TWITTER CONTACTS

To Follow or Not to Follow -

That is the question causing an interesting debate on Twitter lately, one I have pondered and now decided to enter myself. Unlike signs posted in public places warning of caution for wet floors, slippery ice, or falling rock the door to this debate not just ajar, its wide open. Proceeding without caution I state my thoughts on the matter.

At the heart of the matter lies one thought stated by both Joel and Gerald, the time for a thoughtful decision is at the outset. They were both referring to when you review a potential contacts profile, web-links, and tweets. I think it really begins even before reviewing a new contacts information.

The time to contemplate who will follow you is when you prepare your profile, build your website, and select a twitter niche. Before you can adequately present yourself to others you need to know your audience. Having an audience in mind helps you focus and tailor your introduction to fit the audience you want to attract.

Reading bio's, tweets, and websites gives potential contacts a picture of who you are and what you are about. Focusing on an accurate, honest, and purposeful approach provides the best introduction possible. If you want to connect for support and sharing of interests, hobbies, etc., focus there. If you want to attract others who may be interested in a service you provide then focus there.

Starting out is the time to create snapshots of yourself by investing more energy and thought than you will put into reviewing others bios, tweets, and websites before making connections. This will also make it easier for others to make a decision about future connections with you. Rewriting your profile on Twitter and your website is always an option if your purpose changes or you aren't attracting the connections you targeted.

I have found, first and foremost, the people I am least likely to connect with (other than spammers) are those who offer very little information to help me make a good decision. Good presentation in bio's, tweets, and websites is like giving a professional head and shoulders portrait to potential contacts, with clarity they can pick up many details about you. On the other side, poor presentation is like a yellowed and blurry photo of vast sky above wide open land and a small figure somewhere in the distance. Scanty information offers just enough of a glimpse for others to glean one or two general facts. Certainly not enough to qualify at detailed description of a potential contact on any level, let alone enough to make an informed decision about connecting, unless the goal is to have lots of followers who want access to something you have to offer.

I think what Joel discovered is he really didn't take the time at the beginning to make a good decisions that fit his purposes for using Twitter. Getting followers became his goal for a time. When that became unmanageable he had to back track, and he wanted to be upfront and honest with his followers and help them understand his choice.

I think Gerald has a different purpose for using Twitter than Joel. Having lots of contacts is better suited to his purpose than it is to Joel's purpose. I think there is room for both styles or approaches toward using Twitter.

Finally, what would our experiences benefit us if we couldn't evaluate and learn from them, and re-evaluate and learn from them again? That is exactly why ways to revise personal information on social networks is provided. It is also why Twitter tools for unfollowing, or even blocking if necessary, are available.

In the long run I think if Joel's purpose for using Twitter should change those who are really interested in what he has to offer will not hold his previous decisions against him. Any who do most likely wouldn't be interested in what he has to offer anyway.

My hat is off to Joel for sticking his neck out and offering perspective to others about his decision in hopes of understanding in return.

My hat is also off to Gerald for sticking to his purpose for using Twitter and for finding ways to manage his connections with so many followers.

I think its great there is room for us all.