by Ana Hoffman 50 comments

How to Make Twitter More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys



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twitter to generate traffic funny imageIf you ask me (not that you are asking), the only way Twitter is fun is when you generate the most traffic with it with the least work.

By the way, forgot to mention one important Twitter tip in the video: tweet in blocks.

This is a great way to stand out in your followers’ time line.

Instead of tweeting once and immediately getting lost in the sea of other tweets, tweet in a group of 4 tweets. The first 3 should be other people’s posts, quotes, etc, but the last one is always yours – leading to your blog. That way it will be on top of your tweet block and will be likely to get clicked on first.

Of course, to make your life easier, I would schedule all your blocks in advance, spaced 3-4 hours apart – all using TweetAdder.

Twitter Action Plan for Today

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{ 50 comments }

Anthony September 25, 2011 at 4:26 pm

Hey Anna, how many minutes apart would you space out the blocks? Would you send them all within a minute with each other, or something else? Thanks!

Ana Hoffman September 26, 2011 at 8:53 pm

The tweets within the block itself I usually space out about 30 seconds – no more than a minute, Anthony.

I usually space the blocks 3-4 hours apart.

Brad Harmon May 2, 2011 at 9:52 pm

Okay, Ana. You’re slowly making me rethink what I’m doing on Twitter. I loved the face off you did with Nicholas Cardot (the King of Twitter Socializing). The more I think about the vast difference in your approaches, one thought keeps popping up – why not do both? Get the traffic with automated accounts, but still be social with a primary account. This is the approach I will be using over the next few months. I think it will be best for someone like me who wants the best of both approaches.

Ana May 3, 2011 at 7:53 am

Great idea! Let us know how that goes.

Shaleen Shah February 8, 2011 at 1:02 am

Your tips are awesome as always, so thanks! Now, here’s what I really want to know: How will you know the level of engagement you have with your followers? Take for example, Klout.com. It gives you your clout score based on the number of retweets and uniques… but that isn’t enough, really. Just because someone retweets my tweet doesn’t mean that person is fully engaged to be my customer. Perhaps, that person is amused or has nothing to tweet of for the moment. I guess, we’re all looking for that holy grail of twitter engagement.

Ana February 24, 2011 at 8:32 pm

Let me ask you a question, Shaleen: what does it REALLY matter?

I am on Twitter to get traffic and traffic I do get. It’s under my control and I can track all the numbers with GA.

User engagement? Not something I have time for. :)

Ana January 30, 2011 at 1:54 pm

I just downloaded the new version – excited to sink my teeth into it, since this is the one that’s supposed to do some sort of FB signature as well.

Haven’t done much with it yet though; will let you know if I am having similar problems.

Gib January 29, 2011 at 10:21 am

Well put!

Mitchell Allen January 29, 2011 at 6:07 am

Ana, as usual, you deliver a no-nonsense approach to a “social” network that is rarely used properly – on either extreme.
Before I understood the meaning of social in social media, I did an experiment in automation. Naturally, it was a failure, as I never offered anything of value like you have suggested. I came to despise all automation – based on my misguided understanding.

However, through that journey, I managed to discover a useful way to use Twitter – or so I thought. I have three “Announce-only” accounts which are associated with my software websites. I don’t follow anyone, but I invite my opt-in users to follow the appropriate account if that’s how they choose to be notified of news and updates.

Based on your stats, this method may be ALL that Twitter is good for – in my case. I would have to do a complete paradigm shift to embrace automation in Twitter. I guess I’m still unlearning the old definition and don’t want to appear “spammy”. Of course, that’s why I keep my “Quality” account. I do retweet the announcements from my software accounts, but that’s it. Everything else is old-fashioned (time-consuming) networking and fun.

Once I decide to use Twitter for traffic, I will remember your strategies.

Cheers,

Mitch

Ana January 30, 2011 at 1:52 pm

The main point of automation is following other people on Twitter, Mitch – I don’t think there’s anything spammy about it, since the people you follow still have a choice to follow you back or not.

I still do provide a lot of value in ALL of my accounts and that’s the key. Granted I do it through automation, but I still watch my @mentions to see if anyone is asking questions.

So yes, I strongly believe that this strategy wins, but it’s not a faceless one; it is still the end user-friendly and provides lots of value and not self-promotion.

Hope you get to Twitter soon while it’s still a viable traffic generation venue! :)

Stephen Anderson January 28, 2011 at 9:34 pm

Hi Ana,

What are friends for unless you can use them !?

Quantity all the way – to the bank!

You can see what sort of friends (?) I’ve had most of my life.

Ana January 30, 2011 at 1:47 pm

Friends are not really friends just because you call them that, Stephen. :)

The best relationships I’ve built were all through my blog and never on social media. So definitely – social media power is in numbers.

Ana

Ana January 28, 2011 at 8:56 pm

About time – glad to hear that!

Ana January 28, 2011 at 7:41 pm

Let me start with this, Alex: you are not following untargeted followers.

There are many ways to get the followers that might actually be very interested in what you have to offer, and that’s the first step to a successful and TARGETED Twitter traffic.

The second point I wanted to make is the fact that I know it works, since that exactly how I built up my readership when I had no visitors.

Hope you might venture to try it someday, Alex.

Kent F January 28, 2011 at 3:26 pm

Hi Ana – So, at some point you have an auto-tweet that encourages followers to come and comment on your blog? You lost me there a little, but your process sounds intriguing. Also – you “unfollow” people you are following? Doesn’t make a lot of sense – but I think I follow you (haha) – Thanks!

Kent

Ana January 28, 2011 at 8:11 pm

:)

I send all my new followers a direct message, not a tweet, that encourages them to come and promote themselves on my blog. I do it automatically as soon as someone new starts following me – very hands off.

As far as unfollowing is concerned: when I follow a number of people, some of them will choose to follow me back. But some of them won’t. So it’s important to unfollow those who do not follow you to be able to continue acquiring more followers.

Makes sense?

Mavis Nong @ Free Marketing Training January 28, 2011 at 7:16 am

Hey Ana,

I have TweetAdder installed on my computer, I really need to figure it out and get cracking with it :)

I recently wrote a post inviting people to promote their blogs and businesses on my blog, so I could use this on Twitter ;)

Thanks for sharing these tips, Ana.

All the best,
Mavis

Ana January 28, 2011 at 8:04 pm

I saw that post, Mavis, and at first thought that that’s why you created it.

But now that you have it, you have another use for it! :)

Bilal Kamoon January 28, 2011 at 6:36 am

No transcript? I have a slow connection here so I can’t watch the video. If you couldn’t provide a transcript this time, I hope you consider it next time. :D

Ana January 28, 2011 at 11:07 am

Good point, Bilal – I was in a bit of a rush this time, but I know it’s good to have.

Ana

Scott January 28, 2011 at 5:48 am

Agreed! Never really “got” the whole networking on Twitter thing, and never really connected with very many folks. I spend my limited twitter time tweeting posts that I find to be beneficial, and also promoting my recent posts with a catchy headline. However, love your “baiting” approach — need to research that more. Will also check out the software – 3000 per day is impressive!

Best,
Scott
P.S. Yes, I changed my blog theme … :-)

Ana January 28, 2011 at 11:11 am

I don’t think many of us “get” networking on Twitter, Scott. This approach has worked so well for me; I do hope you give it a shot.

Ana

Marlee January 28, 2011 at 5:45 am

Hello Ana!

I can’t believe I haven’t explored your site until now. I work closely with Tia and she’s mentioned you many times before, but somehow I only found myself here this morning!

Anyway, I love your video and I your content here is very insightful. I haven’t approached using twitter in such a strategic manner. These suggestions are fantastic. I’m going to test them.

I will definitely be talking more about what you are doing here. I also want to commend you for acknowledging your faith so boldly here. I too am devoted to Christ and love to see him lifted up. Thank you!

Ana January 28, 2011 at 11:13 am

Such a pleasure to meet a sister in Christ, Marlee!

I have utmost respect for Tia and glad you finally made it over to my blog.

I really think I found a sweet spot in Twitter traffic generation; really hope you give this a shot.

Ana

Terry Conti January 27, 2011 at 10:44 pm

Hi Ana,
Currently I’m using twitter feed. I was recently wondering to myself weather or not it is useful. It has it’s pluses and minuses. This software you recomemd truly does give twitter a human touch.

Terry Conti

Ana January 28, 2011 at 8:03 pm

I didn’t think you could use Twitterfeed to follow people on Twitter, Terry…

I’ve loved Twitter for what it’s done for my blog even though I hate networking there.

Robert Dempsey January 27, 2011 at 9:51 pm

Interesting tips Ana. For me I follow everyone back that follows me, and keep a very specific ratio of friends/followers. I too am going to quantity in a way, and then I use lists to ensure I can network easier with certain people.

Ana January 28, 2011 at 11:28 am

I actually don’t follow anyone back, Robert, since that easily eats up your daily “ration”.

I too use a method to track my quality followers – I actually have a separate “quality only” account for that.

Ana

Carlos January 27, 2011 at 7:40 pm

I personally use Hootsuite to release my post. I try to set the release times to match the times that are most likely to get retweeted.

Ana January 27, 2011 at 9:26 pm

TweetAdder does have that feature as well, but that’s not why you should use it. It’s the ability to follow and unfollow people that gets you the numbers and the traffic you need.

Allie January 27, 2011 at 3:13 pm

Ana,

I was wondering about Twitter for a while now. In 3 months I have only gained 300 followers and I have noticed that the more followers the more hits I get to my site, not much though. I know I need in the 10 thousands to get any great traffic to my site.
And it makes so much sense that I would need to network via my own blog than through Twitter. Once I get the readers on my blog I can get them to stay. Networking on Twitter only gets me to converse on Twitter and gives my blog very little benefits.
Great advice. And it was nice seeing you in a video. I love when bloggers put a face to the blog.

Ana January 28, 2011 at 7:56 pm

Hi, Allie – so good to see your face back on my blog!

If you let your Twitter account grow “naturally”, it won’t get far – you are learning it already.

Taking Twitter by numbers is exactly what I did to grow TGC when I had no traffic whatsoever, so I know it works beautifully.

Peggy Baron January 27, 2011 at 1:37 pm

This all makes great sense, Ana. Thanks for the post.

I especially like the tweet in blocks idea. I can see the value of doing that, especially as the last thing of the day. That way your last comment before calling it a night is a tweet to your own blog.

Thanks,
Peggy

Ana January 27, 2011 at 9:33 pm

Tweeting in blocks is something I’ve used for a long time and definitely always worked great for me, Peggy.

Actually you can make the last tweet in every blog a tweet to your own blog, not just the last block of the day.

Heather C Stephens January 27, 2011 at 11:31 am

Hi Ana,

Ok, so I thought that twitter was cracking down on automated things like tweet adder so I’d been steering clear of it. I love your idea of a page for your followers to come and share about their blogs and businesses! Very clever idea! :)

Great tips!
Heather

Ana January 28, 2011 at 7:42 pm

Not that I know of, Heather – as long as you stay within allowed Twitter limits, TweetAdder is just fine.

Yes, promotion page is brilliant – I saw someone else do it and obviously adopted it for my blog. Works great!

Ana

Tia January 27, 2011 at 11:13 am

Hi Ana,

This really does make a lot of sense. Ultimately this is why it is good to have regular campaigns to add new Twitter followers.

Twitter is still a big source of good traffic for bizchickblogs.com, especially now that the reader base has changed some. I think a lot of it has to do with B2B vs D2C. B2B people are at a disadvantage with Twitter, because everyone is using it to push, rather than pull. But with D2C, you have a lot of people who are not necessarily just trying to get traffic (because they have no website). So they become great sources, at least for me.

Ana January 28, 2011 at 2:45 pm

Interesting point about D2C, Tia (direct to consumer for those who might not know).

I suppose it all depends who your target audience is and can see how Twitter might be even more beneficial of a strategy for blogs like yours.

And you are right: whatever your niche, anyone could always use a fresh pair of eyes. :)

Have a blessed weekend!

Ileane January 27, 2011 at 11:10 am

Hi Ana, this is interesting. I didn’t know that Twitter allowed us to use these types of automated following tools. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Btw – how can I participate in your Sunday Morning Coffee in real-time? I plan to join you this weekend.
Thanks Ana.

Ana January 27, 2011 at 10:01 pm

Yes, Twitter allows too much automation; that’s why we have all the bots overtaking our time lines. :)

Glad you asked, Ileane – all you do is show up at my fan page at http://www.facebook.com/trafficgenerationcafe at 10 am EST and click on “Shows” tab to watch the show. You can also log in to chat.

See you there!

Gib January 27, 2011 at 11:07 am

Thanks for the insight, Ana. I gotta tell you, your video proved to be my exception – when I go to a webpage or blog and the first thing that happens is a vid opens requiring me to hang for however many minutes I hit *close*.

But because you are so trustworthy and constantly deliver help to others I even put on my headphones and watched the video.

I wrote a blog piece entitled ‘I Can’t Tell You How to be Social . .’ where I examine both sides of the numbers/social/friend issue. I’m not trying to plug myself here, I’m mentioning it because I could see the ‘social only’s’ quickly forming little cliques. “I only talk to or follow [whatever] and delete everyone else”, blah blah blah. And exactly as you say, that doesn’t put new eyes on your blog.

The flip [good] side is that being very careful to not sound like a commercial, out of the blue I’ve gotten some very well know, heavy hitters following me. So that phase of networking is working great! And yes, branding is hard!!

I equate using Twitter as stepping out onto the freeway and trying to get your message heard over all the honking horns. After your review of Lisa’s Blog I started pointing my comments to more LOA blogs. (They could use your help, Ana). :-)

Now I’ll implement your multiple account, bulk postings and ramp up my automation a little more to get eyes to my blog. I remember my excitement when I received your ‘promote yourself’ message. That was very generous.

I’ll pass that generosity along from here on.

Thank you, Ana! I truly appreciate all you do to help others.

Ana January 27, 2011 at 9:40 pm

I love your analogy of Twitter being like a freeway – very true, Gibson.

I normally don’t do video posts, but wanted to try something different this time. I think it worked out well. :)

I actually understand both sides of the coin as far as quantity and quality are concerned.

I still firmly believe that quantity is what will get you the traffic you need – that’s why I have 5 Twitter accounts. However, I also have one more Twitter account, which I maintain for quality only. I follow very few people there – only the ones that I want to network with.

So I do it both ways.

I always love your insightful comments, Gibson – just love the fact that you seem to give my posts a lot of thought before you comment. I greatly appreciate it and hope it’s noticed by my readers as well.

By the way, I’d love to have the link to the post you mentioned.

Ana

Gib January 27, 2011 at 9:48 pm

Thanks fer askin’, Ana! Here’s the link to ‘I Can’t Tell You How To Be Social, I Can Only Tell You To Be Yourself’:
http://www.gibsongoff-theenlightenedtraveler.com/?p=18

I’m working on the whole ‘slug’ thingy (by your direction) but it’s quirky. Can’t get WP or the plug-in to work right. But enough of that! Hope you enjoy the read, and I’d appreciate any and all feedback.

~Gib

Ana January 27, 2011 at 9:53 pm

Your slug was the first thing I noticed when I saw the link, Gibson. :)

Definitely need to fix it; sorry to hear you are having problems with it.

I am off to check out your post.

Adam Paudyal @ endeavor online January 27, 2011 at 11:04 am

I agree with Sheila here. This is indeed a great piece of advice on using the Twitter the right way.

Even though I believe quality always is more important that quantity; I really like your approach of gaining on that quantity and then worrying about the quality.

Tweet in a groups of 4 to create that tweet block; Agreed Ana.

Thanks for the awesome advice.

Ana January 27, 2011 at 9:41 pm

You are very welcome, Adam.

Again, I am not against quality, I just think that quantity give you better results traffic-wise.

Lisa January 27, 2011 at 10:06 am

Ana:

I am SO glad you did this! I have had issue with Twitter due to the fact that the traffic I get is from people I have already networked with…just like you said. And no matter how many times I try and configure the “right” tweet time, it ends up getting buried anyways. The one thing I can say is that I do the blocks like you mention.
I have to say that I have even considered dumping Twitter altogether….(20 people just faceplanted their keyboards)…but I am going to give this action plan a whirl. I have a couple Twitter accounts but have not really focused on all of them, so maybe my issue has been user error!
In analyzing my Google Analytics, Twitter is number 6 for me, so I can attempt to move that up!
Love the video!
Lisa

Ana January 27, 2011 at 10:11 am

I think this has a great potential, Lisa.

If you manage to automate most of this, create several account and just keep following more people, it just might be the Twitter breakthrough you need.

The most important issue is to find a way to entice them to come to your blog with the perfect DM.

Sheila Atwood@newbielifeline.com January 27, 2011 at 8:49 am

Ana,

This is one some of the best Twitter advice I have read. This is just the opposite of what I have been doing but it makes total sense. Sense I am always look for ways to make things better I will be giving this a go. (Love the invite benefit page!)

Hope organic traffic is now your #1 traffic source.

Ana January 27, 2011 at 10:06 am

I am just starting to convert back to my old Twitter habits, Sheila, but I know it’ll work much better for my traffic generation – based on my past experience.

Let me know how it goes!

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