Twitter Takedown! - The Methods Behind Their Madness

Published: November 02 2009

So, here is a quick recap:

• Dennis had the largest gross follower increase.
• Ryan had the most net follower increase, Dennis was in the negatives in this category.
• And Dylan? Well he's the rookie, so he got a cookie just for showing up. Just kidding. Actually, Dylan had the most tweets and positioned himself nicely in the middle of the pack in most of the categories we measured. While working for DotCom and impressing everyone with his programming and creativity, Dylan also built a mini-site that pulls Kelowna-specific information from Twitter. You can check it out here - http://www.kvents.info/

DotCom Media (@DotComMediaInc) asked each contestant about their strategy for Twitter Takedown.

Dennis (@DennisPowers): I've learned a lot about Twitter, and even more about networking / online networking since competing in Twitter Takedown. My initial strategy was to do a little marketing. I figured the only way people would follow me is if they knew I was on Twitter. So phase 1, the strategy was to follow as many interesting people as I could. Once they saw me following them, I hoped they would naturally follow me back. I quickly learned that's only half the battle. After that it's all about delivering good content through Twitter. I wanted my followers to know more about me, my business and the services I provide. I supported that by retweeting (rt) good info and supplying as much of my own good info as possible. After that, I just needed to have the courage to jump into conversations and start a few of my own. I was lucky that I got involved with Twitter Business Day (@TwitBizDay) in the early stages and that helped boost my local twitter mojo quite a bit.

Ryan (@RLahay): Originally my strategy was basically “if you build it, they will come”. It included fresh blog content. I would retweet interesting information, supply my own, and link to longer-form articles I had written in my blog. I didn't want to focus on finding followers, my hope was that they would come to me. I think I won! I would argue that the audience that found me and followed me was far more qualified and interested in what I had to say then Dennis' followers.

Dylan (@TyreWebDesign): at the beginning my strategy was to retweet important information. But that wasn't really working so I began engaging in conversations and chatting with people. Followers started to increase after that. A lot more than simply retweeting.

@DotComMediaInc: Time is really important to our readers. Many of them don't have a lot to spare. How much time per day, on average, do you spend on Twitter?

@DennisPowers: I'm getting better. At first, Twitter or Tweetdeck was open all the time and was a constant distraction. Now I check it and my other social networks 3-4 times a day – morning, noon, afternoon, and night. I would guess my average time per day would be 2-3 hours on all networks combined.

@RLahay: I check mine quickly approximately 6 times a day, so I probably average an hour per day.

@TyreWebDesign: Average time per day is 2 hours. I read, and respond to people.

@DotComMediaInc: What sort-of outcomes or benefits have you experienced from being on Twitter?

@DennisPowers: I think everyone has to realize that Twitter or any of the social media networks for that matter are not “get-rich-quick” schemes. I have been lucky enough to find a couple of bidding opportunities on Twitter. Through Facebook I have had a conversation with a potential client where they mentioned that when they are ready for a new website, they want to work with DotCom Media. Otherwise the only other benefit I have realized since being on Twitter is that I have raised the awareness of my own personal brand and the brand of DotCom Media. It's important I think that as the sales contact for DotCom Media, potential customers know me and trust that I will represent their interests through the process of creating the website for their business. I feel that Twitter is helping me get that message out.

It should also be noted that the social Networks in general are not about selling. In fact selling is a big no no. The social networks are about engagement and brand awareness. They are about getting exposure for you, your brand and your website.

“Your own website is your business' hub, but social networking sites let you create spokes to drive people back to your site” via John Jantsch (@ducttape) on Twitter.

@Rlahay: I agree. For me the biggest benefit I have seen is the increased awareness in my own personal brand, and consequently how that positively affects DotCom Media's brand. By having a good experience with me on the social networks including Twitter, my online network is having a positive experience with the DCM brand.

Since being on Twitter we have also created Twitterfeeds for DotCom Media (@DotComMediaInc) and WelcomeToKelowna.com (@Welcome2Kelowna) in order to directly enhance those 2 brands.

An additional positive outcome for me is the creation of the Okanagan Developers Group (@OKDG), where online software programmers like myself have formed a group where we can share experiences, knowledge and collaborate. I don't think the group would have started if it wasn't for Twitter. It was certainly the catalyst.

@TyreWebDesign: Don't forget the information that is available on Twitter. I follow some amazing people that distribute cool information, links to websites, video and other media that I find hugely beneficial.