17 Uses for Twitter
The more I read and use twitter, the more valuable it has become. I wrote an earlier post a couple weeks ago on some basic techniques for it, but it’s uses have been growing and growing. When I first looked at the site I was like what is the point of a site where all you do is have 140 characters to write about how you are doing. Well actually, it’s incredibly useful.
Pretty much every blog related to blogging, has written a post about twitter. Using my typical strategy, I’m going to combine the strategies of all of these posts into one, as well as including many of my own. So here is my list, of 17 uses for twitter.
1.
Bragging Rights
Have you seen on blogs that more and more regularly, you are seeing their amount of followers next to their amount of subscribers? It’s becoming very popular. I found a figure for how much a twitter follower is worth, now I realize it’s based on completely sketchy and unreliable information, so it’s not really true. But some guys came up with the figure 6.19$ now it means absolutely nothing beyond the fact, that you can now brag that your site is worth xxxx$. But hey, it’s just as unreliable as Alexa, and Technorati and everything else on the internet right?
2.
Getting RSS Subscribers
I read a great guest post by Nathan Rice over at dailyblogtips about this. Twitter friends will often turn into RSS subscribers if you can help them out. People ask questions a lot on twitter, just help them out, and then politely tell them you could do even more for them because your blog talks about what they need. And so if they subscribe they can get more information. Don’t be a spammy about it, but if it can help them out, then it really works.
3.
Getting Friends and Fans
Twitter is a good way to build some relationships, because it is instant. It is like a site designed solely for the purpose of writing your facebook update, and allowing others to comment on it. People love talking on this, and so not only can you help your site out, you can make some good friends, and learn things as well.
4.
It’s Easy
Twitter is a great program for Social Networking because it is so simple. There is only the chat box, and then followers. The only slightly difficult part in the whole thing, is figuring out how to reply to people. Have you ever heard the term, “retweet” ? This means when you write a twitter update, and others like it so they retweet it on their site as well. But the question is how do you do this? All you have to do, is write this symbol @ and then their username. So to retweet something I said, you would write @mastersofseo to start the message, and then type the message.
5.
Viral Effect
If you write a good enough tweet, then it can get fired across the twitter world very quickly. Because it’s all instant, and everybody is refreshing the page constantly, if you write an interesting enough thing, then it can fly across the internet instantly. You can receive a flood of traffic, if it’s done well enough.
6.
Help with Digg and Stumbleupon
If you’ve been a good twitter person, and you’ve been nice to your followers, then you can occasionally ask for stumbleupon and digg requests. If you do it rare enough, and make sure it’s only one of your “killer” articles, then your followers will be happy to help you out. And depending on how well you write your twitt, you can experience two viral effects at once.
7.
Feedback
Do you have any questions you want to ask an unbiased opinion? Here is your chance. Ask your followers what they think of your template, ask them if they think your blog content isn’t up to par. Twitter is a great way to ask people for help, and to actually receive it. Twitter users are very kind, and I’m sure they would be happy to help, if you aren’t being a jerk about it.
8.
Gathering News
Things on Twitter fly so fast, it’s crazy. By just reading your homepage, you can pickup all that is happening around the world. All the new releases, tech updates, and latest blog posts, on twitter you can get it all, fast.
9.
Keeping in Touch
Twitter is a great way to realize what your blogger friends have been up to. You can learn all of their latest updates, and be able to keep in touch, even though you are far.
10.
Getting Traffic
You can install an application for firefox here that allows you to update your twitter without even going to the site. By updating it a lot, then people will be interested in what you do. Too often people make the mistake of only writing on it when you write a post, people get sick of only links. Tell them what your doing, and they will in turn visit your site, this application makes it easy.
11.
Twitter users have Alexa Toolbar Installed
Take a look at this Alexa picture from the last three months, see that jump on Nov 22?
I didn’t receive more traffic then usual, I actually received less then usual, then why the jump? Well one because Alexa is a piece of junk, but besides that, because almost 60% of the traffic that day was from Twitter. So even though the traffic number wasn’t that high, a much higher percentage had the alexa toolbar, thus exploding my Alexa ranking. Do you see that number for yesterday?
41,139, that’s really low, in case you know nothing about Alexa. Using Twitter can greatly help you lower your Alexa ranking
12.
Every Tweet Counts
Each one is like a digg submission, make it right, and it will pay off. Use the right type of words that won’t diminish your reputation, and that will entice people to talk to you. That’s right, I said talk to you, not to visit your site. This is about relationships just as much as it is about traffic. Tell people how you are doing, and when you are telling about your post, then do it in a nonspammy way.
13.
Be Original and Smart
Just like with every other social site, don’t try and pass off old information as new. Don’t do stupid scams, and lies to get attention. Use the site as it was meant, and tweet you information, that’s helpful to people.
14.
Hiring People
Are you looking for a web designer, programmer, or for blogging help? Then send out a tweet looking for recommendations. It’s a great way to interact with people, and the Twitter users will surely be nice enough to help you out. This is a great way to fine freelancers as well.
15.
Creating your Image
Twitter allows for the options of creating your own layout. You can use your logo to create a unique twitter site for you. This helps to broaden your personal image, because you have essentially another site that is purely your own.
16.
Planning Meetings
Twitter can be used as a simple facebook. Instead of sending a personal email through facebook, just give them a quick tweet on twitter. This can be used for all kinds of information, that only needs quick messages.
17.
Twitter Flipping
The new wave of siteflipping is twitter flipping. Thanks to free accounts, and the uniquness they allow with only one allowed per site, people are grabbing up free accounts, for the purpose of selling them on auctions. Twitter sites like @lifehacker or @problogger if grabbed early enough could have been worth a lot. But the pickings are quickly decreasing as the accounts are snatched up. So grab your free twitter accounts now, for selling later.
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