I reviewed 50 profiles over the last 3 days. Here's some of the common things I saw, and my feedback.
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1. Weak bio & pinned tweet
Gaining followers is a funnel. Almost everyone who chooses to follow you will do so after visiting your profile. In your bio and/or pinned tweet, tell me something interesting about you, and what I'd get by following you.
Gaining followers is a funnel. Almost everyone who chooses to follow you will do so after visiting your profile. In your bio and/or pinned tweet, tell me something interesting about you, and what I'd get by following you.
Following someone is free (and unfollowing is easy), so you don't need a superpower in persuasion skills. But at least ask yourself if you'd follow yourself from just reading your bio and pinned tweet. If not, work on it until you do.
A good example I discovered recently is @simonsarris. One of his tweets showed up in my feed, I clicked on his profile, saw his pinned thread, became intrigued, scrolled through his timeline, saw that his tweets were consistent with what I thought I'd see, and I followed.
2. Avoid retweets
Unless you're already a celebrity, make your timeline about yourself. Retweet rarely, including quote retweets. People are most likely following you for your own story, not for your comments on other people. Okay to break this rule sometimes.
Unless you're already a celebrity, make your timeline about yourself. Retweet rarely, including quote retweets. People are most likely following you for your own story, not for your comments on other people. Okay to break this rule sometimes.
3. Reply to other people's tweets
Turn on tweet notifications on some popular accounts you like, and reply when you have something valuable to add. In the beginning, this is probably the most reliable way to get your profile seen by others.
Turn on tweet notifications on some popular accounts you like, and reply when you have something valuable to add. In the beginning, this is probably the most reliable way to get your profile seen by others.
When you post comments, try to add value by supporting the original tweet. Add an example, suggest another option, etc. Whenever you can, repurpose your story to contribute a valuable comment. Here's a good comment example on one of my tweets:
4. Avoid posting uninteresting things
Unless you already earned enough credibility, nobody cares about your opinion, your advice, the cause you want to support, etc. Focus on revealing things you yourself would like to see from others.
Unless you already earned enough credibility, nobody cares about your opinion, your advice, the cause you want to support, etc. Focus on revealing things you yourself would like to see from others.
Your goal should be to have people stop scrolling once they see your face in their feed. If you start making people feel you're not worth breaking the scroll, people will either tune you out, or unfollow you.
5. Tweet something!
Sure, it's quality over quantity, but the quantity can't be zero. Make it a habit to spend 30 min each day thinking about what happened during your day that might be worth sharing, and if you think of something, spend another 30 min preparing how to share it.
Sure, it's quality over quantity, but the quantity can't be zero. Make it a habit to spend 30 min each day thinking about what happened during your day that might be worth sharing, and if you think of something, spend another 30 min preparing how to share it.
You don't need to post everyday — it's okay to skip days. But I found this approach very useful to get me into the habit of sharing things as they happen. With practice, you'll start getting inspiration automatically as soon as something interesting happens.
6. Put your full name and photo
People will avoid interacting with you if they suspect you're a bot or someone who has something to hide. There are definitely anonymous accounts who managed to become very popular, but it's a lot harder.
People will avoid interacting with you if they suspect you're a bot or someone who has something to hide. There are definitely anonymous accounts who managed to become very popular, but it's a lot harder.
7. Avoid a negative "ask budget"
When you start, you're a nobody. You're unknown and you have no credibility. You only start to earn attention and credibility by giving people something they want: Information, inspiration, entertainment, encouragement, etc. Give, give, give...
When you start, you're a nobody. You're unknown and you have no credibility. You only start to earn attention and credibility by giving people something they want: Information, inspiration, entertainment, encouragement, etc. Give, give, give...
At some point, you may want to ask your audience for something. Maybe a question, or to visit your website, or to check out your product, or to vote in your poll. That's ok, but don't do it too frequently, or too early. You build up your "ask budget" by giving. Don't go negative!
