Never “Tweet” Alone
March 11, 2009 by Ryan
Social Media Club, Salt Lake City: @intheblack, @jordanbrown,
@jyl_momif & @tmcconnon all checking if they are already
following each other. (Photo by @carysnowden)
You want to know how to use Twitter?
Read Never Eat Alone.
The book predates Twitter and probably most of social networking and is primarily based on old-school, business-card-passing networking, but it covers some of the most effective and overlooked strategies for new-school social networking.
I’m not going to draw all the parallels between the book and Twitter: partly because it would be very long, partly because my copy is currently lent out, and partly because you really should read the book! Instead, I’m going to use a few chapter headings as a framework for this discussion.
Chapter 1: Becoming a Member of the Club
I feel like I’ve moved to New York City or Silicon Valley, where the people I want to meet are right in my neighborhood. Now I live in a community where I mingle with likeminded individuals, all willing to share and help each other. I feel a buzz and an energy from my contacts on Twitter. How can you not get pumped when @garyvee tells you to “go out there and crush it!?”
Take advantage of that new connectedness! Follow lots of people! Build a community!
Chapter 5: The Genius of Audacity
Twitter changes the access I have to major technology innovators, thought leaders, celebrities, writers & directors, atheletes, etc. But even though the big names are now a mere reply away, there is still hesitation to contact them.
Be bold! Be audacious! If there is someone out there you want to talk to, do it! You never know what kind of relationship you could start! I’ve seen business deals, joint ventures,mentoring and companies come out of Twitter connections. As The Big Aristotle said:
To all twitterers , if u c me n public come say hi, we r not the same we r from twitteronia, we connect
Chapter 11: Never Eat Alone
There are times when I am literally sitting up at night, way too late, wife is asleep, and I’m tweeting! One of the changing moments with Twitter for me was my first TweetUp. I was able to put faces to the Twitter IDs and tiny avatars. I was able to shake hands and laugh with people I knew through 140 character messages.
TweetUps bring life to Twitter. They bond you to new friends. They reintroduce the human aspect of social networking. Find one near you and go! Organize one yourself! Do it for a cause! Do it for fun!
Chapter 8: Take Names
If I meet someone or follow someone that poses a particular opportunity for me, it’s important that I track my interactions with that individual. One way is to add those details in DM Notes to yourself.
Chapter 2: Don’t Keep Score
Suddenly, these names aren’t just names anymore, they’re people. They’re friends and I help my friends. I have tried to make my mantra to help anyone and everyone I can. I want to connect people. I want to be a catalyst for success. And I try to do it without expectation.
Call it the “Golden Rule.” Call it karma. Be generous and helpful. You don’t lose anything by doing it!
Chapter 27: Build It and They Will Come
Today Jessica Smith from JessicaKnows.com(@jessicaknows) was interviewed on BlogTalkRadio. She was the guest expert brought on demystify social media for a couple of uninitiated & “terrified” hosts. Jessica definitely understands the potential of Twitter and that it doesn’t come free:
“I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is the expectation of instant gratification…Social media is called social media because it requires a social investment.”
What other traditional networking tips apply to Twitter?
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2 Responses to “Never “Tweet” Alone”
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I’ve met Ryan (at the Tweetup pictured actually) and I can verify that he practices everything he’s preaching here.
Technology shouldn’t handicap your social interactions, it should ENHANCE your social interactions.
Great post! Interesting correlation between book and practice…