Facebook is pretty intuitive when it comes to having conversations with people.
On the other hand, Twitter is a little less so.
Let me share a few tips on how to have conversations with people using Twitter.
First, why should you?
There are a lot of people on Twitter. You can post a tweet and mention anyone’s name and they will see it. That’s pretty powerful. You could reach a celebrity, an athlete, or even the President of the United States!
Now of course, the more popular the person, the more messages they receive. So, will they actually see your message and will they respond?
And for some people, they don’t even know how to check for messages.
Participate in a Tweet Chat
By the way, a great way to have conversations on Twitter is through a Tweet Chat, where there are a lot of people who are tweeting at the same time using a common hashtag. Tweet Chats are hosted through a site like Twubs.com.
For many people, you can reach them with a message and even get a response.
Now, remember that when you post a tweet with someone’s twitter ID, it is visible to the public. They will be able to see it on your page, on the Tweet Stream (Newsfeed) or in search results.
But, you can use that to your benefit. It shows people who you are tweeting with.
So, here’s a tip. From time to time, tweet somebody important. You might actually get a response back and if you do, that could bring you more followers.
And remember to click on the Connect button on the Twitter site and look for your Mentions (that is what they call it when someone tweets you.)
So, how do you reach a lot of people on Twitter quickly? Just participate in a Tweet Chat!
Here are 3 quick tips to participate in a Tweet Chat:
1. You don’t have to read every post
In an active Tweet Chat, there are far too many posts to read.
When you visit the Twubs.com site, it will present a scrolling stream of messages.
Do your best to follow the conversation.
2. Retweet good tips
One simple thing you can do is to retweet messages that appear.
Most often, the featured guests will share content that is topical and informational.
If you see something you like, then retweet it.
Don’t overdo it though. Remember that everything you tweet or retweet will show up on your Twitter page and will appear in your follower’s Tweet Stream (Newsfeed).
3. Reply to people on a topic you like
As you can imagine, you have an opportunity to connect and chat with other participants in a Tweet Chat. Remember, your messages can only be 140 characters or less. So, keep your messages short and to the point.
Simply respond to something that someone else posted. Or, share your own tip or strategy.
A Tweet Chat is a great way to experience Twitter and create new relationships online.
Be sure to follow the people you meet and add them to a list to make it easy to find their tweets.
Keep an eye out for opportunities to join a Tweet Chat and get started.
Rick Cooper
Online Marketing and Social Media Trainer
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