The following is an extract from my forthcoming Twitter Professionals System - a comprehensive guide to setting up and running Twitter accounts professionally. The system covers all the techniques currently doing the rounds about "building a massive following", but that is put into context as just one element of a bigger strategy. If you would like to be informed when the Twitter Professionals System becomes available - and get it at an early-bird discount - please leave your details here. You can be assured I won't abuse your inbox with pointless promotions. This article is one of the sub-topics in the Conversations topic within the Learning section. (There are also Reference and Step-By-Step sections.)



"How To Be A Great Twitter Conversationalist"
Having explained all the reasons why conversations on Twitter are crucial, the question now is - how can you be a great conversationalist on Twitter? The key, I believe, is adopting the right frame of mind. Relating the Twitter world to the face-to-face world - where we are more familiar with conversations - is a good starting point. Conversations on Twitter are surprisingly similar to certain types of face-to-face conversations. Of course, you cannot compare them to long conversations over a coffee or at a dinner party, but they are very similar to the short exchanges you have when you bump into someone in the street but have no time to stop and chat. You have, perhaps, 2 or 3 exchanges, and then part company and go about your business. Perhaps a better analogy though, is a big, noisy party where very few people initially know each other. It is too noisy to sustain a long involved conversation, but not so noisy that you cannot overhear what people are saying around you. Also, it is a bit of an odd party because everyone is chattering away to everyone, and to no-one in particular. But because it IS a party, everyone agrees that it is perfectly OK to strike up a conversation with complete strangers. Every now and then, in all the conversations you overhear, someone says something that resonates with you, and it triggers a short one-to-one exchange - which other people can hear. Over time, you get to know a few of the people at the party and learn something about them. Conversations you have with those people then become a bit more directed, and you build on what you already have learned about each other. If you imagine Twitter like that, then the normal principles of good conversation apply as much to Twitter as to the face-to-face conversations. Here are some of those principles:
Encourage people to talk about themselves: ask about THEM: "Where are you based?"
Look for commonality between you and the person you are talking with and emphasise that "You like books on philosophy, I see. Me too! What's your favourite?"
Take a stance - express an opinion. Black/White is much more interesting than Grey "Twitter's gonna find it really hard to monetize their business. Should have sold to Google"
Be controversial (but try not to alienate too many of your followers) "I disagree. People shouldn't whinge about auto-DMs"
Be humourous. Don't be afraid to poke gentle fun at people (sensitively!) "Hmm. I sea yu have speling issuze. Want lessens frum me?"
Ask questions - open-ended/leading/specific "Do you tweet more from your mobile or your computer?"
If you know about their family, ask about them "How did your daughter's exam go?"
The bottom line is - it's a party! Have fun!

Alex Goodall

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!