RISE #38: Build A Twitter Following By Not Being A Social Snob

Tweet, Tweet, Tweet

I get this question all the time: “How do I get more followers on Twitter?”

Fair question.

Disclaimer: Of course, Twitter isn’t all about QUANTITY of followers. It is about QUALITY. Meaning people that are actually interested in you and perhaps your products or services and the other way around.

View Twitter As A Virtual Cocktail Party

If you are a Twitter snob, which of course you aren’t, you would stand in the middle of the cocktail party and wait for people to come up to you and shake your hand. A snob doesn’t go up to others and introduce themselves.

The equivalent on Twitter is those that don’t reach out to others. I’m not saying everyone with a TON of followers and very few they are following are wrong (and who am I to judge…I’m not the Twitter police), but usually these people:

1. Are celebrities and hang out with really important people (or something)

2. Already had big followings BEFORE Twitter (if so, I’m envious) from one way or another.

And that works for those people.

But, what about the rest of us?

The rest of us are mere mortals (which can be a great thing) so we are looking to build interest, relationships and more.

Awesome.

Here is my suggestion: Follow Interesting, Targeted People

Followers are important. If you want to form relationships with people and create a bigger following, you have to follow people that you ALREADY KNOW have an interest in your niche. All you are doing is extending your hand. Nice to meet you. Some will love you. Some will hate you. Some will forget you. Just like at a cocktail party, you might meet 50 people, follow up with 5 and have coffee with 2.

But, where are these targeted people?

Great question. Here is how you find them.

1 First, write down your niche and keywords that describe it. For example: Entrepreneurship, new media, for us. Or if I was a company that sells trucks I would write down key terms associated with trucks.

2. Go to Twitter Search (Search.Twitter.Com) or Mr. Tweet and start searching (I’m sure there are some more sites that help identify influences. If you know of any leave, ‘em below). Type in the key words. Find the influencers in your niche (and follow them of course). Go for 20 different folks and write them down.

3. Now the fun part. You know their followers are most likely interested in the same subjects you are. Here is the opportunity for the handshake. Follow the ones that look interesting (equivalent of extending your hand) and then let your charming personality take over.

What is your strategy/Favorite Twitter tools?

Jump in on the discussion and I’m sure we can ALL benefit.

And Always A Big Thanks To Our Local Presenting Sponsor Making RISE Possible: Johnny Londoff Chevrolet

Just for being a RISE viewer, you get haggle-free, supplier pricing whether you are from St. Louis or anywhere else at Johnny Londoff Chevrolet. A great guy really getting into online marketing and relationship building. Plus, make sure to check out my interview with Johnny (who is quite the character) and has some great advice for building your business.

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Comments

BlackredXtreme

Twitter Search is a wonderful tool. We have gained many followers, customers, and friends off using this utility. It's amazing because if you want to see who is interested in say for example "snowboarding"; Type that in the search box and read on!! From there, you can "mention" anyone and start a conversation. Informative video David... keep em coming.

-John

David Siteman Garland

Well said, John. Twitter search might be the most powerful "site" on the Internet. You can find people that normally marketers and advertisers would spend years and tons of money to find.

diypb

Dude,

Love your blog. I do twitter search almost daily trying to start conversations with (1) people who I feel would benefit from my product, and (2) people such as yourself who I feel will make my product better. It's an exhaustive process sometimes but that's the way I've been building my twitter following.

If there's a better way, I'd love to hear about it. I'm open to everything.

Thanks David

David Siteman Garland

Sounds like you have a great plan!

It is all about the human relationships and that sounds exactly like what you are doing.

Chris Reimer

David, calling someone a snob that has 10,000 followers and follows 23 - totally legit in my book. You have a rabid following that's hanging on your every word - you have FANS! - and you follow 23 back? And most of the time, those 23 you follow are not even yor fans - they are peers. Look at @wolfblitzercnn - he's not following fans of "The Situation Room" - he's following CNN colleagues, senators, etc.

Sure, they're not all "snobs," but following just a few people like this, I think, shows that you have a general disdain for your fans, instead of a genuine interest in them.

David Siteman Garland

Well said, Chris. Of course it varies per person and everyone is different.

There is a great opportunity to build an amazing network on Twitter (like you have). Being afraid or not wanting to follow will hold some people back.