Comments on: The REAL Secret To Getting Twitter Followers http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:29:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: 111 Twitter Posts You Should Read Before (And After) Tweeting | Smart Boy Designs http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-2408 111 Twitter Posts You Should Read Before (And After) Tweeting | Smart Boy Designs Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:58:07 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-2408 [...] The REAL Secret To Getting Twitter Followers [...] [...] The REAL Secret To Getting Twitter Followers [...]

]]> By: Jack http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-699 Jack Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:29:13 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-699 This is a very good (and so obvious but not obviously obvious) point - not only does it get more people following you but essentially you find a whole ton of new great people to follow yourself! Also, great post. Subscribed (and followed)! This is a very good (and so obvious but not obviously obvious) point – not only does it get more people following you but essentially you find a whole ton of new great people to follow yourself!

Also, great post. Subscribed (and followed)!

]]> By: devolved http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-684 devolved Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:42:06 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-684 Well takes balls to come clean, consider yourself forgiven :) I knew I liked you for a reason :p Well takes balls to come clean, consider yourself forgiven :)

I knew I liked you for a reason :p

]]> By: John http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-683 John Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:39:52 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-683 Steve, you're absolutely right - it was hypocritical of me to do it, and I've learned my lesson. As I said in that tweet - $10 wasted. If I had any sense at all I'd have followed my own advice and not gone looking for totally un-targetted followers purely for the sake of numbers. I certainly won't be doing it again! Genuinely, thank you for pointing this out - you're right and I shouldn't be preaching something I'm not practicing, consider myself reprimanded :) Steve, you’re absolutely right – it was hypocritical of me to do it, and I’ve learned my lesson. As I said in that tweet – $10 wasted. If I had any sense at all I’d have followed my own advice and not gone looking for totally un-targetted followers purely for the sake of numbers.

I certainly won’t be doing it again! Genuinely, thank you for pointing this out – you’re right and I shouldn’t be preaching something I’m not practicing, consider myself reprimanded :)

]]> By: devolved http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-682 devolved Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:29:28 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-682 Thing is a complete farce, I've been a VIP user all day, and I've had about 20 new followers from it... $10 wasted! JohnONolan - Mon 22 Jun 16:33 via TweetDeck Hypocrite tbfh Thing is a complete farce, I’ve been a VIP user all day, and I’ve had about 20 new followers from it… $10 wasted!

JohnONolan – Mon 22 Jun 16:33 via TweetDeck

Hypocrite tbfh

]]> By: Justin http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-616 Justin Sat, 30 May 2009 21:17:01 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-616 Whoa... this site is pretty awesome :) your layout is really well designed, and your blogs are (judging from what i've read) very interesting. heehee... consider yourself favorited. :-P Whoa… this site is pretty awesome :) your layout is really well designed, and your blogs are (judging from what i’ve read) very interesting. heehee… consider yourself favorited. :-P

]]> By: Patrick http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-604 Patrick Thu, 21 May 2009 02:21:40 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-604 I found your page following some links from Twitter (don't ask me to reproduce the path that got me here, though :-). I thought I'd add a comment here to highlight the fact that not all Twitter benefits are associated with a large list of followers. Our small agency (@2wtx) has been getting followers that quickly "unfollow" us as soon as they see we are not going to reciprocate. The thing is, we are still being able to communicate with a larger audience, get relevant traffic to our website, and discover interesting sources of information and blogs like this one, simply by listening, looking around, contributing to the conversation, and following links that we like without necessarily adding people to our following list. I guess different types of Twitter usage profiles are going to be identified in the future, none better or worse than the others, just different based on people's and organizations' needs. I found your page following some links from Twitter (don’t ask me to reproduce the path that got me here, though :-). I thought I’d add a comment here to highlight the fact that not all Twitter benefits are associated with a large list of followers.

Our small agency (@2wtx) has been getting followers that quickly “unfollow” us as soon as they see we are not going to reciprocate. The thing is, we are still being able to communicate with a larger audience, get relevant traffic to our website, and discover interesting sources of information and blogs like this one, simply by listening, looking around, contributing to the conversation, and following links that we like without necessarily adding people to our following list.

I guess different types of Twitter usage profiles are going to be identified in the future, none better or worse than the others, just different based on people’s and organizations’ needs.

]]> By: Craig http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-567 Craig Wed, 13 May 2009 14:29:35 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-567 Nice article John, as usual :) Hopefully in the summer will have a lot more time to dedicate to the site, Twitter and everything else, roll on exams ;) Nice article John, as usual :) Hopefully in the summer will have a lot more time to dedicate to the site, Twitter and everything else, roll on exams ;)

]]> By: Boris Said http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-424 Boris Said Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:06:26 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-424 This seems like a great idea to do, I think as long as you follow those in your area, that's going to be a powerful list, especial if most of them follow you back :) This seems like a great idea to do, I think as long as you follow those in your area, that’s going to be a powerful list, especial if most of them follow you back :)

]]> By: Tony Hayes http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-312 Tony Hayes Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:59:23 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-312 I agree with you following people is the way to build an audience... Whatever strategy you use to find people of mutual interest is up to you! Directories like http://wefollow.com are pretty useful, as are some search apps, but it's certainly possible to get followers pretty quickly this way: just look at my graph on http://twittercounter.com/Tony_Hayes - yes I am bragging a little but it proves the point... I agree with you following people is the way to build an audience… Whatever strategy you use to find people of mutual interest is up to you! Directories like http://wefollow.com are pretty useful, as are some search apps, but it’s certainly possible to get followers pretty quickly this way: just look at my graph on http://twittercounter.com/Tony_Hayes – yes I am bragging a little but it proves the point…

]]> By: John http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-288 John Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:01:55 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-288 Hi Brett, thanks for commenting - do you have a link to the Twitter terms of service which you're talking about? I'd be interested to read them but can't seem to find em in the main T's and C's. Hi Brett, thanks for commenting – do you have a link to the Twitter terms of service which you’re talking about? I’d be interested to read them but can’t seem to find em in the main T’s and C’s.

]]> By: Britt Phillips http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-286 Britt Phillips Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:32:05 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-286 Great info John. Simple but spot on. I have six Twitter accounts each with almost 3,000 followers. My daily objective has always been to simply follow as many people as allowed by Twitter rules with a huge exception. I only follow people who are targeted to the niche of the account. I never follow people just for the sake of following. I also have my auto follow and auto unfollow in place. I instantly unfollow anyone who unfollows me which opens up more slots to follow more people while still staying within Twitter TOS. Great info John. Simple but spot on. I have six Twitter accounts each with almost 3,000 followers. My daily objective has always been to simply follow as many people as allowed by Twitter rules with a huge exception. I only follow people who are targeted to the niche of the account. I never follow people just for the sake of following. I also have my auto follow and auto unfollow in place. I instantly unfollow anyone who unfollows me which opens up more slots to follow more people while still staying within Twitter TOS.

]]> By: Daily Links | AndySowards.com :: Professional Web Design, Development, Programming, Hacks, Downloads, Math and being a Web 2.0 Hipster? http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-260 Daily Links | AndySowards.com :: Professional Web Design, Development, Programming, Hacks, Downloads, Math and being a Web 2.0 Hipster? Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:07:27 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-260 [...] The REAL Secret To Getting Twitter Followers | John O'Nolan Great read for getting more followers (tags: webdesign marketing jobs twitter) [...] [...] The REAL Secret To Getting Twitter Followers | John O'Nolan Great read for getting more followers (tags: webdesign marketing jobs twitter) [...]

]]> By: John http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-259 John Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:15:27 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-259 Very glad to hear it Chris, a couple of other people have said the same thing so I'm really chuffed that it's been useful to lot of different twitter'ers! Very glad to hear it Chris, a couple of other people have said the same thing so I’m really chuffed that it’s been useful to lot of different twitter’ers!

]]> By: Chris http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-258 Chris Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:43:04 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-258 Or... we could just do something to get on your good side so you link to us (I have had over 20 new followers today alone since you mentioned me here). Or… we could just do something to get on your good side so you link to us (I have had over 20 new followers today alone since you mentioned me here).

]]> By: Rob Mason http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-253 Rob Mason Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:41:38 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-253 ...of course keeping track of that many people becomes a lesson in multi-tasking! …of course keeping track of that many people becomes a lesson in multi-tasking!

]]> By: John http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-252 John Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:08:04 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-252 Great story Mike, thanks for commenting. I completely agree - I don't just follow people for the sake of it, I do try and connect with them and if no connection is happening then I'll just unfollow them and find some other new people :) Great story Mike, thanks for commenting. I completely agree – I don’t just follow people for the sake of it, I do try and connect with them and if no connection is happening then I’ll just unfollow them and find some other new people :)

]]> By: Mike Seidle http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-251 Mike Seidle Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:01:25 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-251 @johnonolan - Following a lot of people is probably the most counterintuitive thing for many, but it works. A few months ago, I just autofollowed about 700 people out of my Outlook (using the yahoo address book import tool on Twitter). I got about 350 new followers in the next week. If you get a lot of tweets you don't want from people, you can always unfollow them later and use the search feature to make sure you catch all the times people mention you. @johnonolan – Following a lot of people is probably the most counterintuitive thing for many, but it works. A few months ago, I just autofollowed about 700 people out of my Outlook (using the yahoo address book import tool on Twitter). I got about 350 new followers in the next week. If you get a lot of tweets you don’t want from people, you can always unfollow them later and use the search feature to make sure you catch all the times people mention you.

]]> By: Tony Chester http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-248 Tony Chester Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:37:53 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-248 @eric It is worth it to follow like minded people or people that supply useful info. You don't need to follow everyone, some folks say you should but I'm not in that camp. Obviously I don't see everything the 300 people I follow write, and yes, Twitter does take up a bit of your day but that can be controlled just as you control email. Set a few times a day to catch up. Now if you have an iPhone with Tweetie on it, you'll be stuck on Twitter no matter where you are. @eric It is worth it to follow like minded people or people that supply useful info. You don’t need to follow everyone, some folks say you should but I’m not in that camp. Obviously I don’t see everything the 300 people I follow write, and yes, Twitter does take up a bit of your day but that can be controlled just as you control email. Set a few times a day to catch up.

Now if you have an iPhone with Tweetie on it, you’ll be stuck on Twitter no matter where you are.

]]> By: ozmatix http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-247 ozmatix Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:37:18 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-247 Great post. I need to get my tweet on. Great post. I need to get my tweet on.

]]> By: Eric-from-boston http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-246 Eric-from-boston Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:32:29 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-246 @tony ... Do you feel its worth it or not? Has it benefited you? I couldnt possibly be on twitter all day to keep up... I wouldnt get anything done @tony … Do you feel its worth it or not? Has it benefited you? I couldnt possibly be on twitter all day to keep up… I wouldnt get anything done

]]> By: Tony Chester http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-245 Tony Chester Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:30:00 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-245 @john - Your post is true and working. You've sent a few new people my way and I've been following a few of them back. This stuff really works, who would've thunk it ;-) Tony P.S. I'll stop spamming your comments here now. @john – Your post is true and working. You’ve sent a few new people my way and I’ve been following a few of them back. This stuff really works, who would’ve thunk it ;-)

Tony

P.S. I’ll stop spamming your comments here now.

]]> By: Tony Chester http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Tony Chester Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:17:57 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-244 @eric-from-boston Sadly that is true. My original goal was to not follow more than 100 people; well that quickly flew past. It then became 200 people and I'm now at a little over 300 following now. There's a great Twitter app called Tweetdeck that will help you cut down on the noise by letting you set up channels of people. It might be for the Mac only but it's worth looking into, unless you already have it of course. Tony @eric-from-boston Sadly that is true. My original goal was to not follow more than 100 people; well that quickly flew past. It then became 200 people and I’m now at a little over 300 following now. There’s a great Twitter app called Tweetdeck that will help you cut down on the noise by letting you set up channels of people. It might be for the Mac only but it’s worth looking into, unless you already have it of course.

Tony

]]> By: eric-from-boston http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-243 eric-from-boston Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:11:46 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-243 Your idea makes sense but i also feel that if i follow all sorts of ppl ill never be able to keep up ppl i wouldnt be able to keep up with their tweets to possibly chime in or read anything interesting.. sure it would help me when i asked something it could help... It would be like a packed room with everyone yelling, nothing gets heard. Your idea makes sense but i also feel that if i follow all sorts of ppl ill never be able to keep up ppl i wouldnt be able to keep up with their tweets to possibly chime in or read anything interesting.. sure it would help me when i asked something it could help… It would be like a packed room with everyone yelling, nothing gets heard.

]]> By: Getting Twitter followers | Accessible Design http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-242 Getting Twitter followers | Accessible Design Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:47:01 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-242 [...] friend of mine on Twitter has written just such an atricle The real secret to getting twitter followers/ which explains how whilst it is possible (if hugely lame) to get a large following using the [...] [...] friend of mine on Twitter has written just such an atricle The real secret to getting twitter followers/ which explains how whilst it is possible (if hugely lame) to get a large following using the [...]

]]> By: Tony Chester http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-241 Tony Chester Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:44:02 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-241 Very interesting post John. Somehow I've gathered a little over a thousand followers without doing anything really but now you've got me thinking... Very interesting post John. Somehow I’ve gathered a little over a thousand followers without doing anything really but now you’ve got me thinking…

]]> By: Michael http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Michael Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:12:36 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-240 @John thanks for the mention! Great article by the way. The real secret is being mentioned I'm going to have to turn off email updates. :P @John thanks for the mention! Great article by the way. The real secret is being mentioned I’m going to have to turn off email updates. :P

]]> By: devolved http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-239 devolved Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:04:46 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-239 Nice to see a positive (and sustainable) article about growing your network, I see far too many being a purely number based exercise. Friends of friends are almost always good follows ... I just wish real life was as simple. Thx for the link love :) Nice to see a positive (and sustainable) article about growing your network, I see far too many being a purely number based exercise.

Friends of friends are almost always good follows … I just wish real life was as simple.

Thx for the link love :)

]]> By: Karinne http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-238 Karinne Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:40:11 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-238 Totally agree with everything you've said of course. It's easy to get wrapped up in Twitter. Like Japh said, it's snowball effect! Thanks for the link love ;) Totally agree with everything you’ve said of course. It’s easy to get wrapped up in Twitter. Like Japh said, it’s snowball effect!

Thanks for the link love ;)

]]> By: Japh http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-237 Japh Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:59:58 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-237 Great post John! I agree with pretty much everything you've said. Anyone who knows me and has heard me mention Twitter but doesn't get it themselves, gets similar advice from me. I keep hearing "How do I get started with Twitter? I don't get it... Where's the point? What's the value?" My response has been: Get TweetDeck and then find at least 10 people in your industry / area of interest to follow. It'll snowball from there. Love it! And thanks heaps for the link-love ;) Great post John! I agree with pretty much everything you’ve said. Anyone who knows me and has heard me mention Twitter but doesn’t get it themselves, gets similar advice from me. I keep hearing “How do I get started with Twitter? I don’t get it… Where’s the point? What’s the value?” My response has been: Get TweetDeck and then find at least 10 people in your industry / area of interest to follow. It’ll snowball from there.

Love it! And thanks heaps for the link-love ;)

]]> By: John http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-235 John Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:40:32 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-235 @rakuli - Totally agree about the witty icebreaker - it really is just a brilliant way of getting to know likeminded people. I think I've had at least 8 referrals from people on Twitter in the last month, and met some fantastic designers and developers who I've already learned a lot from! @rachael - Probably because I linked to you from this blog in February :P - and yeah there's definitely an element of "organic growth" but I've found that to taper off over time. @rakuli – Totally agree about the witty icebreaker – it really is just a brilliant way of getting to know likeminded people. I think I’ve had at least 8 referrals from people on Twitter in the last month, and met some fantastic designers and developers who I’ve already learned a lot from!

@rachael – Probably because I linked to you from this blog in February :P – and yeah there’s definitely an element of “organic growth” but I’ve found that to taper off over time.

]]> By: Rachaely http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-234 Rachaely Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:37:00 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-234 You should check out my own stats; they'd be interesting. I don't really follow new people unless they follow me first, and my number of followers jumped steeply in February and has been growing ever since! Freaky. You should check out my own stats; they’d be interesting. I don’t really follow new people unless they follow me first, and my number of followers jumped steeply in February and has been growing ever since! Freaky.

]]> By: Rakuli http://john.onolan.org/the-real-secret-to-getting-twitter-followers/comment-page-1/#comment-233 Rakuli Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:28:13 +0000 http://john.onolan.org/?p=263#comment-233 Nice post John, About a month ago when I was sitting next to my box of tissues, crying over the isolation of it all and wondering what Twitter was all about, it occurred to me that going out on a limb and following people that I was YET to interact with in person or online might be a good idea. Suffice to say that once I started following people with whom I share common interests, like-minded twitters started following me back. I am about to go on another follow-hunt and hopefully expand my network as I agree that your method not only helps to increase followers it builds a network rich in resources and interesting people. Twitter is absolutely useless if you treat it like an instant messenger and even more-so if you treat it like a blog. I have started to treat it like a hand shake and a witty icebreaker, helping to open up relationships that were previously impossible. Oh yeah, and you're encouraging spam, stop that! :D Nice post John,

About a month ago when I was sitting next to my box of tissues, crying over the isolation of it all and wondering what Twitter was all about, it occurred to me that going out on a limb and following people that I was YET to interact with in person or online might be a good idea.

Suffice to say that once I started following people with whom I share common interests, like-minded twitters started following me back. I am about to go on another follow-hunt and hopefully expand my network as I agree that your method not only helps to increase followers it builds a network rich in resources and interesting people.

Twitter is absolutely useless if you treat it like an instant messenger and even more-so if you treat it like a blog. I have started to treat it like a hand shake and a witty icebreaker, helping to open up relationships that were previously impossible.

Oh yeah, and you’re encouraging spam, stop that! :D

]]>