I follow the rule that says if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

Do You Want 10,000 Twitter Followers?

Well signing up for a service might get you 10,000 followers – but chances are it won’t give you a very responsive group – just a big number.

If you are going to  use social media for business, a non-profit, or just to connect with like minded people – you need real followers. This doesn’t happen overnight. It happens because you make an effort to reach out and touch people. That’s right, people, not numbers. The wonderful thing with social networking is it has given us the opportunity to build relationships on a scale never before seen. We can touch people instantly in all corners of the globe.

So how to get Twitter followers?

1. Be interesting – Yep, that’s right… Might be somewhere outside of your comfort zone but if you want people to listen – be interesting.
2. Be honest – Authenticity is the name of the game. It also gives you the opportunity to grow yourself. What a concept, right?!
3. Be attentive – to your followers wants and needs. Ask questions of what they are seeking and then give it to them.
4. Be active – Don’t Tweet once per week and expect to cultivate a real following. Tweet often (and be interesting. See #1).
5. Be cool – Follow people back. Starbucks and the Los Angeles Lakers are following me. Once you have more than a few hundred followers you can’t follow every conversation. That’s what the @ reply is for. But it sure does breed goodwill and you will  find gems in your time line!
6. Be a resource – Post links to good, useful articles (yours and other people’s).
7. Be inspirational – Spread light throughout your network by posting some good quotes – make people think and smile.

The benefit by growing your Twitter Following organically is that your list of followers will be responsive to your message. That’s why they checked you out in the first place, isn’t it?