they will buy.
Now it is changing. Traditionally we have bought from people we liked or stores we liked. Where most of us live there is more then one gas station but we go to the same one all the time. Most of the time it is because of the people who work there.
The Internet is making a shift from buying from anyone to buying from people we know and trust. The Internet is shifting back to building relationships with your customers and your future customers. Things are changing so that wonderful sales copy is not enough. Relationship building and name recognition is going to become two of the most important parts of doing business on the Internet in the future. Not something new just returning to the way business is conducted off the Internet.
Twitter is another type of list but Twitter is taking advantage of the change. Twitter is a way to build a list and build a relationship with the people on the list which in my book means it will be a great tool for the future.
Thanks
Bo Tipton
The Ornery Marketer
Hi Bob,
Such an excellent topic that energized many opinions and some great reading.
Just as many have already written, I believe both Twitter and email list building have their place. The two can be complementary to one another.
I have been been involved with social networking for about four months now. I wasn’t exactly sure how all of it was suppose to work in terms of list building. At first, it seemed very time consuming and I was wondering how in the world were people with 1000 friends managing to stay in touch with each and every one.
Ironically, it was through my email subscriptions that I received some very valuable courses which taught me some strategies and gave tips on how to use social networking more effectively and how to best generate income using these platforms. Following some of this advice definitely generated a list faster than email for me. I see this as being the case also for new people coming aboard IM because it allows them to create relationships which can facilitate building a larger email list.
From a personal view, I go to email when I am searching for targeted information. Based upon headlines that interest me in a particular area, those are the emails that get opened. So here email definitely has value.
Since learning how to better use Twitter, I thoroughly enjoy it and give it a higher priority to email.
[...] it can be. It is also used by many internet marketers, people such as Josh Spaulding, Bob Jenkins (Bob The Teacher), Michael Campbell, Lewis [...]
Hey Bob,
You are right, Twitter can be associated with listbuilding. I think the trouble most people get in with Twitter is they are too busy marketing. Twitter is a community. It needs to be approached differently than other forms of listbuilding. A good analogy I heard recently was you do not go into a party and start hawking your wares. It will get you shut down in a hurry. Twitter is the same, build friendships, those develop into other friends aka “followers” the business will take care of itself when trust is built.
Scott
http://ScottThrall.com
[...] BobTheTeacher placed an interesting blog post on Is Twitter More Important Than List Building?Here’s a brief overviewThe new media list building mentality is your follower network gives you access to ideas, connections, market research, partnerships, and profits. This multi-directional approach is more sustainable, and honestly, … [...]