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Using Twitter Lists
You haven't signed on to Twitter because you have nothing to say? Have you considered using Twitter as a listening post?
I advise all of my clients to listen first when it comes to Twitter or any social media site. It's important to learn the etiquette and the ins and outs before forging ahead.
Luckily, it is easier than ever to use your eyes more than your keyboard on Twitter. The site has curated lists of people who tweet in different topics. Click on the “Who to Follow” heading on your Twitter home page to find tabs labeled “View Suggestions,” “Browse Interests,” and “Find Friends.”
In the beginning, you’ll probably want to focus on searching for your friends on Twitter using the “Find Friends” tab. (Once you do engage and tweet, you may find other possibilities under the “View Suggestions” and “Browse Interests” headings. While some people do not like these features, you never know when you may find a gem.)
Even better than Twitter's lists are lists from people you know on Twitter. Just review the Twitter pages of anyone you do enjoy following to see if they have created lists of their favorites. Review those list for people who have good information and advice for you.
If you are so new to Twitter that you haven't found anyone to follow -- you are in luck! There are several sites that cater to your needs. Some you may wish to review:
These sites make it easy to find people in your niche to follow and ultimately, to connect. You may choose not to actually follow the people in the lists, but reviewing the streams of tweets from the lists generated, for example by Twibes, will help you get a feel for a topic that interests you.
Bottom Line
If you are not convinced that using Twitter will help you propel your career or job search, use these tools to conduct some research, and then decide if Twitter might be worth your time.
© Copyright Miriam Salpeter, 2010. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
About this Expert
Miriam Salpeter is a Career Action Coach and Owner of Keppie Careers. With a master’s degree from Columbia University and over 12 years of experience, her mission is to encourage, enlighten and empower job seekers and entrepreneurs for success. She teaches best practices to land great career opportunities and offers clients clarity, confidence, and social media know-how. You may follow her @Keppie_Careers and join her Facebook community for frequent updates.