Grow Your Followers On Twitter

Follow me on Twitter via WikipediaSomething I often get asked about Twitter is how to grow your followers.  It's relatively easy to grow the people you follow if you spend a few minutes a day actively finding people to follow but how do you get people to follow you?

Well, this might depend on whether you want to put a little time and effort in to Twitter and create a following organically or if you want to use some of the automation tools that are available.

Automation tools like TweetAdder will enable you to increase your followers based on certain filters but you may be playing the numbers game rather than building a targeted following.

Some people automatically follow you back when you Follow them, so that's one way to increase your Followers.

People are more likely to follow you if you have something interesting to say.

Have conversations, share information, re-tweet other people's tweets - if people see you engaging with people they follow, they're more likely to follow you.

Share information 80% of the time and 'sell' 20% of the time or less.

What goes around, comes around.  If you follow more people, the chances are more people will follow you.

Patience and persistence pay off.  Don't expect thousands of people to start following you as soon as you start using Twitter.  It does take time.

If you're not going to spend the time, don't get involved.  Think about your reasons for being on Twitter (or any other social media platform).  If you have an objective and a strategy, you're far more likely to get results and have people following you.

How are your boundaries?

Yet again I find myself in conversation with busy people who are at the beck and call of everyone and anyone and never seem to have enough time in their day.

STOP!  It doesn't have to be that way.

If you want to have better control of your business, then you need to be in control of your time.  That means you need to decide what you're going to do and when you're going to do it.

If you have people knocking on your door, phoning you up, making demands on you at any time of the day and night then you may need to create better (or some) boundaries around your time.

Many people are afraid of saying no to clients, customers and potential business but just because you say 'no', doesn't mean never, it just means 'not right now'.

If you set good boundaries, other people will respect your time and you'll be able to address their requests better.  You'll also have more time for your clients and customers because you'll be in control.

Related articles

• September Newsletter: Create Better Boundaries 

Networking Tips #19 Does Size Matter?

So, what size networking event should you aim for?

With the hundreds of networking groups available - they vary greatly in size, from small intimate groups to large gatherings.  This may come down to personal preference.

No matter how many people attend an event, you'll inevitably only get to talk to a handful, so it doesn't really matter whether there are 20 people in the room or 200.  Unless you're at a speed-networking event, where the aim is to 'meet' as many people as possible in a short space of time.

Larger groups tend to be more noisy and have more energy.  The hubbub of conversation means you often have to shout above the noise level of other conversations to make yourself heard.

With smaller groups you can have a conversation that involves a few people at a time.

It's more important to have a purpose to your networking (see previous posts) rather worry about how many people you may or may not get to meet at an event.

Remember to circulate but don't rush madly around the room trying to get to talk to everyone.  It's likely you'll talk to a handful of people you already know and a handful of new people.  Spend a few minutes having a meaningful conversation rather than a rushed hello and quick exchange of business cards - you'll probably get to talk to between 15-20 people.

Are the people in the room the kind of people you want to meet?  This is probably more important than the total number - although, remember - you don't know who they know.

What do you prefer - smaller, more select meetings where you get a chance to talk or larger groups?

Are you a quality or quantity sort of person?

Related articles

• Networking Tips #14 Any Time, Any Place, Any Where (clareevans.blogspot.com)
• Networking Tips #15 It's Not Who You Know (clareevans.blogspot.com)

Image: Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Volunteering: Hairy Bikers Meals On Wheels

The Hairy Bikers are on a mission to rejuvenate the aging (in more ways than one) Meals On Wheels service.

At it's peak the Meals on Wheels service provided over 34 million daily hot meals to the elderly and infirm but it's been dramatically reduced and it's not a service that is available across the country.  Different organisations provide the service for and on behalf of local councils.  Some people receive a hot meal or have frozen or ready meals and processed food delivered for them to heat up.

Dave and Si are out to improve the quality of the food on a very limited budget, by replacing frozen, processed ingredients with freshly prepared and cooked hot meals. They're also out to raise awareness of the service and to increase the number of volunteers, so that the service is there for those who need it both now and in the years to come and provide them with the vital contact, support and a little extra help.

The Meals on Wheels service is desperately in need of volunteers and without volunteers the service is under even more threat.  Most of the existing volunteers are from the older generation and some are older than the customers they serve.

It's the same with many organisations, they rely on the retired, who admittedly have more time on their hands to volunteer.

It doesn't take much and it doesn't require as much time as you might think. Just two hours once a fortnight would make a difference.

It's not just about the meals - it's providing a friendly face and regular contact with the elderly who aren't able to get out and about as much as they'd like.

Volunteers are needed in the kitchen to help with preparation and cooking and to help deliver meals each day

• It gives you a sense of purpose, boost your confidence and increases your self-esteem.
• It provides valuable work experience that could lead on to greater things.
• It fills the gap in your day.
• It provides an invaluable service

Can you spare the time?

Sign-up now and give as much or as little time as you can afford - every little helps and you could make a real difference.

Related Links:

Hairy Bikers Meal on Wheels (bbc.co.uk)
Hairy Bikers: Save Meals On Wheels (bbc.co.uk)
Volunteer Your Help (bbc.co.uk)

Watch the latest series on BBC2 at 9pm on Tuesday or catch previous episodes on BBC iPlayer

Networking - Should I Join BNI?

If you're in business and you network, the chances are you've come across BNI (Business Networking International).

They're a large global organisation that works on the premise of 'Givers Gain' and the core of their meetings fits around the referral process. Members refer and promote the other businesses within their 'Chapter'.

Someone asked a question about BNI on LinkedIn and I thought I'd share my answer here.

I've attended various BNI meetings but never actually joined - mainly because I don't like their closed way of networking and the pressure on referrals.

However, they do have some good points and judging by the number of other BNI style networking groups, they must be doing something right:

• Great training and a good way to learn about networking and how to refine your networking experience. Although there are so many other networking options around and plenty of free information on how to get the best from your networking.
• Many businesses seem to benefit from the referrals they receive within their group and this accounts for much of their business.
• You'll meet other businesses that will help your own business - printers, web designers, accountants etc.
• Works well for some businesses/professions - printers often do well and there is usually a waiting list for the solicitor, accountant, financial advisor positions.

Some things to consider if you're going to join BNI.

• Is it your target group of clients? While BNI membership varies from area to area - the one's I've attended are predominately made up of sole traders and small (micro) businesses.  Groups in larger towns and cities may have a different mix of companies.
• Only one person from each trade or profession can be represented in each group, not so good if you target a particular profession - like lawyers, accountants ...
• You need to commit to turning up every week. You can send a substitute but you're expected to be there week after week and your membership will be cancelled if you miss too many meetings.
• Consider the financial commitment. It costs around £1000 a year (£500 in membership and £10+ for each breakfast) - plus your time at the event and a commitment to follow-up after sessions, meet the other members and actively make the most of your membership.
• Because there's so much emphasis on referrals, there's pressure to give a referral at each meeting and many of these are either low value or will never amount to actual business. One of the reasons for dis-satisfaction with many of the ex-members I talk to.
• They hold regular Open Days when visitors are invited along to see what it's like. Go along and try it for yourself or go as a guest with someone you know.
• Talk to others in your industry to see how they've benefited from BNI and what the return on their investment has been in that time.  

What other networking opportunities do you have in your area?

Podcast: Writing Time Management For Dummies

My recent podcast with Steven Lewis on the process of writing Time Management For Dummies:

• The process of writing a Dummies guide
• Working with Wiley
• What to do if you've got a great idea for a Dummies Guide
• How to find time for writing
• Marketing the final product

September Newsletter: Create Better Boundaries

"One of the biggest factors in improving your time habits, is to create better boundaries for yourself and others.

Creating boundaries and setting expectations allows you to make better choices with your time and prevents misunderstandings and confusion.

Demands on your time come from many different directions - your boss, your colleagues, your staff, your partner, family, friends.

Make your boundaries clear, so people know what's acceptable and what's not and don't make assumptions ..."

Read the full article: 'Create Better Boundaries' in September's newsletter - here.

Register for the free monthly newsletter and get additional tips, information and resources to help grow your business and improve your work life balance direct to your inbox once a month - www.clareevans.co.uk.

Image: anankkml / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Related articles

• July Newsletter: Take Control Of Your Email 
• June Newsletter: How To Squeeze More Into 24hrs 

Networking Tips #18 Pay It Forward

Networking is a two-way process.  It's not just about what you can get from networking it's just as much about what you can give to your network.

Your network is a valuable resource of product and service providers.  You probably know people from a whole range of professions.  If someone requests an accountant or a book-keeper - why wouldn't you refer someone in your network?

After all, referring someone you already know and may have done business with yourself, is better than a random choice via the Yellow pages or Google.

The more you put in and the more you can refer other people, the more likely they are to refer you.  But don't do it just for that reason.

Many networking groups make referrals part of the way they run their groups.  Personally - I don't like this.  I prefer to be able to refer anyone I know and not just the one representative from my group who may not be the best or the most appropriate.

Mark Shaw (@MarkShaw) has a great idea - taking advantage of the power of Twitter by passing on requests for referrals to his followers using a specific hashtag #msrfr.  You may be able to help directly or someone following you may know someone who knows someone ...

When a client, customer or someone you meet out networking asks for, or is seeking help - take a look at your own network and see who you know who could help them out and give them the information they need.

Related articles

• Networking Tips #15 It's Not Who You Know (clareevans.blogspot.com)
• Networking Tips #12 Give It Time (clareevans.blogspot.com)

Image credit: manostphoto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net