How to Use The List Function in Twitter
© Duchess O’Blunt, 2010; all rights reserved.
Twitter Lists
Twitter Lists - What Are They?
A Twitter List is a simple but powerful tool. Not only for you who built the list, but for others who follow you and have similar interests.
For example, our own Lady_E of HubPages has built 10 lists and has been listed on 15 lists. For those who follow Lady_E on Twitter, you are able to see her public lists simply by by checking out her "lists".
She has set herself up a list that helps her keep track of her friends on HubPages, Redgage and Squidoo. (I chose this list, because I am on it) LadyElenaUK:
Because I really like Lady_E on HubPages, I have chosen to follow this list she has taken the time to put together. She has put together a group of like minded Twitterers, and I think I will probably enjoy them as well (19 at the time of writing this hub). This list now shows 1 person following (that would be me). That number will grow as people become more aware of it and decide to follow it as well.
By following her list, I have just increased the number of people I am following by the number of people in her list. As her list grows, so does the number of people I follow.
By following her list, I have increased her exposure on Twitter to my followers, and by having me on her list, she has increased my exposure on Twitter to her followers.
It's now viral, and we shall see where it leads us.
Twitter Lists - Why Use Them?
Many people have more than one profile on Twitter and each of those profiles are built for a specific purpose in mind.
I have considered building separate profiles for Twitter to keep my work separate from my social networking and from my personal/family usage.
I think the List tool might give me the reason not to. I am already on so many social media sites, connected with 100's of people and following blogs, authors, writers and favorites, that adding another profile to Twitter is not something I am interested in doing.
I think this "list" thing might be just the thing to separate work, from social, from personal.
Why I Built My Twitter Lists
Everyone is on twitter it seems, so keeping track of what they are doing can be done simply by following them. But the number soon becomes ridiculously high and begins to seem daunting and unmanageable.
I remember when I first signed up for Twitter I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to use it. It took me months before I realized that I actually WAS signed in. That little box at the top wasn’t something else I had to do to go farther in the site, it actually WAS the site.
Now of course, their format is copied all over the place because it has become so well known as a very quick way to send updates. HubPages even has something similar in their Feed.
When I signed up for Twitter, my intention was to attract mega traffic to my website, so I started to follow all kinds of people. Don’t have a clue who they were, but I followed them! And I was excited every single time someone followed me back. Yea! I was getting close to 100. Then close to 500, and so on. Now, I am more selective and the list feature helps keep those I do follow a little more organized.
Twitter Tips
- Tweeting with Zombies
A short conversation with author Jonathan Maberry about Twitter and the Undead.© 2008 TwiTip Twitter Tips. Tweeting with Zombies - 8 months ago
- Twitter’s New Ad System REVEALED
How Twitter Can Make $Billions and $Billions/Year from Ads Alone© 2008 TwiTip Twitter Tips. Twitter’s New Ad System REVEALED - 10 months ago
- 3 Creative Tools For Power Twitter Users
There are a lot of tools for Twitter out there. We’ve all heard of the big ones: that’s not what this post is going to entail. What I’d like to dive into are some creative tools for... - 10 months ago
I find I use the list feature more and more as I get used to it. And I also find that I go to those lists when I am looking for something specific. Here’s what I mean.
I am following a list I have called durham-region. This is a list of folks who live and/or work in the durham region. I have found them through other websites, and because they are local, I like to keep track of them. By following them you do a couple things:
- It allows you to keep on top of what is happening in your community because most people who are used to the marketing scene, know that popping something quick up on twitter with a link to more information will get you some traffic. How much of course, depends on how much you use the site.
- It provides me with the opportunity to show some love and give them some traffic to their websites. For local business, that’s a very good thing.
- It let’s me see what others in the local community think about another local events that are happening. It’s like having your own personal survey results at your fingertips. Yellow Pages and Survey Monkey all rolled into one.
Social Media Tips
- Social Media's Big Three - How effective are they?
Are you Tweet? Are you LinkedIn? Do you Facebook? Those questions that would not have even made sense 10 years ago are questions that are asked almost daily today. Social Networking, is a marketing... - Social Networking - How It works
If you are new to Social Networks, you couldn't have picked a better place to start than right here at HubPages. This is Social Networking at its best. You can quickly learn what to do and what not to do... - What to Consider when Building Your Social Community
Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, My Space, You Tube: Anyone using these social media realizes that a great deal of time is required to see a return on your investment even though social media has fast become a... - Building a Social Network? You Need the Right Provider
Building a Social Networking community takes much more than just a great idea to be successful. Choosing a service provider for your site or building the site from scratch is one of the most difficult...
I am Listed on Twitter, Is That a Good Thing?
If you are being followed on a list - that is very good. What that means is that others who might decide to follow that list will then be following you. Smile because that is easy, added exposure.
I suppose there are some blackball lists you'd like to stay off of, but for the most part, being listed is generally a good thing because it gives you extra exposure.
It's a numbers game you play when you are working toward an online revenue stream of any kind. Numbers, links, back-links, recognition and exposure. Being "Listed" on Twitter can be a very good thing when you are out here to play that game.
Do I Follow Them Back?
When someone adds you to their list you are notified on your home page by the number under “listed”. You will see numbers for: Following, followers and listed.
Deciding to "follow back" is always a personal preference. You must make that decision based on your own set of criteria, and the reason you are a part of Twitter.
When people follow you, it is not a requirement that you follow them back. You determine who you want to follow and why. And if you follow a list that is following you - yes you will see tweets from everyone on that list.
The same is true for lists. In most cases, if you are "listed", you will want to find out who else is on that list. Following that list - if it is relevant to your business or your personal choices, is likely a good idea. But again, ultimately up to you.
Note added from a fan thank you bizchickblogs
. . . the one thing that should be noted is that when you follow a list, you are not "following" all of those people on the list. So your following number doesn't actually increase. You get their updates, but you are not actually following them. It's a way to "follow, without following."
Why Would You Want to Build Twitter Lists?
Well, I expect there are as many reasons as there are lists. But the most common reasons that I can think of is to help make twitter a little less cumbersome. Creating lists can also help you separate the personal from the professional.
Lists defaults to "public" when you first start it, but you can mark your lists as private if they are for your personal lists - like friends and family.
Or your can use the Twitter List function in a more powerful way for your business. Typically, building a list on Twitter is good for business - it truly is one of those "win-win" situations. I have yet to find a downside to it.
What it all boils down to is this - Numbers. You build lists, others find them and follow them. You create more numbers for you, more numbers for them. You get listed, other people follow you that you might never have found before. Simply put - using the Twitter List tool correctly, and with a purpose in mind, is a good way to build your number of followers.
Question from a Fellow Hubber
I am still "new" enough to be thrilled when a fellow hubber asks me a question. It makes me think I just might have something to say. So, a big thank you to Karen Banes for asking this question of me.
"I'm still finding my way round Twitter and don't understand the idea of lists. There are a couple of lists following me. Do I follow them back? If I do will I see tweets from everyone on the list - some of whom may have very different interests from me? I'm confused!"
To Karen - thank you for having the guts to ask a question that I have been asking myself for awhile. I actually had to go and do some research to find out what I am going to write. That was a great process for me, so a special thank you again for asking the question.
Comments
Thanks Winsome, the business one works well for your local community, and thanks for the Kudos
Wow Duchess, what a very informative and useful Hub. I blushed reading my list here. Thanks for mentioning my name. :) You explained the Hub in such detail and it's easy to understand.
The most Beneficial thing to me about the lists is that, I don't miss important Tweets. Some people Tweet so much (e.g 5 in 1 minute) As followers grow, tweets whiz past so fast or sometimes I don't have time to log in. So, e.g if I'm looking for something uplifting. I just click on my Angels of Inspiration list and find tweets that have been sent. (these are all positive, inspirational quotes).
This Hub will be so useful to lots of Twitter users.
Best Wishes.
Thanks Lady_E. I certainly hope it answers the question that I was asked! And your comments are a great addition. Thank you.
Thanks for the info on Twitter lists Duchess, I use them, but have never really been sure what they were really all about. Interesting Hub.
Duchess thanks for this Hub. Twitter baffles me. I need a "Twitter for Dummies" tutorial beyond just this Hub. I had no understanding of how twitter could work before reading this Hub. Your explanation about lists and general twittering helped me. Thanks
CMYphno, I used them too, but often wondered if they were useful outside of keeping myself organized
WildIris: To be the phenomenon that is Twitter still baffles me at times. But, I do try to keep up. It's not always easy for an old gal. :)
This is an informative article on how to Use The List Function on Twitter. Thanks for sharing this piece of writing. 5* plus recommendation!
thank you OnlineHub. Appreciate the recommendation
Thanks so much for this Duchess. I honestly couldn't find this information clearly laid out anywhere online, especially on Twitter! I love your writing style and, as I'm folowing you on Twitter, noticed you're using the list function so though I'd put in a request. This was just what I needed. Will be bookmarking and reccommending to other Twitter newbies!
Duchess - I suppose that if I were to set up (join, etc.) lists on that "Twitter" place I would have to divvy them up into categories: Pinknecked Rednecks, Freckled Rednecks, NotVeryRednecks, NoNeckRednecks, Yankee Rednecks, Unwashed Necks, and so forth. I'd wind up with more categories than there are people on earth. "Twitter" does not have the necessary bandwidth to support such a load. That takes care of that!
Gus ;-)
I have now been educated in twitter wow. I always wondered what that list feature was for. This was great!
I do not use twitter as often as other people use it but i think that the lists feature is a great add-on for twitter. Great hub that I hope will make other twitter users understand better the lists feature.
Hi Karen. I’m so happy you found the information useful. I wanted to do justice to your question for you and for me. Thank you again for your vote of confidence in me. I’m still smiling over that.
Gus, my old redneck friend...I so love your sense of humor – it’s as big as your heart is. And I have to agree with you - Twitter just doesn’t have the band width to deal with something that big.
JannyC, Thank you! It’s always nice to hear from you. I really hope it was helpful.
Theboxmeister, twitter certainly takes some getting used to. At least I found it that way. Not sure I’m used to it yet, nor do I think I use it to its fullest potential, but I hope to get there someday. I hope you found this article useful.
Duchess, Thank you researching and explaining twitter. I post on there and have followers but didn't even know about the lists. This has been a very enlightening hub.
that's good Pamela99. Very good
Thanks! This will help me.
Great article and explanation of "twitter lists". I'm on it but haven't played around with the list yet...
SamanthaSam, You are welcome
Nancy's Niche There's no time like the present to get started.
Duchess, thanks so much for clearing up the issue of how to use the list function on twitter, who has the time to dig into finding out about all the latest changes and features, thanks so much for doing the research and finding the answer. Peace :)
My pleasure katiem2 :)
Thanks for the much-needed lesson!
Thanks for the info. I have been on twitter for a short time and had no idea what lists where or that it was a good thing that I am allready on a list.
This is great info but the one thing that should be noted is that when you follow a list, you are not "following" all of those people on the list. So your following number doesn't actually increase. You get their updates, but you are not actually following them. It's a way to "follow, without following."
I use Lists quite frequently, and one of the ways I use them is to decide who I am more likely to retweet. This way, out of the 3000+ people I am following/being followed by, I have 20 or so that I bond with and tend to retweet more often.
Cheers,
Tia
habee you are very welcome.
johnyater - If you are listed, that’s a good start.
bizchickblogs Thank you for your added insight! I hope you don’t mind if I add your comment to the article so everyone can see it.
Really useful! Pat has been on Twitter for 6 months (as looklovely), mainly to promote our website. Tricia also has a Twitter account, but doesn't use it much. Both of us just sort of blunder about, so this explanation of lists is helpful, and might get us more organised.
Pat (as Looklovely) is already following you on Twitter - just checked.
Thanks.
Thank you 2patricias. I have just gone and looked up Looklovely. Now following and have her listed under my HubPages list.
I hope this was truly helpful!
For someone who is an absolute Twitter Twit I found this hub most helpful! Thank You!
Psssst raisingme - I'm a bit of a twitter twit myself. Learning as I go. :)
Hi Dutchess - I love Twitter and love the 'extra' interaction that goes on over there. Actually I was just on Twitter and loved your morning quote that I Retweeted it :) And now after I vote this excellent Hub upwards and useful I think I may have to go share this one:))
Wavegirl22-thanks for the retweet and the vote on my hub! All are welcome and appreciated.
Great advice. I never use about the list of twitter. I hope it useful for us. I learn much from you. Thank you very much.
Prasetio
prasetio30, I hope it is useful for you as well.
great information thank-you, I am going to get my list going know that I know how to do it!!!
thank you dawnM, I'm glad you found the information useful
Finally an explanation I can grasp. I'm a total loss when it comes to Twitter functions so this will definitely help me out. I find my Twitter use is erratic but I keep getting followers. Now perhaps I'll know how to organize them. Thank you DuchessOB.
PegCole17 - I'm glad it was helpful. I too don't use Twitter to it's advantage. When I was asked this question, I thought, what better reason to try and figure it out! Good luck with your organization.
Thankyou for educating me about Twitter. Currently I have a personal page on Facebook but have never used Twitter. Am interested in looking at the lists options
I'm still in the learning stages myself Baileybear, but getting there. The lists actually do work well.
okay sounds like I can actually do that! good one! Sending it to stumble for some traffic blessing to come your way!
LOL Rebecca, I'd be very surprised if you haven't already started this one! Thank you for the bub love!
Thanks for the wonderful information. I have been lost as to how to use Twitter. I bookmarked and voted useful. I am proud to become your follower.
Hi KoffeeKlatch Gals. Thank you for the vote, and for becoming a follower. I appreciate your words of encouragement. It's always nice to know you have been helpful.
Hi, thanks for this info, I was wondering what it was and how to use it, you have also given me so many ideas for twitter, I was literally only using it in the original way, great rated up, thanks nell
Absolutely my pleasureNell. Thanks for the kudos!
Thanks so much for the information about Twitter lists. This was just what I was looking for. I haven’t been on Twitter for very long and am just using its basic functions at the moment. I’ve been put on a RedGage list which made me wonder how to use the list function. Your hub explains this well.
AliciaC - thanks for the comment. I'm always happy to hear when something I have said or done is helpful to someone else.
The list function has actually been quite useful for me since I figured out how to use it. I'm glad it's a little more clear for you.
You might want to consider using it to build your own RedGage or HubPages lists as well. It's a good way to get to know more people in your chosen online communities.
Hi Duchess, your advice and information on Lists is so helpful. I love the way you explain it. I'm not a technical person, but am on Twitter too. Now that I know and understand the Lists function, I am glad to spend some time creating them. Thank you! I hope you get tons of people reading your hub! Such useful information!
Hi mwatkins. I'm not a technical person either, so trying to explain something that is a little on the technical side takes some thinking. I'm happy if it was explained well enough to be of use to anyone else, as that was the purpose. And thank you for your kind words
Thank you so much for this hub. I too have a twitter, and saw this list thing. Never knew what it was about, and frankly was intimidated by it. So now, I might give it a try... (hint you can follow me there at twitter too hehe... same screen mame of etower036. again thanks..
You are welcome etower036 - It can all be intimidating at first.
I did indeed add you to my twitter list for hubpages. Hint. Build yourself a profile here and add your contact information for places like Twitter and facebook. Makes it much faster to connect if there is an interest.
great article! I am trying to figure things out on twitter. Very helpful!
thanks viversperando. Good luck
Lots of great information. Thanks for sharing.
a pleasure Becky
Thanks so much for this useful info, I'm still fairly new to twitter.
Hi Tia Maria - thanks for dropping in. I hope it was indeed helpful. Twitter can be very confusing
I always find it fascinating (and sometimes funny) to see the names of the lists people put my twitter in.
Too true Truthinaging. It often gives me a good chuckle.
Winsome 23 months ago
Great exercise here Duchess--both mental and social. Thanks for the jump-start, I like the idea of a list for community events and business relationships. Rating you up. =:)