Since the beginning of May I have been focusing the majority of my efforts online to Twitter, in an attempt to discover how valuable a tool it is for bloggers – and how we can maximize our results from using it. BTW, I just passed 4,300 followers – well on the way to my target of 10,000 by the end of May!
I have been doing a lot of testing, and learning a whole lot that I want to share with you all about using Twitter to grow your blog, but today I want to look at something that I am sure you will all love!
How To Write Blog Posts That Twitter Loves
Now when I say, ‘blog posts that Twitter loves’, I am talking about creating posts that will draw a lot of traffic using a few simple steps, that anyone can replicate. This method will work for any blog, in an niche, so if you are looking to dramatically increase your unique visitors keep reading…
A few days ago you may have read a post of mine called: Twitter Backgrounds: Top 10 Bloggers, where I looked at 10 bloggers that I believe had very creative twitter backgrounds – that helped brand their blog. What you may not know is that the only place I really publicized that post was on Twitter, and I received over 1200 views! (My average normally for a post is 2-300).
Let’s take a look at the steps I deliberately took to ensure that my post was set to be Twitter popular.
Step 1. List, List, List
As with any social networking type website, Twitter users love lists. So the best way to start writing a blog post for Twitter is to brainstorm list ideas. Obviously make sure it is targetted towards Twitter users in your niche – but be creative. With so many list posts being created, yours will need to stand out!
Step 2. Link To Twitter Power Users In Your Niche
This is probably the biggest key to the success of my blog post. If you have a list post that features 10-20 Twitter users, that is 10-20 Twitter users that you can then DM or email letting them know that you featured them and asking if they would ReTweet the link!
You may think that Twitter users with 20,000 followers+ wouldn’t care about smaller users – but they do (or more importantly, they are always looking for extra exposure). So the majority of them will ReTweet your post.
If you take a look at my post, and visit each of the featured Twitter users accounts, you will realise that combined they had a following of over 145,000 Twitter followers! Now that is an audience I would like to gain exposure with.
Step 3. Create A Twitter Related Post
Funnily enough, I have found that Twitter users love Twitter. This means that they are more likely to ReTweet a link related to Twitter than anything else – so why not use this to your advantage and find a way to make your list post, that includes links to Twitter power users, also be somehow related to Twitter?
The key is finding a way to create a post that links your niche with Twitter. That is why I looked at 10 bloggers who had great Twitter backgrounds. (Feel free to steal my concept and work it into your own niche!)
Bonus Step. Ask For ReTweet
If you don’t ask you don’t get. You may think asking people to ReTweet your posts will put your follows off-side, but I have found quite the opposite. So how do I ask? Simple, all I do is add ‘please RT’ at the end of the message.
Here is an example:
10 Blogger With Well Branded Twitter Backgrounds – http://tinyurl.com/twtbgs Please RT
Simple, unobtrusive and effective!
Have you had any successful posts on Twitter?
If you have had a blog post gain a lot of traffic from Twitter, then we would all love to know what the post was, and why you think it was so successful. So please leave a comment below!
No I never had post be successful on Twitter. Looking at my stats I usually only get 1 or 2 visitors from Twitter. Greg Ellison
Thomas…another nice article and I must say your tweets are great too. I just jumped on the Twitter bandwagon after “mocking it” for so long. I’m usually an early pioneer.
I must say, I love it and have found it to be the most effective method of connection ever. I’ve quadrupled my traffic and subscriptions in a month. Wow…and I’ve been highly targeting my audience. Yep I’m picky and looking for quality. I’m not afraid to unfollow.
Your post is poignant and the steps will work for sure. I RT people all the time and build good connections. I will try the list and DM method. Thanks for sharing. Oh, and I’ll twitter your post.
Step 2 is really good idea. I tried this with Flickr photos. When use someones photo, I let them know that I used it in my blog. So, I get traffic this way.
Now practically everyone could gain 10,000 followers with a little work. With all the users, bots, and spam, there are countless amounts of people that would follow a person.
-Mike
Great idea Tom! I actually want to try something similar now. The wheels are turning in my head right now lol.
As far as Twitter goes I have been over run by spammers it seems.
Do you get tons of auto followers that are just trying to promote the same click bank stuff like i do?
InternetHowBlog – That sounds like a good idea! really creative :D
Mike – I agree! That is why I recommend that you try to target twitter users who actually have a name for themselves outside of twitter.
Ben – Yea I do. Im sick of people telling me that I can get 15,000 followers in 30 days when they only have 500 themselves.
When I make lists on my sites and show them on Twitter they usually do get the most comments and stuff so I agree with #1.
And I really like #2 that’s a good idea.
Caden – glad to see that twitter is working for you, and yea, I definately think you should give number 2 a go!
Lists never fail. Social media of all kinds loves them. And the RT thing is true. Simply asking seems to alert people to the idea more. No one seems to mind. I wouldn’t recommend it all the time but once in awhile toss it in there.
Jarad – Thanks for leaving a comment! Do you use twitter yourself?
Well, still not having that much followers yet for me but I was surprised that twitter is one of the biggest traffic referrer for my blog… The RT thing surprisingly really works! :D
nice tips, thanks
I definitely agree that writing lists posts is great! But I am still suprised at the posts I write that get retweeted. Sometimes they just aren’t what I expect at all.
I’ve been neglecting the Grokodile blog completely and haven’t used ANY strategies to combine it’s effect with twitter.
It can’t hurt to try…
Twitterers really love retweeting twitter related posts. One by one you get lots of RT’s and that’s it. It become a great traffic driver. Great post Tom. :)
I also found that becoming involved with follow friday will help people to retweet some of your posts…
I just stumbled and submitted your blog to Viralogy.com. Hope it brings you a lot of new readers!
- Jason
After implementing the lists feature it became an added advantage for all twitter users.That also simplified many things..