In the last 3 months, I've grown my Twitter following from ~30 to almost 5,000.
I don't own a business.
I'm not a growth marketer.
I don't always get things right.
I'm an average guy, trying to write interesting stories, & grow an audience.
THREAD: What I've learned so far👇🏻
I don't own a business.
I'm not a growth marketer.
I don't always get things right.
I'm an average guy, trying to write interesting stories, & grow an audience.
THREAD: What I've learned so far👇🏻
1/ It's not easy.
Everyone's heard the stories of massive followings being built overnight.
Unless you're already well-known or happen to strike gold with an insanely viral post, it's going to take time.
Time and consistency. Show up, provide value, the followers will come.
Everyone's heard the stories of massive followings being built overnight.
Unless you're already well-known or happen to strike gold with an insanely viral post, it's going to take time.
Time and consistency. Show up, provide value, the followers will come.
2/ Be transparent.
Authenticity works. Be willing to share not only your successes but your failures as well.
Believe it or not, everyone is winging it.
Sharing failure helps you learn and you'll be surprised at the amount of encouraging feedback you receive.
Authenticity works. Be willing to share not only your successes but your failures as well.
Believe it or not, everyone is winging it.
Sharing failure helps you learn and you'll be surprised at the amount of encouraging feedback you receive.
3/ People want to help.
I've had numerous large accounts reach out, offer advice, engage with my posts, and provide guidance.
Why? I'm honestly not sure. I assume they see I am putting in the effort.
Hard work recognizes hard work.
I've had numerous large accounts reach out, offer advice, engage with my posts, and provide guidance.
Why? I'm honestly not sure. I assume they see I am putting in the effort.
Hard work recognizes hard work.
4/ Quit spamming people.
I'm talking to myself on this one.
Writing into the void is no fun. Everyone wants engagement, everyone wants more followers.
In an effort to drive more of this, small accounts (like me) typically try to engage with larger accounts.
cont.👇🏻
I'm talking to myself on this one.
Writing into the void is no fun. Everyone wants engagement, everyone wants more followers.
In an effort to drive more of this, small accounts (like me) typically try to engage with larger accounts.
cont.👇🏻
5/ It's often hard to know where to draw the line between "hustling for engagement" and wearing people out.
I'm not sure I've mastered this just yet, but I'm trying to get better every day.
I believe great content has a way of getting discovered.
Be interesting.
I'm not sure I've mastered this just yet, but I'm trying to get better every day.
I believe great content has a way of getting discovered.
Be interesting.
6/ DM's
Man, this is a tough one I need to work on.
DM's are where I've built some great connections, they're also where I've probably turned some people off.
Try to establish common ground and build rapport in public before moving to direct messaging.
Man, this is a tough one I need to work on.
DM's are where I've built some great connections, they're also where I've probably turned some people off.
Try to establish common ground and build rapport in public before moving to direct messaging.
7/ A roadmap
•Write interesting content
•Receive engagement in public 1st
•Move the conversation to DM's
•Provide value without asking for something in return
I get it. What value can you provide to an account with 100K followers when you have 30?
I have a few ideas...
•Write interesting content
•Receive engagement in public 1st
•Move the conversation to DM's
•Provide value without asking for something in return
I get it. What value can you provide to an account with 100K followers when you have 30?
I have a few ideas...
8/ Providing Value (1)
•Comment & share their posts. It doesn't matter if you have 1 follower or 1M. Everyone wants their content to be read and enjoyed.
•Show that you're not only asking for them to do something for you but that you're engaging with their content as well.
•Comment & share their posts. It doesn't matter if you have 1 follower or 1M. Everyone wants their content to be read and enjoyed.
•Show that you're not only asking for them to do something for you but that you're engaging with their content as well.
9/ Providing Value (2)
• Enjoy someone's threads? See if you can find similar topics they haven't yet written about & share those concepts with them.
• I know of several accounts that "crowd-source" ideas for their threads. Help them out!
• Enjoy someone's threads? See if you can find similar topics they haven't yet written about & share those concepts with them.
• I know of several accounts that "crowd-source" ideas for their threads. Help them out!
10/ Providing Value (3)
• Ask engaging questions
• Provide counterpoints
• Show that you have actually read what they have written
One insightful comment is worth more than saying "cool" 1,000 times.
• Ask engaging questions
• Provide counterpoints
• Show that you have actually read what they have written
One insightful comment is worth more than saying "cool" 1,000 times.
11/ QT vs RT
Quote tweets are better.
Retweets get lost in the shuffle. Especially for larger accounts.
However, Quote Tweets allow you to share the content, while also providing value with a comment of your own.
These are far more likely to be seen.
Quote tweets are better.
Retweets get lost in the shuffle. Especially for larger accounts.
However, Quote Tweets allow you to share the content, while also providing value with a comment of your own.
These are far more likely to be seen.
12/ Build / Find your community.
Twitter is huge! No matter your topic, there's likely a community of creators that exists around it.
Find them, interact, and make connections.
These connections will drive your growth, and you will drive theirs.
Working together works best.
Twitter is huge! No matter your topic, there's likely a community of creators that exists around it.
Find them, interact, and make connections.
These connections will drive your growth, and you will drive theirs.
Working together works best.
13/ Write Threads
I think it's safe to say, threads drive follower growth exponentially more than standalone tweets.
That said, to write a good one takes a lot of work. At least for me.
Below I'll share a few of the key concepts I believe make up a good thread.
I think it's safe to say, threads drive follower growth exponentially more than standalone tweets.
That said, to write a good one takes a lot of work. At least for me.
Below I'll share a few of the key concepts I believe make up a good thread.
14/ Threads (1)
• The Hook - Your 1st tweet means everything.
Without a good hook, the rest doesn't matter.
Why? No one will ever see it.
•My best hook was in the thread below. No coincidence, this was my most viral as well.
• The Hook - Your 1st tweet means everything.
Without a good hook, the rest doesn't matter.
Why? No one will ever see it.
•My best hook was in the thread below. No coincidence, this was my most viral as well.
https://twitter.com/blakeaburge/status/1403737938127589378?s=20
15/ Threads (2)
Find the unknown. Depending on your niche, this will be different for everyone.
A good thread tells the reader something they didn't already know.
Whether that's an interesting story or teaching them a new skill, make them learn.
Find the unknown. Depending on your niche, this will be different for everyone.
A good thread tells the reader something they didn't already know.
Whether that's an interesting story or teaching them a new skill, make them learn.
https://twitter.com/blakeaburge/status/1398659548320178189?s=20
16/ Threads (3)
Use numbers. Our brains and our eyes are automatically attracted to numbers.
Without thinking; we stop, analyze and review.
When attempting to get readers to click on your content, "stopping the scroll" is 80% of the battle.
Use numbers. Our brains and our eyes are automatically attracted to numbers.
Without thinking; we stop, analyze and review.
When attempting to get readers to click on your content, "stopping the scroll" is 80% of the battle.
https://twitter.com/blakeaburge/status/1393333882343276544?s=20
17/ Threads (4)
Use Media.
Stats vary depending on where you look. On average you can expect the following:
Pics = 30% Higher engagement
GIF's = 50% Higher engagement
Video = 10X your normal engagement
Also, it won't hurt if the media is eye-catching!
Use Media.
Stats vary depending on where you look. On average you can expect the following:
Pics = 30% Higher engagement
GIF's = 50% Higher engagement
Video = 10X your normal engagement
Also, it won't hurt if the media is eye-catching!
https://twitter.com/blakeaburge/status/1399384370910138377?s=20
18/ In closing...
As stated above, I'm a regular guy simply trying to write something interesting and build an audience.
What I'll do from there? Who knows. I'm still figuring this thing out.
My ask of you? 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
As stated above, I'm a regular guy simply trying to write something interesting and build an audience.
What I'll do from there? Who knows. I'm still figuring this thing out.
My ask of you? 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
19/ Let me know your thoughts!
I hope this helped you.
If so, jump back to the top and SHARE it so it can help someone else!
And, of course, I'd be grateful if you followed me @blakeaburge.
I write a few threads each week & do my best to make them something you'll enjoy.
I hope this helped you.
If so, jump back to the top and SHARE it so it can help someone else!
And, of course, I'd be grateful if you followed me @blakeaburge.
I write a few threads each week & do my best to make them something you'll enjoy.
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