On my twitter profile page, I have a link to a post that indicates how I use Twitter. I try to be forthcoming on what to expect. It’s also no secret that I tweet links to just about anything I think is interesting, add anyone who adds me, and I ask many questions to my network. I rarely talk about my ‘lunch’, and nearly everything I tweet about is related to social media, web marketing, business, and sometimes politics. On average, I’ve calculated I tweet about 15 times a day, pretty much once an hour per awake hour. For me, it is the most immediate conversation I can have, I love the interaction.
Spectrum: My tweets are too much
Last night, Tom Foremski, a former colleague of mine and current friend, suggested that my tweets were becoming near “scoblish” due to frequency. Ted Shelton, entrepreneur and one of the leads at the Conversation Group whipped out his iPhone and showed how I’ve dominated his news feed as an example. Most people aren’t following as many as I am (I follow over 4000), so to me, I don’t appear to be dominating the main feed when I visit it, I’ll be revisiting my perspective to think bigger,sorry.
At the GSP conference, I warned folks that I’d be doing a blow-by-blow of what I thought was interesting, and about 3 people complained that it was too much. Of course, I let folks know on Twitter I’d cut back, but there were over 10 people who told me to keep it up, and those that don’t like it could simply unfollow. I shifted my behavior and put all my notes on blog posts instead.
Spectrum: Some would pay money for my tweets
On the other hand, Bill Johnston, who is one of the community manager mavens told me last week that he’d actually PAY MONEY for my tweets. He later followed it up, and said only a small amount of course (as my eyebrows went up, heh), as he says my links are a filter for him to all topics social media and I’m actually saving him time.
Also, the more I tweet, there’s intrinsic personal, career, and business benefits, the more I’m in the conversation the more I’m learning about the social media sphere I’m being paid to analyze, and it helps me get the word out about things that help what’s important to me. I also ask questions, to gauge responses, understand viewpoints, it fuels and focuses some of my research activities (but not all). I also noticed that it’s a great way to send traffic, I get 50-200 click throughs (from an engaged and opt-in audience) on anything I point to on twitter, and it costs me 5 seconds.
I continue to get more and more followers every day, and I think that’s great, but I really want to respect everyone’s experience, but at the same time, I know it will be impossible to please everyone.
Your opinion wanted
Social Media is about listening and about coming half way or more to those you’re trying to reach, and I’ll abide by that, so I’m asking you for your opinion.
So I’d like to take a blog poll, and get your feedback, if you’re a friend, client, colleague, vendor, whoever. Please be brutally honest, I don’t mind, I’ll be pretty damn honest with you about what I think, so I’d expect the same, besides, it’s in your best interest for your experience. If you’re feeling shy, feel free to leave an anonymous comment, but please chime in regardless.
Please respond on the comments below:
1) How are my tweets doing for you?
A) Too little
B) Just right
C) Too many2) How is the content?
Open ended question
I’m listening, I really am, and your feedback will shape my actions.
Update: A few hours later
over 80 comments on the first day, I don’t even need to tally, but it’s clear that based upon the feedback of the community, that it’s suggested that I continue to tweet the same way as before. For those that find it too much, I don’t mind if you unsubscribe, in fact, I encourage it, as I don’t want to disrupt your experience.
I did learn a few things: I’ll strive to keep the value high (and not talk about my lunch) but will try to space out the tweets a little better, so I don’t totally disrupt your stream.
Thank you all for your honest feedback, I’m listening and reacting to your comments.
Updated: A week later
Being the anal guy I am (a good reason to be an analyst) I’ve tallied the results from the comments in the blog, see results.
Hi Jeremiah,
1. Just right
2. I think the content is very relevant, and when it doesn’t apply to me personally, it’s easy to filter out. I have a hard time keeping up at times, but that is more my problem than yours. As far as it being “scoblish” in nature…NO WAY. There might be volume, but there is actual content.
Thanks for everything!
Veronica (@giggey)
1. Just Right
2. Your content, IMO, is plentiful but useful on all levels. I personally look forward to your tweets as it links to articles/posts/events that are industry specific and very helpful. Many of your tweets lead to great discussions amongst peers and industry leaders – where else can someone sit here and ‘chat’ that frequently and openly with the top names in their respective industry?
I say keep it up. I don’t even have 200 followers yet and your tweets still don’t overpower my main feed.
Quantity AND quality is a hard thing to do but you’ve certainly done it.
Keep up the good work. There are no rules for Twitter, and you should explore it as you see fit. I usually enjoy the links you post.
I’m new to social media and am trying to learn as much as I can so your tweets are helpful to me. When I don’t want to be over feed on my cell phone, I just turn off the notifications and go back later to catch up.
I am an older non-traditional psychology student and am considering an undergrad thesis using social media. So your tweets are my research shortcut. Thanks for the assist. Mary
1. Just right.
2. I’ve just started following you on Twitter but I’ve found your tweets to be very informational on a topic I don’t know a lot about. Keep it up!
Hello Jeremiah.
I am following you and I am happy you are on Twitter. I also thnk the first comment of CC Chapman is correct – it is up to the author how to use the twitter system.
I do not know how this became an issue, yes, i read above about how the discussion started but for me those are not real reasons…
To answer your questions:
1. I can read more of your tweets
2. I like the content, it has never been abusing and it has always been professional with the proper quality and amount of truthful information
Finally: Thanks for your tweets, I enjoy them and I will continue to follow you on Twitter.
a little on the C side — sorry to say. But 80% of your links are relevant if that makes you feel any better.
My answer is “just right” as I also believe how you choose to use twitter is up to you. Your links provide useful information, are on topic, and are relevant to those of us who are just getting started.
Keep up the fantastic twitters!
Hi Jeremiah,
I’m not going to answer, it appears that whatever anyone is doing is just enough for themselves. It alse seems that twitter is still too new to start looking for mob rules/etiquette. Not sure how it will shake out, or how it should. I’m not even sure what I’m doing in here, other than I love love love reading about and partaking in new forms of communication. (I come from the dpi world and would love to bridge to the ppi world.) It seems to me that your tweets are social network, as they should be. Is twitter made for just social networkers? Should it be a segmented community or a general admission ticket? If I want to tweet about humor, running, woodworking, baking, child-rearing, etc., should I? I appreciate your concern and desire to know what others are thinking. Twitter is very much like a forum, although a little more fragmented and staccato-like in tenor. And like any forum, we can choose who we listen to, who to engage, who to ignore. Personally, I like reading your tweets and information. You obviously have a passion. Thanks for your contributions.
How are my tweets doing for you?
B) Just right
Though I want to say A sometimes ‘cuz you give out such good info.
2) How is the content?
It’s great, not all of it applies to me, but it’s always interested. And I like the work stuff and the geek stuff – it shows who you are, which is what I love about social media. If I wanted a straight news feed, I’d add an RSS for one.
The number and content of your tweets are fine with me. I *am* the sort to tweet about my lunch, but reading yours and how they are different from mine is the beauty of Twitter. I can always unfollow if I don’t like it.
Paying for your twitter! Now that is really interesting. It would be like having your own personal agent – or subject matter expert – on a topic. Maybe Forrester should pimp you out…
Kidding! Just kidding! But think of it… who would I pay to Twitter? Peter Jackson, for one.