Twitter – Is it about conversation or is it about automation?
There is an awful lot of advice out there (me included!) that talk about automating Twitter; talk about being able to schedule your tweets using devices such as TweetLater; talk about automatically updating your Facebook postings with Twitter. All of which save you time to be able to spend so that your marketing is working more effectively for you.
But doesn’t this automation actually go against what Twitter is all about? Twitter to be used as a conversation tool?
During the proactive times of my business, I schedule my tweets on a Monday morning, using a system like Tweetlater.
One of these scheduled tweets a couple of weeks ago, included this recommendation as a tip and somebody came back to me with a tweet “Yes, but this automation is all very well, but isn’t Twitter about conversation and not automation?”
Great point! Being totally automated on Twitter is extreme and I wouldn’t recommend it.
But by automating some of your tweets throughout the day and week, these can actually help generate your conversation.
You can’t be on Twitter 24 hours a day; you’ll go mad! And you would probably drive your business to the ground.
But by having certain tweets giving out tips and information when you are not actually live on Twitter can actually help people respond back to you and start a conversation. When you do log back in to Twitter, you can respond back and have that two-way conversation.
So is Twitter about automation or about conversation?
It is about both. You need to automate some aspects of Twitter to be able to remain sane, to be able to develop it and drive it forward as a marketing tool for your business. But if you automate too much it becomes lose the power because Twitter is about conversation, it is about replying and about building relationships.
Your thoughts and opinions: How much do you automate on Twitter? Or do you use Twitter for real-time tweets only? Leave your comments in the comments box below.
Other articles you may be interested in:
- Cool Tool: Are you using Twitter Search?
- Unplug, take a break and get your business creativity back
- Doesn’t blogging & social media take up so much time?
6 Responses to “Twitter – Is it about conversation or is it about automation?”
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Hi Karen
Like all things, I think this is about balance, I can’t remember who I saw say this, but I think what they were saying was similar to your point, that you can post your key, strategic content, automatically. And that you build relationships, and conversations, with people.
Claire
[Reply]
Hi Karen,
I always think you should keep “Auto” to a minimum – it tends to be brought on by today’s life/business pressures, but it’s not clever & it’s definitely NOT Social!
I hate Auto DM “Thx for follow” messages, but they are a clear indicator of whether the tweep actually cares or not! Even worse if they point to a site or try to sell something! Just as offensive as trying to use Twitter as a Classified Ad list – Unfollow beckons!
Great post, thanks – keep em coming!
Howard
[Reply]
You make some great points in here Karen, I like it.
Yes, automation can never replace conversation, that’s what makes us human.
Mixing automated tweets with real ones is a great idea as it keeps conversations
The other point about app’s like Tweetlater is that you can plan what you’re going to say, so that you cover the range of topics that you’re interested in.
Thanks for the ideas,
Jon
[Reply]
Hi Karen,
Twitter is certainly about conversations. I automate some of my tweets, as you say, you cna’t be there 24/7. I think like any network you get more out of it by getting involved, and on twitter this is about conversations. How else do you find out what toehrs are up to or where opportunities to collaborate with others are if you don’t engage in conversations?
[Reply]
Hi Karen
I absolutely agree – Twitter is about conversations. This is something I’ve only recently realised, and why I stopped using Twitter for a while, because there didn’t seem much point to it if it was just about getting lots of followers and automating tweets. Since I read “UnMarketing” by Scott Stratten, my view of Twitter has changed completely, and I’m eager to engage my followers and get those conversations flowing!!!
Thanks for reinforcing this message.
[Reply]
Karen Skidmore Reply:
May 10th, 2011 at 11:04 am
That’s a great book by Scott, isn’t it. Got that one on my bedside table!
[Reply]