Ruthanne Terrero Explains Why I “Unfollow” on Twitter…
If you’re like me, there are times you’ve followed various reporters or self-proclaimed industry “experts” on Twitter because you expect them to offer up their opinions on or inside info about their relevant areas of expertise. Much to your chagrin, weeks later you realize that said Twitterer is social-media handicapped and all you’ve learned about them is that they’re excited to see the return of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte this fall and their girlfriend had to take their puppy to the doggy E.R. last week. The result…unfollow.
There’s a group of journalists and reputable industry personalities who just don’t get Twitter and the potential it offers for personal branding. TravelAgent Central’s Ruthanne Terrero apparently noticed the same thing and wrote a great piece last week entitled, “You May Be Messing Up Your Twitter Strategy; Here’s How to Repair It,” in which she explains that, for many, Twitter has become “a personal social network and not a professional venue through which [they] can demonstrate [their] travel expertise.”
Ruthanne highlights ten tips to remedy one’s Twitter strategy. My favorites are:
1. Post links to interesting travel articles preceded by your own provocative and insightful comments.
2. You can also share useful information, say, if you read in your local paper that an interesting festival is coming up. You don’t always have to share a link. If you can say it in 140 characters, you’re all set.
3. Share practical travel advice you collect in the course of your personal travels or daily life. This could be transfer information from an airport to a hotel in a strange city or it might be a tip on how to get around your own town.
6. Don’t engage in casual conversation in the public timeline. Your followers don’t want to see isolated comments from you that say, “LOL, I never knew that!” This is alienating, not engaging.
8. You may have created a Twitter persona that’s meant to be a bit snarky. Nothing wrong with that, as that can be quite engaging, but don’t be overly snarky. You’ll become predictable all too soon.
I won’t be mean and call out any tweeps that have neglected to adhere to these easy-to-follow rules in the past. I will only hope that they take heed and make the “tworld” a better place for you and for me.
-Andréa S.
