Several of you have been asking about how to use Twitter in relation with your travel blogs. I’d like to point you to some resources to get you going if you’re new to Twitter and to reexamine your tweeting habits if you aren’t the most appropriate way possible – in a series of tweets of 140 characters or less.
- Get a copy of @AlmostFearless ‘s eBook Twitter For Travelers. You can read @TravelBlissful ‘s review to learn more.
- As @Heathercowper suggests, ask yourself – why should anyone follow you on Twitter?
- Read these 25 Twitter tips from other travelers. Check out the comments section too, lots of great discussion there.
- Be personal and tweet about travel, other bloggers, and a *bit*about yourself.
- Time your tweets well – morning in the US Eastern time is good for links/blog posts.
- Use bit.ly to track clicks. You’ll be better able to see what tweets are more popular and why.
- Consider TweetDeck – I didn’t like it at first but find it very useful. Also integrates with bit.ly.
- Get over your fears and learn about StumbleUpon. Start the easiest way, tweet occasionally from su.pr.
- Use Twitter to jump start your travel blog and harness the power of the tweetup.
- Don’t over-think following people. Follow people you like and start slowly, you don’t want to be following 800 and only have 10 followers.
I’d also suggest taking a look to see how others are tweeting, but it’s important to establish your own style and routine. Make your tweets useful, interesting, and efficient and you can easily build up a nice following.
[photo by: futurowoman]
I admit to having a strange relationship with Twitter, going hot-cold since the day I joined. In terms of ROI, I have yet to be swayed that it is totally worth the time and effort it takes to tweet effectively when I should be writing articles for my website.
I’m more or less consistent about it, though there are those days I have to shut it off to get some work done. Once you establish the routine though it becomes much easier interspersing it with other tasks. As far as ROI I think it’s a powerful tool for bloggers.
Anil! This post made me laugh and wonder why/how I missed the last 2/3 years of Twitterisation. I created an account only last week and man its addictive. Now you say “Get over your fears and learn about StumbleUpon.” – lol, how did you know that??
haha, funny you should say that as I’ve wondered and often checked to see if you were on Twitter. I’d post a link to some of your posts and was surprised there wasn’t an @finaltransit ! It definitely is addictive…the gateway drug to StumbleUpon 🙂
Oh you did that? gee thanks man! 🙂
I always try and tweet good stuff, not hard to find on your site!