Comments on: What David Maister can teach us about Twitter

By: Ian

Ian — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:56:08 +0000

Please do. My experience is that most professionals underestimate the value of casual conversation in relationship-building generally – whether it’s on twitter or face-to-face. We’re all so desperate to show we’re smart and we “add value” that we forget that’s not what makes relationships.

Ian

By: David Bell

David Bell — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:24:41 +0000

Great article Ian, I’m going to forward this to a few business people I work with. Twitter is a very difficult service to explain to anyone that hasn’t used it, but this is a really great explanation of why it can be worth the effort. Thanks.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:16:25 +0000

“Low level contact” is very accurate. The odd note here & there. Not intrusive, not taking up too much of their time to read. But a steady drip of communication with a real person.

By the way everyone – you don’t have to be called Ian to comment on this thread. It’s just a coincidence that everyone so far is – honest!

By: Ian ODonnell

Ian ODonnell — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:32:26 +0000

As a user of twitter for over a year now, I couldn’t agree more, it’s really useful for maintaining that low level contact with people you met briefly maybe at a networking event or conference, tweeting on the periphery of business as well as your personal stuff, over time you then build a relationship, trust and a sense of shared values which provides a foundation for possible work together or to provide valued referrals.

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:58:59 +0000

Great comment Ian. You’re right, Twitter is way more than a “get new clients machine”. But that’s the lens I’m looking at it through here.

It’s really interesting that it was the less serious tweets that provided your “breakthrough” into really engaging with people. I’ve definitely fund that to be true. I do more than my share of serious, business related tweets which “work” in terms of getting traffic to my website and establishing my credibility. But it’s the lighter-weight chatting that really builds relationships.

Ian

By: Ian Harris

Ian Harris — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:45:34 +0000

I am a chartered accountant practising in suburban Melbourne.I have been on Twitter now for just over 12 months. I have nearly 700 followers.
Several new clients have come to me through twitter. And it was through building conversations and, I guess , rapport and trust.
Initially whenever I tweeted regarding matters I was working on I was not able to establish any engagement.
But when I commented on the tweets of others in humorous ways , or in empathetic ways, I found new followers came on board.
sometimes I also found that tweeting on topics ‘at the edge’ also got me followers.For instance, the use of intuition in respect to giving advice.
I am now experimenting with disclosing a ‘lesson for the day’ on Twitter.
I have also been able to re-tweet some of my clients’ promotions and this has provided an opportunity for them to know that I care about, and, support them.
I have also used the direct messaging facility to communicate directly with them from time to time.
I will continue to explore the use of twitter but I see it as simply a form of networking and building relationships—not as a ‘get new clients’ exercise.