Read on Twitter
Thought leader lessons for using Twitter. 
Four months ago I committed myself to be on Twitter. In the process, I've learned a lot about myself and want to share my experience:
• Transparency
• Goals
• Lessons
• Process
Here's what I've learned.
Four months ago I committed myself to be on Twitter. In the process, I've learned a lot about myself and want to share my experience:
• Transparency
• Goals
• Lessons
• Process
Here's what I've learned.
I have fun looking at my data. I'm sharing mine to be transparent, and learn from people who understand this medium better than me!
I've been active for about 4 months. I started this new journey with 3,500 followers and hadn't engaged with my audience in many years. /2
I've been active for about 4 months. I started this new journey with 3,500 followers and hadn't engaged with my audience in many years. /2
Stats over the last 4 months:
• 1648 Tweets, (52% comments)
• Daily engagement jumped 1.6% to 2.7%
• Lost followers early. Added 200+ people
• May tweets ~1% engagement, now up over 5%
• 19% engagement on my best tweet
• Retweets, Likes and comments going up
/3
• 1648 Tweets, (52% comments)
• Daily engagement jumped 1.6% to 2.7%
• Lost followers early. Added 200+ people
• May tweets ~1% engagement, now up over 5%
• 19% engagement on my best tweet
• Retweets, Likes and comments going up
/3
I'm tweeting more, but I changed my patterns in August to focus on quality tweets.
- May 222 Tweets (144 comments)
- June 306 Tweets (152 comments)
- July 647 Tweets (366 comments)
- August 473 Tweets (204 comments)
/4 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h2XyqbY_qmPuM13rgcdHTQOzo8vDECPFm06KDY90pGA/edit?usp=sharing
- May 222 Tweets (144 comments)
- June 306 Tweets (152 comments)
- July 647 Tweets (366 comments)
- August 473 Tweets (204 comments)
/4 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h2XyqbY_qmPuM13rgcdHTQOzo8vDECPFm06KDY90pGA/edit?usp=sharing
It's easy to get trapped in your own headspace. Twitter is an amazing place to break those habits. I had three simple goals:
- Have fun writing
- Tell better stories
- Be a beginner
I had to let go of my ego.
/5
- Have fun writing
- Tell better stories
- Be a beginner
I had to let go of my ego.
/5
I work with intent—too much some times. Those that know me are probably not surprised to see me jump deep into a problem. I went into this without any expectations or rules.
I'm having fun writing. I love learning. People are way cool.
/6
I'm having fun writing. I love learning. People are way cool.
/6
I pushed away a book deal from a respected publisher. I went my own direction and got stuck—I began to wonder if a book was the place to spend my time?
I needed more audience feedback. I realized my ideas were not solidified.
My main goal? I want to tell better stories.
/7
I needed more audience feedback. I realized my ideas were not solidified.
My main goal? I want to tell better stories.
/7
I'm embracing a beginner's mindset.
I've been stuck in my thinking, running ZURB the past 22 years. I'm fortunate to have been invited to the steps of Stanford Business School, White House, NYSE, and Fortune 500 companies.
I was an early user of Twitter but took a break.
/8
I've been stuck in my thinking, running ZURB the past 22 years. I'm fortunate to have been invited to the steps of Stanford Business School, White House, NYSE, and Fortune 500 companies.
I was an early user of Twitter but took a break.
/8
I embraced:
• the opening act
• being spontaneous
• losing followers
• getting no response
• creating threads
• building on ideas
• staying focused
• following with intent
• liking back
• commenting quickly
/9
• the opening act
• being spontaneous
• losing followers
• getting no response
• creating threads
• building on ideas
• staying focused
• following with intent
• liking back
• commenting quickly
/9
Be the opening act
Follow people who are talented and add value with comments. Think about giving away your best content on their feed. You learn a lot about what people think. Refine the ideas on your feed. /10 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1284865060192399360
Follow people who are talented and add value with comments. Think about giving away your best content on their feed. You learn a lot about what people think. Refine the ideas on your feed. /10 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1284865060192399360
Learn to be spontaneous
Notice when people connect with your comments. I put this thread together in literally 30 mins on Advocacy after seeing the comment get reactions. It's still not complete, but it continues to connect with people. /11 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1284882889708986371
Notice when people connect with your comments. I put this thread together in literally 30 mins on Advocacy after seeing the comment get reactions. It's still not complete, but it continues to connect with people. /11 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1284882889708986371
Losing followers is ok
The first month was brutal. Some validation would have been nice, but I trucked along knowing I was coming in cold with ideas that were not thought out. Empty bar.
It's better to keep engaging with small groups of people.
/12
The first month was brutal. Some validation would have been nice, but I trucked along knowing I was coming in cold with ideas that were not thought out. Empty bar.
It's better to keep engaging with small groups of people.
/12
It's a game of numbers
I don't know when something will connect with my followers. Did I write it bad? Maybe it's boring or too obvious? Too complex?
I adjust quickly, but not at the expense of my learning. I loved this tweet. Nobody else did. /13 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1297204382098890752
I don't know when something will connect with my followers. Did I write it bad? Maybe it's boring or too obvious? Too complex?
I adjust quickly, but not at the expense of my learning. I loved this tweet. Nobody else did. /13 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1297204382098890752
Tweet threads are great
I'm learning to be brief. It's hard to create succinct tweets that stand on their own and also create an impact in a thread. I plan these over the course of a day while learning, and others I just start creating as I go along. /14 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1295191857719197698
I'm learning to be brief. It's hard to create succinct tweets that stand on their own and also create an impact in a thread. I plan these over the course of a day while learning, and others I just start creating as I go along. /14 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1295191857719197698
Build on peoples ideas
I'm forced to add value in a unique way when I synthesize other people's ideas. It is:
• easier to scan
• fun to read
• instantly sharable
It's great writing practice and you create useful things for people to enjoy. /15 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1299173923821551617
I'm forced to add value in a unique way when I synthesize other people's ideas. It is:
• easier to scan
• fun to read
• instantly sharable
It's great writing practice and you create useful things for people to enjoy. /15 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1299173923821551617
Stay focused
Creative decision making is a misunderstood concept, but I'm determined to keep finding ways to make it enjoyable and fun. Followers want this focus.
About 10% of my tweets are personal in nature to humanize my voice. /16 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1298456895297003525
Creative decision making is a misunderstood concept, but I'm determined to keep finding ways to make it enjoyable and fun. Followers want this focus.
About 10% of my tweets are personal in nature to humanize my voice. /16 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1298456895297003525
Follow with intent
I follow people to get new perspectives. I'm constantly looking for the right mix of ideas to broaden my thinking and change my perspective.
I use lists to follow people with interesting ideas but aren't as focused on a topic. /17
https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/following
I follow people to get new perspectives. I'm constantly looking for the right mix of ideas to broaden my thinking and change my perspective.
I use lists to follow people with interesting ideas but aren't as focused on a topic. /17
https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/following
Like generously
Support people who engage with your tweets. It's hard to share original and useful ideas that are entertaining. I've found spending time in other people's feeds creates a reciprocation of engagement. Nobody wants to be the only one at their party. /18
Support people who engage with your tweets. It's hard to share original and useful ideas that are entertaining. I've found spending time in other people's feeds creates a reciprocation of engagement. Nobody wants to be the only one at their party. /18
You have 15 minutes
You have to react quickly to someone's thread to get attention. Breaking into a new group of people is like starting over—people have their communities. Amplifying people's ideas takes time and timing. It can be discouraging. /19 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1276384224509980673
You have to react quickly to someone's thread to get attention. Breaking into a new group of people is like starting over—people have their communities. Amplifying people's ideas takes time and timing. It can be discouraging. /19 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1276384224509980673
Here's my process:
- Read a lot
- Keep focused
- Capture ideas
- Take notes
- Draw diagrams
- Connect ideas
- Write Tweets
- Use assets
- Publish Tweets
- Jump into threads
/20
- Read a lot
- Keep focused
- Capture ideas
- Take notes
- Draw diagrams
- Connect ideas
- Write Tweets
- Use assets
- Publish Tweets
- Jump into threads
/20
Half of the Twitter experience is publishing and commenting. The other half is figuring out how to be interesting in the medium. People want to be entertained.
I spend most of the time learning: read articles, reflect on notes, and apply the ideas. Twitter is the last mile.
/21
I spend most of the time learning: read articles, reflect on notes, and apply the ideas. Twitter is the last mile.
/21
My tweets stay focused on creative decision making in seven principles. I keep Notion folders:
1. Designing For Influence
2. Lead By Design
3. Everyone Is A Designer
4. Iteration Builds Momentum
5. Design For People
6. Curiosity Drives Innovation
7. Create In The Medium
/22
1. Designing For Influence
2. Lead By Design
3. Everyone Is A Designer
4. Iteration Builds Momentum
5. Design For People
6. Curiosity Drives Innovation
7. Create In The Medium
/22
I capture ideas and save them for later in Notion so I don't forget to explore them. I bookmark ideas in the browser and put reference material in Notion, like these:
Self-sealing logic
Psychogeography
Digital hexes
Cancel culture
Antifragility
Accretion
Reverse Psychology
/23
Self-sealing logic
Psychogeography
Digital hexes
Cancel culture
Antifragility
Accretion
Reverse Psychology
/23
I take notes in Notion
I dig deep into articles and videos. I'll break them down line by line and focus on the key ideas. I find the activity rewarding instead of mindlessly surfing around. I get a chance to wrap my head around an idea. Here's one on control.
/24
I dig deep into articles and videos. I'll break them down line by line and focus on the key ideas. I find the activity rewarding instead of mindlessly surfing around. I get a chance to wrap my head around an idea. Here's one on control.
/24
I keep Illustrator open
I use Adobe Illustrator to capture more complex ideas in a picture format. I'm still learning to distill ideas into clear diagrams. I opted to create a hand-drawn style to keep the ideas feeling loose. I want feedback.
/25
I use Adobe Illustrator to capture more complex ideas in a picture format. I'm still learning to distill ideas into clear diagrams. I opted to create a hand-drawn style to keep the ideas feeling loose. I want feedback.
/25
I have two asset folders
I save all my diagrams in one folder and collected images in another folder. I quickly reference these when I comment on other people's tweets. Images create more interest and engagement in comments.
/26
I save all my diagrams in one folder and collected images in another folder. I quickly reference these when I comment on other people's tweets. Images create more interest and engagement in comments.
/26
I connect ideas
I'm a thinker. Always thinking. I run about 5 days a week (20-30 miles) and use the time to slow my brain down to connect ideas and thoughts. I have fun pushing the ideas around, forcing connections.
/27
I'm a thinker. Always thinking. I run about 5 days a week (20-30 miles) and use the time to slow my brain down to connect ideas and thoughts. I have fun pushing the ideas around, forcing connections.
/27
I give myself an hour
I'm up at 6AM and try to spend an hour a day focused on writing and learning. Longer threads need this attention. I also write when ideas hit me. I'm distracted, but Twitter rewards this type of thinking when it's genuine.
Both are valuable.
/28
I'm up at 6AM and try to spend an hour a day focused on writing and learning. Longer threads need this attention. I also write when ideas hit me. I'm distracted, but Twitter rewards this type of thinking when it's genuine.
Both are valuable.
/28
I use images
My first tweets didn't have images. When I attach images to my ideas, they reach a far greater pool of visual people who react. I believe images make tweets richer.
/29 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1297191799098753024
My first tweets didn't have images. When I attach images to my ideas, they reach a far greater pool of visual people who react. I believe images make tweets richer.
/29 https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski/status/1297191799098753024
I publish on my laptop
95% of my publishing happens on a desktop. It just gives me more space to write and put together images. Perhaps quarantine has influenced my habits. I use my phone to browse and read my feed probably less than 1/3 of the time.
/30
95% of my publishing happens on a desktop. It just gives me more space to write and put together images. Perhaps quarantine has influenced my habits. I use my phone to browse and read my feed probably less than 1/3 of the time.
/30
Jump into threads
By far the most important idea I've learned: stay on the edge.
Even after all the processes I've outlined, the most valuable time is spent learning from people and quickly jumping into conversations. You must risk rejection. Ideas are disposable!
/31
By far the most important idea I've learned: stay on the edge.
Even after all the processes I've outlined, the most valuable time is spent learning from people and quickly jumping into conversations. You must risk rejection. Ideas are disposable!
/31
