Twitter Networking: why and how.

Essence · 04-22-2009, 04:59 PM

BACKGROUND:

I just got off the phone with Steve Johnson, architect of Direct Networking.

A few of you are following my "I need a mentor" thread, in which Michael Oksa (who is awesome) is volunteering his usually-$50-an-hour coaching services to help a broke father (me) pay his bills. What I haven't admitted to anyone is that I actually have TWO 'mentors' -- Michael Oksa and Steve Johnson.

Michael Oksa is helping me with selling a product, and the realities behind what it takes to reach people with an idea.

Steve Johnson is recruiting me into Direct Networking, which is basically a massive relationship-building IM-fest at this point. He's got some very cool ideas about how to use everything from Twitter to snail mail to build a network.

So, I asked him about Twitter networking, and he filled my ear for a good hour. I thought 'what the heck, I'll share this with the Warrior Forum.'

So, here goes: Steve Johnson's thoughts on Twitter Marketing, filtered through me.

*****

Twitter is noisy. It's confusing. Unless you have some decent tools, it loses focus rapidly and becomes useless for people who are trying to build relationships. But people are doing it anyway, and they're making money.

Here's how:

Step 1: Tell a Coherent Story. From your handle to your bio, every element of your Twitter account should tell a coherent story, and it should be a story that applies to your business. If it doesn't contribute cleanly to the story you're trying to tell, change it or eliminate it altogether.

Step 2: Remember that Twitter is a BLOG. A micro-blog, to be sure, but it's a blog. That means that people can and do go back and look at everything you've ever tweeted to check your signal-to-noise ratio and your whackjob factor, just like they do with a normal blog. Keep your signal-to-noise ratio HIGH by keeping side conversations limited to @-messages and only Tweeting about things that are relevant to your field. If necessary, run a 2nd Twitter ID for business. Remember: your Tweets are the most important part of your story! Keep them fully in-line with your bio, skin, and picture.

Step 3: Find people who are in your field, who have significant spheres of influence (read: lots of followers), who are willing to listen to what you might have to say (read: they follow plenty of people). Twellow :: Twitter Directory, Twitter Search, & Twitter Yellow Pages is good for finding people who share your interests.

Step 4: Get to know them! Talk to them, learn about their lives, hook up on Facebook, and let them talk about what they do. People love to talk about what they do. Learn from them, and THEN once you've established a relationship that YOU respect, move into telling them about whatever project, site, or other major thing you're working on.

Step 5: Get their Skype ID, address, phone number, birthday,and everything else you share with your close friends, and draw them into your Inner Circle.

***********

Of course, you need a final goal to be working towards. For Steve and his Inner Circle, it's Direct Marketing. What will it be for you?

Essence

David Chamberlain · 04-22-2009, 05:14 PM

Hi

That post makes a lot of sense. I think Twitter has a long way to go to realise it's potential. The Spammers have discovered it, but in time, people will turn them off and hopefully it will become a useful tool.

I like what you said about telling a story - that's definitely something I will look to do now, It's just hard to tell one when there is so much noise around!

I do think they could make it easier to interact with your followers directly though....but does that defeat the point?

Thanks

Dave

garyv · 04-22-2009, 05:21 PM

Good post - Just like everywhere else on the net, I think that the key is to provide value and answers.

dsmpublishing · 04-22-2009, 06:04 PM

The one thing that annoys me about twitter is when people who use tweetlater and send an automated message to all their followers via @replies. You can then click on the persons id and you basically see the same message all the way down to different people. I wouldnt mind if they just sent one update but they dont.

As far as i am concerned with the spamming thing if you post one link to your products in between normal tweets people really dont mind and will gladly re-tweet you. If there is anything you should do on twitter it has to be affiliate links people hate it with a passion especially the learn how to get 16k followers in 90 days from someone with 100 followers. It just looks awful doesnt it?

04-22-2009, 04:59 PM	#1
Essence Michael Danielson War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 210 Thanks: 103 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Social Networking	Twitter Networking: why and how. BACKGROUND: I just got off the phone with Steve Johnson, architect of Direct Networking. A few of you are following my "I need a mentor" thread, in which Michael Oksa (who is awesome) is volunteering his usually-$50-an-hour coaching services to help a broke father (me) pay his bills. What I haven't admitted to anyone is that I actually have TWO 'mentors' -- Michael Oksa and Steve Johnson. Michael Oksa is helping me with selling a product, and the realities behind what it takes to reach people with an idea. Steve Johnson is recruiting me into Direct Networking, which is basically a massive relationship-building IM-fest at this point. He's got some very cool ideas about how to use everything from Twitter to snail mail to build a network. So, I asked him about Twitter networking, and he filled my ear for a good hour. I thought 'what the heck, I'll share this with the Warrior Forum.' So, here goes: Steve Johnson's thoughts on Twitter Marketing, filtered through me. *** Twitter is noisy. It's confusing. Unless you have some decent tools, it loses focus rapidly and becomes useless for people who are trying to build relationships. But people are doing it anyway, and they're making money. Here's how: Step 1: Tell a Coherent Story. From your handle to your bio, every element of your Twitter account should tell a coherent story, and it should be a story that applies to your business. If it doesn't contribute cleanly to the story you're trying to tell, change it or eliminate it altogether. Step 2: Remember that Twitter is a BLOG. A micro-blog, to be sure, but it's a blog. That means that people can and do go back and look at everything you've ever tweeted to check your signal-to-noise ratio and your whackjob factor, just like they do with a normal blog. Keep your signal-to-noise ratio HIGH by keeping side conversations limited to @-messages and only Tweeting about things that are relevant to your field. If necessary, run a 2nd Twitter ID for business. Remember: your Tweets are the most important part of your story! Keep them fully in-line with your bio, skin, and picture. Step 3: Find people who are in your field, who have significant spheres of influence (read: lots of followers), who are willing to listen to what you might have to say (read: they follow plenty of people). Twellow :: Twitter Directory, Twitter Search, & Twitter Yellow Pages is good for finding people who share your interests. Step 4: Get to know them! Talk to them, learn about their lives, hook up on Facebook, and let them talk about what they do. People love to talk about what they do. Learn from them, and THEN once you've established a relationship that YOU respect, move into telling them about whatever project, site, or other major thing you're working on. Step 5: Get their Skype ID, address, phone number, birthday,and everything else you share with your close friends, and draw them into your Inner Circle. ********* Of course, you need a final goal to be working towards. For Steve and his Inner Circle, it's Direct Marketing. What will it be for you? Essence
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04-22-2009, 05:14 PM	#2
David Chamberlain HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Preston, United Kingdom Posts: 316 Thanks: 136 Thanked 83 Times in 40 Posts Social Networking	Re: Twitter Networking: why and how. Hi That post makes a lot of sense. I think Twitter has a long way to go to realise it's potential. The Spammers have discovered it, but in time, people will turn them off and hopefully it will become a useful tool. I like what you said about telling a story - that's definitely something I will look to do now, It's just hard to tell one when there is so much noise around! I do think they could make it easier to interact with your followers directly though....but does that defeat the point? Thanks Dave
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04-22-2009, 05:21 PM	#3
garyv Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: , , . Posts: 1,709 Thanks: 388 Thanked 863 Times in 384 Posts	Re: Twitter Networking: why and how. Good post - Just like everywhere else on the net, I think that the key is to provide value and answers.
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04-22-2009, 06:04 PM	#4
dsmpublishing Banned War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Portugal Posts: 1,738 Blog Entries: 209 Thanks: 104 Thanked 228 Times in 161 Posts Social Networking	Re: Twitter Networking: why and how. The one thing that annoys me about twitter is when people who use tweetlater and send an automated message to all their followers via @replies. You can then click on the persons id and you basically see the same message all the way down to different people. I wouldnt mind if they just sent one update but they dont. As far as i am concerned with the spamming thing if you post one link to your products in between normal tweets people really dont mind and will gladly re-tweet you. If there is anything you should do on twitter it has to be affiliate links people hate it with a passion especially the learn how to get 16k followers in 90 days from someone with 100 followers. It just looks awful doesnt it?