Stacy Kinney

According to an August 2009 study conducted by Pear Analytics, 40% of the tweets on Twitter are nothing but pointless babble. Meaning a lot of people are posting tweets that do nothing to add to the conversations taking place on Twitter. This would include tweets about going to the bathroom or sharing the fact that you are eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I don’t know about you but that is information I could have lived a lifetime not knowing.

While pointless tweets do have their place (they help people get to know you better), if you are seeking to build a Twitter following then the bulk of your tweets should be of better quality than that. But what is considered quality Twitter content?
Quality content is subjective but a good definition to go by is that it is content which interests your target audience and adds value to the community. Some examples of quality Twitter content would be links to relevant news articles or tips that help increase productivity.

Twitter content can be grouped into several categories:

Informational – These are tweets that tell the reader an interesting fact or relay a piece of information. These are generally accompanied by links to articles found on blogs and online newspapers that expand on the subject.

Tips – Twitter users like to share nuggets of advice that has helped them navigate life a little better. Tips range from dating advice to productivity to what store is having a sale on shoes.

Quotes and Observations – Oftentimes these tweet are quotes from well known thought leaders but can also include original observations about life which are condensed to 140 characters.

Conversation – This is the normal back and forth talking that happens when people gather together. Tweets either start a conversation or respond to an ongoing one.

Retweets – This is the sharing of content posted by other Twitter users which the poster feels would interest his/her followers.
Self-Promotional – This category includes the selling of products and services as well as links to personal websites or things the user is involved in.

What Makes a Good Mix?

The honest answer to this question is that it depends on your target audience. If you are using Twitter for your online political magazine, then the bulk of you content will be informational with some Conversational and Retweets thrown in to round things out. On the other hand, if you are tweeting for personal networking, then you’ll probably be posting a lot of Conversational tweets, Retweets and probably even Quotes and Observations.

It is best to monitor the feeds of people you want to network with on Twitter to see what they are posting. This will give you an idea of the type of content they are attracted to which will help you fine tune what you are offering in your Twitter stream.

Posting quality content on Twitter is the best way to stand out from noise and attract followers looking for substance. Using Twitter effectively is just one way I generate traffic to my business and increase sales. To learn other methods of marketing that will take your business to the next level, visit RockYourBusinessOnline.com.

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1. Twitter Marketing – The Real Secret to Amassing Twitter Followers
2. Twitter Etiquette – Dos and Don’ts of Using Twitter as a Marketing Tool
3. What Does RT Mean on Twitter ?