From global trends to bookmarks, GIFs, and chats, Twitter has a bunch of great features. One of them, in particular, is often the most overlooked of them all: Lists. They’re open to interpretation. That’s why they’re also so confusing.
We invited social media strategist Rivka Hodgkinson to help us understand how best to use Twitter Lists. Here’s a summary of our chat.
Guest: Rivka Hodgkinson
Topic: Fundamentals of Twitter Lists
Format: Eight questions directed at the guest. Everyone’s welcome to answer.
One of the reasons that Twitter Lists are so under-utilized is because they don’t have a single defined purpose. They’re so versatile, and even though it makes the feature so much more useful, it’s also become rather vague. People don’t know what to use it for.
In its essence, like Jeremy pointed out, Twitter Lists help you organize your feed in a custom manner. So not only do you get to handpick the content you want to see, you can also see content from people you don’t follow explicitly—excellent way to monitor competition and influencers.
Q1: I think that there are many purposes.
-A way to organize your Twitter content.
-Method to store cool and engaging content.
-A means to track fun content creators and information. #TwitterSmarter— Jeremy Linaburg (@jeremy_linaburg) February 27, 2020
You can use a list to compile a group of people for your own reference. It could be your weekly swing dance group, close friends, or even your high school mates. But that’s only one way of using Lists. Another way is to create a group of industry influencers so you can keep with their content more effectively instead of looking them up on your crowded feed.
A1: Twitter lists can serve several purposes, from helping you curate content, to connecting with potential clients, to highlighting influencers. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/0hEmQqJaoC
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
That’s why it’s quite important to know what you’re going to do with your list, well before you create one.
A1: Before you start building a list, you need to know what your purpose is for having the list. It can be for your information only, or as a way to share your skills with others. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/0hEmQqJaoC
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
Knowing its purpose helps you build your business plan accordingly and change course of action in case your competition did something noteworthy that you want to leverage.
Here are a few more ideas of what you can do with Twitter Lists.
A1: What do YOU want to do with Twitter lists? Be intentional and keep the end in mind. #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/qx4q0OVTXf
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
The problem we have most often is that our feeds are a constant whirlwind of information. Lists are the solution.
A2: Using a list gives me content that is laser-focused on a goal or a content area. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/RW4ZEWJBFB
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
Think about it this way: your feed contains tweets from everyone you follow. Now, we don’t follow everyone for the same reason. Some we follow for their industry news, some for family matters, some because they’re colleagues and it’s awkward to walk past them at work if you’re not following them on Twitter.
Add Twitter’s algorithm of “suggested for you tweets” and “similar profiles,” and the struggle is real.
A2: My feed is totally up to the mercy of Twitter algorithms, whereas on my lists I have control over what I am seeing. #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/a8cLpHTfTD
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
On the other hand, with a custom list, you have complete control over whose content you see and engage with.
Our friends from OnePitch explained how a list is a great way to have a focussed conversation on one particular industry or interest.
A2: Our feed is a more generalized place for our followers and those we follow. Our lists break up those within that general feed so that we can interact with them more closely and get an ever-greater understanding of community and industry conversations! #TwitterSmarter
— OnePitch (@onepitchsaas) February 27, 2020
Imagine your feed is a large party, where as the host, you know everyone and genuinely want to interact with each person. However, in any party, you’ll have clusters of people with similar interests engaging with each other. That’s what Lists are for. It doesn’t mean that you’re disrespecting other party-goers, but it just means that you’re allocating time and effort to each group that you care about.
Avery summed it up quite well.
A2.
Feed = a really loud party (hard to find your friends)
List = a nice conversation with a group of people out on the balcony#TwitterSmarter— Avery Horzewski (@averyh) February 27, 2020
If you’re looking to learn more about Twitter Lists and how to use them, check out this article from Madalyn.
The easiest way to add people to a list is right when you decide to follow them. If you already have established goals and lists, you can categorize this new person into one of your lists.
A3: Most of the time I add people to a list when I first follow them if they fit into one of my strategic goals. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/wVkeeSFrM7
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
Sometimes, though, as is the case with our guest, you don’t know right away if someone fits your list. That’s why it’s so important to dedicate time to developing relationships with people on Twitter. The more you engage with someone, the more you learn about their interests and areas of expertise.
A3: I also add people to lists as I build relationship with them. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/wVkeeSFrM7
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
Chris also pointed out that you can add people to either private or public lists based on your relationships. For instance, you can create a public list of all #TwitterSmarter chat regulars, and a private list of potential clients you might want to reach out to later for business.
A3: Depends on nature of the relationship, it may be entry into a public list for communities or private list for more direct 1-2-1 contact and business prospects.
I suggest leveraging special "A" lists for hot prospects and existing customers 😉 #TwitterSmarter
— Chris Dack (@chrisgdack) February 27, 2020
Nope. If they have a public profile on Twitter, it means they’re comfortable with you adding them to your list. All content is public anyway.
A4: You don’t need someone’s permission to add them to your list. However, you might want to share with them that you value their content as a way to build relationship. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/XnI661hmW4
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
As our guest suggested, if you do add someone to your list, you can let them know as a way of initiating conversation. It’s a good way to develop friendships.
However, be aware of the difference between a private and public list. When you add someone to a public list, they automatically get a notification. If you’d rather keep quiet about checking out someone’s content—like your competitors or certain campaigns—you can use a private list instead. Another reason to understand your purpose before you create a list.
A4: It is important you know the difference between public and private lists and use each for different reasons. Most of my lists are private. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/XnI661hmW4
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
On the flip side, if someone you don’t know adds you to their list, consider it as a gesture of respect. As Rita said, they want to hear what you say—accept the honour with pride.
A4: Absolutely not, and if you are added to a Twitter list, take it as a huge compliment that someone values your voice and content. #twittersmarter pic.twitter.com/8HvCjI4qBB
— Rita W Bologna (@RitaWBologna1) February 27, 2020
In Taylor’s simple terms, Lists are for a group of profiles, whereas Moments are for a group of tweets.
A5: A list is a collection of Twitter accounts. A moment is a collection of tweets. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/TfOAawcWoy
— GiveWP (@GiveWP) February 27, 2020
Although you can use Lists and Moments interchangeably, they’re fundamentally different. For instance, you can use a Moment to share snippets of content from the top 10 people in your industry. However, that Moment is a one-time thing. You’ve chosen these tweets and, in a way, you’ve monumentalized them.
With Lists, though, you collect not just one tweet, but the person who wrote the tweet.
A5: While they can be used in conjunction with each other, they are very different from a practical side. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/6Mr1jn4XDv
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
To understand when to use which, consider Rivka’s suggestion. Use a Moment to showcase a theme—an event, a chat, or a news item. Gather tweets that directly relate to that theme and put them together in a Moment.
Use Lists to create a group of people who always discuss the same thing. Like smartphone makers or software vendors.
A5: Use Moments to bring together a collection of Tweets around a theme, and Lists to bring together a group of people that you want to connect with, or a type of content that you want to stay up to date on. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/6Mr1jn4XDv
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
Of course. If someone’s gone to the trouble of compiling a list that’s useful to you, subscribe right away. There’s nothing wrong in it—social media is about sharing.
A6: Yes! You can benefit from curation work other people have already done! #TwitterSmarter #timeismoney https://t.co/jHbkuhdgjU
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
Besides, it takes quite a lot of effort to do it all yourself. If someone else has done it already, why wouldn’t you respectfully take it? Just make sure you thank the owner for all the benefits that you’re garnering from their list. It’s a great way to promote a culture of sharing.
A6: Take the time to say thank you to the creator of lists that you find particularly helpful. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/jHbkuhdgjU
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
Nick also supports the idea of subscribing to others’ lists. As an example, he told us that he subscribes to NFL’s list that tracks their teams. This is an excellent way to keep up with a brand’s activities. A lot of software companies like Google, Microsoft, and Zoho have multiple products with separate Twitter handles. A list of all official handles is such a huge help for customers.
A6. Totally! If someone has put in the work to curate a list that is relevant to your interests, why not? They've already done the ground work for you!
As an example, I subscribe to the @NFL's list that tracks all of their teams https://t.co/HC1kYUygPT #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/k53usKd2gh
— Nick Martin (@NickAtHootsuite) February 27, 2020
There’re many ways to go about promoting your list. First, tweet it out. It’s basic, but it’s a wonderful way to share with your community that you’ve been working on that list.
That’s what Madalyn does. She made a list of her guests on the #TwitterSmarter chat and podcast. Talk about your list during relevant Twitter chats. People would’ve easily missed if Madalyn hadn’t mentioned it.
A7: Let people know about your best curated Twitter lists. Most people are not going to go digging into your lists. You need to nudge them. ? #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/lxpkYkNnyJ
— Madalyn Sklar – Digital Marketing since 1996 (@MadalynSklar) February 27, 2020
If you come across a conversation on Twitter and that person would benefit from your list, send it to them as a personal recommendation.
Even better—let your email subscribers know about your list. And always keep your lists updated.
A7: Share a Tweet about your list. Recommend a list to an individual person. Let people know when they are added to a list. Create lists around an event. Notify your email subscribers about the list. Keep your lists up to date. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/PfgrdbAW5c
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
Like Dr. Hecht said, make sure your lists are public. Every person in your list gets a notification, and you can even give them a shout-out, prompting them to spread the word.
A7: Making your lists public and promote them. Tell people why they should join your lists and what they'll get out of it. #TwitterSmarter
— Dr. Donald Hecht (@realDocHecht) February 27, 2020
Rivka shared an excellent piece of advice. She often creates location-specific lists so that when she’s travelling to that place, she could set up meetings and catch up with her online friends in real life.
A8: I build location-specific lists all the time. Then when I am going to physically be in that area, I use those lists to set up coffee dates, invite people to meetups, and make the most of my visit there. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/LyVMUI1LJ8
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
Although Twitter is a great way to establish relationships, an occasional face-to-face meeting goes a long way in maintaining those relationships. In that regard, Lists can help you effectively communicate with the people who matter most to you.
A8: Lists also have helped me build more effective relationships because those people that are most important to me stay top of mind. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/LyVMUI1LJ8
— Rivka Hodgkinson (@MeetRivka) February 27, 2020
What’s more, as Gabriela said, Lists help you create micro-communities. Just like with influencers, communities are also far more efficient when they’re smaller and hyper-focussed. Not only that, you also get to make new connections, learn new tools, identify prospects and opportunities, and so much more!
A8
BENEFITS
of #Twitter lists??New connections
?New opportunities
?New perspectives
?New content
?New interests
?New tools/resourcesLists can help you create
micro-communities!It can help strengthen your content, #marketing, brand strategy!#TwitterSmarter
— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) February 27, 2020
Well, folks. That’s all from me this week. Thanks for reading and for more insights from our chat with Rivka, check out this Twitter Moment that our team member Joana put together. Hope to see you on Thursday for our next #TwitterSmarter chat at 1pm ET.
About me, Narmadhaa:
I’m a writer of all things—technical and marketing copy to fill the pocket; haiku and short stories to fill the soul. A social media enthusiast, I’m a member of the #TwitterSmarter chat crew, and always happy to take on writing gigs.
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