As Twitter continues to mature, so does my usage of it.
I\’m rapidly approaching my ten thousandth tweet (yes, that\’s 10,000) and I\’ve had a lot of time to determine how Twitter works best for me.
Notice that I didn\’t say \”how I work best for Twitter.\”
That\’s important, because I regularly hear people ask me this question.
\”How often should I tweet?\”
The person asking the question is usually riddled with Twitter anxiety (Twanxiety?) as though I will provide them with a magic number that will solve all their problems.
My answer, however, isn\’t a number.
It isn\’t a frequency either.
I simply tell them, \”I tweet like I eat.\”
What does THAT mean?
It means Twitter doesn\’t run my life. I do.
Twitter is always there. That means the conversation is always taking place. It never stops!
Recognizing this truth, there is no way anyone could ever possibly keep up with Twitter and more than you could replay your day and not miss what is currently happening in your life. It\’s just not possible.
To go back to the analogy, when do I eat?
I eat when I am hungry or when food is placed in front of me.
Let\’s apply that to Twitter.
Being hungry means I have something very specific to say. A thought comes to mind. I take a photo that I want to share with my followers. I come across an interesting web site or article. Whatever it is, it means I have something worth tweeting.
And having food placed in front of me doesn\’t necessarily mean I am hungry. But it does mean an opportunity to eat has arisen. I like food and sometimes I will eat just because it is there. I know. It\’s a bad habit.
Regardless, there are breaks in my day when I peek in and see what\’s happening on Twitter. I catch a snapshot; a moment in time. And if there is something that catches my attention, I will enter into the conversation. It\’s like a little snack.
I certainly understand some companies remaining vigilant on Twitter so they don\’t miss any customer support tweets.
But that\’s not me. And that\’s not the majority of Twitter members.
I call the shots on my Twitter usage.
I determine when, who, what, where, why and how.
You shouldn\’t let anyone tell you how to run your life. So why would you let anyone else tell you how to use Twitter?
As for me, I tweet like I eat.
Please pass the mustard.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below.