I have come to really like Twitter. So much so that I have to tell myself to take a break once in a while so that I can get something done. Twitter levels the playing field and allows anyone to share what’s on their mind or what they’re doing. It’s a great way to extend your ministry, bless others, and create connections.
Where Facebook is about affiliation (who you know or have known) Twitter for me has become about affinity (what do we have in common?) I really like finding others with common interests and passions and following each other.
That said, unless you’re a major public figure, you’re probably finding followers the way most people do; by searching for like-minded individuals, following them, and see if you get a follow back. If you do, you’ve made a connection. Good day!
So let’s say you’re trying to expand your Twitter community and you’re having trouble getting people to follow you back. Here are some reasons why this might be happening:
1. A user name that’s difficult to understand. Zboy1509YO might mean something to you, but it doesn’t do a thing for me. Try keeping your user name as close to your real name or organization’s name as possible.
2. No picture. The Twitter bird is cute but I don’t want to see that graphic all up and down my time line. Use a picture of YOU. I’m interested in connecting with other people, not their dog, car, or favorite beverage.
3. Incomplete bio. I’m going to let you in on a secret. I like to follow people back who share my same interests and affinities. If I see that you’ve followed me, I’m going to check your bio to see if you’re someone I’d like to follow back. Add a link to your blog (not your sales presentation) there. If there’s no information there, I’m going to assume we have nothing in common and not follow you back. The key is to make me work as little as possible to find out if you’re someone I would like to follow back.
4. A protected profile. Sometimes I like to read a few of your tweets before I decide whether or not to follow you back. You send me a follow. I click on your name to see your Twitter profile and I see a padlock. “Tweets are protected.” How do I know you have anything interesting to say? I’m not taking any chances on a protected profile. No follow back!
5. All of your tweets include a link. If I see links on all of your tweets, chances are I won’t even read them to see if they’re interesting. When 100% of your tweets are links to your web site, chances are you’re only interested in driving traffic or selling something. I’m in it for interaction and community, not to read 140 character commercials every few minutes. With that said, I do follow those links when posted by people who have other things to share too.
6. You’re building a fan club. One of the worst Twitter travesties I’ve seen is when people thin out the number of people they’re following to cause a greater gap in their followers to following ratio. Look, if you’re a major celebrity, it’s understandable to have 100,000 followers and only be following 25. The sad thing is that I’ve seen people in ministry drop followers to appear more popular (or something). It’s one thing to unfollow others who aren’t following you back but come on! Unfollowing people who are following you because you want a Twitter ego boost? Shame! Twitter is about connection and community, not about building up your fan base. Ministers should be especially aware of this. So, if you unfollow me, don’t expect me to keep following you back.
The key is to represent yourself with clarity and, as I said earlier, make it as easy as possible for people to discover if you’re the kind of person they’d like to follow back. It’s about affinity and community, a really cool thing in this day and age. Keep building your community (not your fan club) and we’re in for a great time together.
What are some things that cause YOU not to follow back?
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I don’t follow these:
1. Dirty username
2. Dirty profile pic
3. Protected tweets
4. Most tweets have links to his/some websites
5. Most tweets are RTs (Be Original.)
6. All tweets are “quotes” from some famous people
7. All tweets are plain bible verses (I’d rather read my own bible)
8. Hates Jesus
9. Curses on tweets & always angry
10. Tweets too much about sports
11. COLLEAGUES /FRIENDS (We already have each other on Facebook!)
12. Tweets are Chats, Slanders, Gossips
13. Tweets about celebrities
14. If you followed me & told me to follow you..
15. If you followed me & I followed you cos I thought you’re ok, but then you unfollowed me..
16. If you followed me & I followed you cos I thought I could stand you anyway, but then you unfollowed me, so that justifies me to unfollow you, but wait, you followed me again?? (No Way!)
17. If you followed me & I followed you cos I thought I could stand you anyway, but then you unfollowed me, so that justifies me to unfollow you, oh yes, you followed me again, but no, I’m not following you back, so you unfollowed me again. (Loser.)
18. When you don’t “communicate”
19. When I feel that “HE” is liking the attention too much, & wanting more followers so he can reach 100,000++, & he likes praises but ignores criticism.
20. Zero tweets
21. You stopped tweeting for months (I seriously wonder if you’re still alive.)
Oops, I said too much, but I think there are more. Later. Haha.
Oh zero tweets. I forgot about that one!
As a church, we get a lot of random followings. I will go to their profile and usually find the following:
1) They follow hundreds of First Baptist churches
2) No one follows them while they follow many
3) They definately have a sales or preachy agenda
And other similar senerios.
It’s so easy to share links from my Blackberry via Twitter. Then it posts on Facebook as well. But maybe that’s not such a great idea after all. 🙂 And almost every Tweet from FBC will contain a link. Oops!
I’ve learned a few things from your list! Thanks for sharing.
And what the heck is that random Gravatar image I’ve been assigned here?! hahahaha Too funny.
Looks like a green heart-crab with antennas and bird feet. What’s so unusual about that? 🙂
i think it’s kind of ironic that there is an add on this blog page for twitter adder “get more followers instantly” by fully automating your twitter account…
I think the major thing for me that helps me decide whether or not to follow someone back is their profile. Second, would be I take a look at who they are following. If there are alot of questionable people that are following (non-ministry related), I may pass over them. Great tips Lee. God bless you and tour ministry.
Here’s a question…if someone adds you to a Twitter list, can you take yourself off that list? FBC has been added to some list & I might want to remove us. Thanks.
Interesting. I like twitter because there is def less drama than Facebook. I like the encouragement from God’s Word. It helps when I get 5 minute breaks at work to keep my attitude upward. Thanks !!
Lee, are you gonna post something about “why do you follow” (or was there one already?)
I’m eager to write a long list again. Haha!
I agree with ELAYN’s comment.
so when I said I don’t follow Colleagues/Friends, it’s cos we DO NOT share the same interests at all. I want a clean Twitter page, no spams, no gossips!
I’d like to Follow just a few people. Though my list has less than 50, I still wish to Unfollow some but you know, out of courtesy, I couldn’t.
Great tips, Lee! I will definitely keep these things in mind for future tweets.
I try to stay away from the SPAMMERS, that can get annoying, or people who just spout off hateful expletives. Other than that, you got it pretty right on Brother Bezotte.
Good advice! I related to most of those. Just tonight, I looked at my” followers” and those I follow to glean some clarity. Some folks make me wonder what they follow me for b/c they do not seem to have the same relationship with God. Perhaps its a ministry thing? I pray it is!