On Tuesday, I joined #techchat the newest (and one of the best) tweetchats organized by Ann Handley at MarketingProfs. That night, Guy Kawasaki was co-hosting and provoking the crowd with some zingers…
One question about how to use Twitter prompted me to peck out…
“Twitter finally made sense when I realized I was a ‘beat reporter’ for my readers.”
Within minutes, this introspective tidbit made its way around the chat – I instantly picked up a 30 new twitter followers and got an ‘at a boy’ from Guy and Anne.
This quote is still making the re-tweet rounds – so I thought it deserved a blog post to go with it 
Why Your Readers Need a Beat Reporter
A Beat Reporter is the local hero. This reporter covers every high school football game, Walk for the Cure local event, and makes sure you are up to speed on the water main break at the YMCA.
You know that the Beat Reporter has your best interests in mind. You also trust them to be a fun messenger of the news that means the most to you.
You have the same job. Although Twitter is a marvel, It’s also a hopelessly crowded mishmash of information.
Your readers are probably trying to figure out what matters and what can be ignored. The reason they follow you is because they value your ability to filter and deliver information they can use.
You are their beat reporter. Just in case you were wondering…this is what it means to “add value”.
Don’t Click that RT Button (yet)
I promise not to rant.
But your reader doesn’t want another tweet. So quit absently-clicking the retweet button. Your readers want (maybe even need) more.
They want a way to instantly tell if a link is worth clicking. They also want to know the benefit of clicking.
That’s more than just a RT.
It requires you to be selective in your RTs because you’ve got hundreds of people who’ve trusted you to guard their time.
It requires you to “be yourself” and add a bit of humor, irony, or wisdom to every RT. Let ‘em know that the tweet is indeed “endorsed by” you.
It requires that you get to know the people you retweet. Afterall you are temporarily their publicist, so help them sell the story. Believe me, they’ll love you for it.
Sounds Like Work Right?
Yep, but this is how you grow a loyal tribe. This is how you get noticed and followed by the movers and shakers. And…this is how you earn real influence.
Love to hear your thoughts on this. Talk to me and I’ll talk right back 
{Image Thanks to: sskennel)
About Stanford
I actually have a network of social-media-phobic colleagues. I keep trying to tell them about the value of Twitter. I never put it in these terms, but this is exactly the right phrase to describe why it's been so valuable to me, and the value I try to provide in return. Thanks for the sound byte and the sound advice.
As a former reporter, I think this is a perfect analogy and an excellent way to describe how to "add value." That phrase gets thrown around so much that it's begun to take on this mysterious meaning. It really is as simple as offering information that relevant and valuable to your audience.
Great post, Stanford!
Stanford, great post. Even in 140 characters, Tweeters must add value. Good example is #ff (Friday Follow) Tweets. So many people throw them away like " My #ff this week is @kikolani." Who, what, where, when why, how? Instead, better to add value by trying something like: "#ff this week is @kikolani. Kristi consistently hits a high note on blogging & social media http://bit.ly/ag72ah" Only 124 characters but now you know why you should care. We're supposed to be communicators right?
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Hey Stanford,
I am loving what you wrote about personalizing a tweet. I am linked up to all these networks without an idea how to sufficiently navigate – Thanks for the teaching and I look forward to more…bzzzzzzz I am honored to be following you.
Hey Stanford,
I am loving what you wrote about personalizing a tweet. I am linked up to all these networks without an idea how to sufficiently navigate – Thanks for the teaching and I look forward to more…bzzzzzzz I am honored to be following you.
Hey Stanford,
I am loving what you wrote about personalizing a tweet. I am linked up to all these networks without an idea how to sufficiently navigate – Thanks for the teaching and I look forward to more…bzzzzzzz I am honored to be following you.
Thanks for stopping by Ann! Going to cruise over and read your Oldie but Goodie at mashable. …Actually I am trying to juggle schedules to get to SocialTech – it's a busy month with Blogworld and all.
Thanks for stopping by Ann! Going to cruise over and read your Oldie but Goodie at mashable. …Actually I am trying to juggle schedules to get to SocialTech – it's a busy month with Blogworld and all.
Hi Stanford — thanks for this! I loved your quote (hence my RT of it), as it speaks a fundamental truth.
As an aside, I wrote a piece for Mashable last year, "Everything I Know About Twitter I Learned in Journalism School." Great minds thinking alike… and all that… : )
Will you be at SocialTech, by any chance? (Our event in October in San Jose.)
My recent post Pick-Up in Communications Spending Forecast for 2010-2014
Thanks for stopping by Ann! Going to cruise over and read your Oldie but Goodie at mashable. …Actually I am trying to juggle schedules to get to SocialTech – it's a busy month with Blogworld and all.
Hi Stanford
Nice one! I'm guilty of just pushing RT too. Adding a personal touch to a post you like gives value to the promotion and indeed lets your follows know you can gain something from it.
Thanks for sharing
Michael
My recent post Is Your Blog Congruent
Hey Stanford.. so on point.
I'm guilty of RTing myself, without adding a personal touch, so you've reminded me to start doing so again. I used to, but since the new RT doesn't allow it, I actually have to use the "quote" feature in order to add my thoughts. But it's definitely something I need to start doing again, because you're right it does let readers know that hey you actually read what you're passing along to them and hey…it really is worth their time! 
You're goooood. ;D
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