So you created a Twitter profile, you’ve gotten a clever username and you’ve even figured out the special Twitter lingo and you’ve started to tweet. Now what?
Now it’s time to build your following. The best way to gain followers is a pursuit that’s been analyzed, studied and blogged about ad infinitum. Many a social media expert has eschewed the best time of day to tweet, the most efficient use of hashtags, the perfect number of characters in a tweet, or the best social media apps to use to increase your Twitter following.
But let’s step away from the ever changing and sometimes conflicting stats and recognize that there is no one size fits all strategy. There is however, a tried-and-true, slow-and steady-win- the-race approach that can be achieved if you follow these three basic principles:
1) Your tweets are informative, entertaining and/or engaging. – By posting tweets that cause people to take action – be it think, smile, click, favorite, reply or retweet – you will establish yourself as a “source” that people will want to see in their newsfeed on a regular basis.
2) You are consistent. – Assuming you’ve captured someone’s attention on Twitter and they have come to check out your profile, they will want to find that your Twitter timeline is regularly updated. That doesn’t mean you have to post 20 times a day, but don’t expect someone to follow you if you haven’t posted a tweet since January.
3) You follow them. – Twitter is a bit of “quid pro quo” network and you will gain more traction more quickly if you actively pursue and follow people who you would like to see in your newsfeed. Equally important is to follow people back who have chosen to follow you if you think they are a good fit for the information that you seek to find on Twitter.
Gaining Twitter followers doesn’t happen instantly, but adhering to this authentic and organic method should help you increase your list faster than you thought possible. Here are few more articles about best practices and gaining followers on Twitter.
- Twitter Tips for Beginners: Everything I Wish I Knew About Twitter When I Started – Kevan Lee, Buffer
I would love to hear from you in the comments as to what you have found is your most successful Twitter style? Or if you are seeking followers, add your Twitter username below for more people to follow you. Thanks.
Photo credit: John H. Buck (@wordupbuck) a leader in leadership and an awesome brother-in-law.