Wednesday, 10 September 2008

  • Twittin' Secrets: The 100 World's Greatest Twitter Tips & Twitter Secrets / PART SIX: Tips #58 - 72

    WHAT IS TWITTIN' SECRETS?

    NOTE 1: Twittin' Secrets is a series of 100 Twitter tips posted for free access across multiple online locations. Here at XANGA, we have tips #58 through 72. Other tips are linked at bottom or from the Twittin' Secrets site.

    There are a lot of wimpy "Twitter Tip Lists" out there; this is NOT one of them. These 100+ Twitter Tips go from insightful Twitter toddler level to explosive Twitter-bomb advanced. Even if you think you're a Twitter social or Twitter business pro, you might want to start from the beginning - this is one hefty shovel full of "Twitter How-to" ready for you to Digg.

    NOTE 2: Feel free to use, expand upon, comment and share these Twitter tips, secrets & strategies as you wish (all 100 are free), but please credit or link back properly so that everyone may benefit from knowing the original source. I welcome feedback and commenting which will be available at many of the posted locations -OR- you may post to this Tweet Channel
    1. Want to follow comments related to Twittin' Secrets?
      Visit here: http://tweetchannel.com/twittinsecrets
    2. Want to ADD your comment or idea to the Twittin' Secret Channel? Tweet as usual, but include the following hashtag in your tweet: #twittinsecrets
    3. If you'd like to REVIEW Twittin' Secrets, one spot I recommend is:
      http://microrevie.ws/
      HOW TO ADD A MICRO REVIEW
      http://microrevie.ws/how-to
      Just click link below to make it easy:
      http://twurl.nl/sw0rlg
    4. And if you really Digg this (as I hope you do), you can certainly post and comment at Digg.

    WHO IS DAN HOLLINGS?

    Dan Hollings is an internet marketing, micro-blogging and mobile marketing strategist. Dan has consulted for celebrities, talk show hosts, NY Times best selling authors, world renowned entrepreneurs, and companies both large and small . Dan is well known as the internet strategist behind the smash hit movie "The Secret," considered by many as the most successful internet launch of its kind. Dan's greatest love next to family, the environment, and worthy animal causes, is teaching and helping others with internet and mobile marketing strategy.

    Dan's "100 Twittin Secrets" are the result of exhaustive observation, implementation, research, testing and just having a little Twittin' fun. Never one to settle for the obvious, Dan's Twittin' Secrets exemplifies thinking out of the box and pushing the envelop, just enough, to get you thinking far more creatively about Twitter than perhaps you were before.

    TWITTER RESOURCES

    Before we continue: If you are a Twitter newbie and do not really understand what Twitter or micro-blogging is about, the articles and links below are recommended:

    "Attack of The Twitter Zombies and Microblogging Superhumans"
    http://www.google.com/base/a/2575746/D16495881849416222875

    "Does God Twitter?" In addition, I have 10 great Twitter Tips in an article published in Entrepreneur Magazines' Weekend Entrepreneur Blog entitled "Does God Twitter?"
    http://weekend.entrepreneur.com/2008/08/25/does-god-twitter/

    "Twitter be Nimble, Twitter be Quick, if you don't know Jack, try these Twitter Tricks."
    How to light a candle under your Twitterings for both Newbies and those that think they are Pros.
    http://www.twitip.com/twitter-be-nimble-twitter-be-quick-if-you-dont-know-jack-try-these-twitter-tricks/

    Twittin' Secrets (primary site) http://twittinsecrets.com
    Digg this Article

    100 TWITTIN' SECRETS
    <=== Hope you Digg it


    1. Twitter Contest Strategy Why Not Run a Twitter Contest? Formally, contests were a challenging task, now they are a walk in the park... Contest Machine (http://contestmachine.com/) makes setting up and running contests almost Twitter simple.  Contest are great for generating engaged followers.

      Twittin' Secrets used Contest Machine to run its "Underdog Blogger" contest, opening the door for lessor known newbie blogs to tap a little traffic from the popularity of Twittin' Secrets. Contest machine creates a dedicated page for your contest AND/OR you can embed the Contest Machine widget into your blog or web site.

      See the "UnderDog Blogger" contest: NOW OVER
      Underdog Blogger Contest Parameters: Explain why your blog would be a great spot for ONE of the 100 Twittin' Secret Twitter Tips? (Include your URL). Blogs under 140 days old, with fewer than 140 posts, and less that 140 visitors per month preferred. - - - Winners get to post ONE Twittin' Secret and enjoy the traffic of this popular Twitter Tip series. GOOD LUCK!

      Contest Idea #2 Another simple (but effective) Twitter contest strategy is to ask followers to post a specific tweet (perhaps a tweet plus link you dictate). In other words, you can require people wanting to enter your contest post a tweet as their entry. Then, to tally up participants, use Twitter Search to locate a keyword or Hashtag within your required tweet. Bingo, you have entries posted and viral marketing all rolled in to one. Pick your winners, announce it on Twitter and repeat.

      ==> Tweet This


    2. Add Graphical Twitter Updates for dynamic strategic impact -OR- to create an updating SIG for blog comments, forum comments, email footers etc.  This is not only super cool, it's super easy with TWITSIG.com. The following example updates live as an IMAGE of my latest Twitter post. Multiple image designs are available.

       

      For over 150 more Twitter graphics, Twitter logos, Twitter buttons, and Twitter widgets or badges, explore the "MyTwitter Toolbar" - everything (Twitter tips & Twitter tools) are one-click away with this free Twitter toolbar.


      ==> Tweet This


    3. Twitter Stats and Tweet Clouds.  PART 1) Wow, this sounds interesting.
           
      1. Head over to TweetStats.com and start by entering your Twitter username.  If you've been Twittering for any time, you'll be shown some cool graphs of YOUR Twitter activities over time. Look at each graph until you understand what it is telling you.
        2.    
      2. Next, at the top of your TweetStats click the "TweetCloud" button/tab and observe.
        3.    
      3. Finally, at the bottom of your TweetCloud click "hide replies" and observe.

      Within a few minutes you'll have a mental picture of what your Twitter tweets, posting habits, posting tools, topics and top "mentioned" Twitter connections reveal (over time).  That's cool, but.... 

      ==> Tweet This


      4. PART 2) Advanced Twitter Snooping for fun and profit.  Wow, this sounds even more interesting.

      Follow all the steps in Twitter Tip #59 (above) only instead of entering your username, enter someone else's... perhaps a favorite Twitter friend, an expert in your industry, a competitor, and ex-spouse (go ahead, this is all public and legal).

      Discover: who they are chatting with the most, when are they posting, what tools they use, and what topics standout in their TweetCloud.  Occasionally you'll find gold nuggets that can increase your followers, your knowledge and your profits; oh yea, not to mention, this is fun! 

      ==> Tweet This

    4. SUPER COOL TWITTER SECRET: Viral auto-post links can be created and used within Twitter tweets and/or added to web pages, blogs, blog comments, profile pages, emails, newsletters etc. What am I talking about?
      SAMPLE TWITTER POST (try these two links): Tallest Building in the world in 3-D http://twurl.nl/uodkd1 Pass this along, click and post http://twurl.nl/d0y1q2

           
      • Link #1 (http://twurl.nl/uodkd1) goes to an incredible picture of the tallest building in the world (I also used TwitterSplit to get my banner/content on top).
        •    
      • Link #2 (http://twurl.nl/d0y1q2) allows my tweet reader to click and repost (retweet) my post easily; out my tweet goes to others on their follower list.

      The viral link (Link #2) is created by:
           
      1. Creating a "status posting" URL in the format below (spaces are ok or you can replace spaces with %20):
        http://twitter.com/home?status=Add your retweet text here
        - - - OR - - -
        http://twitter.com/home?status=Add%20your%20retweet%20text%20here

        2.    
      2. Now to shorten the "status posting" viral link, enter it into any URL redirect, like: http://tweetburner.com or http://is.gd

        3.    
      3. Yes, the "status posting" viral link can have another link within it -AND- yes, this can become a perpetual regenerating "status posting" viral link that could take off like Olympic Kenyan runner Samuel Wanjiru, if you can crack the code and add some interesting sizzle.

      ==> Tweet This


    5. Social Bookmark your best Twitter static pages... please, not every Twitter post needs to be bookmarked, just the good ones - perhaps your favorites. Use ShareThis.com, AddThis.com or if you're a power bookmarker try OnlyWire.com.  My Twitter tip #52 detailed how to find these Twitter static pages.

      CAUTION: Do not bookmark only your stuff, or only things on one domain, or only Twitter. For social bookmarking to be effective your bookmarking needs to be natural (not self-serving and SPAM-like).  In addition, bookmark gradually over time; do not book mark 500 twitter pages in one day... geez. Also remember that social bookmarking sites often have RSS Feeds and these can further syndicate your tweets. 

      ==> Tweet This


    6. Throw stuff AT people.  Yes, it sounds crazy, but if you are wanting certain followers (or non-followers) to pay attention to your Twitterings, sometimes Retweeting (reposting) a post of theirs or mentioning their Twitter username brings you up on their radar. 

      This is done by putting an "@" sign in front of their username like this: @username -OR- @dhollings

      Many people monitor their username, perhaps through PeopleBrowsr, TweetBeep, TweetDeck or otherwise, so mentioning their username in this manner can increase follow-ship and readership. 

      ==> Tweet This


    7. Use Wordle.net - It's a nifty TagCloud Generator. In fact so much so, you can spend hours there playing with these silly (but impressive) clouds. I actually created a video using Wordle to help virally promote my Twitter Tips & Twitter Secrets. 
      You've likely seen it, if not go here:
      TWITTIN' SECRETS at YOUTUBE
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nrO9BNChMM
      --- OR ---
      TWITTIN' SECRETS at XANGA
      http://video.xanga.com/dhollings/af6d9869262/video.html
      My recommendation is to create a Wordle TwitterCloud or two and post them around (at your blog, Flickr, Google base articles, profiles etc).  A TwitterClouds is intriguing graphical eye-candy that brings attention to what you do.  Literally within 5 seconds, anyone looking at a TwitterCloud built on the content from your Twitter posts or Twitter Favorites will know the topics and sub-topics of your Twitter posts.  If they can see within 5 seconds what you're about, they may follow you if they are intrigued. In other words, few potential followers will read your last 50 tweets; far more will look at a TwitterCloud and perhaps be hypnotized into a devoted follower.

      TwitterCloud Suggestion: Link to a page showing your TwitterCloud from your Twitter Bio
      EXAMPLE:
      http://www.danhollings.com/dan-hollings-twitter.html
      Wordle Create Page: http://wordle.net/create
      Wordle does provide simple cut & paste code to embed your TwitterCloud on your site or you may take a screenshot and create your own image (crediting Wordle) and link directly to your Twitter home page.

      If the RSS feed from Twitter does not give you a TwitterCloud representative of your content, it may be advisable to copy/paste the TEXT from your Twitter page (or Favorites), edit out URLs and excessive username repetitions. Then use the "Paste in a bunch of text" method on the Wordle create page. 

      ==> Tweet This


    8. Googlealert.com offers a great Twitter tracking tool (free and paid versions) that will propel your Twitterings and motivate you to tweet more (as if Twitter isn't addictive enough already).  Open an account, give the FAQ questions a quick read and then proceed to set up your alerts.

      In a nutshell, http://GoogleAlerts.com will comb through Google search results daily to find and report back to you (by email) every time anything about you, your Twitterings, or any keyword you set-up is found. (NOT to be confused with Google's -weaker version- Alerts http://www.google.com/alerts)

      Suggestions for GoogleAlerts:
           
      1. Track your Twitter URL (twitter.com/username)
        2.    
      2. Track your full name, business name, brand or product service (in quotes enter "Your Name")
        3.    
      3. Track and other keyword you want updates on.
        4.    
      4. You can track Google search results, about 120 deep, across all keywords for free.
        5.    
      5. BONUS IDEA: Take the RSS feed generated by GoogleAlerts and feed it (publish it) into your blog, site, Mashable, Google Reader or any other place that will syndicate RSS feeds

      ==> Tweet This


    9. Hashtags # are a community-driven convention for adding additional context and metadata to your tweets. They're like tags on Flickr, only added inline to your post. You create a hashtag simply by prefixing a word with a hash symbol: #hashtag 

      Hashtags.org provides real-time tracking of Twitter hashtags. Opt-in by following @hashtags to have your hashtags tracked.

      Another, perhaps an even better solution is TweetChannel.com which allows you to set up "Channels" where people can comment and discuss around a defined topic.

      EXAMPLE:
           
      1. Want to follow comments related to Twittin' Secrets?
        Visit here: http://tweetchannel.com/twittinsecrets
        2.    
      2. Want to ADD your comment or idea to the Twittin' Secret Channel? Tweet as usual, but include the following hashtag in your tweet: #twittinsecrets

      You can experiment with hashtagging to existing popular hashtag categories (or groups) provided you are posting related and appropriate material.

      Used sparingly and respectfully, hashtags can provide useful context and cues for recall, as well as increased utility for the Twitter track feature. Used excessively can cause annoyance, confusion or frustration, and may lead people to stop following you. It's best to use hashtags explicitly when they're going to add value. A good rule of thumb to follow is to focus on your update first, then adding a hashtag if it adds value or context.

      If you are part of a group or part of an event, using hashtags can be a great way for multiple participants to collectively post around a central theme, event, or topic. Just make sure your hashtag is unique if you are starting your own category. You can post an upcoming event and it's related Hashtag at Twemes (http://twemes.com/p/suggest_pick)

      More info: http://twitter.pbwiki.com/Hashtags 


      SORTA RELATED:

      You can Chart your tweets with tags and ranks, somewhat in the fashion of of Hashtags, only with a twist... explore Plodt (http://www.plodt.com/), This service will let you tag and categorize your Tweets, then from the data gathered Plodt will generate a graph based on your recent tags or the “plodts” that you make.

      ==> Tweet This


    10. Check out and use 3rd-party Twitter applications (including Mobile APPS) so you can Twitter on the go and stay in touch: http://twurl.nl/eyl5ux  ==> Tweet This


    11. This Tip No Longer Applicable This tip has been removed because the strategy is no longer viable. This tip has been updated within the Twitter Twenius program, now available at: http://twittertwenius.com.

    12. Twitter TipsA Tip For Making Money with Twitter. Yes, you read this right... How-to make money Twittering. Twitter can definitely be a money generator if you know the secrets (many of which you already know, because you're reading this!) I have many, many direct money making Twitter secrets I can share, but for now, here is a simple little idea that might work for you...  if you:  TipiT.to

      Tipit.to enables people to show their support to a cause, person, Twitterer or website by tipping some money. Voluntarily giving money, no matter how small the amount, that serves as moral and financial support.

      Details here:       https://tipit.to/about
      Twitter examples here:
      http://blog.tipit.to/2008/07/twitter-based-tipping-and-notification/
      Cool Tipit Thermometer Widget here:
      http://blog.tipit.to/2008/07/thermometer-widget/
      Once you register, create a nice profile (with picture and description) and you are good to go.  Make sure you go in to the "settings" area and integrate with your Twitter account. Twitter tipping (with TipIt) is not a fool-proof system, tippers can tip now and not fulfill on their commitments when it's time to pony-up.
      Tipit FAQ
      https://tipit.to/faq

      TRY IT OUT...       (50 = 50 cents / 100=$1.00)
      Twitter the following message: d tipit @dhollings 100 Thanks the great Twittin' Secrets!

      - - - OR - - -

      Use this Twitter autopost link (recommended method): (100=$1.00 / 1000=$10 - trust me) http://go2468.com/tipdan

      - - - OR - - -

      You can visit my Tipit page
      https://tipit.to/TwitterTips
      ==> Tweet This


    13. Two More TIPS for Making Twitter Money... AND ANOTHER TIP... TipJoy.com offers a variation on the "TIP" idea discussed in tip #69.  However the concept with TipJoy is a bit different.  You do not Tweet tips, rather you link to a tip page or use their frameset version.

      EXAMPLE: http://tipjoy.com/e1d/

      This is a very interesting alternative and does allow you to easily add an occasional "Tip Request" within your Twitter posts.  You could also add the TipJoy frameset link to your Twitter Bio.

      EXAMPLE (Bio line)
      Enjoy My Tweets? Tips are cool: http://tipjoy.com/e1d/
           
      1. TipJoy sorta hides this frameset option.  Here's how you find it:
        2.    
      2. Create a TipJoy.com account
        3.    
      3. Then set-up your site here: http://tipjoy.com/banners/
        4.    
      4. Next go to: http://tipjoy.com and enter the URL you just set-up as if you were going to TIP 10 cents.
        5.    
      5. Look closely for the COPY & PASTE URL (that's the URL you can add to Twitter).

      AND ANOTHER TIP... CHIPIN (http://www.chipin.com/): The easy way to collect money, is another option to explore. It is geared more toward fund raising, but can be literally for any thing; profit or non-profit. 

      ==> Tweet This


    14. Something To Explore. Twitter's almost hidden "exploratory" Twitter pages offer potential. I don't think even Twitter knows where they are headed with this. One part of "Twitter Explore" is called Twitter Blocks (http://explore.twitter.com/blocks) - go there, login and explore. It provides a 3-D interactive interface of your Twitter connections and relationships.

      I've also discovered that URLs in the "explore" format (see below) work with Twitter usernames and are being spidered by Google. I'm not making a specific recommendation here, just making you aware and suggesting you explore.
      EXAMPLE: http://explore.twitter.com/username http://explore.twitter.com/dhollings
      ==> Tweet This


    15. Twitter pages for iPhoneTHINK MOBILE. With more Mobile phones on the planet than TVs, credit cards, PCs or automobiles, you're missing a LOT of followers if you don't "think mobile" while Twittering. The whole world is twittering and much of it is on small screen mobile phones and mobile devices like the iPhone. That's a big part of why Twitter is so popular. With that fact in mind, you are wise to offer Mobile compliant web pages for your followers to visit whenever you have something really important to present.  Obviously if you're linking away to someone else's web page you have less control, but for your own stuff you are in total control.  MobiSiteGalore.com offers a top-notch, easy to use mobile web site builder which is compliant across all mobile phone platforms. Oh, did I mention, it's free? And you can host it on their servers or yours? Do it.

      Here's an idea (just a tad bit advanced)... for those occasions when you need a quick "Mobile Friendly" page to link to from a Twitter post, literally something on the fly... for ANY page on the web. I'm talking YOUR page or under acceptable situations, someone else's page. A great solution is Instapaper: http://www.instapaper.com (Please note, I'm not encouraging copyright infringement here; so use good common sense if you are converting someone else's page. Ask first if in doubt.)

      Instapaper, is intended to provide an iPhone or mobile friendly TEXT ONLY version of any web page. However, it is actually a really nice HTML to text web page converter. 

      STEPS:
           
      1. You can take any webpage URL, put it into InstaPaper and voila, you've got nice Mobile text.  However, please note that visitors can NOT access your converted page within your InstaPaper account.
        2.    
      2. You can right click the converted page within your InstaPaper account to VIEW SOURCE, copy paste the source HTML into your own document.
        3.    
      3. Remove line #1 of source code
        <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
        4.    
      4. Upload it to any server (FTP).
        5.    
      5. Make a Twitter Post and link to your newly converted iPhone mobile ready page.
        6.    
      6. BONUS: It is advisable to post at a mobile URL, such as: domain.mobi or m.domain.com

      Of course, the simple alternative is to add a link to InstaPaper on key web pages you control and suggest Mobile visitors try a Free InstaPaper account personally, to save and view your site.
      EXAMPLE 1:
      (iPhone ready): From my primary site, about Twitter:
      http://www.danhollings.com/twittermobile/dan-mobile-twitter1.html
      EXAMPLE 2:
      (iPhone ready): Twittin' Secrets Tip #56 (I converted a PRweb Press Release):
      http://twittinsecrets.com/mobile/prweb-tip56.html
    ===> Get "Twittin" Satisfaction
              (Support, questions, ideas, discussion etc)

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