tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71191422886879602112011-04-21T20:52:51.066-04:00Musings from a son of a steelworker, who turned out to be an IT professional ....Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04619113860481617178noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119142288687960211.post-74644531009244535042009-04-29T22:41:00.003-04:002009-04-29T23:07:12.759-04:00Admittedly, when I first created my Twitter account back in 2006, I totally didn't understand it. Aside from a few people (@chrisbrogan, whom I worked with in Boston, being the first follow/follower) I didn't reach a critical mass of connections. So, I became disinterested.<br /><br />Only lately have I rediscovered Twitter. What changed? Three things: 1) the creation of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wefollow</span> Twitter user directory and 2) the creation of the Twitter search engine and 3) a change in how I follow people.<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wefollow</span> directory is a very useful tool in that it asks users to identify interests via <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">hashtags</span>. So what I have done is ask myself, what am I interested in that is included in this list? Then using the Twitter search engine, query on "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">wefollow</span> #<some>". Then from the list of users, start following those who have interesting posts. I have found for every 10 people I follow, 4 - 5 follow me back. By using this method, I link up with people with common interests, and avoid all my Twitter followers relegated to people who want to sell me stuff I really do not want to buy...<br /><br />So how to you keep followers? I offer up two methods: 1) Post interesting tweets (it showcases your personality) and 2) Engage them! @ reply their tweets and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">DM</span> them. This builds a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">relationship based on mutual interests. One Twitter user @StorySeeker provided this insight and I must say it is very good.<br /><br />After I discovered all this, I have found my Twitter experience to be very meaningful. Friends who do not understand the attraction ask me why I bother. And I say Twitter is an excellent way to meet, and socialize with, interesting people.<br /><br />---------<br />The URL for the wefollow user directory is: http://wefollow.com<br />The URL for the Twitter search engine is: http://search.twitter.com<br /></span></some><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7119142288687960211-7464453100924453504?l=chrisvitalos.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04619113860481617178noreply@blogger.com0