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1. Obsessing about follower numbers, promising to auto-follow new followers, etc. definitely counts as "keeping score." I'm not interested in following someone just to help them reach a certain follower number -- I'm interested in the value they provide with their tweets (which means, to be congruent, I try to provide value with my tweets as well).
2. Helping others on Twitter is easy. Someone poses a question, you dash off an answer. Someone wants a recommendation, you post a URL. It's not like putting hours into a pro bono project, or doing spec work. You just pitch in where you can. So even if you frame everything in cost/benefit terms, the cost is very low -- which means you can talk yourself into believing it's OK to get absolutely nothing in return. Then when you get a thank-you, that's more than nothing!! And everybody wins.
I'd love to pick up your Twitter book and see what great insights you've shared with us.
Cheers,
@digitalfemme
@Wendy Cholbi - Wow, I've never thought about your 2nd point... that Twitter allows folks to take micro-actions that support others - totally doable for anyone.
And because it's low "cost", as you say, it makes it easy for people to give tons of value. Grant Griffiths, on a prior post said "I try to live my social media life by, give way more then you receive." So it's almost making deposits in a very stable Karmic bank! So Grant's "value credit" ultimately is not more followers, but is his faith that he is living according to his convictions. His value is intrinsic to his action of giving (Hmmmm....trying to get my head around that one....)
@digitalfemme - I can barely remember what I had for breakfast, much less keep score. Thanks!
John
It is amazing to me how this is so true and how it truly works on twitter. It is amazing how a simple tweet or retweet can have such a huge impact on everyone. From the original tweet to those who read the tweet or click on a link. The reach someone gets on twitter by giving is larger then words can even define.
Once again, right on point John. Way to GO!!!!!
Thanks. Yeah - I like what Wendy said about Twitter. You certainly wouldn't be able to grow a "giving culture" if you had to write a damn novel to someone.
140 keys is just my speed.
John
"Benefiting from Twitter" is one of those paradoxes, isn't it? The way to get benefits (whether that means sales, donations, followers, retweets, etc.) is to let go of the need and desire for them, and approach tweeting as a selfless activity. Only then do the benefits start to roll in. Financial gurus say the same thing about money and dating experts say the same thing about relationships. Hmm.
I like your characterization of the Twitterverse as a "giving culture." I certainly hope that keeps being true! When giving is fun and easy, as it is with Twitter's instant feedback, we all benefit.
@Cheryl - My best business relationships have come from natural connections as well. Now go give back the string cheese and the Clearasil, will you?
;-)
John
This man's wish was to do good in the world every day as he went about his business - but *never know* exactly what good it was that he did. (Don't ask me why he wished that; that's just how the old story goes.) Well, it seems that God thought this was quite a good wish for the guy to make - and so the same wish was granted to everyone in the world.
Of course, that's just a story.
There is nothing wrong with having a strategy, but the spirit of this post is more along the lines of passing the potatoes at the dinner table: you just do it.
I love this post.
Cheers,
Mitch
I like this Wendy as I agree with much of what she has written.
Too often, I see people "obsess" not just over how many followers they have, but over their "grade" as well.
I enjoy the mini conversations with my fellow Twits just as much as I enjoy the bits o' info they may share.
The constant RT'ing for the sake of "look at me" or "holla back" is ridiculous. There are plenty of other interfaces where this type of behavior is considered "totally rad, dude." I look at Twitter as an adult's playground. Not Chuck E. Cheese.
Thanks again for the Law-of-Attraction-like post. ;)
Adonya Wong
"I am not what happened to me; I am what I choose to become." - Carl Gustav Jung
@Mitch - Thanks so much for joining in. The subtitle on your blog, fits right in with what some people are talking about: "Reflections on the Mutability of the Interwoven Internet"
Are you following @mayhemstudios?
@Adonya - Yum... Chuck E. Cheese does have pretty good pizza, though.
Thanks all,
John
But, what about indirect reciprocation? Retweet karma is a funny thing, I've found that, given enough time, it often circle back, but it doesn't necessarily come back your way instantly or in the form of a retweet back in your direction. Think bigger picture. And, do it just because it feels good.
I wanted to thank you for linking to my Imagine Your Audience post and also to let you know that I found your book on Twitter for non-profits incredibly valuable. A few years ago, I founded a trade association and a sister non-profit and while both have grown steadily through blogging and social media tools, Twitter will take us to a new level and also distinguish us from the more staid DC lobbyists and trade groups. I hope to be able to share success stories with you about our Twitter use very soon.
Carolyn Elefant
Interesting thing about this recent Twitter Grader mania and what seems to be the wholesale discovery of Twitter by the clueless and/or cynical marketing hords: I sense that it's provoked a lot of people to come more or less independently to a similar place as you've described in this post. And that can't be anything but positive in the long run, surely!
I like being able to do short and getting to know friends in VARIOUS circles. Learning lots.
@Carolyn - Twitter seems to have a higher viral component than most social media, maybe because of the low "cost" that Wendy talked about ("Someone poses a question, you dash off an answer. Someone wants a recommendation, you post a URL").
@rjleaman - What I'm learning from the comments here is that stuff get's done precisely because the required effort is so minimal. It makes me think about services like mGive and SocialActions.
The Universe does a much better job of keeping (and settling) scores, than any human ever could.
The Universe is like Santa, knowing when I've been good on Twitter and when I've been self-centered. But the Universe-Santa visits us every day and very, very quietly.
Thanks for pointing all this out.
Very seasonal analogy - thanks!
John
In a way, because experience itself is beneficial, the effect of the cause is in the same moment as when the cause is made... reminds me of that White Stripes song: Effect and Cause
@Frank - Hey, welcome back! How's Blackbaud?
A gremlin kept me from replying earlier. Thanks for mentioning my blog.
I like Michael's version better than mine:
You can’t think about what you get out of it, or that kills it.
I try to just have fun with twitter. Two years from now, we'll all be doing something else, anyway :)
Cheers,
Mitch
@Mitch - Excellent reminder that social media goes way beyond twitter. I heard Chris Brogan recently said in a podcast that Web 2.0 is simply a "two-way" web instead of a "one-way" web. Wherever you have a two-way web, you have relationships.
John
:-)
John
Twitter is a microcosm for the way all social media works. It's an ecosystem. It's built on goodwill and if you take without giving back, you deplete the goodwill that comes in your direction. Net-result: you get negatively-selected and that's the end of you.
It's also the reason many corporations don't immediately find their feet in the social media world. The idea of doing something without an immediate and quantifiable return (in monetary terms) is alien to them. They don't understand the balance.
Like I said earlier: great post. Looking forward to the next one.
@Amod - I love how you call Twitter an ecosystem. Has a nice ring to it!
@Pink & @Joni - Thanks for stopping by!
I'm constantly amazed at why people follow me. At first I asked every new follower and the top answer was: because someone else was following you. Maybe that's true for everyone.
To me, delivering value, entertainment and relevant content drives our collective twitter experience.
And I have to say I don't know if it's the universe, serendipity or timing, but there's a rhythm and purpose to what goes on when you converse in your own twitterverse.
@wiredprworks on twitter.com
1) - It requires very little technical knowledge to become proficient. This means that most donors or customers can utilize Twitter.
2) - The fan base or "tribe" following a small business or non-profit can use Twitter to make small commitments (buy or donate money) and spread the word with very little effort!
Low quality versions eat up your bandwidth.
When someone qwits you, lovingly qwit them back, and give them a mental thank you for taking up less of your precious attention, while increasing the overall quality of your follower-base, which just became more likely -- per capita -- to support the cause you tweet about, read your blog post, hire you, or buy your book.
- Rowan
p.s. franswaa, no gravatar?
@Rowan - I actually like qwitter. I use it as a way to focus my content on the value that I provide my clients. If people qwuit, they just weren't a fit!
How many reference books have you bought without reading the table of contents or the index?
I LOVE RT'ing. I retweet things that hit my funny bone. That are instantly appealing either emotionally or to the constant thinktank going on in my head. I find that I take a lot of time going through a new person's TW page and their Web link. I really care that there is a good fit. I have found super mentors... yo, @mayhemstudios!! Well enuf. John, so glad to meet you! Pardon now, gotta go follow you.
OH. One more thing, though. I cannot help but giggle with glee that my TW page has a PAGE RANK! I see that as a surety that I am having fun :-)
Twitter unveils it's Business Model: Premium accounts http://bit.ly/3coeKD
boo. hiss. I think this is not a good idea. Some of the sparkle has already fallen off.
"For the people who don't bother to/can't read:
"BBspot is a tech satire news and geek humor source, and meant to be funny."
SATIRE being the part I'd like to point out.
Denham Coote"
Even at the time of my quick read, the second half was truly weird and I knew it was satire... can't imagine Stephen King participating.
But the first part really did ring true, with the 4 levels of participation. And I'm pretty sure, like other commenters, that something along this line is coming soon. It's an emarketing world.
The mere idea though, for me, truly does scrape off that layer of Twitter Glitter.
Love this thread :-)
I think you know I'm a huge advocate of this philosophy.
I like to say it's not about Social "Me"dia, it's about the Social "We"b. I believe that when you actually take the approach of helping others, of giving without expecting in return, it comes back in spades. It's actually how I've built my Twitter following. By just giving, giving and giving. I don't expect anything in return. I believe:
1) Giving is more important than broadcasting.
2) It's not about converting others to follow me. It's about conversations with them.
3) It's not about moving my product or services. It's about moving people.
4) It's not about making a transaction. It's about helping people make transitions, helping them lead better lives, get better jobs, do things differently, motivate, offer hope, etc.
Thanks for sharing John.
.-= Jeff Hurt´s last blog ..The Rise Of The Gift Economy And Freeconomics =-.