I was reading Twitter Marketing: Why You Don’t Need to Mass Follow Users

The discussion turned to whether one should have a lot of connections, or close relationships

Why not both?

I have both, and know it’s possible.

It’s very natural that someone known by hundreds of millions on TV would get a million followers on Twitter. I would expect that the relationship with each of them would be at least as close as the relationship they have through TV, magazines, etc… at least there is some chance of 2 ways communication.

Of course, if I had to choose, I’d got for close friends over numbers. But with Twitter, you don’t have to choose.. There is no right way for follow ratios, how often you tweet or how you use Twitter.

NO RULES

I hear tweeps say “I can’t imagine how you have a relationship with thousands” They are right. Before I had thousands of connections, I couldn’t imagine it either. This is all brand new.

I do not expect 50,000 people to read every tweet. I DO read ALL my @ messages, all the tweets with my handle and hundreds of threads a day. It’s become a natural part of what I do.

Does it take a of time?

Nope, it SAVES a lot of time. I have loose relationship through email, phone, teleconference and media with subscribers, clients, prospects, friends and business assoicates. There is no way I could reach out to them in any way other than Twitter.

Twitter alone does not make for a full relationship.. but it sure helps.

Technorati Tags: twitter followers, twitter marketing, follow spam

Are you using a social media assistant?

Should you?

PostClick from Christopher F. Smith on Vimeo.

Technorati Tags: social media assistant, social media jobs, twitter

On the next Twitter and Social Media Radio Show, we are talking about using social media and causes to increase your brand awareness, grow your network, and do more good.

We have TWO Rich guests.. The combination should make for some interesting flubs from the host … Is it a coincidence that two very smart communications experts are both Rich?

Follow both these guys.. then make sure you are logged in at TwitCastRadio.com and ready for the chat at 10pm Eastern (7pm Pacific)

@RickyBobby77

• rich wakefield
• Location Atlanta, Georgia
• Bio Pop cult. music. graphic design junkie. Falcons and Braves Fan.

@RichBecker

• Richard Becker
• Location Las Vegas
• Web http://www.copywr…
• Bio Rich at Copywrite, Ink. Instructor, UNLV. State Commissioner, AmeriCorps (Nev.). ABC Examiner, IABC. Co-founder, BloggersUnite. And other stuff.

Christian Science Monitor is one of the many news pieces quoting “authorities” on what Twitter means to the business now that @Oprah has “blessed it”.

People are under the impression that they are talking to the world when trying to market themselves on social networking sites, she says. “But they are only talking to a small niche,” she says.

Twitter does have a lot of users. In fact, it saw a 131 percent rise in unique users in March alone, according to Internet research company comScore Inc. Capturing the bulk of those users, however, can be a challenge. Oprah and Mr. Kutcher can do it. But few have their brand power.

“The thing they have that everybody wants is eyeballs, but how do you monitize eyeballs?” says Ms. Quint, “Google has found a way to do it.”’

But can Twitter?

It’s NOT about eyeballs Ms Quint.. Twitter lets us connect to each other and bypass you and the media.

I just saw a post over on we are social about the amount of time people in various countries use social media.

It’s not a competition. The revolution we are seeing in the way people communicate is just people talking to people.

I believe these are not new media.. we are entering a post media era.

Television gave us the chance to have a shared experience.. to watch things from afar in the comfort of our living room.. but it required our attention and conformity and that allow advertisers to stick their products into those same living rooms.

This wasn’t because we wanted to sit in front of the tube.. it was just a necessary step to getting to the programing.

Now we can have video anywhere, and 2 way conversations. We don’t have to choose one place to have the telephone, or one room to watch entertainment.. and advertisers are not happy with our lack of conformity.

It may be a lot harder to place a media buy today, but there is hope for savvy advertisers who embrace the conversations that consumers want. We are all aching to connect, and we love it when we have a meaningful connection with someone that can help us pursue our dreams.

As long as those dreams include acquiring stuff, corporations who listen have nothing to worry about.

I use the term Social Media to describe those sites that are being used by people to revolutionize the way we communicate and do business. At least till I get a better term for it.

What do you think? Are we just consuming media, or is this just more conversations?

Please share you comments below and add your @ handle so we can talk on Twitter too.

Technorati Tags: soucial media use, post media era

If you have been worried about the time you spend on Twitter, you’ll love Flutter

For a bit more serious ideas on one to be more productive on Twitter, join us for Friday night Fun on the Twitter Radio Show

Friday Night, 10 PM Eastern, 7 PM Pacific and 4PM Hawaii

Be sure you have a BlogTalkRadio account so you can connect with us in the chat room. Then log in a few minutes before the show and meet people who are building a network on Twitter just like you.

The TwitCast is also available on iTunes here

Do you have a question about Twitter. Send a Tweet to @WarrenWhitlock or add a comment here.

Technorati Tags: flutter, nano blogging, twitter video, twitter radio

Regular listeners to TwitCastRadio have heard that you can get the program for free on iTunes to listen anytime you want.

Have you ever checked out iTunes for all the great social media learning program?

I was on one today…

Bo Bennet wanted to know about the first book on Twitter and we had a great time talking about some of the best tips and ideas from the book.

You can list to Warren Whitlock talking Twitter Revolution here

What other social media podcasts do you listen to? Share with us on the comments below

Twitter radio, social media book, twooting

I’ve been using Facebook for longer than Twitter, and always suggest that clients have a profile there.

In fact, last I heard, Facebook grows at by more users per week than the total Twitterverse. I don’t think it’s going away.

So why are they trying so hard to be more Twitter-like?

Technorati Tags: Facebook, Twitter vs Facebook, What Facebook if for

I’ve been using PeopleBrowser for a while and have been sharing it with a few friends.

So far, it’s not been as fast and responsive as some other options.. but I think it holds a lot of promise… especially in integrating Twitter with other social media

Meanwhile, some tweeps, like @philreinhardt think it IS the best interface for Twitter. Phil posted this review on his blog comparing, compaing Twitter on the web, TweetDeck and PeopleBrowsr

I’ll be posting more on the advanced features of PeopleBrowsr, and other mulit-platform clients

What’ YOUR opinion? What freatures to you need most to be able to keep in contact with all your connections across all the social media platforms.

Post a comment below. Be sure to inclued your Twitter @ handle so we can follow you.

phil reinhardt, tweetdeck, twitter, peoplebrowsr

I’m heading out to LA for Mark Victor Hansen’s Mega Book Marketing University this Friday-Sun (2/27-3/1). Click here for venue information

While there, I’ll be tweeing up with any authors that use Twitter. If you are in the LA area, use Twitter, and want to become well know and have a best selling book, drop by the event lobby Friday or Saturday afternoon. (Tweet me @WarrenWhitlock to let me know your are coming).

Mega is a must for authors.. but the tweetups will be in the lobby and no ticket is required.

On Friday 2/27, I’ll be doing my radio show from somewhere near LAX with @RobMcNealy and @BeTheMedia talking about how authors, bloggers, entrepreneurs and everyone can “be the media” and how you can get the recognition you, your book, and your business deserve.

You can join us live in the chat room Friday night at 7:00 pm Pacific time at http://TwitCastRadio.com

BeTheMedia, social media radio, robmcneally. mega book, mark victor hansen