Read on Twitter
If you meet people through Twitter:
1) how do you identify approachable people?
2) what do you do to make yourself approachable?
1/n
1) how do you identify approachable people?
2) what do you do to make yourself approachable?
1/n
Check 1: is this person interesting?
Sources: bio, avi, header, external links, non-response tweets.
What to look for: what are the central themes? Do I want to learn more about them, or discuss anything? Are their tweets personal (= easy to engage with) or impersonal?
2/n
Sources: bio, avi, header, external links, non-response tweets.
What to look for: what are the central themes? Do I want to learn more about them, or discuss anything? Are their tweets personal (= easy to engage with) or impersonal?
2/n
Check 2: is this person responsive?
Sources: response tweets, conversations between followers, account age.
What to look for:
- Is the account write-only, or does it respond?
- Do they respond to a limited group of people?
- Do followers start conversations w/each other?
3/n
Sources: response tweets, conversations between followers, account age.
What to look for:
- Is the account write-only, or does it respond?
- Do they respond to a limited group of people?
- Do followers start conversations w/each other?
3/n
Untestable theory:
If an account has conversations between followers, they likely have met enough people to fulfil their social needs. Unless you're on the same level of popularity, move on.
Exception: if you want to build a mentoring relationship.
4/n
If an account has conversations between followers, they likely have met enough people to fulfil their social needs. Unless you're on the same level of popularity, move on.
Exception: if you want to build a mentoring relationship.
4/n
Check 3: are they in the same location as you? Related: are they alts / anonymous?
Getting to know people is easier on the internet (we tend to be more open online), but meeting them f2f regularly strengthens the relationship a lot.
5/n
Getting to know people is easier on the internet (we tend to be more open online), but meeting them f2f regularly strengthens the relationship a lot.
5/n
Check 4: are they actively looking for contact?
Sources: bio ("friendly", "DMs open"), search for "DM" in responses.
6/n
Sources: bio ("friendly", "DMs open"), search for "DM" in responses.
6/n
Check 5: is there mutual interest?
Source: do they follow you back? Do they respond to your tweets, react to your responses, continue conversations?
7/n
Source: do they follow you back? Do they respond to your tweets, react to your responses, continue conversations?
7/n
Common problem 1: too many retweets.
When the only recent substantial posts of an account are retweets, it looks like a news aggregator.
Retweets need a personal comment (more substantial than "good tweet"), disclosing something about you.
8/n
When the only recent substantial posts of an account are retweets, it looks like a news aggregator.
Retweets need a personal comment (more substantial than "good tweet"), disclosing something about you.
8/n
Common problem 2: epigrammatic tweets.
When the account only tweets epigrams (single-sentence, "wise", retweet-optimised tweets), it looks like a bot to me. Epigrams are not conversational. I'm not a marketer looking for a source of "wise" quotes to retweet.
9/n
When the account only tweets epigrams (single-sentence, "wise", retweet-optimised tweets), it looks like a bot to me. Epigrams are not conversational. I'm not a marketer looking for a source of "wise" quotes to retweet.
9/n
Common problem 3: no context
Example: "school today. ugggghh!"
You're inviting questions. This works as a conversation starter with existing friends, but when I'm seeing your profile for the first time, it doesn't tell me much about you.
10/n
Example: "school today. ugggghh!"
You're inviting questions. This works as a conversation starter with existing friends, but when I'm seeing your profile for the first time, it doesn't tell me much about you.
10/n
Common problem 4: DM etiquette
Apparently people are afraid to DM others, unless the bio says it's ok.
Personal opinion: don't say anything you wouldn't say to a person who might punch you (ie. lecture, 'splain, criticise, come on to them), and you're safe.
11/n
Apparently people are afraid to DM others, unless the bio says it's ok.
Personal opinion: don't say anything you wouldn't say to a person who might punch you (ie. lecture, 'splain, criticise, come on to them), and you're safe.
11/n
End thread.
Any tips or comments? Please add!
Any tips or comments? Please add!
