Twitter Recommendations on How to Gain & Retain Followers

The Following tips are all things I have implemented into my Twitter practices. I believe that because of these I have been able to create a reputation of being a good Twitter user. Enjoy!

Twitter Do's

1. Do engage with other Twitter users - It doesn't take much to get noticed with a few comments daily. Many of my current clients came from me making some sort of comment to them and beginning a relationship. Really, how long does it take to type 140 characters?

2. Follow People Who Follow You - Returning the follow favor is great Twitter etiquette. You don't want to be the guy that has 10,000 followers and only follows 183 people, looks suspicious. I use a service called Social Oomph to automatically follow back everyone that follows me. If I find someone to be obnoxious or spammy, I just unfollow them.

3. Do Use #FollowFriday (properly) for Recommendations - Follow Friday is a wonderful tool when used correctly. It was originated so that good Twitter users could get recognition for being just that, good. The most effective way to use this is as follows: Enter 1 username per tweet and tell why people should check them out. For example, here is a recommendation I got this Friday from @jodimaas: #Followfriday Check out Social Media Rockstar @mcort. She Shares Great Content! ....Thanks Jodi!

4. Do Use the 80/20 Rule When Posting a Tweet - This is especially important when you are using Twitter for business. 80% of your tweets should offer something to your followers that isn't self serving for you. For example: share a piece of good content, a quote, a joke, a recommendation etc... If you do follow the 80% rule then you will earn the right to post something self serving 20% of the time. Such as: a link to your blog, a free offer you have etc... I feel this is the most important rule of Twitter, please follow this recommendation

5. Thank People, Manners Go a Long Way - First thing every day I go through my mentions and thank anyone who Re-Tweeted anything I posted or who made mention of me in a positive way. I also make sure that I thank anyone who gave me a Follow Friday recommendation!

6. Be As You Are - Transparency is a huge buzz word in Social Media. I go 100% by the "Be As You Are" Rule. I am always me &  I do not try to be anyone else, that's false advertising. I want people to like me for who I really am. My theory on the nay-sayers to transparency is that they have too much to hide. Myself, I am proud of who I am and what I offer..... : )

Twitter Dont's

1. Don't Spam - Besides the obvious reason that people hate spammers, there is also the issue of Twitter giving you the slap. Bottom line - they will kick you off of Twitter for spamming

2. Watch the Foul Language - No one likes to hear a foul mouthed trucker all of the time. Once in a while if there is a headline in an article I am posting with a swear word in it I will post it but, I usually use symbols instead. Plus, who wants to sound like an uneducated hillbilly anyways?

3. Don't Post a Self Serving Link in an Autoresponder - Autoresponders are set up so that as soon as someone follows you, they will get a welcome message. FYI: They are very controversial due to the fact that so many people's AR's have a link to them in it. No Good!! I myself do not have an autoresponder because I hate all of the ones I get. Not only are they mostly spam, I tend to miss direct messages that I wanted to get because they got lost in all of the junk. (I have my account set up with optmeout to not accept AR's)

4. Don't Bash Other Twitter Users (even if they deserve it) - Keep personal issues between you and the user you have a beef with! Use DM's to hash out your issues...others don't want to see this stuff. Two wrongs don't make a right! Be the bigger person!

5. Don't Tweet to a Sales Letter or Squeeze Page - This will be labeled as spam in people’s eyes! If you want to offer them something, wrap it in good content and earn the right to show them your page.

Twitter is a powerful tool for all of us! Let's keep it a great place to be by following some simple guidelines...Thanks in advance for being a good Twitter user.

Michelle Corteggiano

Having Trouble Navigating and/or Concerned About Time Management on Twitter? Check out the guide 1000's have used to learn and master Twitter!

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How to Get Facebook Fans & Twitter Followers via Text Messaging

Facebook and Twitter have made it even easier to acquire “likes” and “followers” with a simple text message. Think of the magnitude of this…now you can build your digital fan base even faster by leveraging your face to face audiences.

It’s simple:

For Facebook, have them type in like username (no spaces in username)  to 32665

• Quick heads up here. The username you will enter here is the name you have chosen for your Facebook Unique  URL. If you do not have a shortened, unique URL go to http://facebook.com/username to secure one before this technique can be used. Also note that you cannot secure your fan page URL until you have 25 people who have liked your page.

 For Twitter, have them type in follow username (no spaces in username) to 40404

• The username would be the name you have chosen as your Twitter name

Here are some great ideas on where you can use this powerful new tool to get more followers very quickly.  Hint: Call to Action, give the directions on exactly what to do!

Signage in Your Store: Have a sign with a picture of how to text this info right next to the cash register, maybe even offer them a small discount on the spot for following you.

At Trade Shows or Events: Same thing, have a sign up that is telling people exactly how to do this. Offer something small in exchange for their following.

At Presentations/Meetings: I begin every one of my presentations with a slide that shows the power of a real time audience by asking people to text like atiattractionmarketing to 32665. I do a giveaway to one of the new fans at the end of my presentation.

In Traditional Marketing Media: Try adding the tag line text follow username or like username and the perspective number to any and all of your traditional marketing. Business cards, TV, Radio, Newspaper, Magazine, Direct Mail etc…

On Social Sites: Once in a while (3-4 times a year) it is okay to solicit new followers on your social channels. Post a request to text this info to become a fan or follower

Email Signature: Add the call to action to your email signature. This way every email provides you with a new fan or follower opportunity

Social Backgrounds: Add a call to action request on your Facebook & Twitter backgrounds to like or follow you

Website or Blog: Have a static area designed just for the call to action to like or follow you on your site

Profile & Bio Areas: The bio/profile area is one of the biggest areas people visit on blogs and in social sites. Add the call to action to your bios everywhere...it sure can’t hurt!

Hope you find this helpful! To get more tips and great social info please

Text like atiattractionmarketing to 32665 and

Text follow mcort to 40404!

Aslo, please share your call to action for both your Facebook page and your Twitter page in the comment section of this blog post below...

 Michelle Corteggiano

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Why Losing Followers in the "Spammer Twitter Slap" is a Good Thing

I was on Twitter the other day and I saw a tweet come through that said: "I just lost over 400 followers,I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. Anyone else losing followers"

Although I hadn't lost followers at that point, I did the next day, over 500 followers. My first reaction was booo, I lost over 500 followers that I worked hard to get but it didn't take me but a second to realize this was a good thing....right? Losing followers a good thing? Weird!

Basically, Twitter did exactly what we wanted them to do. The got rid of the rif-raf, they slapped the spammers!

Twitter Slap: Here is why it was good to lose followers

Spammers Suck - A good portion of the spammers (hundreds of 1000's from what I hear) got what they deserved, the boot! Including one that would not leave me alone.....bye-bye saltydriod.

The Cream Rises to the Top - The people who use Twitter properly now have a chance to stand out and do what they do best....offer "good" to the Twitter community!

An Industry Standard is Set - Being a Social Media specialist, I am very aware of all of the Tom, Dick and Harry's that are using our powerful tools wrong. Now, people know that there is a consequence to their blatant disregard for improper use. Way to go Twitter!

Remember people, this happened to all of us, not just you. We all lost followers, the ones we really didn't want in the first place. A purified following is a good thing : )

 Michelle Corteggiano

Want to stay updates on the latest in social and mobile media marketing...SOMO? Click NOW to get access to The SOMO Journal