lanelt : I often look at the # of people they are following. That helps me determine if I think they want to get to know me or just have a high follow #
SupportMyOffice : That was a very challenging question vainparadise
JKVirtualOffice :
I also recommend checking out who you follow back.
sharnatlanta : As far as Twitwall goes... be aware you are giving them your Twitter ID and password...
lanelt : yes, check out who you follow back...I used to follow back everyone BIG mistake
MLCBusines : I always check out who I follow back.
MrsAn : I also like to look at who I am following.....and who they are following. You can find some interesting people that way
JKVirtualOffice :
Sharnatlanta, that's true. But I've interacted with the person who runs that site and it's quite legit.
661VA : What do you mean by follow back?
Virtually Assisting You : Yes. Kristina that is true. Good point
JKVirtualOffice :
661VA, when someone follows you, you have the option to follow them back or not.
MaryH : @lisap I think you should follow anyone you're interested in. I follow all kinds of different people.
leedrozak : Great chatting but winds are picking up something fierce here so I am going to end now
JKVirtualOffice :
lisap, I don't think so. You can follow whoever you are interested in.
MaryH : I don't judge others on who they're following - everyone's different and connects with different types of people.
sharnatlanta : You could also use a section of your own blog as a Twitter wall and keep your Twitter password safe
Especially if you use WordPress and have the ability to "hide" a page
Virtually Assisting You : lisap - I agree with Mary
D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance : When should you use the Block feature? For known spammers or another reason?
JKVirtualOffice :
I follow almost every VA that follows me just because I want to interact with, not just for business.
JKVirtualOffice :
I use Block for spammers or really, really offensive people.
Rebecka Melson : I just block the spammers
MaryH : I use the block feature mostly for spammers
Jocarole : How do you block the spammers?
sharnatlanta : I like following and talking with other VAs too. It's a great way to get to know you guys!
vainparadise : Lisa you never know who might be a potential client so if you like their Tweets follow them
JKVirtualOffice :
@Jocarole, when you go to follow someone, there is a link to click on "block"
JKVirtualOffice :
You can also go directly to their profile and right under the message link, is the block link.
vainparadise : I don't just autofollow everyone who follows me I like to read some of their tweets before I follow them back
JKVirtualOffice :
A good way to find people to follow is to find someone you like following and see who they are following.
JKVirtualOffice :
LinkedIn also has a good Twitter group where you can find people to follow.
Virtually Assisting You : there's alot of VA's that are constantly tweeting ads that say "Use my services - with a link to their site" - I give u 2 chances then I unfollow you if I see it again.
lanelt : also, when someone retweets something look at what else that person has tweeted about
Rebecka Melson : I've found a lot of interesting people that way Kimberly
MLCBusines : I can honestly say I enjoy following the VA's that I follow.
JKVirtualOffice :
Another good idea that I learned from Mari Smith, is to when you post a comment on a blog, also include your Twitter ID.
MLCBusines : Have talked to a few and enjoyed the conversations.
Virtually Assisting You : i think it makes the VA industry look like were begging for work.
Jocarole : Thanks !
JKVirtualOffice :
Good advice, Lanel.
MLCBusines : JK - Good Idea!
Japhylis : I never knew about the retweet. i always see people doign it. I will start tomorrow.
JKVirtualOffice :
I agree with you Kena.
JKVirtualOffice :
constantly tweeting your services and your website link is spammy and annoying.
lanelt : I also get annoyed when someone ONLY retweets things other people have said or if they only post links to things they find online. I want to know about YOU.
Your Virtual Wizard : I followed Mari Smith on setting up the facebook fan page (another chat). I'm thinking of including twitter ID in my signature too. Good one, Kim.
lanelt : retweeting is good but don't ONLY retweet
PamH53 : In any given day, how much time do you devote to Twitter, finding people, etc.?
JKVirtualOffice :
And keep in mind, the more people you follow the harder it can get to keep track of the conversation.
MrsAn : ah ha...can you link twitter to blogger for example?
SupportMyOffice : There is a real estate pro that posted like 8 times today about helping people avoid foreclosure.
Olinda Services : I am on Twitter but should we share the basics of how to get started?
Japhylis : yea, i know that. trust me i got enough to say with my crazy lfe.
JKVirtualOffice :
I incude my twitter ID in my signature.
JKVirtualOffice :
I used to be on Twitter quite a bit each day. But lately I've been so busy, I really only get to my account about an hour a day.
MrsAn : sorry....my scroll is freaking out. That was in the wrong spot
lanelt : I usually have tweetdeck up all day but only look at it when I feel like it or if someone replies to me.
JKVirtualOffice :
However, I'm also on Twitter doing management of client accounts quite a bit.
Jocarole : An hour a day seems like a lot to me ?
Japhylis : i'm on about an hour a day too
JKVirtualOffice :
Lisa, that's a great idea...what would you recommend as a "starter" tip?
sharnatlanta : I usually have Tweetdeck up all day too. I glance at it throughout the day to just stay in the loop of things.
Virtually Assisting You : Pam - I'm a lil addicted to twitter, but I keep it open all day and most of the night
lanelt : an hour straight a day would be boring (to me)
Rebecka Melson : same here Kimberly, I don't usually have time to get on until late in the evening right now, but I still like to check and see what new topics are running
JKVirtualOffice :
I'm with Lanel, I often check my @replies and Direct messages throughout the day even if I'm not actively tweeting.
vainparadise : I am the same as you Kimberly, also though I have clients Tweeting me or DMing me so while I log on to ck it I also try to update as well
Virtually Assisting You : there is a few other's here that way too! go ahead and tel her M-M-ary. lol
Olinda Services : We have already mentioned using a business name or real name so people can find you.
JKVirtualOffice :
I'm like you Rebecka, I usually only get to really "Tweet" in the evening.
Olinda Services : I know I didn't understand how to find other people when I started.
MLCBusines : I usually keep Twhirl on all day to keep up with conversations.
MaryH : lol, Kena, what did I miss?
lanelt : I think my biggest startertip would be to just follow people. I think if you follow a # of people and aren't afraid to respond if they say something interesting you'll get into the whole thing quickly
lisap : what is twhirl
Olinda Services : For people just getting started they are probably not going to load the gadgets until they get comfortable with the platform.
JKVirtualOffice :
That's a great tip, Lanel.
D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance : Unfortunatley, I tend to be a Saturday morning Tweeter (not as many people around to talk to!)
MrsAn : It really takes on a mind of it's own. I know I started with just following my sister and her business, then next thing I new 17 people were following me.
Olinda Services : I have started looking up people as I read their blogs or even while we have been chatting I have added around 10. I'm watching you! LOL
MaryH : twhirl is another platform to organize your tweets, like tweetdeck
JKVirtualOffice :
I also recommend learning the "Twitter" lingo early on. RT=Retweet, DM = Direct Message...what else?
Rebecka Melson : I did searches to find people when I started out
661VA : Do you find that it takes a lot of your time to keep up with Twitter?
Rebecka Melson : I searched my state, my industry (bookkeeping/taxes) and other random things
lanelt : LOL
Sometimes if feel like I'm stalking people when I find them and start following them everywhere LOL
sharnatlanta : It's kind of fun to Twitter Surf too (my term.. lol). i.e. start with someone you know or find interesting, then look through the folks THEY follow, and so on. It's kind of neat to do that on occasion.
JKVirtualOffice :
Darlene, you just need to follow more people who are weekend tweeters. I find I can waste hours tweeting on a Saturday or Sunday.
Rebecka Melson : @661VA It can if you let it, that's why I don't use apps like tweetdeck or twhirl during the day
sharnatlanta : @lanelt nah.. I think that's expected these days. With Twitter, Facebook, and 30 some other SM apps!!
lanelt : does it take up time: it can, if you let it. If you just read it periodically then it doesn't have to
JKVirtualOffice :
That's a great thing to do Sharnatlanta to find interesting ppl to follow.
MaryH : Kimberly I find I can waste hours tweeting any day, LOL
lanelt : it may be expected but it can still feel like you're stalking LOL
JKVirtualOffice :
What other burning questions do you all have?
lisap : Is this really a good way to build your biz?
lanelt : anytime you're building relationships it's a good way to build your business
Your Virtual Wizard : The favorites tab...is this just to tag a favorite tweet someone posted?
MaryH : lisa, I think it is, and if nothing else, it expands your network in the event that you might need something in the future
JKVirtualOffice :
Absolutely. I had someone I got to know on Twitter contact me last week & she wanted to refer some of her clients to me.
lanelt : but, it takes time and you have to want to put sometime in to building the relationship. Signing up for twitter and following people isn't going to make your phone start ringing
Jocarole : Is Twitter a business social site and a personal site?
MaryH : you get out of it what you put into it
sharnatlanta : re Favs tab, yes, it "bookmarks" tweets that you mark
JKVirtualOffice :
She referred someone this week and from that one referral, I've signed 4 new clients in 2 days.
Olinda Services : It is just like networking in your community. Only this is your virtual community.
Rebecka Melson : I think its important to be active online especially on all of the popular forums, I have had clients tell me the chose me because they "saw me everywhere"
lanelt : it started out as personal but I really see it as a business personal. I think the successful people are the ones that blend the personal with their business
Rebecka Melson : it makes them feel more comfortable knowing you are visible
Your Virtual Wizard : I can tell you that once I created a twitter site, it is my #2 click-thru to my website. If anything at all, it gets peeps to my site.
Olinda Services : I think it is both. But I have found that my personal & business life intwine in my community. Friends know what I can do and ask me to help. They pass on my work to someone, etc.
Your Virtual Wizard : And then more people signed up for my newsletter that hasn't been written yet!
JKVirtualOffice :
@virtualwizard...it is a great way to get click throughs to your website.
Jocarole : I guess if people see you all over they start feeling like they know you
Jocarole : I think the more sites you are on the better
JKVirtualOffice :
@Jocarole...that's exactly it.
JKVirtualOffice :
They also get to see how you present yourself and to get to know a bit of your personality.
Monique : my official statement on twitter "I Love It"!
Rebecka Melson : I think they get to know me pretty well.. lol but I don't hide my personality, although I may tame it a little bit
JKVirtualOffice :
A great blog to subscribe to for Twitter tips is: http://www.twitip.com/
Archived VAF Chat: Twitter 101
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