Earlier in this blog I indicated how I was using Twitter. Mainly I was using Twitter and a third party service to make tweets to my account. I have since changed my use of Twitter, and I want to explain. I will do that after the break.
Twitter is great for a stream of consciousness style of blogging, but it does nothing directly about my main blog. Currently I use Twitter more as a type of RSS feed. I have a plugin to my CMS that posts new Posts to Twitter with a shortened link.
I used to use a tweet scheduler to post to my twitter account “around the clock.” When I looked at the pageviews and other things I found that I was spending entirely too much time trying to make that work. Twitter users might click on the shortened link, but that’s it. They usually don’t stick round to look at the other posts. I have the metrics that prove that out.
I put a lot of time and effort into all of my posts, and I like it when people stick around and read them. I found that when I click on links in Twitter I did the same thing. I would go to the post and then back to Twitter. I didn’t stick around. So that is one reason that I no longer use the tweet scheduler. My posts are on the timeline for all to see, so I am not trying to remind people constantly of that new post.
Another aspect of Twitter is the follower and following mechanic. With this use of these words a whole new social dynamic occurs where absolute numbers of followers is more important than quality. I decided that people will find me and find my post interesting. If they do then they will follow me. Those that follow me get a follow back from me. That’s just fair. That’s why I am just over 900 followers.
I feel that these followers are high quality. They found me and started following me, because the majority of them like the tweets to my posts. I understand that people are playing the numbers game, but I am no longer doing that. If you want to follow me on Twitter I am @haebben. I am removing the my tweets widget from my sidebar because it adds nothing, and slows down pages.
So Here is how I’ve changed my use of Twitter: I auto-follow any non-bot who follows me first, I tweet only once when my posts are put up, and I am removing the tweets widget from my sidebar. I am not taking down my timeline or account, but I am not posting as much.
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