The following conversation on Twitter inspired this post today.
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HomesByThomas@respres Jeff, with over 6000 followers, how hard is it to maintain any sort of contact with people? Did you notice that I sent you a Thank You?
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respres@HomesByThomas yes, I did, but hadn't responded yet. And a lot easier than you might think. You may have given me my YEO post for the week.
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HomesByThomas
@respres Jeff, I'm glad to hear your response. I thinks it's awesome that you can respond like this and I'm excited I could inspire a Blog!
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respres
@HomesByThomas well, let's hope I find the time to write it tomorrow.
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If you're being followed by a lot of people, how hard is it to maintain any sort of contact with those people?
Not very hard at all. Why? The answer lies in how we define "contact" and "engagement." And that is different for the 6,000+ followers I have, people who have chosen to "listen" in on my stream, than it is for the nearly 4000 people I follow, people I have chosen to "listen" to.
In this context, "contact" can have a good number of definitions. Each time I post a status update, I have the potential of making contact with some percentage of those 6,000 people. There are many variables that influence what that number will be at any given time. It depends on who is online at the time and their level of interest in me and the content being delivered. It also has to do with the number of people they're following (their own stream noise level) and the pace at which others are posting status messages at that same time.
If I'm consistently delivering value to, the contact happens as part of my daily activities. There is no extra effort required. I call this "ambient presence." My followers are aware of me and what I say and can choose to engage in a conversation or take action on a request, but I don't have to reach out specifically to anyone specific each time I want to make contact.
The more critical question would be this: "How do you maintain any sort of contact with the 4000 people you are FOLLOWING."
Why is it more critical? Because what I have said by "following" those people is this, "I am listening to you." I'm saying that I want to have a conversation with them, that I want to engage with them. I'm saying they are of interest to me. I don't follow everyone back for one reason and one reason only. I want the people I follow to know that I have a desire to engage with them at a higher level.
Thomas sent me a welcome message shortly after I followed him and about 12 hours before the question that prompted this post. I knew this because I got a txt message update using a tool that we built at Zeek for Ben Martin called Twext.me. Twext.me sends a summary of the "mentions" I receive on Twitter and alerts me to the possibility that I might want to go pay attention. Ben expressed his need for a tool like that, so we built it. And it's free. I needed that tool too, because it IS hard to pay attention to 4000 people. It's not as hard as one might think, but it's still hard.
There is a need for better tools to manage our online relationships.
If we are attempting to engage with thousands, this may seem fairly obvious. But even if we're trying to engage hundreds, we will not be as effective if we don't use tools like Tweetdeck and Tweetgrid to our advantage. That's a fact. But even if we do, we are missing systems that would allow us to understand who we have and have not talked with in any given period of time. Current systems don't allow us to see who has and has not acted on requests we've made. They don't give us the tools to help us assess our reach with the messages we're promoting. And while the social side of me says, "who cares. Just engage and let it take it's course." The business analytics side of me says, "it would sure be nice to know."
So, Thomas, if someone mentions me on Twitter, I know about it. I have all the tools necessary to make sure that I can respond and engage appropriately. What's missing are the tools to help me beter categorize the people I'm following and help me me identify who I've not spent enough time conversations with. Sites like twitTangle attempt to make it easier for me to conentrate on certain people, but they don't go nearly far enough.
But this has me wanting to ask a different question.
If you are a local real estate agent, why would you need to follow thousands? Having thousands follow YOU may happen whether you like it or not. If you're interesting, it will probably happen. But why would you need to follow thousands?
I saw this tweet a few weeks ago from @anitamatys. She said, "I am new to twitter and my son told me I needed to get 2000 followers." To which i replied, "Why did your son pick the number 2000? Are there 2000 people on Twitter in Klamath Falls?" I never received a response. She now has her 2000 plus followers, but she has only posted 11 updates. I glanced through a few pages of her followers and who she was following. There was no rhyme or reason to the people she had chosen to listen to. Not that it matters. She isn't really talking to anyone. i don't get it.
Again, do YOU (not the universal YOU, but you specifically) even need to maintain contact with thousands of people in order to be successful in the social media space? What are your goals with Twitter? Facebook? Does the number of people you're listening to support those goals or interefere with them?
Jeff Turner aka respres
Jeff ... I like your articles, and this one too, and you are delivering value by your comments back and forth with followers at Twitter. Because it is part of your regular activities, you say there is no extra effort required and that it is "ambient presence."
Interesting. I saw a blog article on AMBIENT PRESENCE at http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2008/02/25/ambient-presence-and-virtual-social-capital/. ... "ability to connect the sensory environments in two different places, to create a shared sensory experience that is calm enough and cheap enough that you don't feel obliged to send torrents of bits down it just because it is there".
Great post, Jeff. I am sporadic on Twitter. I know I'm supposed to be more consistent but I get busy and forget to twitter. It's actually on my phone as an appointment 4 different times tomorrow.
Jeff, I always enjoy your posts, some I have finally understood and incorporated into my blogging. Twitter to me is still a foreign language. It reminds me when I studied Latin. The first year was pure memorization no understanding the second year I understood what I learned the year before .....So I hope I pick it up faster then Latin:) This post of yours helped, thank you.
Thanks for the post. I agree with the others, I learn from your posts.
Hi Jeff, I'm like Maria...pretty sporadic on Twitter...trying to learn how to do it better, but I seem to forget about it while going about my day, especially since I don't have Internet on my cell phone (I know, crazy isn't it?!). I completely agree with you: you really don't have to follow thousands of people back, especially as a Realtor. I think I'm going to work on trying to find more local people to follow--those are the people who are my potential clients anyways.
Have a great day,
Anne Rains
I think it depends on who you follow and why. I don't just follow Realtors at all. I have met many local twitters that have nothing to do with Real Estate, many conservatives #tcot, technology folks, news media. etc..
I do want to hear what they say and link to, even if I play catch up on FriendFeed.
I also think know that your Twitter strategy changes. We know so much more now than when we joined. Today I am far more selective in who I follow back.
FaceBook allowed me to group so depending on my mood that is who I click on to hear their updates. Two groups I check daily and no they are not Realtors or bloggers either. LOL
Jeff - Thanks for the information. i haven't spent a lot of time on twitter, but I plan to start. your post helps me understand how i can keep up.
I don't follow everyone back who follows me. I do read their profile. If that looks interesting then I follow. I have unfollowed a few people since I didn't care for their tweets.
I don't get the need to have so many followers. I personally would rather have fewer followers but more meaningful conversations.
I love tweetdeck and have 8 groups on there so I can engage with followers better.
Food for thought, Jeff - thanks. I'm still fairly new to this and trying to figure out how to not only put it all together - twitter, facebook, linkedin, activerain - but how to find time to keep up with all the reading and writing needed to do that. I have to find time to "work", too! :-)
You've helped get me a little closer to what's actually important.
Jeff, I'm probably following way too many people that I don't actually listen to - a mistake I made when first signing up for twitter. Now, I'm much more selective and I've learned to quickly spot the people that are only following me because I can add to their numbers. But (and this is a big but), I haven't been as active on twitter lately so I haven't had time to decide who to unfollow. I won't unfollow without a good reason, since I'm usually a lurker that's eavesdropping anyway :)
Hi Jeff - I haven't been on Twitter long enough to have learned all the extra tools. I really do need to learn some of them. Thanks for the tips and I will get busy in the upcoming weeks to make better use of Twitter.
Hubba...
I am one of those people who make you wonder why I even signed up for Twitter :)
TLW...ROAR!
Hi Jeff!
I am using Twitter, but I am lacking on the contact part of it. I only use it to tweet my blogs really, and I find that is all I am willing to use it for right now.
-Lisa
Always love your posts @respres. Funny - When I see your picture, that's the name that comes to mind.., not Jeff...But I don't know that 'that' matters...
I am proud to say I now have over 700 followers and it appears that most are meaningful relationships...I use Twhirl though. Do you think Tweetdeck is better. Why?
I'd love to hear your expertise and opinions on this...
Jeff, it took me long enough to get the hang of Active Rain... but somehow Twitter still eludes me. I am a member, and ocassional tweet and update, I'm just not sure why.
Your post helps a little (and I'm grateful). I'm always happy to see your shiney head pop up in my blog rotation.... I learn something from each and every one.
Hmm...Good question, Jeff, and one I hadn't really thought about. I am jsut getting the point about being on all of tehse platforms and someone asked me, why so many? I have learned to not follow everyone that follows me on twitter, only because I am looking to follow those whom I can learn something from, who have something meaningful to offer, so that I can become more meaningful in my posts and tweets.
I have been using twitter a few months now.. Still have a long way to go to get better at it all.. Great contact source.. I like tweetdeck too.
I'm just in it for the "pokes" :) Seriously I have yet to have a "strategy" behind my engagement with people, I just enjoy listening and learning and tweeting, blipping and poking. Reason enough for me. Being my authentic self goes pretty far.
A Catch-22 is that it can end up being a full-time job too.
Cogito ergo Twitter. I can't tell whether I am following or being followed. Is there a new social disease called Twitter Paranoia? Great post, but the more I learn, the more lost I feel. One of these days......
Lana...
Bingo. Many of our peers have suffered the dire consequences of spending too much time on AR, Twitter and FaceBook. I'm not one of them :)
TLW...ROAR!
I guess that's how I know what was all over your walls yesterday (or was it this am??). I'm starting the new horse site and also some Breaking News sites. I just set up Twitter accounts for the Breaking News sites but am curious; how many Twitter accounts do you have?
Jeff,
Thanks for the post. As usual always informative and action oriented. Thanks.
Twitter has been on my "to do" list for way too long. I'm there, but not really. More than one account? Susie... please! LOL
Jeff, I help maintain our company twitter and we are fairly new to the tweet scene, and I am excited to explore the other twitter applications that you mentioned! I love twitter for exactly what you mentioned - being able to touch people out there that are interested in what you're doing and you're interested in what other people are up to - it really is a great tool!
Julie
Interesting post Jeff! I have not taken over Twitter full time yet! Those who love it love it! I know it has great possibilities but my golf game is so bad and I have other work to do! Where do you get the extra hours in the day?
Mary
JEFF: I do Twitter ... but find that you don't get as much dialogue on it (unlike AR) ... more like alot of monologue. People talk AT you, not to you. It seems like many just spray the words out there and don't really care to engage people. I agree with many here, I want quality in my Following/Followers, not just quantity. I want to learn something from those I'm following ... and they from me (hopefully). I'm becoming more choosey about who I follow with the hopes that I will see an increase and improvement in the dialogue and feedback I get. And ... oh yeah ... some business too!
I discovered that I have a limit to how many people I can YEO with. I may be too anti social for real estate.
I'm going to go out on a limb here...between twitter, facebook. texting, emails, etc. I think we're running out of time for just talking.
These all have their place in our lives both professional and private. Let's make sure in each there's a point to their use not just another piece of technology.
Ok Jeff, you have 29 people engaging you in your post...where are you, my friend?
Is 29 comments too many. :)
Jeff - You said:
The more critical question would be this: "How do you maintain any sort of contact with the 4000 people you are FOLLOWING." Why is it more critical? Because what I have said by "following" those people is this, "I am listening to you." I'm saying that I want to have a conversation with them, that I want to engage with them. I'm saying they are of interest to me. I don't follow everyone back for one reason and one reason only. I want the people I follow to know that I have a desire to engage with them at a higher level.
I think this says it all. And I have become more selective in who I follow than when I started. And I don't use the auto-updates of my blog posts from AR. Asa Twitter seems to continue evolving, so too will I. at least I hope so.
Jeff
I am on Twitter, but really don't have the time it takes to engage. (Or at least I don't think I do). I haven't been on for a month or more. I need to have better time management I suppose. Between a very busy market right now and family, social networking has taken the back burner.
I have been MUCH more selective on who I follow now. Not so in the beginning. Hoping to have time to "tweet" much more than I do, soon :)
Man Jeff..........now I've got more homework for the weekend. You're killing me......JUST KIDDING. I will save this and study it. I really need to get my ducks in a row on twitter. I get it...but I don't get it either. thanks to people like you it is starting to make a lot more sense .
Enjoy your weekend!
I do pretty good when I am actually on Twitter. And I try to get on once or twice a day to see if anyone is shooting messages at me.
Hi Jeff,
I'm using Twitter to give updates on the market in my area. Monthly stats etc. Some are retweeting the info and I usually get more followers from that.
Even you found me lol and are following me although I'm sure I am not standing out much among the 3999 or so others you are following.
I don't follow many on Twitter though I was hearing that it's good etiquette to follow those who follow you.
Really good Jeff,
Not sure why I'm on Twitter, other than it's an easy outlet. There's investing time and spending time and for me it's been a more on the spending side.
Been kinda fun and new but like a lot of things it can wear thin. I look at reading your stuff is on the investing side as it's been for quite sometime and I look ahead to learning more. Thanks for the link info too.
Missy, when did you turn into a trouble maker? :)
Susie, I have at least 15 different twitter accounts. Most are placeholders. I actively monitor and respond to five of them.
Everyone, there may be very good reasons for you to follow thousands... depends on your goals and your market. There is no universally correct answer. But I think it's important that you ask yourself honestly why you're doing it. I fear too many are are simply following for no good reason at all.
Missy, I love my Facebook groups and hopefully, Twitter will institute an intelligent way to group. I'm hoping it's via a tagging structure that allows me to assign multiple tags to one twitter account.
I'm "hip" to social networking...probably moreso than the average person...but something about Twitter just hasn't gotten me all excited like it's done for others. Can't put my finger on why.
Jeff, You are a constant motivator. I have this feeling of guilt because Rocky has told me about twwetgrid etc. and I have used it but I still haven't made Titter part of my daily routine. I have had fun reaching out to causes retlated to Inspire the Child and the green building efforts and love hearing more about what's going on. I don't follow that many because it dilutes my ability to follow what I truly want to. I will keep trying!
Thanks for the insights on Twitter. Just started and at first wondered why people were following me, especially if they were from another country, and I had no idea who/what they were. But I am following people who have no idea who I am. Finally getting the hang of it.
So I am new and am probably asking a dumb question... but what does YEO mean?
Lydia, that is NOT a dumb question. YEO is an acronym for You Engaging Others.
Diane, Rocky does love Tweetgrid. It's here main Twitter client. She monitors key words and meets new people she want to meet based on their conversations. It has been invaluable to her.
Jeff- another great article about YEO. I enter each place that I plan to engage in from the stance of paying it forward first, adding value. While I am so doing, it is a miracle how my needs then get met also. For me, Twitter is about helping others, paying if forward for them, helping them with a problem, answering a question or whatever. Then for me, it ended up being a surprise by fulfilling a venting and connecting and validating my feelings and my view point in politics and religion. I was amazed at how connectable people on Twitter are in that regard. Then to spice things up, add a little match and you get a bon fire going:)
At the end of the day, my pay off is business. My coaching business has really been increased through twitter. I have also received a couple of real estate client referrals as well. Katerina
I've been getting fed up with Twitter since I keep getting followed by the Twitter equivalent of telemarketers. But your post just gave me some ideas. So thank you!
I tried setting up another account for a personal interest, but for me it's easier and better to do all things from one username. Plus, focusing on the Others part of YEO means letting them see all of me in one place, vs. fragmented pieces of me.
There's more than one way to use Social Media, and each person's experiences will be different. The important thing is to try something before forming an opinion. I tried following as many people who followed me...it felt too much like "work" :)
Jeff, when I found out that trouble makers had more fun!!
Hubba...
You've been spammed :)
TLW...ROAR!
I view spam as a compliment. :)
Jeff- Interesting article. Personally I do not follow back automatically, but pick and choose who I want to Follow. Recently I have made a few Groups so I can make sure I don't miss the Tweets I want to see. I believe "engaging" is really easy if you care about people.
Kathy, I think that is true. And I think for some people it may be true for only 1/2 of the engagement equation. It's possible for someone to care very deeply, reach out to others, have conversations, be "engaging" and yet not create the opportunities for others to "engage" on their behalf, to act. Real engagement results in action, not just conversation.
I think of the "following and listening to others" part of Twitter like I would a radio. I listen when I feel like it, I only listen to one station at a time and I turn the radio off when I'm done listening-with no guilt because of not listening to dozens of other stations. And I think of the tweets I make, the same way. If someone happens to be listening when I post, great. If not maybe I'll catch them next time. I love the simplicity of Twitter!
I talk to people that I have an interest in. I engage with other moms and working moms because I can relate and have easy converstations with them. Just a few weeks ago I get a tweet of one of the moms that is following me - her husband is in the coast guard and they are moving here in a few weeks and wanted a good va beach realtor. :) LOVE Twitter and you are right - it is more than the # of followers that you have.
I tweet, therefore I am.
Jeff ... I need to use tools like Tweetdeck and Tweetgrid systems and make those advantage rather than a hassle. Thanks again for this post.
Twitter is a social networking tool. Like any tool (social networking or other) the value that comes from it is directly related to how you use it. If you have an effective strategy for what you tweet and to whom, it can be useful. If I am tweeting what great foreclosure deals are am seeing come available today or some other value based content to a specific target group for example...
I love the information that you have offered. There is so much knowledge to be gained with all of these tech sites, that, you can never read enough. I appreciate your capacity to share and exchange these good tips. Thank you:) Some folks have the patience to keep 2,000 followers. I do not. I do follow some good tweeters and hopefully, those that are following me, will learn about the rain, as well as, real estate!
It's a Good Life!
Fran
I tried to tie my activerain feed into twitterfeed.com but it wouldn't accept the url for my activerain account. Can you give me any help.
Maureen... I sent you this via Twitter, but thought I'd leave it here as well. http://screenr.com/nxs
Jeff,
Great post and tons of great information and tips.
Thanks for sharing,
Matt Naumann
Jeff,
Great post and tons of great information and tips.
Thanks for sharing,
Matt Naumann
Great artical!
Xposure Real Estate Photography -- www.PropertyXposure.com
Jeff, I just came across your post (I know, took me long enough!) and found it interesting and very informative. Just for kicks, I checked up on @AnitaMatys. Since your initial post, she has grown to over 58,000 followers, she follows 62,000+, and appears on 335 lists...but has only updated 253 times, the vast majority of which are inspirational quotes. Not exactly what I'd call good YEO...
Thank you Jeff, for sharing this information, I am a tech trainer for our RE/MAX office and I will be sharing some of your ideas (and goal setting questions) with our agents as they dip their toes in social media.