Do you participate in #blogchat? Every week, this weekly discussion on Twitter focuses on a specific topic and bloggers everywhere are invited to join in. Because I often have more to say than what will fit in 140 characters, every Sunday night, I post about some of the most interesting #blogchat tweets. Join the conversation by commenting below.
(Still confused? Read more about #blogchat here.)
This week’s theme? How Musicians Can Use Social Media
The theme of the week isn’t really my forte, but that doesn’t mean the conversation isn’t interesting or that there’s nothing to learn. One tweet that struck me during the chat:
@MelaKamin I use twitter 2get exposure, but also start a dialogue, find a niche/fan base & be a fan of others also – it’s not just about me
Whether you’re a musician or in another field, those last five words are some of the most important ever tweeted, if you ask me. It’s not just about me.
I repeat: It’s not just about me. Say it with me: IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT ME!
Twitter, like other social networking sites, can help you build your brand and promote your work, but if that’s all you use it for, you’re doing it wrong. In fact, I bet that if you’re just using Twitter to promote yourself, you don’t see much action through this network.
Twitter is a two-way street. If you want people to tweet your links, you have to tweet theirs. If you want people to RT your tweets, you have to RT theirs. If you want to people to reply to you, you have to reply to them. If you want people to follow you, you have to follow them.
At the same time, don’t RT tweets or links, reply, or even follow just because you want people to promote you. Do so because you actually enjoy what they have to say. If you’re selfless on Twitter, good stuff happens. Trust me – I started off with a much more selfish approach to Twitter, and I saw absolutely no results. Now, I use Twitter as a way to connect with people, not just promote myself…and it’s exploded!
I know that I personally need the reminder every so often to use Twitter to connect, not just promote. So, I’m glad that I went to #blogchat tonight – I need to RT and link more often when I read something I enjoy. I’ve been doing too much self-promotion lately! What about you? When’s the last time you used Twitter to promote someone else or connect for totally selfless reasons?
You can’t engage everyone. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. But whether you’re a musician or a blogger (or both!), Twitter shouldn’t be all about you. Thanks to @MelaKamin for giving us that reminder!
Check out “Overheard on #Blogchat” here every Sunday to read about some of the most interesting tweets from participating bloggers.
Hi, Alli. Tonight’s #blogfest was a riot, tremendous tweets from people I admire, great points of view and input.
I Retweeted @MelaKamin ‘s tweet during #Blogchat, as it struck a similar chord in me.
In the daily clamour for attention, amongst all that intensified information of an active twitter stream, we get lost in our attempts to be heard, which sometimes end up being counter productive, the louder we cry me, me, ME! The further away we drive the very audience we are trying to engage.
@MelaKamin ‘s tweet, amongst the ‘listen to me’ tweets, shone through. Indeed, ‘It’s not just about me’ was as bright as if it was in a different font or colour.
I have so much to learn, which is why I try to catch #chats, the collective wisdom is impressive.
Thank you, Alli, your post reaffirms that I must be more mindful and keep my ego in check. #PayitForwards.
Hi Alli,
I couldn’t join in on #blogchat last evening. When you are sitting in PDT ZONE 6:00PM comes early in the evening and conflicts with company, dinner, etc. So I have been absent the last two weeks, but I get the transcript and try to learn from it.
Now…I am glad you wrote about this topic. I tend to read more on Twitter than RT or even tweet about my own work. Sometimes I have to remind myself to RT other’s work, it is like when you are little and you learn to offer compliments to someone about their new haircut, new outfit, an essay, an award…it is very easy to say, “someone else will do it.”
What I enjoy most about Twitter are the people I have “met” as a result of someone’s RT. I try to comment on other’s blogs, as you know, but I need to remember to RT, too.
Judy