Why Your List of Top People to Follow on Twitter Stinks (And How to Fix It)

Why Most Twitter List Posts Stink - And How to Fix ThemThis post was inspired by a blog post I read recently: 3.5 Reasons Why I am Sick of List Posts

It got me thinking about all the annoying blog posts people write about the Top People to Follow on Twitter.

Without writing some long diatribe …

Here are some general reasons most Twitter “people to follow” posts stink:

  • Most of these lists are poorly researched, or not researched at all
  • It’s clear the writer just listed their friends
  • Or, it’s clear the writer identified “influencers” they want a retweet from and included them for that reason
  • The writer just Googled “top people to follow on twitter” and copied someone else’s list — this is probably why so many of these lists are exactly the same when there are thousands of great people to follow
  • It’s just a long list of Twitter handles and maybe avatars, but includes NO REASON to follow them or why you put them on the list (Do you even know why they’re on the list)

Learn What It Takes to Write a Great “People to Follow on Twitter” List Post

How to Automatically Publish Your WordPress Posts to Twitter Without a Plugin

How to Publish new Blog Posts on Twitter automatically using FeedburnerIn my last post I showed you how to add the official Twitter Widget to your website without a plugin. This post is a follow up to show you how to automatically publish new blog posts to your Twitter account; also without a plugin. The secret to this one is using one of Google’s free services — FeedBurner.

Here’s how to set it up so your blog posts are automatically published on Twitter using Feedburner:

Learn How to Use Feedburner to Automatically Publish new Blog Posts on Twitter

How to Add the Official Twitter Widget to Your Website

**Updated June 15, 2013**

This post has been updated to reflect the recent Twitter API changes that has stopped the previous code from working. The updated tutorial below will get you back on track!

twitter-widget-sm When building custom WordPress websites and custom WordPress themes for our clients, we are often asked to integrate their Twitter feed into the website sidebar.

Many personal brands like to display their Twitter feed in the sidebar to bring more dynamic content into their site, promote their Twitter feed and get new followers, and show the value they provide with their tweets.

We love WordPress plugins, but I prefer to keep them to a minimum when simple code is available, so I’m happy to report that adding Twitter to your website can be accomplished quickly without using a WordPress plugin by instead using the official Twitter widget.

The Twitter widget can also be used non-WordPress sites. Only the final implementation on your website will be different.
Get instructions on how to create your customized official Twitter widget

29 of My Favorite Twitter Tips

29 Twitter TipsFrom tips and tricks, to insights and strategies, to quotes and silly sayings – We publish a lot of content on Twitter and Facebook. We use the sites to build relationships and to attract new clients!

But in a side-by-side comparison, our new clients understand Facebook, but seem to still be befuddled by Twitter.

So today I am going to share my top 29 favorite Twitter tips with you — and if you like one or two, tweet me about it, or share it with your audience too. Just remember to include (via @jenniferbourn) at the end (it’s good Twitter etiquette) — Wait! I think that’s tip #30!

Read My 29 Favorite Twitter Tips

Get a Handle on Who You’re Really Following on Twitter

Manage FlitterOne of my favorite Twitter tools is found at www.manageflitter.com.

I’ve been using the tool since last summer I believe and it is awesome! Manage Flitter is a Twitter Follower Management tool that allows you to review and evaluate the people that you are following on Twitter and enables you to follow or unfollow several people all at one time based on different sets of criteria.

Learn More About the Twitter Follower Management Tool

Setup And Use Twitter Lists

Using Twitter ListsIf you don’t have a Twitter account yet, head over to Twitter.com and create an account. Once your account is set up, you can start following people and aggregating a customized source of news and information.

If you’re already using Twitter, that’s great …

But have you noticed that as you follow more people, it gets harder and harder to manage?

That’s where Twitter lists come in to play.

Twitter lists help you manage and group the people you follow so you can, well, ignore those that you don’t really care about hearing from.

Here are a few things to remember about Twitter Lists:

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When Linking Your Website to Social Media Sites is Bad

That’s right. Linking to your website to social media sites is bad… Sometimes. Think about it. Each link to your Facebook page, LinkedIn profile, Twitter profile, YouTube channel, Flickr gallery, and even your RSS feed is a link OFF of your website…

Each link I am showing below is an opportunity for you to LEAVE my website!
 

Bourn Creative on Facebook   Jennifer Bourn on Twitter   Jennifer Bourn on LinkedIn   Jennifer Bourn on YouTube   Bourn Creative Portfolio on Flickr   Subscribe to the Bourn Creative Blog
 

You work so hard to drive traffic to your website and get your audience to visit your website. Then, once they get there, you’re giving them multiple opportunities to leave your site – and if you’re selling something, each link to a social networking site is an opportunity to lose a sale.

Linking your website to social media sites provides the visitors you worked so hard to recruit multiple opportunities to leave without opting-in, signing up, or buying

Now I’m not saying the links shouldn’t be there at all… But I want to reinforce how important it is for you to think about where your social media links are on your website and how you use them.

You need to take into consideration the placement of your social networking and social media profile links…

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How To Use Twitter Lists: Part 1

TwitterThis year I joined Ali Brown’s Millionaire Protege Club (MPC). I use Twitter a lot (I’m @jenniferbourn), so naturally, one of the first things I did was add everyone in the program who uses Twitter to a Twitter list so I could easily check-in and see what my fellow master-minders are up to and to be able to stay in touch easier!

Now, as soon as I created my new Twitter list, I shared it with the group. The only problem was that those who were brand new didn’t know what a Twitter List was or how to use it.

That got me thinking …

There are probably A LOT of people who have the same question, “What is a Twitter list and how do I use it?” If you are one of those people, I am writing this post (and creating these how-to screen shots) just for you!

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Twitter Friends That I am Truly Thankful For…

Twitter Followers I am Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wanted to take a quick moment and introduce you to a few Twitter friends that I am truly thankful for – and that I think you should know!

Each one of the people listed are friends who really understand what Twitter is all about – sharing valuable information, inspiring others, engaging in conversation, interacting with your followers, and building relationships. They understand that genuine, authentic conversation is the key to Twitter success.

So, let’s not delay… Here are my Twitter Recommendations and a quick description of who they are in their own words:

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How I Got A Brand New 2011 BMW 550i FREE

Folsom Tweet UpCheck me out with my super hot, brand spanking new 2011 BMW 550i from Niello BMW in Sacramento!

Well, maybe it isn’t really mine. I have to confess, I just got to borrow it for 24 hours courtesy of Lisa Niello and the fabulous team at The Niello Company in Sacramento. The Niello Company showed their support of social media and the local community by generously loaning out hundreds of thousands of dollars in cars, including two BMWs, a Maserati, and a Mini Cooper for the top Tweeters who Tweeted about the Folsom Tweet Up event on Thursday, September 16, 2010 … and I was one of the lucky winners!

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