2 Approaches to Twitter

There's Guy Kawasaki's approach:

Get as many followers as you can. I recently explained what I do to get more followers. Ignore people who tell you that it's the quality of your followers not the quantity. They're trying to make friends, not use Twitter as a tool. And, truth be told, there are only two kinds of Twitter users: those that want more followers and those that lie. You can follow me here.

And there's the approach for mere mortals:

Twitter is a conversation, not an arms race; despite what Ashton Kutcher might think the first one to a million (or even a billion) followers doesn't "win." Also, a large following of people who are only there to get more followers is not the kind of "engaged" audience that most of us small business owners want. - Rich Brooks (fellow mere mortal) in his post Why Guy Kawasaki is Wrong.

A. Both approaches are right. Despite Rich's title, Guy's not wrong and Rich says so in his post. Guy's approach is right for Guy, for his purpose, for his business...for Guy's audience or tribe. That's why Guy's successful. May not like him, may love him, may love his work... But Guy's approach is honest, straight forward, consistent, transparent. That's why it works.

B. Rich Brooks is also right. And his approach works for Rich, his business, his purpose, his audience or tribe. May not like him, may love him, may love his work... But Rich's approach is honest, straight forward, consistent, transparent. That's why it works.

Their success is based on the common thread they share with their use of Twitter: honest, straight forward, consistent, transparent.   That's the common thread that works in all social media.

And a little bit of daring, provocation, in their copy. If you're going to say something on social media...say something worth reading.

You can follow these guys on Twitter:

Rich Brooks
Guy Kawasaki

Here's something worth reading: Nuggets in 6.

• Nuggets will hit their free throws
•  AC won't throw the ball away
• Lamar Odom won't show up for the next game either.

Comments

[Jeff Garrison]

Zane, Good timing on this post. I was thinking about this very question last night. I am leaning towards Rich's approach. I want a tribe of sales professionals and entrepreneurs. Of course, if my blog coach Mike Sansone tells me otherwise, I will defer to the master.

[Anita Campbell]

Hi Zane, I agree that how Guy is using Twitter is right for him. I think he works his butt off adding value to Twitter, and also spends money to do it. I don't understand why people get all over him for being super committed.

Likewise, how others use Twitter is right for them.

Let's live and let live.

Meanwhile, I love your Tweetroll!

Anita

[Martin]

Zane,

I am thinking of using a combination of both by starting to use the Twitter tool Seesmic Desktop on a regular basis. Then I could continue to add new followers that I think fits my bio. and interests and follow "handles" that could be interesting in different ways.

Do you use any Twitter tool?

All the Best,

Martin

P.S. I like the TweetRoll too. To joke, you have to be careful so the application doesn't turn into a TweeTroll! ;)