How to engage people on Twitter

June 25, 2009 in admin
Tags: networking, social networks

Sharifah Hardie inspired this article.

I know, I know: everybody on Twitter has their own idea of how things ought to be done. But I’m right, and in your heart you know it. LOL So this is how you build relationships on Twitter via engaging others:

• Strike up a conversation. I shouldn’t have to tell adults this, but there are nameless thousands on Twitter who never do. Remember, though: if it’s personal, it ain’t public.
• Enable others to jump in by avoiding in-jokes and sentence fragments, if possible. Let people know what you’re talking about.
• Invite others, by Twitter handle if necessary, to jump in to a conversation you think might be interesting to them.
• Try to minimize criticism: it doesn’t make anyone look as bad as it makes you look. (This is particularly hard for me; harder than the rest put together. I have a bit of a temper and I’m easy to tweak.)
• Invite your Twitter friends to know each other (and maybe follow).
• Share your likes and dislikes, but give reasons! Don’t just be a hater! Any old sod out there can do THAT. Aren’t YOU special?
• Give links for the likes: music, movies, books, articles. Comment on the links!
• For Heaven’s sake, don’t spam. LOL
• If someone engages with you, it’s an open invitation. Jump right in there!
• Remind yourself that your conversations are more telling to others than your proclamations. It’s social media, dude, not the classifieds.
• Remind yourself that others consider their lives more important than your book, your radio show, your guest appearance. No offense. Win them over and they’ll champion your books and shows!

Michael Falk, who told me he’s new to Twitter, acts rather like someone who really gets it. Look at this example of engagement:

Michael Falk engages Owen Greaves