16 Twitter Lists you might set up...

If Twitter figures in your marketing mix be sure to make it work HARD for you ...

There are a few good reasons for being on Twitter, spreading your word, raising your profile, growing your network... Plus, its a great source of content, not to be overlooked. The problem is ... there's sooo much content, if you follow a few hundred (or a few thousand!) twitter accounts - your time line will be flowing - there will be new tweets waiting before you have read the first one,.. Its effectively scrolling in front of your eyes - so many tweets, oooh the noise!

What to do? Get organised, thats what. The more advanced Social Media 'Ninja's' will have dashboards like TweetDeck, Hootsuite, SproutSocial (the list is LARGE) configured to capture tweets on keyword search's, followers, hashtags, etc. Great, but there's a simple feature of twitter that can help.

Twitter Lists.

Basically you can organize the twitter accounts you follow into interest groups or 'Lists', when you view a List you see only the tweets from the accounts in that list. In fact a very useful feature is you can put people into lists without having to follow them. Why would you do that?

1. Because then their content is captured in the list and not onto your timeline (great if they are prolific posters) 
2. If its a private list, then they don't know you are following their content (great for research)

One feature worth pointing out, I mention above (and below) the concept of private Lists, which correctly infers there are Public Lists too. Thankfully its as you might think, when you create a list you can set it as Public or Private.

Public means visitors to your profile can see the list, the members of the list and can 'subscribe' to your list, these characteristics provide great strategies we can leverage. Also, when you add a twitter account to a Public list, Twitter will message that account and tell them you have done so, let that thought hang .... 'Twitter will message that account and tell them you have done so'. So, if you had a list called 'Thought Leaders in <My Sector>', every time you add someone to that list, Twitter messages them to say something like - 'Mick's just added you to his list 'Thought Leaders in Social Media'. That could be a handy icebreaker, or opportunity to engage ... etc

Private Lists mean no one can see the list on your profile and no one knows they have been added to that list, Twitter will not message anyone when you add an account to your list. Hmmmm. how could we use that little feature? How about keeping up with your customers (without providing your competitors with a handy list of those customers), or your competitors, quietly keeping up with their activity.

If you are new to Twitter, or Twitter Lists - no worries - here's a Free tutorial to get you going - Twitter Lists Tutorial

And here's the link - Twitter Lists Tutorial

So, lists are good. Now, what lists should you consider creating? Try these Twitter Lists to consider setting up ... and remember to visit them!!

1. Your Clients (private). Lookout for opportunities to engage with them. Don't jump on every single post - lets not look like we are stalking anyone. Be selective and engage with 'appropriate' posts, subjects where you are qualified to comment, congratulate etc.
2.  Your Competitors (private). Keep an eye on what the competition are upto, where the market is going, news, benchmarking, who is reacting to their posts... etc. This is a 'read only' list for research and observation, not for engagement!
3. Your Suppliers (private). Business is all about relationships, so keep an eye on news from your suppliers, engage where appropriate - you see how much they will appreciate it.
4. Your Partners (private). Another relationship enhancer, appropriately like and sharing a partners posts always goes down well ... Think of it as Little Digital Hugs (or High Fives if you prefer). Plus, by following their posts you may see new opportunities to broaden the business raltionship, new projects, opportunities you could help with, etc.
5. Your Industry Thought Leaders (public). A great way to keep up with developments and future prospects of your industry or sector. And remember these thought leaders will know you have added them to your list, which in itslef could be an ice breaker or develop a relationship.
6. Your 'Interesting' 1st degree connections (public). Grow that relationship, walk the walk by endorsing a connection, by following them on other platforms, and where approrpiate, liking and ultimatley retweeting their content. When YOU network with people you really ENGAGE. Some will respond likewise, some will take your call, some will call you. Its about activity and momentum, the more you engae, the more 'things' happen.
7. Your Colleagues (private). If you have employees, or associates stay up to speed with their posts, share appropriatley and develop these people into advocates for you and your business.
8. Great Content Providers (public). Twitter is a source of some great content, when you find an account that creates or curates great content, add them to this list. You can learn from this content and you can share it on too - BUT be very selective, only share the best of the best grow a reputation for sharing good content and your followers will REALLY follow you. And watch as YOU are added to their 'Great Content Providers' List ;)
9. Group Members (public). Endorse your fellow group members from Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp etc, if they are in Twitter, follow and where appropriate like and share.
10. Your Advocates (public). Here's a great one - instant appreciation for engaging with you and your content, add anyone that retweets your posts or have added you to lists etc. As a blanket rule - if someone shares you posts (on any platform) always ALWAYS, engage with them, in the very least say 'Thank you'. Adding them to this list is an extra Little Digital Hug.
11. Event attendee's (private). If you host events, building a list of previous attendee's allows you to catch mentions of your event, and to keep in touch with these attendee's engaging as appropriate and staying front of mind.
12. Twitter Accounts you recommend to follow (public). Give worthwhile twitter accounts a little help in growing their followers. Another way to endorse good accounts, and something that is respected and appreciated.
13. Location Based List (public?). Coral content from accounts local to you.
14. Your inner circle (private). A small list keeping up with the news and posts of those closest to you.
15. Twitter #Hour Contacts (public). Twitter hours can be chaotic, way too much content being shared so quickly its hard to manage a conversation within the hour. Simply follow those you meet and add them to this list to review at a later time.
16. Your Wider Interests. Sharpen the saw, broaden your horizons, a list of accounts that may lead to the start of something new...

I use the word 'Appropriate' a lot in the above list. It should apply to all your Social Media Engagement. What I mean is, we don't 'Like' or Share everything from everyone we follow. To do that would appear shallow and dilutes the value of a 'Re-Tweet' from you... So be selective, be ficussed - 

"Comment where you are qualified to offer a view, Like where your endorsement matters and Share where you know YOUR followers will value the content you are passing on to them." 

Keep your standards high, focus and be selective, then the content creator and your followers will respect your shares and endorsements.

Mick

Lets connect - 

I am on Facebook here - www.facebook.com/mick.holloway

I am on Twitter here - @mick_holloway 

I am on LinkedIn here - www.linkedin.com/in/mickholloway

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