Turner's Perspective

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YEO - Don't Get Sucked Into The Twitter Numbers Game

Ashton Kutcher is about to pass 1,000,000 followers on Twitter.

I'm happy for Ashton. And I mean that. He plans to do some great things with the account and I hope he does. But you're not Ashton Kutcher and neither am I. Unfortunately there are a whole slew of Twitter geniuses out there encouraging you to focus almost exclusively on getting as many followers as possible. It's fools gold. And I'm about to illustrate why.

Getting followers is easy. Building a community is hard.

A phone call with Jim Marks about creating some fake accounts (an entirely different post) prompted me to do something I've been meaning to do for a long time. People ask me constantly, "How do people get all of those followers on Twitter?" To which I always answer, "if all you want is followers, I can get you 10,000 followers easy. Building a community is hard."

I created two fake Twitter accounts.

@jwmont and @holachick are not real. Furthermore, 99% of their tweets were randomly generated.

Fake Twitter Accounts With Thousands Of Followers

I set both of these accounts up last Thursday. It took all of about 30 minutes to make up profile information and populate Twitterfeed.com with the RSS feeds that generated the random tweets to their accounts. @jwmont was set up to focus on iPhone twitter search results and @holachick was set up to focus on affiliiate marketing twitter search results.

So, how did I get 2900 and 2500 people to follow accounts that were just a series of randomly generated status updates in less than a week? Click here to learn how I got thousands to follow two fake twitter accounts and why you should ignore Twitter follower numbers.

127 commentsJeff Turner • April 18 2009 05:15PM

Comments

I just wrote about why the numbers aren't the grail, too... but geez, you did it better.

;^ )

Posted by Lane Bailey - REALTOR & Car Guy (Diamond Dwellings Realty) almost 3 years ago

THANK YOU!!  I get all these people asking me to follow them and I look and they have thousands they are following and I think "why in the heck would I want to follow you"! 

Posted by Marchel Peterson Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro (Results Realty) almost 3 years ago

Well said, Jeff. I'm starting to freak out at the number of followers I'm getting. I don't want to have a bunch of followers that don't interact. I also don't want to become unable to keep up with those I do know and value.

It's refreshing to strike up a good conversation with someone new that I've reached out to or who has reached out to me.  Too big is just too scary for my comfort.

Posted by Elaine Hanson, REALTOR® ~ Topanga, CA Real Estate Agent (Snyder Sutton Real Estate) almost 3 years ago

Hi Jeff, Most of this is greek to me. I admit it. I seriously don't get it.

Posted by San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson GRI CRS e-Pro CDPE (RE/MAX Associates) almost 3 years ago

Hi Jeff - I am bombarded with people I never heard of wanting to follow me on Twitter or connect with me on LinkedIn or be my friend on Facebook.  I do post links to my blogs and other things of interest on them, but I don't do a lot of chattering, so I seldom turn people down.  There are some folks whose writings I like to follow.  When I get a new follower I will look at their profiles to see if I want to follow them, and for the most part I will if I am interested in what they have to say, but not if they post only sales pitches or stuff with foul language or plain nonsense.  Gathering numbers is pointless.  You can't possibly legitimately follow all these people. 

Posted by Susan Neal, Fair Oaks CA Real Estate Broker, CA DRE#686562 (Century 21 Noel David Realty) almost 3 years ago

Jeff - well this is really excellent, but I would expect nothing less. Clearly folks can game Twitter with little effort, as you have so aptly demonstrated. And it also shows that many folks are engaging in following, retweeting and other Twitacts that are essentailly meaningless unless there is some thought behind it. It seems to me that the basic pretense of social media sites, at least what is apparent, IS how many folks you can get to follow, or can follow. And look how many folks on Twitter and otehr sites talk about how many friends they now have, or the goal of XXXX they are trying to reach.

Indeed, don't these sites all like to proclaim how many members they have? It is, at first blush, a numbers game.  My guess is this will shift as social media evolves and we get past the immense popularity as a result of becoming so mainstream.

Jeff

Posted by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Homes for Sale ~ 760-840-1360 (Solutions Real Estate (CA DRE Lic. # 01490977)) almost 3 years ago

There is no way to keep up with that many people!  That's the part of Twitter I don't understand, and I don't have time to engage in conversations with thousands of people.  I feel like when there's that many people posting, that after about 3 minutes I'm missing out on something.  I mean my computer screen is only so big...

I guess there's some kind of magic that I'm missing on Twitter, but for the most part it's just a fun site to pop in on to see what my friends and fellow real estate associates are up to.  I also have used it to see out "strangers" in my market to get to know them better and engage member of my community for networking.  Maybe there's more, but if I follow too many people, I'm afraid I'm going to miss out on the people I really want to be talking to!

Posted by Julie Ferenzi (Real People Realty, Inc.) almost 3 years ago

I haven't gotten into Twitter yet.  Maybe I should take a look around. 

Posted by Vicki Pedersen, ABR, GRI, CDPE - Riverside and Corona CA Realtor (Pedersen Real Estate) almost 3 years ago

Hi Jeff - Well you certainly got my attention on this one.  Thanks for your insight on this.

Posted by Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos| Laguna Real Estate|Marlene Bridges (Village Real Estate Services, Inc.) almost 3 years ago

Hi Jeff - I definitely consider myself an ActiveRain newbie. Still considering what other blog sites I might want to participate in. STILL reading through the FAQS and HELPS on AR so that I learn what I need to know to make my blogs useful, interesting, and something can brighten up someone's day. In addition to other things I've read about Twitter, and because of this blog you've written, I do not see myself moving Twitter's way. Thank you sir.

Posted by Sherry Siegel, Managing Broker, EcoBroker, ABR (BrokersGroup, serving Sequim and Port Angeles) almost 3 years ago

Sherry, my goal was not to drive you from Twitter. :)

I've decided to make Thursday my YEO day here on ActiveRain. And I think I'll be able to show you a few good ways to use Twitter to go with this little warning. Nice to meet you here.

Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) almost 3 years ago

JT,

All in one week? Just goes to show you "where's the value" in this?

I've got a few faves (you're one of them) myself, and truthfully I'm having trouble keeping up, period.

Posted by Orange Co. Real Estate~Lynda Eisenmann, Broker-Owner, CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea, CA (Preferred Home Brokers) almost 3 years ago

Where's the value? That is the real question. Could there be value? I've come to hate these accounts. They represent everything I dislike. But in the midst there were attempts at interaction that I ignored for the sake of this test. So, there is more to be learned about how to use these tools the right way.

Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) almost 3 years ago

Jeff, quite an interesting experiment you've got going there.  It's been obvious to me since the beginning that it's not about the numbers -- it's about the engagement.  Along the "engagement" lines, now you've just got to convince some of the women out there that it's not about the numbers (i.e. carats) of the ring, but rather the sentiment and feelings behind the gift.  Are you up for that task?

Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President) almost 3 years ago

Oh good, YEO on AR every Thursday. It's my p l e a s u r e  to see you. I love Twitter and will look to you for guidance as I blend my RE 'identity' with/into my new Horsealicous site. Horses, cowboys, rodeos, Western lifestyle, and equestrian properties. Can you help me? Any video ideas for me?

Posted by Susie Blackmon~Ocala~Horses~Western Wear~Horse Farms~Marketing. almost 3 years ago

Hi Jeff!  Love those YEO's!  I like the idea of one on every Thursday.  Thanks so much for the info on Twitter.

Mary

Posted by Bruce & Mary Smith REALTORS® Savannah Lakes Village McCormick SC (Savannah Lakes Homes) almost 3 years ago

Hi Jeff, I look forward to your YEO posts on here every Thursday, what a treat to the many folks who have not been able to get to know you and only stand in Awe when we mentioned Jeff Turner. LOL 

Since I set up my groups on Facebook, I have been enjoying engaging folks there more. I go back and forth but FB seems to bring more value to me in terms of relationships.

 

Posted by Missy Caulk-Ann Arbor-Realtor® Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams-Ann Arbor) almost 3 years ago

I have yet to understand what the point of the pitches you see about wanting to sell you fancy software to get 10,000 followers in a month. I just don't see how that would serve a purpose.

Posted by Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) almost 3 years ago

Amen about the number of followers, I also did a blog post about how I have all these followers, now I think those people dont even know me nor intend to get to know me. It is always hard to build a community, especially a community that you can give and get back from!

Posted by Eileen Hsu 許小姐 Manhattan NY Real Estate (Prudential Douglas Elliman) almost 3 years ago

Amazing numbers Jeff!

Still, I do need to flesh out my community a little more. 

Posted by Jim & Cathy Wood Greater Nashville Area Real Estate (Crye-Leike Realtors, Inc.) almost 3 years ago

Criminy, how could I limit my cornball humor to only 140 letters? Twitter leaves me speechless.

Posted by Sally Dunbar, Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale (Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area)) almost 3 years ago

Jeff, you bring to light the point about community. If you have all these followers but no business, well. I have lost some time that I spent on twitter instead of what was working on Active Rain. I am now back to basics and will continue on my path.

Posted by Frank Rubi New Orleans | Kenner | Slidell (Frank Rubi Real Estate) almost 3 years ago

Jeff, As you know I am not a proficient Tweet but I do grasp the idea of following only people and topics that truly interest me and I am enjoying branching out more and more beyond real estate.  I don't see the point in gaming the system but I know so little it's great to have your insights to help me understand the options.

Posted by Lake Norman Real Estate ~ Diane Aurit (LKN Realty, LLC) almost 3 years ago

Don't tell TLW but when she said she didn't think she had enough followers on Twitter I set up 50 fake accounts to make her feel better. Really, I have nothing better to do :)

Posted by Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc almost 3 years ago

I will be back for your YEO Jeff. I don't have many followers but that isn't what I am in the game for. Slow and sure will bring me quality over quantity.

Posted by Teller, Park and El Paso County Colorado Sabrina Kelley Pikes Peak Region Realtor (ERA The Herman Group) almost 3 years ago

Jeff - I have always thought that I was trying to build a community.  My focus is not to see how many followers I have, but how many relationships I can build.  I don't add anyone to any of my social media sites unless I know them first.  Like you said, I could have hundreds of followers if I wanted, but what's the point?  I want people I could network with, and people I could trust with my reputation.

Posted by Troy Erickson - Your Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek Realtor (Terra Solis Realty, LLC) almost 3 years ago

I want a core of people I can interact with.  I can only concentrate on a few social networking sites

Posted by Russ Ravary - Metro Detroit homes - Michigan Real estate & Mortgage info (Remerica Hometown One) almost 3 years ago

jeff, This is all pretty funny and sad in a way. I set upa profile on Twitter mnay monyhs ago and have been there 3 or 4 times. I still get several emails a day stating that I'm being "followed". The question is why? I'm not going any where. There are no new tweets on my profile. My profile has pretty much been abandoned. But still.........they follow. Weird. very weird.

Posted by Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc almost 3 years ago

Jeff - I was wondering where the complete strangers were coming from on Twitter.  I have not quite grasped the concept, but I figure I will figure it out sooner or later.

Posted by Judy Jennings - The Green Company at The Pinehills, Plymouth MA (508-209-5000) almost 3 years ago

It looks like that if everyone is already there it is too late. I guess I will catch onto the next big thing. Great post.

Posted by Joe Pryor.com REALTOR® Oklahoma Investment Properties (Redbud Realty) almost 3 years ago

My wife burst into my office just as I was wrapping up a consultation phone call with a Coldwell Banker client to tell me that factoid. 

I was sort of preparing myself that we had just won the Lottery.

After she told me the news, she was wondering why I wasn't falling out of my chair. I'm 45 years old. My wife is forty something and is college educated. She doesn't have the mentality of a bunch of screaming tweens at a Hanna Montana concert. But yet, here it was. No lottery, huh? Okay so why do I feel like I just got moshed at a Hanna Montana concert, then?

I walked into the living room and sure enough, CNN was still reporting a lot of excitement from this Twitter historic event. In fact, a bit of sarcasm was evident as CNN sort of tongue in cheek remarked that Aston has surpassed CNN in the number of followers on Twitter

Here are a few of Ashton's Chirps on Twitter:

 

apluskwhat is the most animal friendly way to get a dog to stop barking?

 

apluskThere are no kings on twitter only jesters RT @ewffan: congrats to @aplusk the King of Twitter

 

apluskMy millionth follower was... @Sinnersatre100 thanks for you follow!

 

Ashton is only following 70 Twitter-ers. Britney Spears is following 77,554 of them. I guess this means Britney now has LESS time to tour or act in her new TV show. How can you follow 77,554 people and still have time to do anything else in your life?  When Britney was photographed stepping out her car with no panties on, this created quite a sensation and no doubt millions of people had to SEE and download the photo. 

Getting attention from the media is starting to become a no-brainer. As for me, I don't plan on stepping out of a car anytime soon to be photographed wearing my Batman under wear. Thanks to Twitter, you can now broadcast both useful information to your followers or you can choose to waste everyone's time, pick up 1 million followers and still manage to make news on CNN. 

I'm a new user to Twitter and I have 14 followers and I am following another 50 people. Tony Robbins. CNN. The New York Times being among them. I think Twitter can be a useful tool for broadcast news and informing people on valuable information. But to spend hours chirping away nonsense messages of 140 characters just to be Chirping will certainly take away a lot of time that you should be spending on more productive endeavors.

- Bart


Posted by Bartley Wilson (VPiX® Corp. ) almost 3 years ago

Well...

Look at that Blog Boy is full of crap...Twice :)

TLW...ROAR!

Posted by "The Lovely Wife" (Broker Bryant's Wife) The One And Only TLW. (President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.) almost 3 years ago

To follow or to be followed, that is the question. I am not sure what the answer is and I am too busy to find out. I guess I will suffer for ddistraction!

Posted by Gary L Waters PLLC- Broker Associate Realtor® Melbourne Viera Rockledge FL (Century 21 Baytree Realty, 1211 Admiralty Blvd, Rockledge) almost 3 years ago

We actually talked about this topic on our show last week.  I know people who have upwards of 70,000 followers who don't engage ANYONE on Twitter and never have conversations at all.  What is the point of having 70,000 who don't care what I have to say?  I would rather have 100 followers who are sincerely interested.

Posted by Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC) almost 3 years ago

Jeff - I was also happy to realize that I am not following either of the fake Tweeters.  :)

Posted by Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC) almost 3 years ago

Great post.  Since I am not a big fan of Ashtons or any other celebrity, I could care less what they're up too. I'm not even considering trying to be some Twitter-Twirler-Type...just doing what I do on FB and AR;  network with folks who share the same values as I do in Real Estate and life in general.

Posted by Lake Arrowhead Real Estate (909)273-4542 Kat DeLong, Realtor Dre#01235311 (Mountain Country Realty, Lake Arrowhead. (909)-273-4542) almost 3 years ago

Not sure why we need 10,000 followers to know what we ate for breakfast??

Posted by Benjamin Realty LLC almost 3 years ago

I have two followers.  One is my mom :-)

Posted by Rick Phillips (Appraisals Guaranteed) almost 3 years ago

Hi Jeff, Congratulations on the post. That was certainy a great comment from Bart. It was fun reading the examples of Ashton's Twitts.

Posted by San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson GRI CRS e-Pro CDPE (RE/MAX Associates) almost 3 years ago

I learned from this post and the comments-I just joined twitter last night.  Great info from you as always! 

Posted by Cathy Lee ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA (CL Design Services Home Staging) almost 3 years ago

I could NOT agree with you more. I have focused on getting quality Twitter contacts from the beginning. It has been hard because I watch these other people grow to have thousands of followers almost overnight, but it doesn't mean they have any quality, meaningful relationships with the people they Tweet with. I truly try to engage the people on my list and I am proud to report I have 600 followers now.

Posted by Christianne Gordon, REALTOR® e-PRO CDPE SFR Carson Valley Real Estate Specialist (Carson Valley Homes and Land - RE/MAX Realty Affiliates) almost 3 years ago

Rick: LOL

Posted by Lake Arrowhead Real Estate (909)273-4542 Kat DeLong, Realtor Dre#01235311 (Mountain Country Realty, Lake Arrowhead. (909)-273-4542) almost 3 years ago

Good point, if you have followers who don't care what you have to say, aren't interested in you or your business, then you're wasting your time on Twitter.

Posted by Monica Ray (JAM Media Group) almost 3 years ago

I'm glad to hear it's not all about the numbers as I still have just a few and am following just a few as I work to understand it all.

Posted by Christine Donovan Costa Mesa CA Homes Broker/Attorney 800-610-7253 DRE01267479 (Donovan Blatt Team - Donovan Group Realty) almost 3 years ago

I have had no less than four people follow me and then offer to get me thousands of followers...  I am thinking of paring down the ranks of who I follow to get rid of the gurus and the others that don't really interact. 

Posted by Lane Bailey - REALTOR & Car Guy (Diamond Dwellings Realty) almost 3 years ago

Hi Jeff...I'm looking forward to reading anything that will explain to me the value to Twitter and how to best use it. 

I'm not crazy about people "following" me that really don't have any interest in me and I in them.  Sounds strange to me.

It's hard for me to think that there's anyone in this world would want to know what I'm doing round the clock.

Kate

Posted by Kate Elim, Realtor® 540-226-1964 Selling Homes & Land at LAKE ANNA almost 3 years ago

I have a twitter account but don't tweet and don't give a twit, seldom log on to see what's going on.  My business seems to be doing fine without it and if something "ain't" broke, I'm not about to fix it.  Thanks for the post.  Illustrates and validates some suspicions of many.

Posted by Judi Barrett~Integrity Real Estate Services~Idabel, Oklahoma almost 3 years ago

So happy to read this excellent post.  I've felt the same all along but could never have said it so perfectly.  I still wonder about social media hookup requests I get from people I've never heard of. 

Posted by Pinecrest | Palmetto Bay | Maggie Dokic, SFR (Keller Williams Realty Premier Properties) almost 3 years ago

Jeff, the comments here resonate what I've been feeling about twitter. I can't find the people I know that I follow because of all the people I folow that I DON'T know. You are exactly correct, building community takes time and effort. So do you recommend un-following people whom I don't know? Thanks ~ Sharon

Posted by Frank & Sharon Alters, CDPE-Short Sales Jacksonville-Orange Park-Fleming Island (Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - Clay, Duval, St. Johns ) almost 3 years ago

You have made a good point.  If your just into a bunch of numbers, it really won't get you too far.

Posted by Joan Whitebook Southern New Hampshire (BHG The Masiello Group) almost 3 years ago

Well, I'm glad to learn that I wasn't being anti-social by not following all the people who want to follow me. I always check their profile to see what is there, and if it's not beneficial then I don't follow. What surprised me was those that would leave after 12 hr or so. Now I understand what is happening.

I also had seen some people with hundreds of followers and they were following hundreds, yet they only had one or two tweets.

Now I'm off to prune my list since I know that I don't have to feel guilty about it. Thanks for all your hard work.

I do like Twitter for the news feeds.

Posted by Elaine Reese, REALTOR® in central Ohio (Real Living HER, Powell Ohio) almost 3 years ago

Jeff,

Unfortunatley I feel like I am with William. It sounds Hebrew to me. I somehow understand that it is unreasonable to have thousands and thousands of friends, so I do not see much value in these numbers.

But my problem is biggger, I am too far from the cutting edge and this is reallysad.

Posted by Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL. FunCoast Realty, 386-405-4408 almost 3 years ago

I signed up with something that follow me and I follow them automatically.  I immediately discontinued the use before I even left the website.  It has now taken over, and no matter how many times I try to unsubscribe, it still keeps adding twitter followers.  I hate it!

Posted by Cindy Bryant Home Staging & Home Stager Houston~Redesign Etc.~RESA-PRO~ASHSR (Redesign Etc. Home Staging) almost 3 years ago

Jeff - Great article!  I'm looking forward to the next installment!

Posted by Jason Sanders (TVPG Labs) almost 3 years ago

Jeff: Very interesting post... I'm still learning more about tweeter... Now I have TweetDeck... I like posting my AR to Twitter and FB at the same time. Wish we could send to more as well.

Posted by Roland Woodworth,SFR - Clarksville Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (Keller Williams Realty) almost 3 years ago

Cindy, if you change your password to Twitter, the service will not be able to continue to perform those actions.

Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) almost 3 years ago

I think I like to choose my own friends...uh, followers :)

Posted by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman, RA, CRS, HAWAII Real Estate & Relocations (Century 21 Liberty Homes) almost 3 years ago

I couldn't agree more.

Posted by Angus L. Tassone (Keller Williams Greater Nassau) almost 3 years ago

Thanks alot Jeff - you just took up an hour of my time trying to understand what the heck this was all about, click here, click there, read this, check out that, and once again, I'm totally happy you did.  How in the heck do you come up with and figure this stuff out?  Dang you're good!!  This was totally interesting and fascinating.   You never cease to amaze me my friend.  Really!  btw - are you following me?  lol~

@Roland - try ping.fm  :-)

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) almost 3 years ago

Jeff, thanks for all the info, though to be tgruthful, I don't think I understood it all.  I don't think it's about the numbers, it's definitely about the about the relationships but other than signing up, I don't twitter and look forward to your posts giving us some insight on how to use it effectively.

Posted by Lora "Leah" Stern, Rockland County NY Real Estate 914-772-4528 (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage) almost 3 years ago

Jeff, thanks for the investigative and illuminating Twitter expose.  To make any of these social networking sites work for a business, requires some real effort and time.

Posted by Gabe Sanders, Stuart Florida Real Estate (Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales) almost 3 years ago

Jeff - great post! Social media can be overwhelming to many people. This experiment was very informative and interesting!

Posted by Jessica Jones Destin Sandestin 30-A Real Estate (Sandestin Real Estate) almost 3 years ago

I have thoroughly enjoyed your tutorials about Twitter and have tried to implement your suggestions. You are so right about all those so called twit genius's!

Posted by Russell Lewis, Broker,CLHMS,GRI (Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate) almost 3 years ago

I do Twitter, but only follow people who are interesting to me, and I do unfollow people who turn out to write a constant stream of annoying tweets.

Posted by Erica Ramus - Ramus Realty Group - Pottsville, PA almost 3 years ago

Russell...

Twit Genius's? That Sir...May be a contraction in terms :)

TLW...ROAR!

Posted by "The Lovely Wife" (Broker Bryant's Wife) The One And Only TLW. (President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.) almost 3 years ago

Great post Jeff.

It sounds like twitter is a lot like direct mail, large numbers are good but it doesn't guarantee results.

Posted by Mark MacKenzie Real Estate Planning almost 3 years ago

Jeff - The value of Twitter is questionable, as far as I can tell, for community building.  I am on there, but I like Facebook better.  Excellent write- up.

Posted by Wendy Rulnick "Its Wendy!" Destin Florida Short Sales (Rulnick Realty, Inc.) almost 3 years ago

It is a new platform that has not been put to test yet. .  I know there is power with having thousands of followers.. but in real estate, that will be much better if it was locally.

Posted by Fernando Herboso Broker: Check All www.ReallyNiceHomes.com in MD & VA (Herboso & Associates LLC- Broker 240.426.5754) almost 3 years ago

I am deep into the Twitterverse, just passed the 2,000 follower threshold, and looking at what many people like Jeff here are saying about the best way to use this tool.

Part of me looks at this like a mass mailing. You must send out 5,000 pieces a month for 6 months for a mail campaign to work. So it would seem that playing the numbers game would be common sense.

BUT......

Unlike mailings, there is a way to engage w/ others via Twitter. I have been taking the time to look at each profile, check out their streams, and find people that fit the demographics and/or content I desire.

Then I use Tweetdeck to put them into categories. This really helps me to follow and engage people more effectively, my only goal is to create good relationships.

At the end of the day, there are no shortcuts to relationship building, but sites like Twitter and Facebook have made it possible to spread our wings to a much wider audience! These tools ARE a waste of time if you do not put in the work, educate yourself on how to use them, and create a solid action plan.

Thanks for the great post, and as always, I can not wait for the next one!

Have a Profitable Day Everyone!

- Harrison

P.S. Fernado, Tweetdeeck can help you create local categories, and I have been using TwitterLocal lately as well.

 

Posted by Harrison Painter New Media Consultant (GoGladiator Media) almost 3 years ago

Jeff... nice post and thanks for sharing. You are so very right, 

Getting followers is easy. Building a community is hard.

I'm torn, Twitter has been a very valuable tool for me yet sometimes it seems like high school (and I have no desire to repeat that experience). I've found great people, ideas, websites, and resources I don't think I would have found any other way. But now that Twitters use has gone up 700% it's appeal has somewhat diminshed for me. I remind myself to be patient, this wave will pass and those that don't use it as a tool or resource will get bored and move on.

I love Yammer.com, we use it at our company and it's a great way to keep in touch with a very select group. You all have to have the same @company.com email address.

Rene'

Posted by René Fabre (First American Title) almost 3 years ago

Really great post.  It is all about the interaction.  And I think @garyvee said it best with this tweet. http://twitter.com/garyvee/status/1542951878

Posted by Adam Teece (Keller Williams Elite Realty) almost 3 years ago

Although I have an account and check it a few times a week, I really do not see the value of twitter.  I usually get about 2-5 people following a week.  Heck, I don't know these people. But, I do check out their profiles and see how many followers they have.  But, I usually do not follow them.

Posted by Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor WV Real Estate in Greenbrier County (Coldwell Banker Stuart & Watts Real Estate) almost 3 years ago

I've got all these followers and all these email. Hundreds new a day. I finally changed by email account to another one I don't look at to figure out what I need to do. Perhaps you can help us who are trying to figure out how to make this work.

Posted by Norma Brandsberg (Marks Realty Co. Inc., Lynchburg, VA, 540-586-9496) almost 3 years ago

Hubba...

Do you know that every time a post about Twitter hits the dashboard we get all kinds of requests to follow? Why is that? :)

TLW...ROAR!

Posted by "The Lovely Wife" (Broker Bryant's Wife) The One And Only TLW. (President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.) almost 3 years ago

Umm, what the heck is YEO? :) I like twitter. I didn't get it at first, but now I do, mostly. I've met a lot of great tweeps on twitter - I actually converse with them and have learned a lot, and will meet a number of them in person this year. I may even host a tweet-up!

Posted by Dawn Maloney 330-990-4236 Hudson Stow Cuyahoga Falls Silver Lake (RE/MAX Haven - Northeast Ohio Real Estate Specialist) almost 3 years ago

I don't know......I do see some value as  just wrote a post about that yesterday and Terri from MN told me about how surgeons are using twitter for important stuff.  It's still a mystery to me...and I don't have a clue as to who those are that are following me.........and more importanly why.  What they talk bout is so....garbarge.

I prefer a community that makes some sense.  Building that I can and will do on twitter land.

Posted by Anna 'Banana' Kruchten - Phoenix Short Sale Broker,CRS 602-380-4886 (Phoenix Property Shoppe) almost 3 years ago

Dawn...

Hubba (Jeff Turner) is not around on Sundays. I'll answer that question in his absence. YEO = You Engaging Others. The following <CLICK> will take you to the post he wrote about it. He was one of the first Bloggers, aside from me, to get it :)

TLW...ROAR!

Posted by "The Lovely Wife" (Broker Bryant's Wife) The One And Only TLW. (President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.) almost 3 years ago

LOL!!!

Posted by Charlottesville Real Estate (Charles McDonald 434-515-1585) almost 3 years ago

Has anyone else been OCD enough to notice that when you view this post in the list of A|R Featured Posts that the post featured directly below this one is posted by Loreena Yeo... Get it???  YEO followed by Yeo.  Just a trivial fact for a slow open house Sunday! :)

Posted by Steve Shatsky - Dallas Real Estate & Short Sale Specialist (214)213-0340 (Prudential Texas Properties) almost 3 years ago

Splain somethin' to me, Lucy.  I don't twitter or tweet.  What does YEO mean?  Laraine

Posted by Laraine Shape (Comey & Shepherd Realtors) almost 3 years ago

Nevermind - I just saw TLW's comment which defines it. Laraine

Posted by Laraine Shape (Comey & Shepherd Realtors) almost 3 years ago

Jeff, I can't keep up with the few followers I have.  I truly am finding it difficult to have enough time for Twitter, and FB, let alone my money maker, Active Rain.  I don't know HOW people are making the time to do all of this?  (Realtors, anyway).  I'm out showing for 10-12 hours a day.  How do they handle all of this?  I'd love to know.  Maybe their days are longer than mine, lol. 

I get how it works, or could work for me, but need to engage myself more.  I enjoy "meeting" new people and getting to know them.

Posted by Elizabeth Cooper-Golden Huntsville AL MLS - (Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group)) almost 3 years ago

Great post , maybe its the over 40 thing but i'm still not exactly sure of what I am doing on twitter. I have learned some great things from the people I follow and quite frankly have no interest in famous people ( unless they want want to buy a house from me). It's still a major learning curve and I will keep at it . There are a lot of great people sharing information all over the web, I hope at some point I can bring something of value to the table.

Posted by Jamie Stimpson (Keller Williams West Monmouth) almost 3 years ago

Jeff,

Are you telling me that Brittney Spears really isn't interested in my exciting tweets?  I got a laugh to start my day today when I saw that her group of internet specialists were following me.  Why in the heck I do not know.

Steve

Posted by Steve Shaw, e-PRO, Gulf Region Properties Team (Keller Williams Realty) almost 3 years ago

Seems like we are racing headlong to a goal of never having a face to face, live interaction with anyone........ ever. Is quantity over quantity what we really want? Just an old fart's opinion/concern

Posted by Ron Tiller (Five Star Real Estate - Grand rapids MI) almost 3 years ago

I love twitter but it can be a time sucker if you let it.  I'm with several of the above posters in that I really do try to look at anyone following me to see if they are someone I want to follow back - are they someone that fits in with my little group I've got going on.  That's how I look at it - I want to learn from them and hope they can learn from me - plus have a little fun with personal stuff.  I've made some fabulous contacts in my industry through twitter and feel that I've really connected with some of them. 

Twitter isn't for everyone - just like Facebook isn't - I can't stand Facebook, but love AR, LinkedIn and Twitter.  I think each person needs to find their own particular groove and go with it.  I don't want to get tons of followers or follow tons of people - I want to actually read and appreciate what everyone says and when you have so many - it just isn't possible. 

Posted by Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) almost 3 years ago

I appreciate your input on this.  I was wondering how people follow  so many and keep up any valuable interaction.  I haven't been following my followers so automatically as I was when I first started.  I'm selective now. 

Posted by Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) almost 3 years ago

I've had MySpace and Twitter for some time; they are primarily personal creative outlets for me and Twitter is a bit of 'personality' for my websites. I don't do much real estate chat on either although I don't operate in stealth either.
I love Twitter's 140 character limit.
It's good writing practice; making a point with limited space. :)

www.twitter.com/CandiceD 

Posted by Candice A Donofrio, Broker Fort Mohave, AZ Txt 928-201-4242 almost 3 years ago

LOL Jeff, amazing thing happened as I picked up your blog link on AR. 

As I was reading your article about not getting sucked into the Twitter numbers game, I received 13 new followers in about 10 minutes...LOL nothing before hand, just as I was reading your blog. 

I use Twitter as a sneak preview of somethings I'm working on, whether a new listing, promoting a home, or putting together a new video blog entry.  Sometimes I've used it to randomly tweet whats happening at the moment and I've tweeted my GAS receipt when the machine at the pump didnt print one out for me. 

Imagine printing out your Tweets to show your mileage and gas usage for your CPA to compute the deduction on your taxes?  Hmmmm...

Thanks Jeff!

Posted by Frederic Din almost 3 years ago

Hubba & Hubba's wifey--(you're doing SUCH a fine job this beautiful Sunday!)--I can't keep up with so many on Twitter OR Facebook--it's all I can do to keep up with my favorite five here on AR! 

I want to be the trusted advisor to my closest family, friends and clients and adding a few close-knit Twitterers to that group is the best I can do.  I want to be able to continue to give A+ service and if I'm spread too thin, I just can't do that. 

Don't get me wrong--I LOVE this social media thing, as I am able to keep in touch with far more people than I ever could before but, I don't want 10,000 followers to think that I can give them the same attention that I give my best girlfriend here in Charlotte (which isn't enough--my hubby even complains that there isn't enough of me to go around)!

How can I be a trusted advisor if I'm not able to answer questions in a timely fashion because I'm spread too thin?

Debe in Charlotte

Posted by Debe Maxwell - Search Charlotte Homes for Sale - Charlotte NC Neighborhoods (iCharlotteRealEstate.com Savvy + Company Real Estate) almost 3 years ago

Too much emphasis on social media. My best business is face to face, and referral based, and I'm very busy.

Posted by Tim Bradley, CCIM Jackson Hole, WY Commercial Real Estate (Contour Investment Properties) almost 3 years ago

Jeff - I too choose whom to follow and whom to let follow me..... It is my right after all no? Good to see you back and looking forward to YEO Thursdays. Yay We missed you on here dude. Welcome back.

Posted by Robert Hammerstein (Coldwell Banker Hillsdale New Jersey) almost 3 years ago

Steve - When I saw the title of this post, I thought someone spoke to me directly. I remembered Jeff's original post about YEO and I absolutely agree with it.

Posted by Loreena Yeo, Realtor®| Frisco TX Community Ambassador (214)783-2210 (3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Frisco TX Real Estate Co.) almost 3 years ago

Well said!  You shouldn't go on Twitter to just get lots of followers but you should aim for quality followers and that means building a community.

 

Posted by Krista Fuchs Chester County Realtor(484) 459-8025 Home Buying and Selling (Prudential Fox & Roach) almost 3 years ago

You've proven that it is easy to get followers and I imagine it will be even easier after the Oprah bump that is going to happen. You are also right about how useless most of these numbers are. I have actually been going through the list of people I FOLLOW and unfollowing many that don't post often or are unrelated to things of interest to me.

Posted by Christopher Johnston (The Johnston Team) almost 3 years ago

Hey Jeff, I don't really care how many followers that I have on twitter. I do care what's happening with them... I read the post that you linked to. Really interesting. Only 2 people noticed that you changed names several times & changed gender?

Posted by Marian Gregor ~ Ann Arbor area Real Estate ~ (Keller Williams) almost 3 years ago

I did not read all the responses, so if I am redundant, I apologize.

I feel Twitter should be more about quality and not quantity.

I am about to go to a REBarCamp in PDX, and someone posted a tweet saying that x number of scheduled attendees have 1,000 twitter followers or more.  The cyber high fives followed.  I don't have 10% of that number, but if I followed everyone that sent me a follow, I sure would.   I don't want to follow someone that has 1,000 followers, 4 updates and they are all promoting a weight loss plan.  I am not following anyone who is using Twitter to exclusively sell something.  Every post is either welcoming a follower, a quote that I don't care about that they randoming pulled off the 'net, or is an ad.  I don't care.  Really.

I have openly chastised some Realtors that are exclusively using Twitter to promote their listings.  That is not what Twitter is about, and unless you have some content, people will unfollow.  That is OK if they do not get it, more room for me to find clients.

Posted by Darlene Humphreys almost 3 years ago

Great and important post.  To those who want to dismiss the numbers game entirely, it seems unreasonable.   After all, it seems like that is almost the definition of the life of a realtor.

Posted by San Diego Real Estate & Mortgage Loans | Robert T. Boyer, Ph.D. | VA Home Loan (FHA Loan, VA Loan, Jumbo Loan,FHA Loans,VA Loans,Jumbo Loans) almost 3 years ago

Twitter is in the shitter! For get about it!

Posted by Anonymous almost 3 years ago

I cannot begin to list the "invitations" to Twitter, Facebook, etc., etc., etc., this or that "social network" blogs I've received.

My goodness!  There are only 16 working hours in my day. 

I'm still trying to figure out the benefit of Twitter.  Still trying.  Still trying. 

O.K.  I opened a Facebook business page.  I could have posted a real estate related Localism post in the time it took me to join a social network that has little to no interest. 

Will someone kindly show me the benefit to my business for Twitter or Facebook or the hundred others that have invited me to join?????

If I'm going to get a backlink to Homefinders.com, it will be worth the time. If not, not.

Posted by Lenn Harley, Real Estate Broker, Virginia & Maryland (Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate) almost 3 years ago

This is the most substantive post that I have read on Twitter.  I followed a number of the links and found them very informative, too.  Point well taken and you, Mr. Turner, are always engaging.  Thanks, Jeff.

Posted by Margaret Mitchell, York Maine Real Estate (Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty) almost 3 years ago

I guess I just haven't had the time to tweet around!

Posted by Kathy Booth (Setting the Stage) almost 3 years ago

Thank you for the post and the information. I had no idea.

Posted by Alice & Jim Hayes (Loveless Realty) almost 3 years ago

As the saying goes, "it's not the quantity, but the quality". Who needs 3,255 followers, anyway? Who can keep up with that many too? Good post. Thanks.

Posted by Top Team: Kelsey Barklow 423/948-9154 & Marne Drinnon 423/202-2277 (Crye-Leike, Realtors) almost 3 years ago

Very well written post. The numbers don't mean anything unless you are able to form a community.

Posted by W. Darrell Walters - Envoy Mortgage Ltd almost 3 years ago

Jeff:   No doubt my comment here will get lost in the 100+ shuffle, but I just wanted to say 'Thanks!' for helping to dispel much of the confusion that prevails regarding the effective use of Twitter, especially as it relates to following/followers.

Posted by Rich Jacobson Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker (Keller Williams West Sound Realty) almost 3 years ago

I would like to hear more from you on the subject of building a Twitter Community.  I posted on a comment last night that I felt the entire numbers came was stupid as I cannot possible have a relationship with that many people.  Nor them with me.  I feel like a part of the Borg Collective.

Posted by Gene Riemenschneider East Contra Costa Home Sales 01492725 (Home Point Real Estate) almost 3 years ago

Don't twitter, if you don't get-her.  To follow can be hollow, so don't wallow. 

Stay sweet if you don't tweet.  Focus on the ones you are with.  ; )  ~ JC

Posted by Janice Cooper, Broker Associate, ABR, ASP (Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. ~ C: 609-694-3622 New Jersey) almost 3 years ago

I just started on twitter, and immediately went to the tutorials. I am so glad I found your post here. Now I know that I need to make my own judgements about building a following on twitter, rather than jus following the tutorials that emphasize "growing" your followers list.

Posted by Michael S. Mackey REALTOR® ABR, CRS, GRI, RSPS (CENTURY 21 All Islands) almost 3 years ago

I must admit that I don't quite get the Twitter thing.  I see the value in FB, Active Rain and LinkedIn but haven't quite figured Twitter out.  And I agree I don't want a bunch of followers (or friends on FB).  I want people that I can connect with.  There would be no way to keep up with that many followers.  Love your posts BTW.

Posted by Sherry Hindmarsh - Realtor, Pflugerville Texas Homes (512) 731-8316. (RE/MAX Capital City) almost 3 years ago

I always enjoy reading your stuff Jeff. Thanks for this one too!

Posted by Jeff Daniel ~ Managing Broker Ocean Shores Real Estate 360.581.9020 (John L. Scott Ocean Shores) almost 3 years ago

I'm glad you confirmed what I've thought all along - - I don't want followers (stalkers) and my peeps don't tweet!

Posted by Terry Driscoll, REALTOR - MidCoast Maine Residential Real Estate (Maine Home Realty) almost 3 years ago

My wife is pushing 900 followers on Twitter.  I think many of them are simply following a pretty face!  :)

I'm still not sold on Twitter unless a person has a niche and stays focused on that niche when Tweeting.  ~ Joe :)

Posted by Colleen Lane Kennewick Realtor® 509.438.9344 www.LaneRealEstateTeam.com (Kennewick Richland (and West) Pasco WA Homes For Sale) almost 3 years ago

wow, some people get really opinionated on this subject.  Great post.  And thanks to TLW for explaining YEO.

Posted by Georgina M. Hunter R(S) e-Pro Maui Real Estate Sales (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui) almost 3 years ago

Great post Jeff,

I think I stay disconnected from some parts of social media because I don't feel like there is a real person behind it. Its seems to be just a matter of meaningless tweets. You reach out and get nothing. Thanks for the information. I look forward to your info on Thursday.

Posted by Ryan Allie "The Team That Rocks" at KW King and Pierce County WA (Keller Williams 206.366.5303 www.kingpiercecountyhomes.com) almost 3 years ago

Jeff - There is a certain irony here.  I started to follow you on Twitter.  I also started to follow

C. David Dent after following a link from your blog.  All of a sudden, I have a lot more followers, lol. 

I follow back selectively:  I go & read their tweets and see if it makes sense to engage with this person.  Anyhoo.. 

Posted by Margaret Mitchell, York Maine Real Estate (Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty) almost 3 years ago

Margaret... that irony is not lost on me. :)

Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) almost 3 years ago

Personally I feel the number of Twitter followers is like the number of AR Points.  It is not about the points but about the quality of content in each blog post and with Twitter it is about interacting with others and networking...how can you interact with 10,000 people?

Posted by Sonya Loose - Wixom Lake Homes for Sale -Secord Lake Homes for Sale (Gladwin MI Real Estate (Homewaters Real Estate) ) almost 3 years ago

Jeff, thank you.  I am still trying to figure out the Twitter thing.  This helps.

Posted by Omaha, NE Real Estate | Omaha, NE homes for sale ~ Alliance Real Estate (Alliance Real Estate) almost 3 years ago

Fascinating post Jeff! I had no idea of the Twitter tools out there!

You make your point very effectively.

 

Posted by Dan Magstadt (Main Street Financial) almost 3 years ago

Jeff, Great information and please keep these Twitter articles going!

Posted by Elaine Stewart, Palm Springs Real Estate (Remax Real Estate Consultants - Remax Hall of Fame DRE#01698) over 2 years ago

You're directly responsible for me being on Twitter, which has become less compelling than it used to be, due to too many useless robotic followers.  But today I attended a succesful tweetup which was fun and it's renewed by Twinterest.  So, thanks!

Posted by Georgina M. Hunter R(S) e-Pro Maui Real Estate Sales (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui) over 2 years ago

Hi Jeff,

Please forgive if you've addressed this already. Is there any real "google juice" attributed to "tweeting"?

 

Thanks!

Posted by Pasadena Short Sale Agents Pasadena Short Sales (Munson Realty Southern California Real Estate) over 1 year ago
You have the monopoly on uefusl information—aren't monopolies illegal? ;)
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