Sunday, May 27, 2012

Does Your Twitter Profile Really Matter


According to Analysis by Twitter and Research Teams, people follow based upon:

  Picture or Avi 
  Profile 
  Tweets

Unfortunately, in that order.

So we are still in a world where it's what you look like, and what you say you are, rather than what you say.  Strangely, content of tweets is not the main reason people follow.  Look at the influence of any celebrity, and the sheer number of followers explains that it is not content which attracts millions of fans to their accounts.   At least on Twitter.   There are exceptions of course, and I'd get eMail explaining each one if I didn't mention Mashable for instance.   As great as their content is?  They still use a good looking guy as their Pic on Twitter.  Not a logo.

I was reading a research paper last week, and the team discovered that people are more likely to follow you when you add words like "Director"  or CEO or Guru in your profile  rather than not using a Title.   

The above notwithstanding, I have found a backlash against the word "Guru" in a profile.   Bloggers and skilled social media hacks don't like the word, because anyone can tag themselves such.  But they may be missing the point here:  Alot of people new to social media need or listen to self styled and self appointed gurus.

When I was younger, my dad hired a "spiritual guru" so to speak to counsel me through a troubled patch, or as they put it, "just to talk" if and when I felt so inclined.  This spiritual guru was supposedly a man of great depth and understanding, but he ultimately failed in his quest for changing my mind on anything, and I didn't get much value from the relationship.   He didn't call himself a guru, I have fashioned that moniker upon him.

Which brings me to the last point.  If someone wants to flatter you with the label, "Guru"  that might be fine.  If you want to put that on your Twitter Profile to gain newbies, and attract the unguarded, uninitiated and neophytes, than it might work alongside other words like "Director" and CEO.   But remember, there are lots of good writers and media skilled influencers who are selling against you.

Experienced Social Media experts are constantly pointing out that anyone who calls themselves a guru probably is not much of one.


AdWords Vs Organic Search   http://pronetworkbuild.com/adwords-vs-organic-search/

How to Get 1,000 Local Connections Per Week http://pronetworkbuild.com/use-twitter-to-get-local-followers-and-clients/

Local SEO And Micro Local Social Media http://pronetworkbuild.com/local-seo-and-micro-local-social-media/


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Lon Dunn writes on Evan Carmichael as a productivity and efficiency expert. He wrote and edited The Thesaurus News from 1995 to 2001 with a specialty in Telephony Infastructure Stocks. With over 20 years following the Mobile Industry, Lon helps Companies, Professionals and Organizations develop Mobile Marketing Strategies combined with Social Media Strategies to strategically target specific markets and demographics to rapidly increase revenues. His most recent book available on Amazon is “How to Use Twitter for Local Business” with Tips and Mobile Marketing Strategies that anyone can do themselves. You can download the free “Kindle App for PC to download the book to your Desktop available on the Kindle Site:
http://www.amazon.com/How-Twitter-Local-Business-ebook/dp/B007VSR6Y2

5 comments:

  1. Great article, Lonny. I know I certainly shy away from "gurus," particularly the self-styled ones. Thanks for sharing your insights. :)

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  2. Interesting article. No wonder we choose flattering pictures for our profiles. I do see some that make me wonder if the person is fully functional. I think I'd better review my profile. No guru here! Good advice though. Thanks for posting.

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  3. I do tend to not follow (on Twitter) or connect with (Linkedin) those with no pictures or icons/symbols/logos. So, I see what you mean.

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  4. Great article. I know I do the same when it comes to profiles on Twitter.

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  5. I think it's hard to call yourself an expert or guru when social media is changing so rapidly. Probably more realistic to call yourself a 'student of social media'

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