I may be biased, but I tend to think there are a lot of exciting things to talk about in the social media world. There seems to be a cool new tool or program coming out of Silicon Valley every other week or so. With the high-tech investment market so hot right now, I am hardly exaggerating. With that said, of all the awesome topics to discuss about social media, Twitter Lists have never really been one of them. I disagree. If used correctly, they can be a handy little tool.
Here are 5 Lists you should create today to get more out of Twitter.
1. News List
As a proud cord-cutter, I don’t have access to TV news, which I view as a positive. While I like that I don’t have the temptation to channel surf, I did lose access to what is going on in the outside world. Easy fix. I set up a Twitter List containing my favorite news outlets so I can do a quick scan of the days top news, up-to-the-second.
Pro Tip: Add a shortcut to your browser bar to go straight to this list.
2. Thought Leaders/Influencers
I use this to regularly check on my favorite industry influencers for interesting insights into my field and to find material to Retweet and share.
3. Industry News
Much like the regular News List, this is a really simple way to stay on the cutting edge of what is going on in your industry. Make sure to check this every once in a while to stay on top of any changes in your field. Retweet or share valuable information to position yourself as a valuable resource for those who follow you.
4. Prospects
This one is self-explanatory. Keep an eye on your sales prospects and make a point to engage with them when appropriate.
Disclaimer: It may be in your best interest to set this up as a Private List. This just means that no one else can see the list. Really cuts down on the creep factor.
5. Friends
Don’t skip over this one. The more people you get in your network, the deeper down your actual friends get buried. Add your close friends to this list and ask them to subscribe. Use it like a forum for everyone to stay abreast of what is going on in everyone else’s lives. Believe it or not, this was the original intention of social networks. Hard to believe, right?
Most people have no idea how valuable this tool can be. Start with these 5 lists and I would be willing to bet that you will end up with a few more. The possibilities are endless.
What kinds of lists do you plan on using/already use? I’m always eager to hear new ideas.
Great post, Reade. This is exactly how I set up my lists. Glad to see I’m doing it right. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it, Adam. Looks like we are on the same page on this one. That’s great!
Thanks, Reade. I used Tweetdeck for a while to review “lists.” I’ll try this and see if I can do better. I especially like the tag “thought leaders” — very helpful.
Glad you found it helpful, Glenn. I’ve never used Tweetdeck, myself, though I’ve heard it is good.