What is the Difference Between Followers, Friends, and Fans?

I travel to many seminars and conferences. At this one, a question came up about friending on Twitter.  What is the difference between a follower, a friend, and a fan?

Find the answer in the video below.

I love interacting with my students! Please voice your questions and comments below.

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When I talk to business people, I’m often asked “How to you make money on Twitter?”

It’s talked about so much that many are getting tired of hearing about adding followers, bots, spamming and grabbing traffic in a Twitter feed… but then, just as we think we got it figured out, another crop of newbies come through Stage Two and try out the same old tricks that never will work.

So.. Can you really make money fast using Twitter?

The short answer is YES. You just have to know the Secret to Selling on Twitter, which is simply STOP TRYING TO SELL STUFF ON TWITTER.

However, this does tell the full story. For that, we sought out to money making geniuses Robert G Allen (Nothing Down and Multiple Streams of Income) and Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul). Not only do the write best sellers like The One Minute Millionaire and their new book Cash in a Flash: Fast Money in Slow Times.. they provide an excellent example of the power of networking on Twitter.

Here’s how we’ve been networking on Twitter to get more business done:

In early 2008, I sent a tweet to @CoachDeb asking if she’d like to write a book about Twitter. You know the result.. Twitter Revolution.

Deb is working with @MarkVHansen and @BestSellerBob on their social media.. she brough them to Orange County where @EdLoveSumo met them and bought Cash in a Flash.

Ed told me about the networking event while we were planning future Twitter Radio Shows and so we asked them to be our guest on the Friday show.

I’ve known @MarkVHansen and @BestSellerBob for some time but missed the news of their book. My web of connections caught it for me. My network was working for me even when I didn’t know it

When I have a moment, and sometime when I don’t I look at my Twitter feed and find someone that need a hand, has a question or seems like a friendly person. I go to their blog or website, comment if I can, and tweet about them. Most of the time I do this without any idea where it is going. That’s the power of networking.

If you ever think that you’ve given all you can and wonder when the universe is going to pay you back, it’s time to GIVE MORE. When you do, there will always be good things coming your way.

But Remember… It doesn’t usually come in the way you have planned. Be in tune and grateful when you get rewarded, but better not to focus on it… I know, in tough times we all want to get Cash in a Flash.. that’s why we’re talking to Robert Allen and Mark Victor Hansen on the Twit Cast.

Listen to @warrenwhitlock on Blog Talk Radio

Join us at Friday night 9/17 at 10 PM Eastern, 7 PM Pacific by logging in here… then open another window and follow the #TCR Tweets on TweetChat. (this marvelous program will open a “room” where you can see all the tweets with that hashtag and automatically add #TCR at the end of every tweet)

Please share this post and our special show with your friends. Include #TCR when you talk about TwitCastRadio.com so we all can see it in the chat.

If you have a question for our quests, Tweet it on TweetChat, Send an @WarrenWhitlock or @EdLovesSumo tweet or post a comment below. I love to read comments and continue the discussion.

Twitter make everything faster.. friendships, networking and CASH.. in a flash.

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If you’ve been following my tweets, you know that next week, we’re moving 2500 miles across the Pacific Ocean. Leaving behind the LOST Shores of North Oahu and heading for SoCal.  Our business has gone through some incredible changes since we first dipped our toes in the warm Hawaiian waters 7 years ago.

We wrote the first book on new media marketing: Secrets of Online Persuasion.

I’ve co-authored the first book on Twitter: Twitter Revolution.

We’ve coached thousands of business owners, celebrities and online entrepreneurs with our Private Coaching Services.

Our company has created the push button BLOG i360 System which helps our members thrive in the new media marketplace & gets their online presence all over the net.

We’ve designed and delivered a course that’s bringing the sexy back to marketing: Tribal Seduction.

But now it’s time to say Aloha to our beach home on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii and jump back to the mainland and join civilization again!

Now it’s time to Celebrate! We’ve sold our place, packed up our offices, arranged to ship the essentials to southern California and are busy purging 7 years of happy history of island living. We’re excited about the move and enjoying the last 7 Hawaiian sun rises until the Big Day when we fly with dogs in cargo to San Diego for the next chapter in our lives!

Our last night in our home will be next Sunday.  And while we’re a little sad to be saying goodbye to all the amazing friends we’ve made on this island, we’re also psyched about the change and have come up with a way for you to celebrate with our raving fans who’ve supported us along the way.

SAVE THE DATE!

ON:  Thursday, May 28th / Friday, May 29th (in Australia)
AT:   7pm ET US / 10am NSW / 9am QLD / 4pm PT / 1pm HI

Coach Deb and JP will be announcing their biggest news of the year, and how YOU get to benefit! (HINT: They’ll be giving away $2,000 on this LIVE call!)

To get the scoop, just fill out the form below and I’ll send you more info so you can celebrate with Coach Deb & JP Micek!

Aloha!

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@joycemckee is looking for success stories for a report on Trade Show Use of Twitter.

Here’s my submission… @ her if you can help.

By searching for the hashtags (unique ID words related to the event, usually starting with # sign) on the event the week before it starts, I am able to see who the real leaders are.

I follow many of the attendees and all of the speakers (Twitter links are on speaker bio pages and/or their blogs). Often I meet several of the speakers before the event starts, and make appointment to meet up with attendees that are active in the community. I also check to see if the is a “Tweet Up” (meeting of those who have connected on Twitter) and add that to my schedule.

I’ve found that the best opportunities at most shows happen in this network. Once these tweeps (Twitter users) decide to RT (”ReTweet: A Twitter post that gets repeated) I know that a large active group will be aware of whatever I’m promoting.

Two more tips to get traffic to your booth:

1) Give aways for Twitter users. I often tweet “I’ve got a copy of Twitter Revolution for the next person who finds me.”  It works for @The RealShaq with NBA tickets and it will work for you.

2) Get your staff tweeting. This is not a media to advertise on.. this is a way to network. Get everyone involved. Your customers expect INDIVIDUALS to be availalbe

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I don’t remember what life was like before Twitter but I’m starting to think about what life could be like after Twitter is gone. (Gasp! Did I just say that?! Twitter = Gone? Really?)

Now that Twitter has entered the mainstream, does it change the Twittersphere?  Is it possible to engage when you have a million PLUS followers?

You betcha!  As long as you focus on reaching people and engaging them with RELEVANT information, ENGAGING content or ENTERTAINING broadcasts.

JOIN COACH DEB & Chat LIVE!

Now that so many tweeters are using auto-follow robots to increase their followers on Twitter  by 1,000 – 2,000 a day, is anyone really listening anymore? Has Twitter reached the tipping point of being irrelevant?

Should Twitter remove the follower count from profiles? These are the debates raging in the Twittersphere these days – ever since Ashton Kutcher and Evan Williams introduced Oprah to Twitter on her show.

One of the questions I’m asked most often is how to increase followers?  But if you focus only on building your followers… your tweeps… you’re ignoring one of the key questions you should be asking yourself: where will I be if Twitter shuts down tomorrow?

Join me this Thursday for a special Ustream LIVE broadcast where I’ll my secrets for growing your list and attracting powerful influencers so you’ll know what to do when the Death of Twitter comes.

Visit Chat with Coach Deb for more details on the show, and join my Tribe to get on tomorrow’s FREE Broadcast.

@CoachDeb

Deborah Micek is a co-founder of the international business coaching company RPM Success Group ® Inc. She and her partner John Paul are authors of the hit book Secrets Of Online Persuasion. They are creators of the ONLY Web site system to put New Media to work marketing FOR you — BLOG i360™. Also known as “The Twitter Queen” she co-authored the first published book on Twitter, available now in bookstores everywhere: “Twitter Revolution” Grab your copy now on Amazon and get the edge on the hottest social network!

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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

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I’m putting together a bundle gifts to give my followers and promote some of the best Tweeps I’ve met in 2008

You can read how this came to be here

We know that the power of our network grows as each member grows.. so it’s only natural that we want to promote tweeps in the network with a shout out here, and in Twitter messages.

And a lot of FUN!

Here’s some of the goodies in my gift bag so far

	Simply Getting Results! from @keithdb
	One Year Membership to FitBusinessWoman from @fitbizwoman
	How to Get Rich by Going to Yard & Garage Sales, Moving & Estate Sales from @edaugusts
	Master Your Time & Live Your Dreams: Conversations w/ Coaches & Creatives Who Get it Done! from @profcarol
	FatWallet Care Package from @troyredington
	Fast Money System from @mrebay
	Custom Joomla Installation from @LADwebdesign
	Me, Myself, and Why? The Secrets to Navigating Change from @MeMyselfandWhy
	Copywriting 101 for Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, Coaches & Consultants from @allisonnazarian
	Traffic Generation Made Easy with Willie Crawford from @Henry_Griner
	Mompreneur Laser Coaching Session from @SarahRobinson
	Online Video Rock Star Training from @loubortone
	Cash In On Speaking from @FeliciaSlattery
	7-Week Shortcut to Public Speaking Confidence from @LisaBraithwaite
	The Lifestyle Fitness Program: A Six Part Plan So Every Mom Can Look, Feel and Live Her Best from @themojocoach
	Using PLR Videos Tutorial Bundle from @superaffil
	Signed copy of “The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur” from @ScottBradley
	1 Year Full Use www.VideOptin.com Optin Increaser from @mike_wesely
	Creating Membership Website Ebook and Blog Assessment Session from @kimbeasley
	Dog Treat Sampler of All Natural Treats and Organic Shampoo from @BullyStickGuy
	Group Mastery Success Pack from @wendyybailey
	Secrets to Lasting Body Transformation from @coachlaura
	Consult by The Breakthrough Specialist-Prosperity Coach from @prosperitygal
	Secrets of the Young & Successful from @ysnjen
	Quanta Change Sensory Quotient from @SaraAvery

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I’m working through the list of gifts submitted for my Happy New Year 2009 gift giveaway and noticed that there were some questions about what makes a good gift and some common misconceptions.

I do a lot of “list building” promotions and we use gifts for readers that want to get a newsletter and more information. The “gifts” have to be easy for many people to get and it’s common to make that a simple e-book or Mp3. We call the gifts because they are free, and very little obligation (you can unsubcribe).

Today, I’m putting together a gift basket (or baskets) with one gift from each partner. So the guidelines are a bit different.

Maybe this will help you get more from value from giving gifts online

1. Make it a real gift If you send everyone to the same page with an free report signup and then offer that as a “special gift” on another promotion it’s not special
2. Don’t make people sign up for your mailing list 
3. Give away something that others are paying for. That shows it has real value right now
4. Make it a wide appeal. No need to give your lead generating gift when it’s publicity for you, your site and your business.

These guidlines for for contests, charity gifts etc. There are plenty of times when a “free download” gift is perfectly right.. on your sites landing page or in as a bonus for someone buying at a partners site. That’s what we call a “lead generation” marketing program.

I ask myself this question when choosing a gift: “Would I think this was a good value if I wasn’t doing this for a living”

We gave away thousands of copies of Twitter Handbook before releasing Twitter Revolution: How Social Media and Mobile Marketing is Changing the Way We Do Business & Market Online. If you’ve seen the ebook, it’s got almost as much information as the real book and tons of value. We knew that the people like you that download it are early adopters and the kind of people we want in our network.

The law of reciprocity says that when you give a real gift, without demanding quid pro quo, you create a bond with the recipient. In marketing, we know that some of the people will come back and that the publicity value will outweigh the small investment in the gift.

Ultimately, giving away real value in gifts gets you the best results. Free can be more valuable that charging.

Pretty cool, eh?

Master Your Time & Live Your Dreams: Conversations w/ Coaches & Creatives Who Get it Done!

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2009 is only hours away. Time to tweet so love to my followers.

I’m giving away some gifts tomorrow, January 1st 2009 via Twitter.

Like most of our Twitter projects, there are no rules when we started this. About a week ago, someone offered me a piece of artwork to give to my 5000th follower.

I had done the milestone follower bit a few times before. Usually without any warning.. I’d grab number 600 or number 2000 from the email notices Twitter sends, and send out some love via Twitter.

Most of the time, there no “gift”.. just tweet from me, comments on blogs, and a bit of promotion to help them gain some new followers.

It was so much fun, I started doing it all the time.. like “who needs a reason?” <grin>

So when the idea came up for the 5000th follower, my first reaction was that I did not want to create a rush of new followers just for the number. Instead, I decided that I’d use the occasion to give away MORE GIFTS.

This morning I tweeted that I needed some gifts. Response has been huge. There are some fabulous books and “real world” items and lots of digital products and even some services.

I’ve been doing give away cross promotions for new best seller books over at ZeroCostPromotions.com for years. I know this works. We’ve seen business deals for tens of thousands of dollars come from the connections made by partners and had dozens of best seller books in the process. Giving stuff away build reciprocity and great relationships.

Next step will be to sort through them and figure out how to give them away. Most likely, you’ll be seeing tweets on January 1st announcing it. Maybe “9 prizes for 2009″ as the theme.

What can we learn from this experience?

1. People are willing to give. I didn’t promise to pay, or to make them money. People just like to jump on board then there is a fun promotion
2. You can’t plan social media from the top down.. It’s not going the way I envisioned. It’s better and the only limit is how much time I can spend arranging the gifts
3. You can connect and build a relationship quick. Tweeps contributed within seconds and you can be sure that I’m not going to forget them soon (nor will the winners)

Subscribe to this blog, follow me on Twitter and watch my twitter stream and the hash tag #Happy09 for more on the Happy New Year Gift giveaway

@WarrenWhitlock

2009, twitter promotion, twitter book, twitter revolution

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Tonight’s http://TwitCastRadio.com was my Twinterview with @MattBacak, who was recently subjected to a Twitter Storm of negative tweets over a press release he issued about his social media activities.

Matt has been promoting online, teaching others how to marketing their books and businesses on the Internet and building several multi-million dollar businesses.

While the press release statements were true, they gave the impression that Matt was in Stage 2.. looking for a way to profit or use technologies like Twitter.

I knew this wasn’t like Matt. So I invited him to tell us what happened.

Listen to the interview now. I think you’ll agree that it’s a story of a sincere guy, who learns from his mistake. (no wonder he’s been so successful).

Do you think Matt was genuine on the call? I admit to not being totally objective, but I think you’ll hear that he is the man of integrety I know and love

Post your comments below.

bacak, twitter book, social media, twitter radio

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