There are LOTS of ways to get more Twitter followers these days. Heck, you can even buy them (not that I recommend it)!
I think the bigger question is: how do I connect with targeted readers on Twitter?
- Keywords. This is a term that scares people. Well, man up. It’s simple: what do you write about? What are your interests? Say you’re a nonfiction writer with a passion for vintage birdcages. Boom – two keywords right there: nonfiction and vintage birdcages. Enter those terms in Search.
- Search. One of the best ways to find targeted followers is to use Twitter Search – that little bar at the top of your page. Type in terms like: book blogger, book reviewer, nonfiction, etc. (or with a hashtag #bookblogger, #bookreviewer, #nonfiction – try both ways) is easy and effective.
Twitter also has an Advanced Search function. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in regular search, try there.
- Applications. I adore ManageFlitter because not only can I clear out nonfollowbacks, eggs, and nevertweeteds, I can also follow people using their search function, which allows for both an Account Search and a Tweet Search.
Why do I love it so? Because I can unfollow 100 people all at once. I can also follow 100 people all at once. What a huge timesaver! (And it allows for multiple accounts, which is convenient if you have more than one Twitter stream like I do.)
I also use Pluggio. It has this very cool feature where you set it to follow certain keywords and it works 24/7 to find you relevant followers. TweetAdder also does something similar.
There are many options to follow/unfollow. Google and see which application you like the best.
- RT others. RT (aka retweet for Muggles) means you’ve taken the time to share someone’s stuff. It takes only seconds and makes you an immediate friend.
- Hashtags. Facebook users are still scratching their heads as to why we tweeps use the number sign in front of words. But if you’re on Twitter, use of a hashtag creates a hyperlink to whatever it is that you’ve attached to the number sign. So what? Here’s what: hashtags allow you to join in the conversation. What conversation? Who knows?
Here’s an example: on Valentine’s Day eve this year, I came across a hashtag: #candyheartrejects. In a flurry, I typed:
It’s not me. It’s you. #candyheartrejects.
It’s now been RTd over 100 times and I gained a bunch of new followers. So, that’s what.
- Handle, bio, header, and background. Handle is your Twitter name (you have only 15 characters). Make it easy. Pick a great shot. Show us, in your 160-character bio, that you’re interesting (don’t tell us – snore), create a colorful header and background. Even if nobody knows you, these send nonverbals that sell you. Brand yourself, not your book.
- Interact! It’s social media, not one-way broadcasting media. Don’t be that guy.
Please share your thoughts!
