Six Tips to Gain Followers Through Engagement

Ducks

How do you gain followers?

This is the question I am often asked.

“Do I buy followers?” No. In fact, most of the time people can tell when you have bought followers, as my colleague Carol Stephen describes in her post here. This strategy sort of backfired for former Speaker of the House and Presidential Candidate, Newt Gingrich, too.

Twitter is one of the major spokes in the social media wheel. Social media, people seem to forget, is about being social.

During the question and answer period of the Digital Influence panel at ACEC California’s April Conference, I was asked what the best practice for Twitter is.

My answer:  “The most important thing for you is to be a human being.”

In fact, my social media strategy revolves around being a polite, helpful person.

That seems to do the trick.

How does this work.

1. I avoid Twitter’s Retweet button.

This is controversial and everyone has their own opinions. Read my blog post here.

2. When I do retweet, I add a comment first.

This continues the conversation the original tweeter intended, presumably, when they sent the tweet in the first place. Awkward sentence? Sure. But the point is that Twitter is a conversation. By that logic, every tweet is potentially a conversation starter.

See: Retweet Styles

3. Ask Questions.

People love to be able to express themselves and to have those opinions validated and/or regarded. It’s true. We as a species strive for acceptance. When people respond to your question, respond back.

Example: “What’s your favorite vacation spot?” If someone says, “Rio” then you can ask them what their favorite restaurant was there, etc. You can tailor the question based upon your array of interests, but you get the general drift.

4. Be Retweetable.

I have an entire blog post on the Ten Ways to Be Retweetable. Basically, design your tweets so that people will respond.

5. Search Twitter for Topics.

This is how you can use the power of the hashtag. For example, if you’re interested in flowers, search the twitter box for #flowers, find tweets that are interesting, and respond to them.

6. Manners Matter.

It’s amazing how manners have eroded over time.  For example, many people accept a retweeted tweet as a substitute for “thank you.” I don’t.

Since manners are on short supply, this is a great way to rise above the crowd.

  • Thank people who retweet you (old school or otherwise). Sure, it takes time, but they’ll be more likely to respond to you and share your content in the long run, over time.
  • Spend five minutes a day in your home feed as well as on your lists talking to OTHER people.
  • Check your mentions column and answer people who are tweeting to you.

Guru Lesson:

Twitter is about people and relationships. If you want to build relationships it takes time just like in real life. Twitter isn’t Sea-Monkeys – you don’t just add water. You have to work it.

11 Comments

  1. sandyconnolly on August 1, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    Love the Guru Lesson!!



  2. Bridget Willard on August 1, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    You’re very sweet. Thank you!



  3. Carol Stephen (@Carol_Stephen) on August 13, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    I like the “ask questions” part of your post. That’s a good way to start a conversation, if the person on the other end wants to continue talking. And of course, asking a question about THEM is the best policy. Thank you for this post!



  4. Bridget Willard on August 13, 2013 at 1:38 pm

    I learned about that tip from my husband. Being the introvert in the family, I always had trouble starting conversations. Questions are good in real life and on digital, too.



  5. […] you can use as tools to build conversations, here’s the next part of building your account: http://youtoocanbeaguru.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/gainfollowers/ Sixth, as you build followers it’s time to start learning about how to Retweet: […]



  6. Carol Stephen on November 4, 2015 at 6:24 pm

    Every time I read one of your posts, something else stands out for me. Today it’s searching Twitter for topics. So simple, and yet people forget that.

    Thank you!



  7. Bridget Willard on November 4, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    I forget, too. I should read this again.

    Thank you!



  8. Carol Stephen on November 4, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Isn’t that funny? Sometimes I have to read my own posts again, too. And then I think “I should do that!”

    Hah!



  9. Bridget Willard on November 4, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    We all get stuck in ruts.



  10. Carol Stephen on November 4, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    And sometimes we can inspire ourselves when we reread our own words. 😀



  11. Bridget Willard on November 4, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    So true!