How to be good at Twitter if you suck at it.

I created this guide because every other entry level article I have seen online relating to Twitter marketing is filled with way to much BS and not enough meat. I like eating meat. Especially good meat. Like Wagyu Beef. I also like winning and I am sure you and your homies do as well. Anyways, this is a straight forward outline that even your Grandma would understand on how you can truly and successfully generate more relevant followers, increase your Klout score and get listed like a MOFO on Twitter. 

Someone should create a YouTube channel  called “Epic Blog Time”, sort of as a rip off to “Epic Meal Time”, but focused on creating bad ass blog articles and this article could be a headliner episode.

Before I get into the nitty gritty, know this: Twitter, if you work at it, can be an insane tool to broadcast your message and leverage your audience to win at whatever it is you want to win at. Leverage for leads? Check. Leverage for insight? Check. Leverage for connections? Check. (I could add some more checks, but you get the picture. :P)

(Keep in mind I am writing this article assuming you have little to no followers and are relatively new to using Twitter, but you understand the basics. The approach and tactics outlined below will enable you to dive head first into an effective Twitter marketing campaign without wasting any time or having any questions on how/what to do.)

The Fundamentals:

Before you do anything, know your agenda. From a marketing & branding standpoint, what do you want to use Twitter for?

For example:
As a DUI Law Firm I would want to use Twitter to spread the word about my services and hopefully generate some leads.

As a non-profit association, I would want to use Twitter to gain an audience that can help me spread the word about my non-profit message and land some donations.

Four THINGS you can do to dominate:

1. Post lots of cool stuff, frequently

At minimum, post 5 cool “Original Content” tweets per day.  Post as many “Conversational Tweets” as you want. Conversing and connecting with new profiles will only benefit your agenda.

Conversational Tweet: By conversational tweet (on twitter known as a “reply”) I am referring to a tweet that begins with a mention of a user name. These particular posts will go directly to the profile mentioned. You could be replying to something they posted, or just sparking up a general conversation.

For example:

“@userprofile1 I think your article rocks. Have you seen anything else?“

Original Content Tweet: Something that you came up with on your own. Example of Original Content Tweet:  (If I was a DUI Law Firm from Wisconsin)

“If you or your buddy get’s busted drunk driving after the #Packer game speed dial 444-444-4444 for legal rep!!! @userprofile1 @userprofile2 #nfl #drunkdriving”

Couple things to notice in the above example tweet – You will notice the two user profiles at the end of the tweet (@userprofile1, @userprofile2). It is a good idea to include a couple profile mentions in your “Original Content Tweet”. You would want these to be “relevant” profiles that could potentially retweet what you just posted. By “@mentioning” them, you are basically telling those particular profiles, “…hey check this out; could be something you or your followers are interested in…” By “relevant” I am referring to a profile that you would benefit from associating with.

You will also notice the use of three different hashtags, one hashtag included in the middle of the tweet (#packers), and a couple thrown in at the end for good measure. (#nfl, #drunkdriving) Don’t be afraid to toss hash tags into the middle of a tweet in front of a generic or non-generic trending word/phrase/name. (I tossed it in front of #packers)

By trending, I mean a shit-load of people are conversing around that hashtag right now. By “non-generic” I am referring to a name, word or phrase that would otherwise be buried, but is trending.

Example of a generic hash tags:
#nfl
#gaming
#restaurant (words people generally associate with something that would be relevant for their tweet. These sort of generic hashtags will never be buried and people are always using them, especially during times when newsworthy events garner additional conversation around them)

Example of non-generic, trending hash tag:
#anthonyweiner (had he not sent his “weiner” to his twitter followers, the anthonyweiner hash tag would not have become popular. Thus, it is a non-generic, trending hash tag.)
#timcook (named CEO of apple after Steve Jobs resignation, so his name became a trending topic)

I personally use “Trendistic” (http://trendistic.indextank.com/) to check out daily twitter trending topics/hashtags.
It is useful to know what is trending each day so you can converse around those popular trending topics.

Including generic and non-generic hash tags in your posts will increase exposure dramatically and I recommend you do so in every "Original Content" tweet you post.

2. Follow lots of relevant profiles! (who follow you back)

Every day, search for and identify 50 twitter profiles that are relevant to you. Follow the shit out of them and send them a “Conversational Tweet” and let them know whassup. Avoid using generic responses – people can tell if you’re a robot. Be yourself, dog.

After 7 Days, rinse people who have not followed you back using http://www.friendorfollow.com/ or whatever other cool “unfollowing” tool that you know about.

You follow people that are relevant because you want them to follow you back.  If they do not follow you back, then move on.  Some people may disagree with this tactic, but it works and it keeps you connected only with those who “follow” your posts.

This is a war and every battle you win (getting a relevant user to follow your profile) brings you closer to reaching the main goal – which is to make a ton of money.  (Seems to be everyone’s goal… so just go with it.)

3. Get listed like a MOFO!

There are hundreds of thousands of legitimate lists on Twitter. Lists are sweet because if your profile get’s added to a list, your tweets automatically gain an audience from whoever is following that list.

Check out ListAtlas.com  to find popular, new and fast growing lists. Identify which ones you want to be listed in and start contacting the owners who created them.

For example:

“Hey @listcreator! I recently spoke at a conference related to your list. I would be honored if you added my name to the list. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.”

Getting “listed” is an instant way to add some sick numbers to your audience. More importantly, the audience that is following a list is typically rather tuned in… so when that audience begins picking up your tweets once you have been added to the list, they are even more likely to retweet or pay “extra” attention. Also, click this link. LOL…. (that had nothing to do with anything. Just wanted to get a good rick rolling into the article.)

4. Get Retweeted! (by relevant profiles)
Make it clear to your followers from the beginning, that if they retweet something you post, you will in return, retweet something they post.

For example:

You have a twitter follower with 10k followers. He posts something sweet, and you repost the shit out of it. In the meantime, you send him a quick “Conversational Tweet” and let him know you scratched his back and he should scratch yours.

Feel free to post Original Content Tweets a few times a week letting your followers know that if they “retweet you” you will “retweet” them!

Conclusion

I covered four unique areas that will help you #win. Twitter is a popularity contest. Politicians hold rally’s and speak on lots of “hot topics” to win support. They also stay true to their cause. You can effectively do the same thing on twitter and employ the same tactics.

Stay true to your Twitter “cause” and good things will happen. Followers will come, your message will be heard and the fruit of your labor will be plentiful.

To recap:
1. Post lots of cool stuff, frequently
2. Follow lots of relevant* profiles
3. Get listed like a MOFO
4. Get Retweeted!

Stay classy, my friends. I will follow this up with a guide tailored to more advanced strategy and tactics if the request is great enough. XOXO.

@zacharydbelow 

How Apple Sneakily Entered Into the Video Game Console Wars

As of March 2011, there are roughly 65,000 apps available for the iPad. Roughly 33% of those apps are games (20,000+).

In comparison, the PS3, Xbox 360 & Nintendo Wii have less than 5,000 playable titles ... combined. LOL?

The average price of a new PS3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii game? $50. The iPad? $1.99. Developing games for video game consoles is incredibly expensive and they are still very much tangibly purchased by consumers. Obviously Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are cognizant  of the cost savings related to selling their games digitally, but as of today, most are still purchased as hardcopies from a store.
Image via Wikipedia

Apple became a much more prominent and threat-worthy competitor to the console bigdogs with the release of HDMI output at 1080p resolution for the iPad2.

Anything and everything that you can view on your iPad2 can now be streamed in all of its glory in 1080p definition. I think this is the single most significant feature of the iPad2. Any existing game or app developed for the iPad2 is instantly competing with the multi-million dollar console titles which in some cases take 1+ year to develop and insane amounts of overhead. I could pound out a phenomenal iPad game in 30 days if I really, really gassed on it. Plus, I don't carry any monthly overhead once the game is finished, I don't have to worry about shipping costs & I can easily update it and add features available to all users anytime I want to.

Cover of NintendoWe are just starting to nibble on the potential of mobile & social games/apps. Angry Birds, one noteworthy smartphone game, could easily surpass 100 million PAID users in the near future - a distant target, but pretty frekkin obtainable. Like Mario was for the Nintendo, Angry Birds will be for mobile/tablet gaming.

The insane popularity, profitability and reach of games like Angry Birds across multiple mobile platforms & tablets will only continue to grow exponentially because of HDMI connectivity in devices such as the iPad2.

This is the beginning of a new gaming revolution - one that will be fueled by thousands of developers, quicker product releases & wide spread demographic adaptation. My Grandpa plays Angry Birds and my Mom plays Farmville. Can't say the same about Halo or Call of Duty.