Tweet It Forward: The Secret to Building an Invaluable Twitter Community

Recently I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how best to build your network on Twitter. I previously offered up some search strategies for finding your tweighbors. But after finding and following…where do you go from there? Not everyone finds jumping into the conversation that easy. And if you approach twits the wrong way you can end up being outcast as a marketer or spammer…or even worse in my opinion…BORING & SELFISH!

The best way I’ve found to foster community on Twitter is by being a community participant. If you want twits to interact positively with you, then you need to start by positively affecting others. But first, you better get organized.

TOOLS: One confusing aspect of Twitter is the noise factor! It’s true…there are plenty of uninspiring tweets. But maybe that’s because you’re not following the right twits.  When it comes to real estate, you often target market to a specific demographic. So if you’re investing time in building relationships online, consider taking more time to check out your twits before you follow. Before following, take a little time to glance at their profile, visit their Website, read their short bio or scan their recent updates. This gives you a better vision of WHO’s tweeting with you.

Once you gain a following…don’t be afraid to rely on a desktop app to better organize your community! Tweetdeck can easily assist in the categorization of your twits. And Peoplebrowsr is like Tweetdeck on steroids with a variety of group features for better targeting those with similar interests.

ACTIVE LISTENING: It might sound like a request from a first grade teacher…and you’re absolutely right! Active listening means you’re listening with your whole self….your eyes, your ears, your heart, your mind…no distractions! And, making mental notes along the way! By becoming a better listener you become a better communicator…making you more productive.  And if you learn to master your own communication skills, the easier it will be to leave lasting impressions on those you meet both online and offline.  And we all know how misunderstandings can occur from not being able to read someone correctly…especially with email or SMS.

So, you need to listen a lot! I do. In fact I’m lurking in the background and you don’t even know it. I’m taking it all in and thinking about how I can add to what’s being said or shared. I do this to gather details about those I’d like to connect with….so that connecting and communicating become more seamless than stuffy! Not to mention all the fun you’ll have learning about others!

TWEET IT FORWARD “TIF”: Active listening will afford you with the best option for building your network authentically….and that’s “tweeting it forward”.  When you listen to your followers you gain details (ladies…you know what I’m saying). Details give you insight into what your new friends like, dislike, need to know, want to learn, etc. So pick a time each day, to scan your followers tweets via Twitter itself or Tweetdeck categories. Better yet, use Twittersearch to find recent tweets related to your local area or interests. Once you’ve identified a couple of meaningful tweets…it’s time to access your resources (business and/or personal) and help!

Let me be crystal clear for a moment: the goal here is to share and add to the tweets you find meaningful. This is not thanking your retweeters. I’m specifically referring to helping those who haven’t helped you yet. For example, tweet about someone’s cause that you can also stand behind and help to spread the word. Answer twits with local questions that you can offer real advice for. If someone is looking for a specific resource for their business or is confused by something and needs a tip…be the one to kickstart their success or unscramble their confusion.  Even making a random Blip.fm dedication to a twit that’s having an off day can create viral happiness!

The more you surprise others with your helpfulness….the more lasting impressions you make. It’s that simple. And if you’re not sure…just ask yourself, “What would Chris Brogan do?”