Write or wrong, I tend to monitor who if following me - and if the "new follower" is not a writer or we have no other interest in common, then I'll block them. It probably helps that I'm very active of Twitter, but ALWAYS "live". i.e. no scheduled Tweets
Which brings me on nicely to -
Twitter (IMHO) works best as a "live media" When I get a tweet from someone I expect that person to be around so if I answer it, I'll get a reply fairly quickly.
While I accept that writers hoping to penetrate the US or other international markets want to tweet in the right time-zone, this DOESN'T mean sending the same tweet 24 times a day!
Hi John, thanks very much for your comment and best of luck on the RNA's New Writers' Scheme (saw you mention on Twitter!). I agree re the live media thing, but don't think there's anything wrong with the occasional link to a blog post/new book promo at 1am UK time to catch any US followers, otherwise they don't always get to see these Tweets. I have a few US Twitter 'friends' who I chat to often and sometimes they kindly RT my blog post links overnight (and sometimes we chat when I have insomnia, or when they do!). Obvs, the same tweet over and over again all day and night isn't effective though ;-). Re blocking, not sure if it's the way to go in that situation (some info from Twitter here: https://support.twitter.com/articles/20170134). Think blocking is intended more for someone who is Tweeting dodgy content or who mentions you in not a nice way. If you don't follow back, then this follower can see your Tweets, but you can't see theirs, so is there a need to block them?. They won't know they're blocked unless they go into your profile-and then they could become offended if they've done nothing wrong (perhaps not worth offending anyone unintentionally if you intend to publish a novel?) Thanks again for reading my post and for your feedback, much appreciated. Happy New Year, and hope to meet you at an RNA event!
Hi Anita, I've only been using twitter a couple of months, and found all your info tremendously helpful. Like most things, I jumped in without knowing what I was doing after watching and reading for a little while. To be honest, I still have that not quite sure what I'm doing feeling! But your information is great, thank you :-)
Hi Anita, I've just been working my way through this. I only joined Twitter at Xmas and have been guessing at it somewhat. Thanks for the helpful advice!
Thanks for the great article. Very helpful and I will be subscribing to your blog. I do have a few questions: 1) Can you explain to me what an "impression" is? 2) If promoting a blog or review, what is an acceptable time spread to schedule posts (i.e. every 2 hours?)
Hi Laura, thanks for your comment, and for following my blog. Glad you found my post helpful. Here's a link re impressions http://marketingland.com/facebook-twitter-impressions-90878. There are quite a few posts on this via Google. Re your second question, it's a personal thing really. I wouldn't tweet a link to my blog more than twice a day (UK times) probably, when I first publish the post, then once a day for around a week; then every now and again. It's worth taking time zones into consideration-you could schedule tweets at 2am for example to catch US followers. Using a relevant hashtag means Tweets can be picked up after they are tweeted, so it's worth doing that where possible.
When I see all the comments it reassures me to know I m not the only one who needs lessons on using twitter. Many thanks for such a wealth of information
Hi Anita, Love the new blog and will be following. Very informative and helpful.
ReplyDeleteLorraine RNA/ NWS
Hi Lorraine, thanks so much for your lovely comment, for following and for the retweet. So glad you found the post helpful. Happy New Year! x
DeleteReally useful advice, I never knew about the full stop in front of a name, not that I've done it, but I certainly won't now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the excellent advice, Anita.
Sue
:-)
Thanks so much for reading Sue and for your comment, so glad you found it useful! x
DeleteGreat post, Anita! Really helpful. I shall be following your blog avidly. Happy New Year! :) X
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jan for your support! Happy New Year to you too.x
DeleteI found it really helpful too – thanks, Anita! x
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading Clare, glad it was helpful!
DeleteGreat blog, Anita. Learnt quite a few new things and other points made me think - thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for reading Kathryn, so glad you found it helpful! Happy New Year.
DeleteI don't have Twitter yet, but I plan to join sometime this year so your post will prove very helpful. I'm saving it. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Chrys, thanks for reading and hope you find it helpful! Best of luck.
DeleteHi Anita
ReplyDeleteA GREAT article!
Write or wrong, I tend to monitor who if following me - and if the "new follower" is not a writer or we have no other interest in common, then I'll block them. It probably helps that I'm very active of Twitter, but ALWAYS "live". i.e. no scheduled Tweets
Which brings me on nicely to -
Twitter (IMHO) works best as a "live media" When I get a tweet from someone I expect that person to be around so if I answer it, I'll get a reply fairly quickly.
While I accept that writers hoping to penetrate the US or other international markets want to tweet in the right time-zone, this DOESN'T mean sending the same tweet 24 times a day!
Just my 2p.
And again, thanks
John
Hi John, thanks very much for your comment and best of luck on the RNA's New Writers' Scheme (saw you mention on Twitter!). I agree re the live media thing, but don't think there's anything wrong with the occasional link to a blog post/new book promo at 1am UK time to catch any US followers, otherwise they don't always get to see these Tweets. I have a few US Twitter 'friends' who I chat to often and sometimes they kindly RT my blog post links overnight (and sometimes we chat when I have insomnia, or when they do!). Obvs, the same tweet over and over again all day and night isn't effective though ;-). Re blocking, not sure if it's the way to go in that situation (some info from Twitter here: https://support.twitter.com/articles/20170134). Think blocking is intended more for someone who is Tweeting dodgy content or who mentions you in not a nice way. If you don't follow back, then this follower can see your Tweets, but you can't see theirs, so is there a need to block them?. They won't know they're blocked unless they go into your profile-and then they could become offended if they've done nothing wrong (perhaps not worth offending anyone unintentionally if you intend to publish a novel?) Thanks again for reading my post and for your feedback, much appreciated. Happy New Year, and hope to meet you at an RNA event!
DeleteGood information and advice. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Thanks very much for reading, and for commenting.
DeleteHi Anita, I've only been using twitter a couple of months, and found all your info tremendously helpful. Like most things, I jumped in without knowing what I was doing after watching and reading for a little while. To be honest, I still have that not quite sure what I'm doing feeling! But your information is great, thank you :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, I'm so glad that you found the info helpful! Thanks for reading, and for leaving a comment :-)
DeleteThanks for sharing such detail, Anita - look forward to further posts!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Rosemary, thanks so much for reading!
DeleteGreat post, Anita. Full of good advice and I've now added a "Twitter Follow" button to my blog. Thanks for sharing. x
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jude! Glad you found helpful.x
DeleteBrilliant, informative post as always, Anita - and of course I've re-tweeted!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Wendy!
DeleteHi Anita, I've just been working my way through this. I only joined Twitter at Xmas and have been guessing at it somewhat. Thanks for the helpful advice!
ReplyDeleteHi Helen, I'm so glad you found the post helpful! Thanks for visiting and for your comment :-)
DeleteThanks for the great article. Very helpful and I will be subscribing to your blog. I do have a few questions: 1) Can you explain to me what an "impression" is? 2) If promoting a blog or review, what is an acceptable time spread to schedule posts (i.e. every 2 hours?)
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, thanks for your comment, and for following my blog. Glad you found my post helpful. Here's a link re impressions http://marketingland.com/facebook-twitter-impressions-90878. There are quite a few posts on this via Google. Re your second question, it's a personal thing really. I wouldn't tweet a link to my blog more than twice a day (UK times) probably, when I first publish the post, then once a day for around a week; then every now and again. It's worth taking time zones into consideration-you could schedule tweets at 2am for example to catch US followers. Using a relevant hashtag means Tweets can be picked up after they are tweeted, so it's worth doing that where possible.
DeleteOh boy, my head is spinning, but I now have a much better idea of those terms. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Laura :-)
DeleteJust trying to move into Twitter effectively so very helpful, Anita.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jean, am so glad you found it helpful!
DeleteWhen I see all the comments it reassures me to know I m not the only one who needs lessons on using twitter. Many thanks for such a wealth of information
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Gwen, so glad it helped. Thanks for reading!
ReplyDeleteBack again to say I've just re-read your fab post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy for all your support, and glad it was helpful!
DeleteThis will be a very helpful posts for lots of people, Anita.
ReplyDeleteAm so glad it's helpful, Anne! Thanks very much for your support here, and on Twitter :-)
DeleteThanks for this. Much needed, as am a novice and possibly doing things all wrong.
ReplyDeleteSo glad it helped, Jane!
Delete