I like how you covered three things not to do on Twitter with clarity and compassion. By explaining what not to do, you also explained what to do: build relationships over a long period of time through shared communication. Great job!
Shama,
I guess the only tip I might differ with you a bit on is tip #2. I recently read an article that said some of the most re-tweeted tweets are those that contained a call to action, including “pls retweet”.
While I understand your point, wouldn’t you agree that sometimes the best way to get your message spread is to actually request that it be spread?
Good point! Yes, sometimes “a please RT” is fine. For example, raising money for charities or help finding a lost child (has been done on Twitter before!). But, my problem is more with people sending direct message asking for retweets and votes. Do you know what I mean?
Interesting video, some really good common sense thinking. Given your “don’t” of not selling via Twitter, what do you make of the Dell case study where they generated $1m using discounts and promotions? Surely offering people a unique promotion is actually providing value as long as you set the expectations right from the start?
Shama, absolutely! In fact, a Twitter coach named Mike Wesely who hosts almost daily Twitter info sessions on http://twittalk.tv gives serious warnings against Twitter DM’s. His approach with which I agree is that your tweets should be of interest to the general community or at least “shareable” with the general community. When you DM, you should ask yourself, “why can’t I just send this publicly?”
Great video Shama. Thanks so much for keeping us educated!
Shama,
Another great video. I hate people who try and market their wares or are excessively worried about getting people to retweet their stuff. Another thing I would suggest doing is being yourself, and sharing links!
Thanks Shama for an excellent summary of 3 Twitter Dont’s.
Last week I found myself doing don’t number 1. Not so much because I believed I would get that many new followers. I try always look into new approaches on how to get new qualified followers. Well, I discovered the point you made and found out I had rushed to fast into something that many labeled as a scheme. Was a Twitter rookie mistake, and it took me some days to make up for that.
So getting my self back to Twitter basics again. This was a great reminder on some of the things I am working on now.
Your site is bookmarked and I’ll retweet your tweet.
Good work. I like your approach and I’m talking about the whole idea behind this website. I have studied marketing and from all my experience I can say that since you are really providing VALUE for visitors TIME, you will succeed.
This whole social media thing is changing the web already. In fact for me it outweighs the search engine traffic and brings me more targeted traffic.
You know the only thing cooler than someone who avoids these things is someone who learns from them! Kudos to you. Thank you for your honesty. And yes, I think you will see more genuine results using Twitter basics.
I think Dell has a certain advantage. People already know (and perhaps trust?) the brand. And, I also see Dell doing a lot of human to human contact. When you add discounts into the mix, that works. It’s not “spam.” But, when that’s ALL you do-that’s spam. Make sense?
Shama, I’ve observed these 3 mistakes on Twitter. Most seem to be done by people new to Twitter. I think as you say – Twitter is for sharing. Share your links, your ideas, your thoughts. You can even share some frustration, just don’t rant. Use the same rules you learned in grade school – Share and be nice!
Nice episode Shama. I think its good to be good on twitter or other social network. I really liked the way you summed up the whole essence of twitting..and well “spamish” was a good word..
Wow… Shama, please don’t stop! I’m so grateful for your wisdom and am learning so much. I’d love to be your intern.
I’ve done so many things where each could have been a life career in itself. My problem is getting focused on a direction for my efforts. How did you decide your career was New Media Marketing and form a strategy to accomplish all this?
Great tips Shama. My growth on Twitter has been slow, but steady. I’m happy with that though because I strongly advocate quality or quantity. While my use of Twitter is by no means perfect (I don’t tweet very regularly), I’m happy to say that I haven’t committed any of your “Twitter don’ts”!
(I miss the music on your video ~ I loved that tune!)
*slap on the side of the head* I just realized this was not new video and your music has been added since then! And I also mean to say “quality OVER quantity”! Ooops!
Hi Shama, I am new to using Twitter and I really appreciate your three tips in the video. I also appreciate your newsletter. To your continued success, Lynda
Great video & good training. BTW ‘Hyder’ or ‘Kabani’ doesn’t change ‘Shama’…. You are right in saying that your brand name in Internet Marketing is Shama and the last name won’t change any value of that brand!
Thanks for the vid. I’m with you on ‘do not’ use software for generating a list of followers. Totally uncool and empty. We don’t do that in real life. Can you imagine if we did? :0
Shama: I look forward to your messages every other week! This one on Twitter-ing was terrific. I’m getting ready to add it to our communications tools. I also shared it with our wedding industry partners in my monthly newsletter — following your protocols, of course! Thanks for the value you deliver!
Shama Kabani (formerly Shama Hyder) has been dubbed "an online marketing shaman" and "a millennial master of the universe" by Fast Company. She is the President of The Marketing Zen Group, a full service web marketing firm. When not working directly with clients, Shama travels the world speaking on social media marketing.
Have a burning question you want addressed on the show? Marketing or otherwise? Ask Shama.
Want to work with Shama and her team? Check out The Marketing Zen Group, a full service web marketing firm, run by Shama and her world class team. Looking for a speaker? Want Shama to come speak at your event? Check out Shama's speaking page.
February 16th, 2009 at 11:45 am
I like how you covered three things not to do on Twitter with clarity and compassion. By explaining what not to do, you also explained what to do: build relationships over a long period of time through shared communication. Great job!
February 16th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Thanks Ken! = ) You summed up my message pretty well!
February 16th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Shama,
I guess the only tip I might differ with you a bit on is tip #2. I recently read an article that said some of the most re-tweeted tweets are those that contained a call to action, including “pls retweet”.
While I understand your point, wouldn’t you agree that sometimes the best way to get your message spread is to actually request that it be spread?
February 16th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Hi Matt-
Good point! Yes, sometimes “a please RT” is fine. For example, raising money for charities or help finding a lost child (has been done on Twitter before!). But, my problem is more with people sending direct message asking for retweets and votes. Do you know what I mean?
February 16th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Interesting video, some really good common sense thinking. Given your “don’t” of not selling via Twitter, what do you make of the Dell case study where they generated $1m using discounts and promotions? Surely offering people a unique promotion is actually providing value as long as you set the expectations right from the start?
February 16th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Shama, absolutely! In fact, a Twitter coach named Mike Wesely who hosts almost daily Twitter info sessions on http://twittalk.tv gives serious warnings against Twitter DM’s. His approach with which I agree is that your tweets should be of interest to the general community or at least “shareable” with the general community. When you DM, you should ask yourself, “why can’t I just send this publicly?”
Great video Shama. Thanks so much for keeping us educated!
February 16th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Shama,
Another great video. I hate people who try and market their wares or are excessively worried about getting people to retweet their stuff. Another thing I would suggest doing is being yourself, and sharing links!
February 16th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Thanks Shama for an excellent summary of 3 Twitter Dont’s.
Last week I found myself doing don’t number 1. Not so much because I believed I would get that many new followers. I try always look into new approaches on how to get new qualified followers. Well, I discovered the point you made and found out I had rushed to fast into something that many labeled as a scheme. Was a Twitter rookie mistake, and it took me some days to make up for that.
So getting my self back to Twitter basics again. This was a great reminder on some of the things I am working on now.
Your site is bookmarked and I’ll retweet your tweet.
Cheers..
February 16th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I will try to “A-w-oid” those three things. Still 2% FOB I see!
February 16th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Shama,
Good work. I like your approach and I’m talking about the whole idea behind this website. I have studied marketing and from all my experience I can say that since you are really providing VALUE for visitors TIME, you will succeed.
This whole social media thing is changing the web already. In fact for me it outweighs the search engine traffic and brings me more targeted traffic.
Thanks for this video. keep up the good work.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Shama,
Nice video. Good common sense ideas for all social relationships. I look forward to more of your ideas.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Thanks Dale! I appreciate you watching. : )
February 17th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Very cool! Always a pleasure to hear that someone is really getting the social media “thing!” = )
February 17th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
hahaha. Yes, you caught me. Although, I think it’s 10% still.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Hi Are,
You know the only thing cooler than someone who avoids these things is someone who learns from them! Kudos to you. Thank you for your honesty. And yes, I think you will see more genuine results using Twitter basics.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Hey Gavin – Fabulous addition as always. Thank you!
February 17th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Hi James,
I think Dell has a certain advantage. People already know (and perhaps trust?) the brand. And, I also see Dell doing a lot of human to human contact. When you add discounts into the mix, that works. It’s not “spam.” But, when that’s ALL you do-that’s spam. Make sense?
February 21st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Shama, I’ve observed these 3 mistakes on Twitter. Most seem to be done by people new to Twitter. I think as you say – Twitter is for sharing. Share your links, your ideas, your thoughts. You can even share some frustration, just don’t rant. Use the same rules you learned in grade school – Share and be nice!
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:57 am
Hi Brenda – Excellent observations. Nothing wrong with sharing a frustration once in a while, but the aim should be productive. : )
February 28th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Nice episode Shama. I think its good to be good on twitter or other social network. I really liked the way you summed up the whole essence of twitting..and well “spamish” was a good word..
Cheers!
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Thanks Suhel and welcome to our community! : )
March 25th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Hey Shama, that’s what I call a great download of useful information. Keep on Socializing. Thanks
April 28th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Wow… Shama, please don’t stop! I’m so grateful for your wisdom and am learning so much. I’d love to be your intern.
I’ve done so many things where each could have been a life career in itself. My problem is getting focused on a direction for my efforts. How did you decide your career was New Media Marketing and form a strategy to accomplish all this?
April 29th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Hi Christie,
Glad to hear it! You have to look at your innate talents and then enhance with skills. I was “born” digital – but had a passion to match it!
June 30th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Great tips Shama. My growth on Twitter has been slow, but steady. I’m happy with that though because I strongly advocate quality or quantity. While my use of Twitter is by no means perfect (I don’t tweet very regularly), I’m happy to say that I haven’t committed any of your “Twitter don’ts”!
(I miss the music on your video ~ I loved that tune!)
June 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
*slap on the side of the head* I just realized this was not new video and your music has been added since then! And I also mean to say “quality OVER quantity”! Ooops!
June 30th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Hi Shama, I am new to using Twitter and I really appreciate your three tips in the video. I also appreciate your newsletter. To your continued success, Lynda
June 30th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Hi Shama! Great video! Thanks for saying what you did – I’ve wondered about some of that and get tired of it.
FYI/edit: on the right column where you have — Shama Hyder — note that you have 2 “a’s” before “millinial master… ” Reads funny (not ha-ha funny!)
… has been dubbed “an online marketing shaman” and a “a millienial
Blissings on you and your great works!
Kim
June 30th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Hi Shama
Great video & good training. BTW ‘Hyder’ or ‘Kabani’ doesn’t change ‘Shama’….
You are right in saying that your brand name in Internet Marketing is Shama and the last name won’t change any value of that brand!
Keep smiling.
Deepak
July 1st, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Great video Shama, thanks. We are new to twitter and have gotten involved in it mostly due to your advice. Thanks again.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Thanks Shama! These videos are perfect to send to new clients. Good info!
July 1st, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Thanks for the vid. I’m with you on ‘do not’ use software for generating a list of followers. Totally uncool and empty. We don’t do that in real life. Can you imagine if we did? :0
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:46 am
Shama: I look forward to your messages every other week! This one on Twitter-ing was terrific. I’m getting ready to add it to our communications tools. I also shared it with our wedding industry partners in my monthly newsletter — following your protocols, of course! Thanks for the value you deliver!
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 am
Thanks Carol! Glad the information is useful to your group. = )
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 am
hehe. Funny image! I could walk up to you and say “i will now follow you.” You’d say “i will now file a restraining order” = )
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 am
Crystal – A pleasure! : )
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:04 am
Mark – That is fabulous. You will find it a useful platform!
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 am
Hi Deepak,.
Thanks for the confirmation. = )
- Shama
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Kim -
Thank you for your keen observation. Fixed! = )
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Lynda – A pleasure! And welcome to my community. It is full of smart and kind people like yourself. = )
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:07 am
Stephanie: = ) Glad to have you here!
July 17th, 2009 at 4:11 am
Thanks Shama for valuable advice. I’m from India and have joined Twitter recently. So your advice is all the more welcome.