Twitter: PlayGround Of The Living Death – 10 Secrets That Will Save Your Butt
by Mark on 13/08/09 at 2:54 pm
Aweful! Disgusting. YUCK!
Have you caught on yet? Twitter is dominated by hordes of mindless ZOMBIES.
Here is a list of 10 twitter-nuggets, that you can implement immediately to separate yourself from the Zombies. Like with Letterman, the coolest stuff is at the end of the list 
Hint: It’s an excellent idea to separate yourself from Zombies. Zombies really do suck.
I am in this book, feel free to buy it, LOL.
What you are about to see, is one of the most pro-active, cutting-edge, best thought out, twitter-strategies in existence today. Pay close attention. This could make the difference between being on twitter in a way that you might as well stay off it. Or making it big.
1. We are not in the information-age any longer. We are now in the attention-getting age.
Find your own voice. That’s right. You only have 140 characters to express yourself on Twitter.Reflect on yourself. Who are you? Just let me give you some hints: You couldbe funny, flirtatious, or slightly provokative. Whatever it is, stick with it. It’s part of your brand, part of who you are. Stop tweeting, for example, only “success-quotes” (like many are), as you are not distinguishing yourself from the pack. (Success-Qutes are still cool, though. Check out: www.brainyquote.com).
Oh boy, and will people love and retweet this stuff as well:
http://www.joecasaletto.com/jokes/one-liners.html
http://www.onelinerz.net/top-100-funny-one-liners/
If I may say this: try to chose the ones that are not overly sexually explicit. Sex-jokes can be fun amongst people that already know each other. On twitter, I’d be careful with it. Chose wisely. You only have one chance to make a first impression.
You need to find your own voice, because twitter is all about creating a following that only starts the moment people click that button. Now you need to turn people into fans. And the only way this can be achieved is being different and showing your personality to the world.
2. Stop spamming everyone with your affiliate-links or opportunities, because nobdy cares anyway. You will just be one more individual that people will roll their eyes at. Spamming people with links is ameteurish. Instead, tweet what’s on your mind and post so-called pre-rated content that has already found the world’s approval. You can find it at www.popurls.com or www.alltop.com
3. Provide “value”, BUT; Let me something controversial right here. If all you post is “valuable content” in terms of news, maybe, or marketing-advice, you are limiting yourself. Throw some humor into the mix. Find funny Videos on Youtube, or take content from www.cracked.com. People love to retweet it, too. (Being Retweeded is very important. More on that later). How to work magic with your tweets? www.twitterpersuasion.com
4. Engage People. This is something almost nobody does and absolutely fundamental to your twitter-success. Once in a while you see someone tweeting “Ever got a song stuck in your head” or “Is it sunny where you are”? This is a bit generic but at least they are getting the general idea. Be even more creative than that. Ask open ended questions, ask for advice. And people will reply to you. After they reply to you, always reply back and make your last sentence a question to keep communication going. Many people will say something and then say “Have a great day”! This ends the communication. Don’t be like that. Say “Talk to you soon” instead.
5. If you have an automatic thanks-for-following-me message (www.tweetlater.com), don’t have a sales-link in there. Have it link to your facebook-profile instead. The following tweet is proven to grow your facebook following: I like you. Why not follow me on facebook as well? (insert your url here – mine is www.facebook.com/markiquark). In your Twitter-Bio, link to your blog and make sure it’s a wordpress.org-Blog. To find out how this is done, visit www.yaroblogging.com.
Your Blog will allow you to brand yourself and show people you are an authority in your niche. THIS is where the magic happens, it could obviously never happen on twitter . Use a Blog, not a website, but make sure your Blog has an opt-in box to capture leads. You get an opt-in box by getting a autoresponder service, for example aweber.
6. Tweet a lot! Tweet 5 to 10 times a day. Tweet 20 times a day. It amazes me how many social media trainers preach and teach all about twitter, but they never tweet themselves. Tweeting often means, people will get used to your pic and what content you provide. Just use a mix of funny stuff, useful content, and personal communication. People will start to notice you. Only about 10 percent of all people following you will ultimately really know who you are, but applying the strategies outlined in this article every day, just think about the “fan-base” you could have established 12 months down the road – hell -3 months down the road. (And yes, it’s okay to not tweet when you
absolutely don’t feel like it. However, twitter needs to be embraced, or one might as well let it be (the shelf-life of a tweet is very short, maybe 10 minutes). Become a twitterholic. Absolutely, yes! At least for the first few weeks.
7. Use a pic of yourself and make sure you SMILE. It sounds funny, but studies show this is the number one reason people will follow you or not. Use your real name, as well. Make it your username. Don’t use logos, no “starlet”-pics, either.
8. Find at least 5 people who you work with and make sure to retweet each other’s content. This is also called a content syndication network or “Tribe”. This is how you and your content goes viral. This is how to build followers fast. Organize your friends in an extra column within www.tweetdeck.com to stay on top of when they’re tweeting.
9. This is COOL, LISTEN UP: The best thing you can do on twitter, is to become as personal as you possibly can, and that is: to upload a picture of yourself into the tweet (or at least something life-style related). You can go to www.twitpic.com to do this, but a much better way is to do this from within tweetdeck. Are you going to get responses? Yes, my friend, like crazy. Make sure to write your tweet in a way that it raises curiosity.
10. This is the fine-print, but this plays big: Collect 5-10 “mavens” (big players) from your niche and retweet them several times a day. Let’s say for a total of 5 retweets total. Absolutely ludicrous amounts of people will start following you. (The more followers you have the more viral this effect becomes, but it works at every stage of the game).
Now you may be wondering: But how do I make money? Good question. Stay tuned!
Please feel Free to comment below or to simply call me for a free 5-10 minute consultation on this matter.
Karina
Aug 21st, 2009
Hi Mark, Loved your article! You couldn’t said it in a better way! I’m new on twitter, I like the general idea of exchange short messages/ideas with others just doing an honest follow but til now all what I get is people trying to sell their staff. it’s ok, I’m in network marketing as well but to me people is losing perspective of how twitter really works.
Admin
Aug 21st, 2009
Thank you so much for your response, Karina! I actually just added another useful tip to the article that has to do with uploading pics into your tweet. I see you on twitter! Mark
adrienne
Oct 28th, 2009
I am still trying to figure that out.
Mark
Oct 28th, 2009
@adrienne, which part? how can I help?
Lance Gross
Sep 6th, 2009
This was AWESOME!! VERY insightful and i love that you have some solid number goals to follow. This helped me get re-focused on doing the right things as well— Thanks Mark!!!
Lance Gross´s last blog ..3 Constant Twitter Mistakes YOU should AVOID!
Admin
Sep 6th, 2009
Thanks a lot, Lance. I hope you will find a lot of cool stuff on my blog. I paid big bucks to learn all this. Cheers and stay in touch!
bahamabob
Sep 7th, 2009
Very great advice. Some people will have to overcome shyness & resist that at first about engaging. However, you are so right. We all find ourselves developing unused parts of our personalities. I really iike your article. Thanks very much. I am RTing it!! Bob
bahamabob´s last blog ..I Bless You
Kimberly
Sep 7th, 2009
Well i am happy to have read your free info it was very helpful thank-you.
Glenn
Sep 8th, 2009
Those are some great tips for the newbie or not so newbie Tweeter.
I think #4 Engage people is really key.
Good Stuff Mark!
Jonathan Payne
Sep 8th, 2009
Mark- Excellent collection of tips! As a Twitter newbie I found this article extremely helpful, thanks.
Admin
Sep 8th, 2009
great to hear that. let me know if there is anything else you would like to learn about!
drkisane
Sep 10th, 2009
Love your tips Mark – especially the ‘talk to you soon’ one – definitely going to use that one
Also love your bright and breezy style/tone. Following you on twitter now! Thanks for connecting on Facebook.
Admin
Sep 10th, 2009
Thank you very much, Dr. ! I see you on FB as well!
Frank
Sep 10th, 2009
Great tips mark, I like how you sum it up in #1, it’s the attention getting age.
Frank´s last blog ..Hello world!
Barbara
Sep 10th, 2009
Great info; now if only those that need to will read it! I personally hate any auto-responders and will typically unfollow them but have been noticed more and more do link to facebook or blog and maybe that’s OK. I tweet recipes and more! http://www.vinolucitweets.com
Barbara´s last blog ..Fig Cooler
Barbara
Sep 12th, 2009
Great article and facts…but you know who is irritating me the most lately? Twitter Police!
If you don’t like a follower; unfollow or block but stop lamenting how it should be done; cause we ALL get to read your lament and it’s just filling up the stream with more of what you want to get rid of!
Spammers will spam; email, twitter…whereever, so accept it, do what you can in your own backyard and, Pretty Please? stop handing out your version of the rules!
Don’t like folks chatting now that you’ve JUST joined and you’re all business? No problem, if I or anyone else chats too much, unfollow me but, and I say this in my most adult voice, ‘You are not the boss of me!”
Barbara´s last blog ..2007 A to Z Oregon Pinot Gris
malcolm
Sep 16th, 2009
Sounds like sage advice. I am new to Twitter and will keep following you. Can’t wait to see how to make money – while remaining cool!
malcolm´s last blog ..New Study Recommends Fish Oil
Randy
Sep 17th, 2009
Wow, great stuff Mark! Where you been all my life? Ha!
Maryann Miller
Sep 19th, 2009
What a helpful article. I have been trying to figure out how to use Twitter effectively. Thanks so much.
Admin
Sep 19th, 2009
I’m glad you like it!!!
Chris
Oct 2nd, 2009
Mark!! Great post. I absolutely love #4 – engage people. Isn’t that the whole purpose of social media? Thanks for the tips. I’m keeping ‘em peeled for more from you.
Chris´s last blog .."Niche Marketing On Crack" works like a recipe
Jackie Bigford
Oct 2nd, 2009
I Love following you, you practice what you preach! It drives me crazy to have a time line full of sales links and pitches and the worse part for me is that they are automated. Where is the human element in that!
I am working on a new wordpress blog to get my message and branding out there, thanks for the insights, see you in Tweetland
Jackie B
ps: I am on Facebook as well, http://www.facebook.com/j.bigford
I must admit I am just finding my way around, I find facebook quite confusing. Any tips
Jackie Bigford´s last blog ..New Keyword Research Tool
Janice
Oct 3rd, 2009
Great Tips Mark. Good advice on getting a smiling photo up
. Have to get one taken 
. I do smile all the time – you would never know it from what I put up.
Thanks again. Looks like you enjoy helping people too! Nice !
Mark
Oct 3rd, 2009
Thanks Janice! Yes, I really, really enjoy it. Don’t forget to contact me on twitter some day and say hi! Mark
Sue Collier
Oct 7th, 2009
Hi Mark,
Read lots of blogs but yours really stands out! Really clear, really helpful, some great suggestions, def will be following you and taking on board your ideas.
Thanks again
Mark
Oct 11th, 2009
Hi Sue
Thank you for your comment and support. Hit me up on twitter sometime 
Mark
Judy LaMont
Oct 7th, 2009
Awesome job Mark. Have been following you on Twitter and gems of wisdom for marketing so very good. When people throw links at you it feels like run run instead of engaging positively. Judy
Jan
Oct 9th, 2009
Hey Mark,
This is great! You always have great information in your posts, information that I can actually go and use immediately! I love the point on not spamming people with URL’s of your business constantly. I like to know what people are doing, but not everytime they tweet! Thanks for the great info!
Mark
Oct 11th, 2009
Most certainly, Jan
Glad I could help.
Oren Pardes
Oct 9th, 2009
Great tips! Congratulations on separating yourself from the Zombies, Mark.
Oren Pardes´s last blog ..Are you insane or just crazy (enough to succeed)?
Maria Helm
Oct 10th, 2009
Love, love, love these tips. People should pay attention to #2. This is a huge turn-off and a major reason why these people get un-followed. Thanks for sharing these tips.
Mark
Oct 11th, 2009
Maria, thank you for leaving a comment and seeing value in our little community here
Ning
Oct 20th, 2009
Thank you for all these creative ideas.
Mark
Oct 20th, 2009
my pleasure. let me know if you need anything else!
Nicole V
Oct 21st, 2009
This is hands down one of the best “how-to: twitter” resources I have read. As a newcomer to the whole social media scene this has been a very useful article! Thanks!
Mark
Oct 21st, 2009
Nicole, thank you for your comment and thank you for retweeting it. I hope you’ll shoot me a message on twitter some time.
Jason Kerchner
Oct 21st, 2009
These are great tips, Mark. I’ve been guilty of some of the mistakes you’ve mentioned. People just need to remember that Twitter is a social arena, meant for connecting and sharing with people. It was never intended as a marketing platform, though that’s how many people choose to use it.
Jason Kerchner´s last blog ..Procrastination: Sprinting Through Stuff You Don’t Want to Do
Greg
Oct 22nd, 2009
Thank’s Mark, good article I really like the opened ended question idea. I can see that working in in just about every format, be a blog, website, facebook ,video, email, or even email signture.
I will put that to work right now!
Thank’s
SmittyX
Greg´s last blog ..Kahunadude: Working on the Porsche today, will be taking it for a nice drive tomorrow.
Mark
Oct 22nd, 2009
Thaks Greg – let me know if you have any further questions. Mark
George Fourie
Oct 23rd, 2009
Hey Mark, Great site you have here and excellent post! Twitter is so powerful and great for sharing content and building relationships. It sucks that some mindless ones approach it with a quick buck mentality and just don’t get it.
All good though, I think we should hit @replies to the morons and send them your post!
Thanks again Mark!
George Fourie´s last blog ..MLM Blogs: The Biggest Loser, Belief Systems & Wordpress Membership Sites
Mark
Oct 23rd, 2009
Hey George, lol. If anyone who is a mindless zombie would get my post, I’d be lighting cigars with 1000 dollar bills, lol. Thanks for your comment!
Ken Pickard
Oct 23rd, 2009
Mark,
These are some great tips my friend! Twitter is a very powerful communication platform… IF used correctly. The tips and tactics you outlined are awesome and right on.
I especially liked #4. ENGAGE! It’s amazing what happens when you just show up. But when you do show up let people know your there. That’s when the magic really starts.
Oh and # 2. Spamming your links may get you a little traffic in the beginning, but will label you for a long long time.
Thanks for the great tips! Keep em coming.
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
Ken Pickard´s last blog ..Welcome To My Blog Launch Party!
Vicki Conley
Oct 24th, 2009
Hi Mark, Just started following you, love the article, I’m going to go rt it right now. It’s all about building relationships, in the real world as well as on our twitternet. I’m finding out it really is a small world too. Talk to you soon ; ) Vicki
Vicki Conley´s last blog ..On the road again…
Terrance Charles
Oct 26th, 2009
Great post Mark, I especially like 3 Provide Value, 4 Engage People, and 8 Find atleast 5 people you trust and work with to RT each others content to create a content syndication network and build followers and brand.
Terrance Charles´s last blog ..TerranceCharles: RT @PamBrossman RT @VeganMeans: RT @JeffBullas The Science Of Re-Tweets On Twitter http://bit.ly/ehPYJ (Interesting Post.)
Charlotte
Oct 26th, 2009
I found you on Twitter because you do all the things you recommend in this article. you are in my ‘like’ group column on Tweetdeck and I am setting off to fully follow through all these ideas. It is such fun communicating with so many interesting people. Thanks
Paul O'Mahony (Cork)
Oct 29th, 2009
How did someone so young become so wise? You gemster. I’m jealous of the extent to which you have seen behind the face of Twitter.
Over here in Cork, Ireland, Twitter is a dirty word – expect among the converted. Perfectly sensible, intelligent people dismiss Twitter as not for them. Why: “it takes too much time”.
So I tell them my secret, of which I’m ashamed, so don’t pass it on: tweet at traffic lights, tweets in traffic jams, tweet on the loo, tweet when you have downtime and you’ll come to see the world differently…
Perhaps you’d pop over here and we could chat about it. You can find me as “omaniblog” via Google & Twitter. I’d love to be closer to you, come on in…
Daryl Whicker
Oct 30th, 2009
Wow Mark, You just gave a ton of awesome information!
Many thanks my friend. I’m taking notes like crazy.
Daryl Whicker´s last blog ..How To Find Registered Sex Offenders In your Zip Code And State
Jan Tallent
Oct 30th, 2009
great tips, got so excited when I read your article that I lost the thread on twitter where you posted this and now have to find it so I can retweet it, lol
Jan Tallent´s last blog ..Employee or Virtual Assistant?
Richard buettner
Nov 1st, 2009
So many cool twitter tips – so little time. Thanks for sharing them!
Mark
Nov 4th, 2009
Richard, thanks for your comment. It’s “set and forget”. WELL worth it to have those leads come in on auto-pilot. These things can also be outsourced for little money. Cheers and thank you again for your comment and kind words.
AJ St Claire
Nov 3rd, 2009
Mark-
Read many posts on Twitter ’secrets’ – this is probably the best.
Thanks for this.
AJ
Mark
Nov 3rd, 2009
thank you!!!! catch you on twitter!
Shane Combs
Nov 3rd, 2009
Great posting Mark! #5 is a particular favorite of mine that I hope everyone pays attention to. I hate to miss sincere thank you’s, because I’m weeding through a bunch of sales links.Big time waster! Here’s a tip. I like to change it up sometimes and invite to my flickr or linkedin accounts.
Chat soon!
Best,
Shane
Mark
Nov 3rd, 2009
Gloria
Nov 5th, 2009
Great article! May I retweet it?
If the answer is yes, please give me instructions….
I’ve never retweeted before!
Mark
Nov 5th, 2009
Hi Gloria, thanks so much. You just take the entire tweet into the field where u normally write your own tweets, then you write RT in front of it and leave a space.
RT @mark_tetzner 10 secrets….
Thank you! Mark
Inara Hawley
Nov 5th, 2009
Hi Mark ,
I’ve been on twitter for a while and gathered 1000+ followers purely by they way twitter tends to populate itself via bio searches etc. but I’m only now starting to understand the way it really works. And as you say it flies by so fast that you really need to create a persona and be a regular tweeter to be noticed. And you’re right about the sort of comments that attract people – we connected (and I’m so glad we did) because one of your comments got my attention and I responded.
When I get a couple of blogs going I will start to get serious about twitter – it’s been a learning experience up till now. Also, the other helpful thing is setting up your tweetdeck columns to sort out your main friends (a great tip) plus the new twitter lists feature (big job that one).
Anyway, thanks for the video – very much appreciated.
Cheers for now
Inara
Mark
Nov 5th, 2009
Awesome Inara, thank you for being such a great contributor to my forum. I have decided I will make an even more extensive training-vid on twitter over the next few days. As a recommendation: Let’s say you got your two blogs going 6 weeks from now, that time could have been put to excellent use getting your twitter-followers up. I’d get a strategy going right away, know what I mean?
Christian
Nov 8th, 2009
Great tips on providing usable and helpful content, and engaging in actual conversation. Conversation goes a lot further than self-promotion. You rock Mark
Christian´s last blog ..Gary Vaynerchuk Rocks Chicago
Twitter For Dummies (The Basics)
Nov 10th, 2009
[...] Automation Or No Automation Plus: What Content To Tweet [...]
Rebecca Habel
Nov 14th, 2009
Great article Mark. I really love the stuff you write. Intelligent, thought creating. Keep on writing and I’ll keep on retweeting you
Rebecca
Mark
Nov 14th, 2009
you rock! that’s all I know.
JackieBiz.com
Nov 18th, 2009
Great post Mark, awesome content….and I thought I knew how to Tweet!
JackieBiz.com´s last blog ..Why I Became A Remote CEO…& I Hope You Will Too
Michael
Nov 18th, 2009
I’ve recommended this to ppl. I must say hat if you’re not engaging with people on your list, you’re really missing out on a large part of Twitter. I’ve found link partners and even possible business partners by spending the time to check them out and engage. Knowing them also helps me find them suitable services and products that match their needs. Make yourselves useful, folk! It’s no different from other parts of business in that respect.
People tend to think of Twitter as just another one-way affiliate belt – and that could well be its downfall.
Michael´s last blog ..Jazz à Juan to get boost for its 50th anniversary
Marcus Roman
Nov 19th, 2009
Great training, the best I’ve seen in the last few months. Great stuff you can use now and start applying – thanks a bunch – “speak to you soon”
Marcus Roman´s last blog ..7 Steps Every MLM/Network Marketer Should Take – Part II
Sugarshirl
Nov 22nd, 2009
Thanks Mark, great advice and I know that I shouldn’t just sit here and only read tweets and watch videos. I’ll try to be more active and personal thanks to your tips. Talk with you soon…
Later,
Sugarshirl
Duane
Nov 22nd, 2009
Hello Mark, Thank you for the tweet about: 10 Twitter-Secrets That Will Save Your Butt: I just came over from twitter to check this out. Excellent info
Thank you very much. Your friend on twitter.com/enollor
Duane´s last blog ..How To Monetize Twitter
Maria Parenteau
Nov 23rd, 2009
I like your generosity. God Bless you.
Kellie Stewart
Nov 30th, 2009
Hi Mark,
As usual your posts are very informative. I am guilty of not tweeting as often as I should. Definitely something to think about. Thank you for the great tips.
Kellie Stewart´s last blog ..Are You Living A Life of Purpose?
Herrin
Dec 7th, 2009
Mark, great list of ideas and important Twitter strategies.
You do need to check the spelling in this article though. It’s shocking.
Even in the rather too frequent sign-up form you have a couple of bad ones.
This will surely improve your conversion rate.
Keep trucking and thanks again.
Herrin´s last blog ..The System Is The Solution – The eMyth with Michael E Gerber
Mark
Dec 11th, 2009
I appreciate your comment and will check my opt-in form. Thanks Herrin.
Helen Fritzie
Dec 9th, 2009
Thanks for all the tips Mark! I was just reading info. on setting up
Twitter profile and Mastering the art of retweeting! All helpful
stuff! Where are all the alien looking pictures coming from?
They are cute, but since I can’t get my picture to come up on Twitter,
I guess I wil stick with the little Tweetie bird! :}
Talk to ya soon, Helen
Hassan Mikail
Dec 15th, 2009
some fantabulous tips…super thanks!