Twitter is going to form into a microcosm of High School. With the new popular tweets function: or “Retweets,” is just another way for Twitter Leader-bees to pave their way to the front page. Imagine it: A spectacle of those who care about nothing more than popularity on Twitter- claiming their front page status and wearing their Top Tweet badge like an honor. True leaders on Social Media use the platform as an accessibility point to something else: Human Interaction and Connection. In High School, those who are most popular are often feared. The popularity war is nonsense in fast-paced world of Social Media.
Remember when people thought Twitter was all about followers? Like a cold-calling campaign in where 1 of 100 calls might result in a sale, people thought with clever campaigns to gain followers, they could increase, or boost their profile on Twitter. Remember the backlash? For months, we were plagued with, “Gain more than 10k followers daily, I’ll show you how!” For those not accustomed to human interaction and true marketing, they thought the power was in the followers, and boy- were they wrong.
The power of Twitter, is in your voice; the human thoughts that blurt themselves out from your fingertips before you have time to rethink if you want everyone to know that your preschooler just climbed to the top of the dresser and sang a song from Annie at the top of her lungs. (I gave her a cookie, it was majestic.) For the love of Social Media: If Twitter isn’t about the followers, it’s certainly not about “Top Tweets,” either. I already am seeing articles about how to get your tweet on the front page. In all reality: Who spends time on the FRONT PAGE of Twitter before they login? I log in to communicate immediately with the people I care about- not people who are unattached and hanging at the front gate.
Want to succeed in Social Media? Remember your human element: the voice beneath your fingertips that tells the world WHO you are, not what you’re selling. Witty comments can land you a few followers, but why not take those followers and develop true relationships. Tweetups, charity events and simply asking for coffee is a great way to bring a follower to the next level. It’s time to recognize that Social Media isn’t a popularity contest, it’s a RELATIONSHIP-BUILDER capable of giving you incredible people to call at 10pm or 8am and relationships that extend far greater than a computer screen.
So very true! I normally unfollow the follow hungry people or companies. It isn’t worth my time. It also makes something that can be so impersonal even more so, not what I want. I love connecting with other bloggers and people that I know.