On August 8, 2015, I began my Twitter journey with 426 Followers. If you have read my earlier posts, you know that this number represents my total lack of effort at actually forming a Twitter “presence”. I had this bright idea to sit back and see how many new Twitter followers I would gain NATURALLY – no actual promotion or pleading or paying attention on my end.
Yeah, that didn’t work.
By March 30, 2016, my Follower count had increased to 669. That’s less than 300 new followers in eight months…no bueno! This was taking too long. I decided to stir things up a bit. It was time to research and test out some Twitter strategies and see if they make a difference. (Answer: they do.)
So I started researching how to build an audience and keep them engaged. I’ve been testing out some of the tools available and learning new ways to engage with my current followers, while increasing visibility of my profile to attract new Twits.
So now that I have a decent number of Followers, it’s time for Strategy #4: Understanding Lists.
Twitter Lists are useful, helpful, and effective for managing and optimizing your Twitter experience. A Twitter List is simply a way of categorizing people you “follow” on Twitter into specific groups, making it easier to find tweets from the users that are important to you, in a streamlined manner. Viewing a List will show you a stream of Tweets from only the accounts on that list.
Two very important things to know:
1. You don’t have to be following a user in order to add him or her to a list.
2. Tweets from your lists do not show up in your primary feed.
If you find Twitter accounts that you are interested in reading from time to time, but you don’t want to see every single tweet in your primary stream, you can put them into a List and read those tweets when the time is right for you.
Creating a Twitter list is fairly simple. Simply go to https://twitter.com//lists, and then on “create new list.” Twitter lists can be public (visible to everyone and searchable on Google) and private (visible only to you). You can create your own lists or subscribe to lists created by others. You can have up to 1,000 Twitter lists and each list can be up to 5,000 users long. You do not have to be following a user to add them to a list.
So here’s the breakdown:
Lists are good. You can use Lists to get organized, follow relevant & influential people in your industry, recommend cool accounts and engage with others. Lists are useful for organizing your Twitter streams based on your interests, and they are definitely worth trying if you want to streamline your account.
I NEED SOME HELP NOW PEOPLE.
Now that I’ve covered Account Managers, Twiends, and Twitter Lists, what else is out there that can help grow my audience or streamline my account? Please let me know in the Comments!
I guess it’s time to hit the books and find some new strategies to increase my Twitter presence … next post will be when I hit 3000!
My Personal Guide to Increasing my Twitter Followers is shaping up quite nicely! Instead of just doing nothing and waiting for organic followers, I’m testing out some of the tools available and learning new ways to engage with my current followers, while increasing visibility of my profile to attract new Twits.
So the most fabulous service offered to grow your Twitter following is Twiends – hands down. Twiends is a discovery tool and community-building service that helps users to grow their Twitter audience and reach. The site is generally well regarded – plus it’s fast and free! I joined in April 2016 and within 30 days my follower count rose from 669 to 1474 (as I am writing this I just received a new follower!). Currently, I am averaging 15 – 25 new followers daily, with a little over 60% retention.
Now, I read a lot about Twiends before joining. First, I wanted to make sure it was for real. I researched the company and read through the frequently asked questions. I checked out review sites for more information. I did my due diligence. Second, I made sure that Twiends did not violate any of Twitter’s service guidelines (it does not). Third, I played around with the free portion of the service to figure out how it worked. And finally, I researched Twiends follower retention.
Here is what you need to know:
1. Your Twiends network is based on Impressions.
An Impression is an ad display – similar to putting yourself up on a big billboard – with the goal that people will see you and choose to follow you. Twiends also acts as a directory based on interests, so you know who you are connecting with based upon their Impression. By hovering over an Impression, you can see the person’s profile, their friend-to-follower ratio, and their latest tweet.
Being active on Twiends (following new people) increases the number of Impressions you get organically on the site. You can get a nice amount of followers just by being active. I found that there was a 1 in 3 chance that when I added a new connection, I received a new connection.
You can also “feature” yourself by buying Impressions, and choosing how you want the number of impressions to be allocated throughout the day. Note: I added a Featured Impression subscription, and I love it – but I still make sure to follow new people with similar interests on a daily basis.
2. Twiends followers are definitely worth having.
I read that many of the followers obtained through Twiends are “not worth having”. Sure, I was following new people and they were following me – but did they remain my loyal followers or did I lose them after a day or two?
I found that many of the new followers I picked up are still around, and engaged! This is partly due to my amazing tweeting skills (of course) and partly to the Twiends feature that lets you view and follow people with similar interests. Sure I got a few spam accounts following me, but who doesn’t? Out of the 805 new followers I have gained, less than 40 were spam accounts (I checked this through TwitterAudit).
3. Integrate other tools to get the most out of Twiends.
Overall, I found that while a portion of people will unfollow fairly quickly, there are others around that are in it for the long haul. If you really want to make sure that you are not following someone who unfollowed you, it’s easy to check and unfollow them right back with CrowdFire – super simple and also free – simply check your ‘Recent Unfollowers’ daily and remove the offending follow. TwitterAudit aka Audit Your Followers (also free) allows you to discover just how many fake accounts are following you, and block those users.
4. Follow back – but not everyone!
It is important to follow back – but only if you are truly interested in that persons activity. In order to gain the followers you want, BE the type of follower you want! Twiends allows you to see the person’s account profile and their latest tweet right from the dashboard. Everyone wants tons of people following them, but many don’t actually want to follow anyone in return. You can quickly see if someone is by looking at their friend/follower ratios. If their follower count is significantly larger than their friend count, it’s pretty clear that they don’t follow back and probably unfollow very quickly.
Many people expect you to follow them back, and if you do not reciprocate, they will quickly disappear. Some will DM you asking for a follow back (I usually respond directly to these people and follow them – they cared enough to reach out, so it doesn’t hurt to be courteous.) But it does no good to follow every follower if you are just not interested in what they are about. I follow back about 40% of those who follow me, but only if I am not opposed to reading their tweets!
And that brings me to the Breakdown:
I learned that Twiends are good to have, stay active to generate organic impressions, use tools to deal with your new followers, and only follow accounts that truly interest you. Twiends is working out for me, and I find it to be a great service.
Time to move on to Strategy #4: Twitter Upkeep. In order to keep your audience engaged and your timeline looking fresh, you have to stay on top of your Twitter account. In my next post, I will discuss several tools you can use to clean up and streamline your account. If you want to tag along with me, you can either email me directly or tell everyone about your experience in the Comments!
One of the most time-worn quotes in describing the law school experience, is the law school dean telling incoming fist-year law students, “Look to your left, look to your right, because one of you won’t be here by the end of the year.” For me, it involved treating law school like a full time job, which included spending most Saturday nights in front of my books and a computer listening to Saturday Night with the 70’s on the radio, and knowing that my classmates were doing the same thing. When we did get together, it usually involved turning our minds off and having a couple of beers. After law school, I got a job that had 2,000 billable hours and weekend and night “face time” as an expectation – but, of course, not a requirement.
As a new lawyer, the emphasis is to focus on career development, and the life…
If you’ve read my blog, you know what is coming. It’s time for a Twitter count!
A few months ago, I decided time spent coming up with ways to enthrall my virtual followers with stories of my day and my ideas is just too much responsibility. My elaborate plan to gain Twitter followers consisted of this one mantra – DO NOTHING.
Thus, this number represents my total lack of effort at actually forming a Twitter “presence”.
Here’s how it’s going:
As of 2/9/16, the number of Followers I have on Twitter has grown from 426 to 469.
In six months – that’s right – SIX MONTHS – I have gained 43 Followers.
That is Pretty. Darn. Good. For doing NOTHING.
Now, some would say – wow, that really SUCKS! That is sad, sad, SAD. An average of 7.1 new people per month? How can this be good? Shouldn’t you be trying to reach thousands?
Here’s why. People HAVE found my blog and chosen to hit that Follow button based upon content alone. No gimmicks. No effort, chemicals or preservatives added.
My idea was to sit back and see how many new Twitter followers I would gain NATURALLY.
Therefore – SUCCESS!
It’s time to focus on what I did RIGHT that convinced 43 NEW PEOPLE to choose to follow my silly little tweets.
And to do that, I’m giving myself a homework assignment. I will look up 10 articles on how to naturally increase my Twitter presence, and share my findings. Wish me luck!
Please feel free to COMMENT, as I’m open to suggestions and thoughts.
A cappuccino (/ˌkæpʉˈtʃiːnoʊ/; Italian pronunciation: [kapputˈtʃiːno]) is an Italian coffee drink which is traditionally prepared with espresso, hot milk and steamed milk foam.
“The word cappuccino comes from the Capuchin friars and is the diminutive form of cappuccio in Italian, meaning hood or something that covers the head. This popular coffee beverage got it’s name not from the hood on their habits but from the color of the hooded robes that the friars wore. (The Capuchin friars is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans.)
In 1945 Achille Gaggia invented the modern espresso machine which further popularized the cappuccino.
Mid 1990′s – Cappuccino was made more widely available to North Americans as upscale coffee houses sprang up.
Late 1990′s to Early 2000′s – Cappuccinos became popular in the United States concurrent with the boom in the American coffee industry.
Start of 21st Century – A modified short-cut version of the cappuccino started being served at fast-food chains.
While steaming the milk you must pay close attention to attain the correct ratio of foam, thus making the cappuccino one of the most difficult espresso-based beverages to make properly.
A skilled barista may create artistic shapes while he/she is pouring milk on top of the espresso coffee.
OBSERVE
Visit your favorite coffee shop to enjoy a nice warm and delicious cup of cappuccino and use #CappuccinoDay to post on social media.”
I had an idea. A bright one – shiny and sparkly and oh so cheeky.
I decided that the best thing to do would be NOTHING.
That is correct. My bright idea was to sit back and see how many new Twitter followers I would gain NATURALLY – no actual promotion or pleading or paying attention on my end.
I figured that since I was posting on FB and updated my LinkedIn page that some people would drift this way organically – no effort, chemicals or preservatives added.
The result was 14 new Followers on Twitter in 60 days.
Yes, 14.
Let’s Count Together – 1, 2, 3 … 14.
Wow. My bright idea was really quite dim.
So what happened?
It’s research time!
Was I too lax? boring? Annoying?
Did people UN-follow me? If so, why? What did I do wrong?
Flip side – what did I do RIGHT that convinced 14 NEW PEOPLE to choose to follow my silly little tweets?
Please feel free to COMMENT, as I’m open to suggestions and thoughts.
Answer: If you want big booms and bright colors and a hint of the irreverent, you are Team Marvel. If you are into angst and sorrow and sucking all of the joy out of life, DC is the perfect destination. As they are so fond of pointing out ad nauseum, they “are not Marvel.” I guess that makes them the Anti-Marvel?
There are generally two schools of thought when it comes to universe construction: the seven day method and the Big Bang. The former defines itself as a thoughtful process with a note of fantastical whimsy. The latter works–but damn if it isn’t loud and messy.
After this year’s San Diego Comic Con, DC Comics made clear it favours the Big Bang. They recently revealed two film trailers, one each for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, to explode the idea of a shared DC film universe into the minds of the general public. The films are set for release in March and August of 2016, respectively, and together represent DC’s first tangible attempt to achieve this end. The reason for this new direction is obvious. DC just spent much of the last decade losing ground to their rival, Marvel Comics.
Unlike the song by Alanis Morisette, this really IS ironic.
During WWII, my jewish grandfather wrote home to my grandmother on Hitler’s Stationary.
Why? Because “F**k you Hitler” – that’s why!
I used to play with his trunk from the war when i was little, which included a helmet and a pack of cigarettes. (Those are the only items I remember). It sat in our basement forever until my mom sent it to my uncle almost 20 years ago.
The Miami Herald picked up on the story after my uncle contacted the Holocaust museum in D.C. to donate the letter, among other items.
I’ve been neglecting my blog for quite some time – “real life” can really interfere with my social media and internet addiction.
It’s definitely time for me to start expressing myself here once again. This tiny corner where I share my thoughts helps put a lot of issues into perspective, and it is simply a comfortable place to VENT sometimes.
There are so many interesting topics surrounding our daily lives. We are living history every day – AMAZING, SCARY, INFURIATING, FUN, CRAZY – you name it, it’s out there and we are all a part of the story.
Some of the topics that interest me are charities and causes, Anti-Bullying, the Arts, social change, mental health awareness, current events, and whatever else may catch my attention (IFLS, after all).
I WELCOME COMMENTS – keeps it interesting. I’m all for open discourse. By no means do I think everyone will share my opinion, but I do hope that people will engage and upgrade the conversation by commenting on a post, or even emailing me directly! We are always learning and growing 🙂
If you want my take on a specific subject, feel free to hit me up! Not sure whether I will have anything of value to say on the subject, but I will try my best.
Fair Warning – I’ve been collecting graphics and memes for as long as I can remember (psp tubes anyone?), and I plan to upload my favorites as often as possible. I also have the tendency to share random photos of my dogs (hey, everyone has their quirks – no apologies).
Forwarded Message from a Friend, edited by me with links and quotes. Please share if you agree and support this boycott/awareness campaign.
BOYCOTT!
Why is this post necessary?
To promote TOLERANCE and STOP the HATE.
Mel Gibson has a new movie coming out named The Edge Of Darkness.
I am asking you to not only BOYCOTT the movie but to forward this post
to every group affected by bigotry and hate, and every support group that you know.
SEE QUOTES AT END OF EACH SECTION.
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In recent years, Gibson has become better known for his public tirades — which have included racist, misogynistic, and anti-immigrant slurs.
(Detailed account of his “long, hateful history” available here).
However, there is little RECENT discourse, to utter silence, from women’s groups, the Anti-Defamation League, even the White House!
President Obama had a few succinct words to say about Tiger Woods, why not about a national celebrity who’s insulted African Americans, Latinos, Jews and WOMEN? (not an Obama rant, just a serious question)
PLEASE NOTE: His hateful public remarks are NOT representative of the Christian community, but he actively encourages such beliefs. He has also purportedly stated that he “called Pope John Paul II “the anti-Christ” and “the devil”. Source.
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LGBT DISCRIMINATION:
Before Mel Gibson made headlines for spewing anti-Semitic, racist, misogynistic, and anti-immigrant slurs at his ex-girlfriend, he was known for his highly publicized homophobic rants.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) accused Gibson of homophobia after a December 1991 interview in the Spanish newspaper El País in which he made derogatory comments about homosexuals. Gibson later defended his comments and rejected calls to apologize. However, Gibson joined GLAAD in hosting 10 lesbian and gay filmmakers for an on-location seminar on the set of the movie Conspiracy Theory in January 1997. In 1999 when asked about the comments to El País, Gibson said, “I shouldn’t have said it, but I was tickling a bit of vodka during that interview, and the quote came back to bite me on the ass.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Gibson.
Are drunken quotes not indicative of honest and uncensored thought? You decide.
Quotes:
“Homosexuals take it up the ass. This is only for taking a s**t.”
Discussing homosexuals in an interview with El Pais magazine, December 1991.
“I became an actor despite that. But with this look, who’s going to think I’m gay? It would be hard to take me for someone like that. Do I sound like a homosexual? Do I talk like them? Do I move like them?”
Discussing homosexuals in an interview with El Pais magazine, December 1991.
“I don’t think there’s an apology necessary, and I’m certainly not giving one. [Those remarks were a response] to a direct question. If someone wants my opinion, I’ll give it. What, am I supposed to lie to them?”
Good Morning America
“I’ll apologize when hell freezes over. They can fuck off.”
Playboy in 1995, about whether he’d issue an apology to gays and lesbians, as GLAAD recommended.
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THE JEWISH COMMUNITY and ANTI-SEMITISM:
HOLOCAUST DENIAL:
If you recall Mel’s father is a fervent denier of the fact that the Holocaust ever happened, referring to the tragedy as a “hoax”.
“The annihilation of six million Jews must be a hoax, since it would have taken too long for the Germans to cremate that many bodies” “Germans did not have enough gas to murder that many people.”
Mel supports his father’s beliefs.
Gibson had this to say about his father: “My dad taught me my faith and I believe what he taught me. The man never lied to me in his life” –a curious remark, considering his father’s many lies about the Holocaust. Reader’s Digest.
Mel purports to believe in the Holocaust, but only in public, and in very coached terms:
During an interview “Do you believe the Holocaust had happened?” he replied:
“Yes, of course. Atrocities happen. War is horrible. World War Two killed tens of millions of people. Some of them were Jews in concentration camps.”
Mel Gibson may not have been denying the Holocaust, but he was certainly distorting and minimizing it. Instead of acknowledging that the Nazis carried out a deliberate strategy of genocide, he reduced the Jewish victims to the same kind of accidental and random casualties that take place in every war.
THE ARREST and ANTI-SEMITIC RANT:
In July of 2006, Mel Gibson was stopped and arrested for drunk driving near his house in Malibu by Deputy James Mee.
The police report detailed repeated threats against Mee made by Gibson, who said that he” owned Malibu” and “would get even” with the deputy.
The report also detailed Gibson’s “barrage of anti-Semitic remarks” in which he said, “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world” before asking the deputy, who is Jewish: “Are you a Jew?”
He has to date never apologized to the deputy or to the Jewish people.
Audio tapes have also emerged that captured Gibson spewing violent, racist, anti-Semitic tirades.
Quotes:
“Fucking Jews… Jews are responsible for all wars in the world.”
July 28, 2006 on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California after pulled over for speeding and drunk driving.
Mel Gibson ‘hates Jews’, says screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, screenwriter for the now sidelined Maccabees film.
According to Joe, Mel has said:
“What I really want to do with this movie is to convert the Jews to Christianity.”
“Most ‘gatekeepers’ of American companies were ‘Hebes’ who ‘controlled their bosses.’”
“The Holocaust was ‘mostly a lot of horsesh*t,’
Gibson “regularly used the terms “Hebes,” “oven-dodgers,” and “Jew-boys”.
He added that Gibson made various false accusations, including that the Torah refers to sacrificing Christian babies.
_________________________
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION:
To his then-girlfriend (whom he physically and verbally abused):
“You’re an embarrassment to me. You look like a f***ing pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n***ers, it will be your fault.” – ON TAPE.
The L.A. Chapter of the NAACP reacted to Mel Gibson using the “N” word … calling Mel “an out of date and out of control racist.” Source.
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ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENTS:
Mel Gibson has spewed hatred about blacks and Jews, and has been caught on tape making a bigoted remark about Hispanics.
Mel referred to one of his staffers as a “wetback,” Radaronline.com reports.
“I will report her to the f**king people that take f**king money from the wetbacks,” he said.
‘Wetbacks’ is a slur originally used to disparage Mexicans who swam across the Rio Grande to enter Texas illegally. It seems Mel was threatening to turn his staffer over to immigration authorities.
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So again – why is this post necessary?
To educate on the personal prejudices shown by a public figure – and to STOP the HATE!
The public DOES CARE, and we need to show, in solidarity:
THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY REMINDING THE PUBLIC OF THESE COMMENTS AND ACTIONS.
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE THEY CAN FEEL – IN THEIR WALLETS!
I am. Are you? 