I spend all day in front of the computer reading posts on all sorts of subjects here on ActiveRain. One of the ways I enjoy finding the newest and latest posts on ActiveRain is to use Tweetgrid. I usually keep a few columns open with different keyword terms i want to keep track of during the day. Of course, one column that always is open is ActiveRain. I noticed though the other day a recurring theme from many of our members on the network.
In September, 2008 ActiveRain added a feature that as Brad said, "Mark this day as another that will go down in History as an AWESOME NEW FEATURE added to the ActiveRain Network" When ActiveRain introduced the feature that allows you to send your posts straight to your twitter stream, that was the intention. To help grow your social network on twitter and also integrate your ActiveRain blog into your twitter stream. But, what many have missed is how to use the function effectively. To the right you will see a screen shot of a member on ActiveRain. I don't remember who that member was, because I had looked at so many member's twitter streams that all it was pages & pages of tweets that were Just posted on ActiveRain:. Unfortunately, these members are actually doing harm to their social networking instead of help.
If the only thing that gets fed to your Twitter account is the auto update from ActiveRain, then you are missing the point of Twitter. Twitter is a micro-blogging platform that allows you to share with your network in 140 characters or less what you are doing. It was designed to engage others in conversation.
A few months back Rain Radio did a show titled Twitter Gone Wild. I was privileged to be a guest speaker on that show with @kimwood who explained how she rarely talks about real estate on her twitter page. At first thought, the real estate agent in me thought WHAT?!? Don't we constantly need to remind our followers that we are a Real Estate Agent and to ask "the question" Do you know anyone looking to buy or sell real estate? I mean, that is what was ingrained in me when I was going for my license.
If you listen to the show in it's entirety, you will learn what I did that day. People do not need you to constantly shove your career in front of them. Her followers on twitter know exactly what she does for a living and know how to read her information. She does sprinkle in her posts, but they come through so rarely in comparison to everything else on her stream. For her, it has been extremely productive as she can now accredit several real estate transactions straight from her twitter account.
After that conversation on the show, I began to really rethink the way I use twitter. I still use the auto update for my posts. But, I write 4-6 posts per week. Right now I am averaging over 75-100 tweets per day. This is a way more effective way to use this feature. As you are using twitter to actually engage in social networking, you will engage your followers into reading your blog posts. I compare this to the person who starts a blog, but all that is ever posted is their new listings. It is obvious right away that they are not understanding the purpose of a blog is to share quality content with consumers about specific areas that you are an expert on.
"How's it working for ya Jeremy?"
Well I am glad you asked! Personally, I believe it is starting to really pay off in great dividends. I see a higher amount of traffic visiting my blog on a regular basis and each of my posts is starting to average more and more comments. By the screen shot to the left, you can see that I am averaging a good amount of traffic. The first column is number of comments. Column 2 is views of the post, column 3 is #of clicks in the post.
On top of this, the part that is difficult to show is the amount of traffic my posts are receiving and comments and conversations that are taking place on both Facebook & Twitter! At the time of writing this post, I had received 461 direct messages and well over 1,000 replies on twitter and have also had several posts re-tweeted..
What is your Point?
My point is that to optimize the use of the automated tweet of your ActiveRain posts you need to do more than just set it up. You need to engage your followers in a communication stream that consists of more than just "Just Posted on ActiveRain" type tweets. You don't have to be on it 24/7 tweeting like some, but you do need to give it some attention. If you are guilty of what I have been talking about throughout this post that you change your plan of action to one of the two listed below:
- Begin using twitter more often and start interacting with your followers. I wrote last week some easy ways to use twitter from your phone, so it is now easier than ever to begin using the social network.
- Stop using the auto update feature on your ActiveRain Blog. I know it seems harsh, but the reality is, using the function improperly can have a huge negative impact on your social media presence that harms your efforts more than it helps!
Option 1 is definitely a better idea and the amount of business that can come will blow your mind away! So, start tweeting today! To see what I am talking about, follow a few of our fellow members who have mastered twitter:
- @jasoncrouch
- @kimwood
- @ines
- @housechick
- @lesleylambert
- @heyamaretto
- and of course myself @myrtlebeachblog
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am the Co-Founder of 210 Consulting- Social Media Advisors. I have traveled the country as a social media speaker. If you would like more information on any of the topics discussed in this blog, please contact me directly. We specialize in social media training, online consulting, and the creation of your own custom WordPress site.
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Awesome...thanks for the info
Jeremy, I see your point. But why not forward AR blogs that are on a variety of topics, not just real estate?
Hi Jeremy - What I'd love to know is what you are tweeting about. I keep seeing these ridiculous things from the people I follow and I can't imagine anyone cares (and I often wonder why they have so much free time). What do you tweet ABOUT?
The day I read that ActiveRain had an autofeed to Twitter for our blog posts was a day I said "Hurray".
The value of this feature cannot be overestimated.
It is priceless.
Jeremy - Nicely stated. Ken Cook and I have discussed this several times on our show as well. I turned off the "auto-tweet" feature a long time ago. Now, I selectively promote my posts on Twitter, but I am also engaged with others there already, NOT just sending random posts. Great topic!
Chris- I tweet about all types of things. Everything from music I enjoy, pictures of my daughter, favorite recipes, funny videos I find, etc...While it seems like poeple wouldnt care, you would be amazed how it builds a micro social network of followers. I talk to friends on twitter more now than I do my own family members!
Lenn- It is priceless!
Brian- it forwards whatever you post as public to your AR blog. So what you write about gets sent. The point is, if all you do is forward AR posts to twitter, you are doing more harm than good to your account there because people recognize it as a spam profile without someone human actually typing and using the account.
Jason- I still have mine on, because I like the fact that it does give my posts the ability of being exposed. Also, since I am normally writing stuff for the good of the community, it makes it easier for them to keep an eye out for it.
I like the autofeed to Twitter. I probably don't "tweet" as much as I should. But one only has so much time. I need to show and list a home every now and then.
I don't tweet all of my AR stuff but I do some and I do it by hand... not the auto thingy. Partly because I love seeing the surge on my who'samung us widget. I guess I would still see the surge watching.. but I think I do a better job of wording the tweet. It is about the tweet not about ActiveRain.
I do tweet interesting posts others make occasionally. I tweeted one of Steve Shatsky's post this AM.
I am turned off by alll the "Just posted on ActiveRain" tweets. I set mine up to do that and decided immediately NOT to use that feature.
Lots of controvery with this feature....I have never used it as not everyone wants to be spammed with AR Posts. As you so well pointed out many many people don't use Twitter for anything but this, and many more people have stopped following them. Social engagement is about caring for others more than self promotion.
Another thing.. I want local people to go to one of my outside blogs rather than my ActiveRain blog, so I manually do a tweet to a link on one of my Outside blogs
Optomizing the different tools for twitter is something that I've been looking to do and this post was definitely very helpful.
Jeremy - thanks for the tip. I do feed my posts to twitter but that's about as far as I've gotten with it. Now I'll have to look into this as well. thanks!
Ah Jeremy. Can I convince you to turn the auto-tweeting OFF? If for no other reason than you can't change the part that says "Just posted on ActiveRain", it's a painful feature. No differentiation. Untrackable. Sends traffic inside instead of outside. Did I mention my personal hate for auto-tweeting? Oh yeah. I did. Here ->
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1038782/get-more-out-of-twitter-stop-wasting-20-of-your-tweets-
Engage? Yes please. Auto-tweet? Oh please no.
Also - bacon.
That is all. :)
Thank you so much for the great information.
I've been doing the "Facebook" thing and really enjoy that, but wasn't really seeing the value in Twitter. Guess I better re-think my goals.
Thanks again,
Julie O'Brien
I really need to get up to speed and start using Twitter. I'm like the grandparents that still have the rotary telephone, I guess.
Kelley- mmmm Bacon!
Jeremy - I knew throwing in a bacon reference was risky. :) I was trying to make a point, the part *above* the bacon bit...
Excellent Post Jeremy! @kimwood @heyamaretto @lesleylambert are perfect examples of how to use twitter. That is why they started the #twitterqueens!!! I am thrilled that you addressed this topic because, honestly, I have had to unfollow people who all they say is JUST POSTED ON ACTIVERAIN...
You are fantastic, @myrtlebeachblog !
(and thank you for being a part of the #twitterqueens!)
Sincerely,
@realtormarney
Jeremy - I have been guilty of not tweeting except for AR auto-posts recently. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for the info -- have to go and check this out.
Ok....more to do tomorrow! Thanks Jeremy!
But have you had any twitter conversions?
I agree with this, ""Mark this day as another that will go down in History as an AWESOME NEW FEATURE added to the ActiveRain Network"
This is indeed an incredible feature, but I do admit I have abused it and have not been as active on Twitter as I need to be.
Jeremy...
I feel that I have underused Twitter ... it just seems like I don't have enough hours in a day. But after reading your post, I am seriously reconsidering! Thanks for the good info.
Hey Jeremy, fellow #twitterqueens member and fabulous blogger just gave me a shout out! Woot!
Thanks Jeremy, Twitter has quite literally changed my life. And yes, I did write a blog about it <g>.
Jessica- Have I had any twitter conversions? No, but then again, I am not currently selling real estate. I have had a few leads come through it though that I have passed on to others.
Richard- You can do it from your cell phone throughout the day. It really can help build your social network!
Lesley- you & Diane are champion bloggers & true Twitterqueens!
Jeremy,
Thanks for the post. I do have the auto update still turned on but I don't post that much. I am making more of an effort to tweet about me and what I'm doing though. Unfortunately, I'm trying to figure out what in the world could be of interest to anyone. But, I'm going to try.
When I first enterd the social media arena, I was "back-doored" into Facebook through the neighborhoods feature from Point2. All I thought about was selling, selling, selling- after all, that's what we do, right?
After observing for a while, I realized that was like expecting the cart to pull the horse. Referrals are given on the basis of trust and friendship, and instead of treating Facebook and twitter like a sprawling Craig's List, it might be better to relate it to a farm.
Then a little further down the road, I realized that the people I had met in the social spaces were more than that- they had developed into friends.
Friends can refer business to me. They can also help me with technology (tonight, everyone is talking about Seesmic Desktop 2.0), buoy my spirits when I have a bad week, and improve my RE game by sharing advice.
I, and other people I know, have had business come to them because of their presence in social media. Everyone who I know who is truly active has, and this way of interacting may change, but it is not going to go away.
But I don't know that the bottom line is the bottom line here, and I wouldn't have said that six months ago. I thank my friends for that.
I still haven't twittered by I am slowly working my way that way. Too little time.
I have done this and its worked out wonderfully. I have had a bunch of people start following me because of my activerain feed. Thanks activerain
Thank you for refreshing us with this information . I use twitter all the time but it is always good to see other opinions on the subject
I tuned mine off here, and on friend feed, but some are still gettting through, not sure how. I probably did it on some such auto feature when it first came out. Working on tracking it down.
Jeremy, Great Post. I was looking for a twitter app, but wasn't sure one existed. I just downloaded twitterberry. Thanks for sharing your information.
I am still a twitter novice. This post is very helpful as I am trying to learn how best to be a tweeter.
Hi Jer! I need to go out and 'fix' mine too! Perhaps a GREAT topic for you to teach on Friday?!! Everyone is so excited that you're coming in for REBarCampCLT--we had our final planning meeting this evening and things should be fantastic for Friday! Can't wait to see you again--had a chat with Jason today (I think he's jealous that he's not having lunch with you!! LOL)
OH, and you've been bookmarked! Hopefully I'll remember to get to it if it's bookmarked!! LOL
I'm playing with the idea of turning off the auto-updates. They may be in the way...
Ok, this is a very informative blog, there is a whole semester of stuff I need to learn here! bookmarked!
I turned my Twitter app. off on facebook last night. I guess I could post my blogs from AR myself on Twitter. I'm going to read your post one more time. I have been active on Twitter as a reality instead of just an auto poster. One month and it is still too soon to tell but I can definitely still use a tweek on my Twitter skills.
Thanks for the update.. I will need to investigate TweetGrid.. I have been using TweetDeck.
I have not yet started to use Twitter but will probably start to tweet in the near future once I understand how to use it. Twitter is starting to receive considerable attention from the main stream media (e.g. New York Times), social networking sites (e.g. ActiveRain) as well as at courses and trade shows at my real estate board. Based on the show of hands at a seminar at our recent trade show, very few people currently use Twitter for real estate purposes.
Jer,
Twitter is most definitely lacking my attention and I do need to improve my presence there. Thanks for the help sir.
Ok I went back and added Twitter updates and will try to keep up. I need to upload tweetdeck or something to keep up!
Again Jeremy, a ton of very useful for those of us not yet fully on board the Twitter train.
I'm not familiar with Twitter and not at all sure why I want to be there! Can you explain to me why I should tweet? I thought Active Rain was all I need.
Patricia Aulson/Portsmouth NH Real Estate
I just started using twitter. Thanks for the information. Big help on understanding its practicality.
Thanks a lot for such an informative post.. I am not yet optimizing my blogs on twitter but will surely start it as its good to be more familiar with twitter.
Regards
Web design Chester
well...I must have been sleeping under a rock...and I must have missed the message about the AR autofeed to twitter....
Bettina
Hi Jeremy,
Is there a way for some hands on lessons for this?? I have been reading about this and your articles and I might just be a moron, but I think I don't get it. I have a blog and a great website but I am not understanding the nuts and bolts here. I just love AR too. HELP! SOS!!
Thanks
Kelly
I stopped the auto feed to twitter, after trying to figure how to send the posts to my new FB business page. Never could get it to work how I wanted. I also created a business Twitter profile, and switched the AR posts to the business profile.
After several efforts to get the feeds working, just decided that it is best for me to put post links manually on the twitte and FB pages as appropriate. So far not really to much extra effort needed.
and I never liked the way the auto feeds look in twitter anyway. A couple of the comments point to the very generic twitter post from the auto twitterer. It is probably better to put in the link manually.
Thanks as always
Richard
Thanks again Jeremy,
I did see that you guys fixed the theme pages on the outside blog.
Steve
Hi Jeremy ~ Great advice. I struggle repeatedly with the whole idea of Twitter. I know it has value for some (I once spent $100s - many $100s on something I found via a tweet) but have yet to fully wrap my head around its value for me.
Liz
Jeremy, I need to really sit down and get with it - I have an account- but I don't get Twitter- at all.