Frugal and Focused Tweeting

Interview with Carolyn Howard-Johnson and a short review of her latest book!

Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers: Tweaking Your Tweets and Other Tips for Integrating Your Social Media by Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Paperback: 130 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1451546149
Available - NOW!

You may be thinking - I don't have a retail business. But if you are a business owner, and that includes author or service provider, this book is for you!
I began reading this book a couple weeks ago. First thing I noticed was the ease at which I could slip into the book and jump to a specific chapter if I wanted to know about one certain aspect. It also provides little things we can do to tweak our Twitter accounts and Tweets that we might not have considered otherwise. And it's those little things that make the difference on Twitter!

Carolyn was also nice enough to answer a few questions:
1 - What's the biggest mistake new Tweeters make?

Diane, of course we're talking about Tweeters who have an agenda other than connecting with old friends. Tweeters who are marketing. Tweeters who are branding themselves. Tweeters who have some product or service to sell. And that includes writers. The biggest mistake they make is giving up before they get started, explore the network a bit and learn how to use it effectively. Mind you, this doesn't have to be done all at once. But I tell my clients, don't give up until you've realized (actually seen!) benefits. And you will! Mind you these benefits might be sales ($$$$), but there are many others. I list them in Frugal and Focused Tweeting (http://draft.blogger.com/).

2- What extras (Tweetdeck, etc.) do you recommend?

I use Tweetdeck. Also use Social Ooomph avidly to do tasks that Tweetdeck doesn't do and some that it does. But my approach is that Tweeters don't need dozens of these apps. The idea is to keep Tweeting simple. Frugal of money but also frugal of time. So I give people a list in the Appendix of Frugal and Focused Tweeting of the essential tried and true applications they need to do a great job, urge them to try them one at a time, tell them not to duplicate efforts. I mean there are some 70,000 apps out there for Twitter. Why not use what others have found work well--especially "others" like me who just want something that works well and costs little or nothing. There is no point in trying and using everything that comes along. That just confuses things. I think my Appendix list covers one app for every essential process a Tweeter will eventually need.

3 - Is it ever too late to salvage a sagging Twitter or organize a large one?

Oh, no! Isn't it wonderful. That's a principle of marketing. It is never too early to start, but also never too late. Same for rejuvenating an old effort. Do remember, though, that even promotions don't work unless they're promoted well. And, luckily, that's the power of the Internet. It lets us cross promote (cross pollinate if you will!) so well. That means when we Tweet well, we can let it work for us on our blogs and Web site and every other social network we play with. And they can contribute to our Twitter account. Now, multiply that exponentially by networking with other Tweeters and bloggers. Really! It's magic!

By the way, see how I just my retail Twitter account on my blog. It keeps the page fresh and new, even when I haven't blogged for a while - Frugal Retailing Recent Tweets are fed (meaning no work on my part!) to the right column every time I Tweet!

Carolyn Howard-Johnson's web site: How to do it Frugally

If you have any questions for Carolyn, please leave a comment!