How I use Twitter

My latest strategy for getting the most out of Twitter

In case you don’t know what it is yet…  Twitter is the hottest new technology for communication in the world.  Twitter is, today, what email was about 20 years ago — the ‘must have’ communication power tool.

The Two Powerful Benefits of Twitter — Choose Only One?

There are certain people (my real life superheros, captains of industry, enlightenment, industry insiders, people in the know, people I’d like to be when I grow up) that I’d love to know their every thought.  And there are a few I’d like their every thought to come in on my cell phone instantly via sms (like my immediate family).

However, all the other superfluous people’s thoughts would dilute the really great stuff I really wanna read.  There would just be too much.  It would be like trying to take a sip of only the very best water… from the end of a full throttle firehose.

On the other hand, this strategy would not be the best for community building, nor for networking, nor for audience building.  I can’t expect loads of people to follow me if I don’t follow them back.  I’d have very few followers.  Thus, when I say something… almost no one would “hear” it.  And that’s no fun.  No feedback.  No community.

Until now, once new users have sort of “figured out” Twitter… how it works…  They’ve pretty much resigned themselves to accept the fact that they’re going to have to choose.  Do you want to follow only those whose thoughts and ideas turn you on?  Or do you want to build a large vibrant community of mutual followers… and an audience you can interact with, and exchange ideas with?  Which is it?

Well…  Believe it or not, some people, (without naming any names) create more than one email address for themselves.  One for normal email.  And one for hanky panky private stuff.  Go figure!  Imagine that!

I say, why not make everyone happy.  And why not get all you can get out of the awesome power of Twitter …both at the same time…?

Why not have two Twitter accounts..?

Two Accounts

The first account is all about me.  …and my own selfish indulgence.  …and who I want to read.  …and who I’d love to connect with.  The simple idea behind this account is… very similar to a news reader.  I don’t broadcast anything here, I only communicate directly with a very few select set of people I consider VIPs, or heroes, in the world.

The second account is all about broadcasting.  It’s about my networking, my community building, and my audience building.  It’s about who’s reading me.  I post everything here.  I microblog here.  I status update here.  I chat here.  I twitter here without reserve.  But…  I never read anything here.  I only read my @replies addressed to me here.  I follow thousands of people here, so reading the main “you + friends” timeline here would be almost the same as reading the public timeline.  You see, what most people don’t think about is…  Anyone who is following thousands of people, is, in fact, following no one.  You are really following zero people.  No one can follow thousands of people.  …in reality.  Think about it.  Once you follow more than 100 to 200 people, and you’re actually trying to READ it….. forget it.  It all becomes a blur.  You won’t remember who any of them are…  You may as well be reading the public timeline at that point.

TYPE I – THE QUALITY CONTENT READER & HERO CONNECTOR – PRIVATE VIP

(THE INCOMING TWITTER ACCOUNT)

Almost like my private “unlisted” Twitter account. Only for “power conversations”.

I’d never post.  Only @replies in both directions.

I’d never look at, or pay any attention to, who is following me – unless it is to block people whom I don’t want following me on this account.

I’d leave the iPhone web interface, as well as the normal web interface, logged in to this account… so that I could pop in regularly and see what my heroes and gurus are talking about…  and even at @reply to them.

For the added benefit of the sense of connectedness of my closest loved ones, on this account, I would leave SMS “Device Updates On” – only for my immediate family (and very closest best friends).  That way, I would receive an alert – right now – telling me their thoughts.  This makes me feel closer to them and connected to them.

I’d leave phone (device) updates on always… 24/7…  but only for immediate family and 3-5 best friends.  Not for anyone else.  Then, any time I’m bored (i.e. waiting at the dentist office), I could read my Twitter feed of my heros & gurus online from my iPhone browser.  I could do the same from my desk frequently too, obviously.

This way, my phone won’t be beeping and interrupting me for anyone other than my immediate family and closest few friends  (unless one of these heroes DMs me!  …which is also cool!).

Follow via SMS on my iPhone (device): Only my immediate family.

Follow on Twitter: Only the coolest people in the world.

Following Me: Don’t care if anyone follows me.  This account is for me to follow who I want to follow.

Obviously, this is the account I have tied to my cell phone (so I can get sms updates from immediate family).  However, I never post to this account – except @replies to my heros – these super cool people I follow.  And I couldn’t care less who follows this account.  It only exists to follow and reply (@reply) to, and correspond with, my heros.

Another side benefit:  All my friends and family and audience won’t see every silly question I ask my heros, in public (via @reply).  (With only one Twitter account, every follower sees every @reply you post.)

I could even ‘block’ some followers from following me on this account, if I wanted to.

This is the account I would keep logged in on my Twitter on my iPhone browser, so I can read and correspond with all my heros.  …and connected via SMS as well.    But never post to.

TYPE II – THE BROADCASTER & AUDIENCE BUILDER – TOTALLY PUBLIC

(THE OUTGOING TWITTER ACCOUNT)

My public Twitter account.  The one I list and promote everywhere.

I would never look at the main “Me + Friends” stream.  I’d use this account for broadcasting only – through Ping.fm.  And at least once a day do my @replies to all who have @replied or messaged me – without fail – even if just to say “thanks”.

I would frequently (1) stop following all who don’t follow me back. And (2) keep following loads more interesing people all the time – in hopes that they would reciprocate by following me back. Then, regularly (weekly perhaps?), repeat this two-step process.

I’d use Ping.fm Post by Email, primarily, to post to this account. And I’d do all my @replies when sitting at my computer, at least once a day, like doing email.

Follow via SMS on my iPhone (device): Do not connect to cell phone.

Follow on Twitter: Everyone. Be sure to also always follow all who follow me.  (use http://friendorfollow.com )  And, later, if you run into a follow limit, stop following those who don’t end up following you back (just to make room for more).

Following Me: Everyone.  My entire fan base, community, audience, networking circle, etc.

You know you want to…

Follow me on twitter, at  http://twitter.com/brucewagner