Tweeking Twitter Content?

[Melissa Goodall]

I recently read an article regarding the fact that 90% of the content on Twitter is generated by a mere 10% of Twitter users!

With all the fuss and current spotlight on this fast growing medium, I was wondering why we as marketers, avid social media addicts don't take on the difficult task of Twitter Content Rejuvenation!

If we are all to utilize this medium to connect with others, source relevant pools of information and target specific audiences with our messages, then the content placed on Twitter should be of great concern to us. One of the main comments made recently is that most new users on Twitter, drop off shortly after registering.

Without question two of the challenges faced by new Twitter users would be a) what to post, and b) who to follow?

These are both issues relating to content - and I was wondering why we as avid Twitter users would not take up this opportunity to not only engage with the new users of Twitter, but also begin to influence the content placed on Twitter by changing the battle field.

Why you may ask? Well it is simple really, Twitter will be more beneficial to us, our brands, our causes and the audiences if there was more content available as well as an idea station for those new Twitter users to become accustomed to micro-blogging.

This is not an easy task to say the least - with the vast differences in interests everyone has - but definitely a challenge I would think we could contribute to.

These are my suggestions to turn the contributors from 10% to at least 40% :

* Enable a welcome to Twitter account, allowing the new Twitterers to automatically follow someone and gain access to other Twitter users in a similar situation - not knowing what to do.
The Welcome to Twitter profile can provide daily Tweets on topics which can either be elaborated on or retweeted by Twitterers.

Now, how are we going to influence the content being submitted on Twitter?

Well, this is where I need your advice! In my opinion if you see new Twitter users following you, we should be engaging them and advising them on the way forward. Automatically establishing a level of trust in a relationship you have never had before.

While these are not easy tasks, and it is often hard to sift through the many Twitter users, the benefits of engaging with struggling new Twitter users would be beneficial. Not only would we be encouraging the use of social networking and social mediums but we would also establish ourselves as trusted advisers ( if that was your aim )....

What are your thoughts?

[Nicole Masureik]

@Mashable already does that.... I find his tweets a bit overwhelming at times, but when I need help, he is amazing! He regularly sends out tips for newbies, which even I can learn from, although I've been on twitter for a while now.

[Melissa Goodall]

That is a brilliant idea - Huddlemind offering tutorials!

There is some guidance already on line but I think some hand holding would really aid in converting more people ; )

[Dave Duarte]

For a start, I think that the list of suggested people to follow (which new users see as part of the signup process) should be more dynamic.
Ideally I think a mashup with the wefollow.com directory would allow users to type in a couple of keywords related to their interests and find the best users for that.

Even better would be to show new people a list of people who Twitter in their region, because I suspect that most people would prefer to follow regional contacts.

Picking up followers is also a challenge for Twitter newbies, because without followers it really is a little pointless to sign up. I think the best way to get new followers it to RT and @ people in response to their tweets. This and other tidbits could be shared in a new user tutorial.

That said, I think this may be an opportunity for this little business (Huddlemind) to offer a little tutorial for Twitter n00bs:)