The Joe Hage Twitter experiment, Part II

21 days, 153 updates, 66 followers (now 67 ~ see point #3), and a few dozen new connections later, I’m completely hooked on Twitter.

Here are fifteen things to consider. If even one resonates with you, join me online.

One: I found a new application. By following Michel Fortin, one of the web’s greatest copywriters today, I learned about Instant Slide Up and installed it on my blog. It slides up from the bottom of my blog and asks visitors to subscribe to the blog (see below). Fortin says he’s seen a +300% increase in his take rate. I just started, so no news to report, but it looks promising to me.

I designed my Instant Slide Up with some whimsy.

Two: I strengthened a business relationship. I created a second account called DefibNation so I could have a dedicated account to raise awareness about automated external defibrillators. To attract relevant visitors, I went out and started to follow them.

FoundersHeart, the NY-based, seven-state AHA chapter started to follow me as a result and applauded what my company has been doing. They made a comment on my blog, on @defibnation on Twitter, and invited me to get in touch with them. A connection I otherwise would not have had.

Three: I won real-time eyeballs. As I’m typing this, “twitterbo” just started following me. He’s the self-described Internet entrepreneur who founded of DrEveryone.com.

I immediately tweeted him, saying, ” @twitterbo, thanks for the follow. Check out this SCA video and please retweet it for your followers? http://tinyurl.com/Kaitln Thanks!”

And he did, putting my message in front of his five-hundred-and-forty-six followers!

546 interested eyeballs.

100 click-throughs in two hours.

For Free.

This alone is a stop-what-you-are-doing reason to join Twitter.

Four: I improved everyone’s user experience. I follow Chris Brogan. He posted a link to his site. I clicked through and saw at the bottom of his blogpost an icon that said “Reblog.” I clicked to see what it was all about.

I experimented and “reblogged” something that Chris said, attracting readers. I discovered Zemanta, the company that developed the software and sent a tweet to Chris letting him know that I found the “Log In” part of the application confusing.

Within minutes, the founder of Zemanta sent me a tweet. He wrote, “@joehageonline, Login form that confused you has already been reworded and will be rolled out on monday. 🙂

Five: I discovered another new application. I plan to install Zemanta on my site. Haven’t gotten there yet.

Six: I’m gonna be a published author. Jeff Caswell, VP of Marketing for Evian (whom I met online and someone I follow/follows me), decided to compile a book about Marketing in the Social Media Era. Building Dynamic Consumer Relationships.

He asked for 100 authors to each contribute a page. I jumped at the chance.

Seven: I’m a Dad-o-Matic author. Dad-o-Matic shares opinions, reviews, advice and news for dads. It is a project started by Chris Brogan, but featuring lots of voices.

I’m proud of this blogpost and it influenced a fellow author to write a related blog. Who knows how many new readers I may be able to influence. Plus associating my personal brand with Chris’ can only help me.

Eight: I’m building my digital imprint. Hey, who knows where this all leads. It could be fun to be a sought-after speaker one day. And the best way to do that is to generate content and a base of followers.

Twitter fills both of these requirements nicely.

Nine through fifteen: everything else I found in my first week. Click here to read Part I about tinyurl, otherinbox (worth the price of admission by itself), and the Scoble/Israel book I’m reading now about blogs.

In closing, I don’t know how to be more emphatic here. If you want to build your brand, you really gotta get on Twitter. You’re missing out if you don’t.

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