Ten Successful Tweets
The Twitterverse (universe of Twitter) can seem like an intimidating place to those that are just joining in. After you begin to follow a few people and the tweets begin flying, it can be a challenge to join in the stream. Below are real world examples of tweets that I consider “successful” tweets. Follow these tweeter examples and watch your followers grow.
*These are real tweets from actual bloggers and businesses I follow. These tweets were captured on January 20, 2010 (the #tweetfail are examples of tweets I’ve seen that are not successful.)
1. The Intriguing Tweet
1WineDude “Fun and Messy and Wonderful” – An Interview With Buehler Vineyards’ Helen Buehler: http://ping.fm/HSecl
Tweets should have character and sometimes a hint of intrigue. With all the tweets flying by, your 140 characters need to make someone want to stop and click the link. A good trick is to pull a quote from your post, comment or customer.
#tweetfail: Visit our site to learn more about the new product www.blahblahblah.com
2. The Wise Sage Tweet
TishWine Accord to Wine Market Council, in general: Millennials are ahead of previous generations in terms of wine interest and activity.
Tweets that provide information to your followers are very beneficial. This shows that you know about your topic and that you are a source to be trusted. The wild sage stays current on trends and is up to date on the latest news.
#tweetfail: This NYT article on social networking is awesome (no link)
3. The Insight into Life Tweet
WeDomestic The best part of the margaritas? They numb the hurt Jillian leaves behind. In my arms. And my thighs. And…
You are more that a tweeting marketing machine. Provide people with insight into your real life. Avoid the boring and mundane put a clever spin on your activities; be transparent with humor or mistakes.
#tweetfail: I can’t believe the inane stuff that spews from my co-workers mouth…what a moron.
4. The Connector Tweet
mmWine I’d like to introduce @sommeliersara to @craigdrollett sbd @cork_dork. You both came up over drinks at Mortons tonight!
Guys like Matt are great. They love to connect their friends who have similar interests. Think beyond your marketing plan and see if you can connect your friends who have not met yet. They’ll thank you!
#tweetfail: I just don’t get @suchandsuch – he is so over the top, how can anyone like his blog
5. The Observation Tweet
vinegeek Was it a Chardonnay? #AlanisWantsToKnow RT @FrankLovesWine: A fruit fly just did a swan dive into my decanted wine.
The observer actually pays attention to and cares about the stream of information flying past them. This observation tweet shows that you are more than a marketing machine and that you care about your followers or customers.
#tweetfail: Hey check out this amazing event we’re having over here is fantastic city USA. You’ll love it http//facebooklink (The problem here is linking to Facebook and never checking twitter responses. I’ve replied to tweets like this and never received a response. Total #fail)
6. The Referral Tweet
seattlewinegal Loving the swank vibe at Purple Cafe with @YasharSeattle. Missing you @tarynmiller! Thanks @heavyrestaurant
This tweet contains referrals of fellow tweeters and a business. This is a perfect example of using twitter to network with others and recommend local business who are using twitter. More of this viral marketing will help businesses see the ROI of social networking.
#tweetfail: Loving the swank vibe at Purple Café with Yahar. Missing you Taryn. Thanks, Heavy Restaurant. (no @ reply means no connection)
7. The Conversation Tweet
RichardPF @dalecruse @derek7877 @amaynard6 One suggestion @myersandchang for Asian small plates, sake, cocktails
On the surface this tweet may not seem like much, but if you track it between people, you’ll find conversation between friends. Reach out to your followers, ask questions, develop connections; you’ll be happy you did.
8. The Polite Tweet
JamesTheWineGuy @alawine Thank you for the #WineWednesday message!
When someone @ mentions you or RT (share’s) one of your tweets, it is important to thank them or reply back to them. This builds and deepens the relationship between you and your followers and customers.
#tweetfail: Not thanking or responding to people who reach out to you. Nothing can turn customers and blog readers more than failing to thank them or ignoring their questions. Would you ignore someone who was right in front of you asking a question? Why would you ignore a tweet question?
9. The Product Use Tweet
KionaWine @SaraNDesign Oh I’m glad you enjoyed that Zinfandel! It’s a pretty finicky varietal to grow here, but we think it’s worth it.
This is a cool use of Twitter. Kiona pays attention to feeds and/or searches for mentions of their product and replies to the tweeter. This type of customer service shows care and greater level of interest than the typical business. It’s the little things that set the great apart from the good.
#tweetfail: Letting product mentions (especially references to problems) go without response
10. The Sharing Tweet
Vinotology The next thrilling installment in this great series RT @nectarwine: NEW POST: Dude’s Guide Part 4 of 4 http://bit.ly/7GLTK5
When you see information come by that you like (doesn’t always have to be the same topic), share it with your friends by retweeting it (RT). Doing this helps to virally spread the great information to others. You can hand a newspaper article to one person, but a single tweet can go around the world. Two tips: 1) Take care when re-tweeting. Try your best to add something to the tweet. If you have to append it, don’t change the original intent of the message. Give credit where credit is due. 2) If the information is on a blog you read, make a comment on the blog before retweeting.
#tweetfail: Never sharing, removing the source name and changing the tweet’s intention
Some really good twitter advice here… You definitely see a lot of bad examples out there but then again there a lot of people like yourself and those you mention here who are really doing some good things with the medium.
Kudos!
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Good points, all of them, and I might be guilty of breaking a few of them myself, however unintentionally. Something to work on, I guess. The wine people online I enjoy interacting with most are the ones who engage their followers honestly and originally. It’s almost a common sense kinda thing, but way too many people aren’t doing it.
Thanks for the mention – and the great tweeting advice (tweetiquitte?)!
Cheers!
Wow- this is a killer blog post Josh, VERY impressive. Wade strikes again…
Great post! Love the “explanations” after the Tweets and the “tweetiquitte” as mentioned by 1WineDude!
Check this out! http://www.socialmediatoday.com/SMC/156183
That is a very cool link! Ton’s of great information on how to tweet and retweet! Thanks for sharing, Barbara!
great post, I too may have made some of these mistakes in the past…but I’m learning
Thanks for this – and it’s pretty cool to have the real time references. This may seem basic for some – but it’s great to have reminders of what’s effective. Or not!
Thanks for sharing this list of good tweeting practices, and for including me on the list. I think we have all been guilty of the occasional Twitter faux pas, but if you try to generally emulate these examples, you should be a valuable Twitter follow. Good stuff!
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Nice post, Josh. Thanks for the mention. I find facebook links incredibly annoying too.
Thanks for including me on this list and I enjoyed reading all the other examples.
Thanks for the mention Josh. I think the common thread for all 10 of the above examples is that the Tweeters actually care about the relationships they have made/built/kept via Twitter. I think that a lot of people and businesses don’t realize that Twitter is more of a customer service and relationship building tool than it is a selling platform. Excellent work!
“Care” “Relationships” I really wish more Spokane wineries would get this concept. It’s not just a marketing arm, it is such a huge way to connect with your customers and deepen that relationship! Kudos to you guys for making it happen.
Great advice. I would add to keep your tweets to 120 characters if possible, so it is easier for others to retweet them without editing.
Nice points all the way around, bro. This is the ten commandments of tweeting; let me clarify that – successful tweeting!
Dezel – @myvinespot
Dezel – thanks! I don’t know about Ten Commandments, that’s pretty serious comparison 😉
Shannon – I agree 120 characters is a good range for re-tweeting! Excellent advice.
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Thanks for sending me on the right path; the #tweefails are very helpful! I hope more businesses and tweeters start to get this.
Nicely done, love the breakdown of tweets and the #tweetfails are invaluable!!
Thanks, Tamara – Sometimes, I need to re-read this myself just to remember what it’s all about.
Really helpful post to a newbie on Twitter like me! I am getting some things right but I clearly need to improve in some areas, will especially try to get more variety in my Tweets in future.
Thanks Josh.
You’re very welcome Tony!
I love the unique approach you took to a describing successful Twitter strategy, Josh! I especially love the “Twitter Fail” examples. This is the first Twitter Tips post I’ve seen with “Fail” Tweets!
Nice post. Sharing it!
Michelle for @NEMultimedia
Josh: Always great insights and helpful tips. Thank you! I too, really liked the way you illustrated your points.