How to Automate Twitter
Here is how to automate Twitter with auto follow, auto unfollow, and auto reply with Tweetlater... plus cell phone SMS integration.
Do you Twitter? What's your username there? Do you use any of these techniques to get more done and save time?
Filed in: List Building • Social Marketing
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Hey Robert,
Great tip. TweetLater is a great service!
Shannon Herod
Hey Robert –
Well done video on Twitter. I’ve been using tweetlater and twitter karma for quite a while now, and they are great tools. Other tools would be FriendOrFollow.com and Twellow.com.
Thanks,
Tim Jensen
http://www.twitter.com/TimJensen
Hey Robert!
Great info as usual! I’m on Twitter.com/mistrtim
At first I was reluctant to use automation on Twitter, but as you grow in reach..the personal touch really does get difficult. I definitely spend more time dealing with the response issues than I should. Your video helped me out, thanks!
Nice video Robert thanks. I use Tweetlater too + a few other nifty tools. All in my How To Get Your First 1000 Twitter Followers post.
Robert,
Great video and info. I’ve been using Tweetlater for a while and it saves me a ton of time.
I learned a few new things from your videos as well.
Keep up the great videos.
Jeff
Be sure to follow me on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/jeffczyz
Hi, Robert,
Nice video. I use twitter, and have two accounts, for two different personas and two different activities.
For example, if you play guitar, bass, or Stick, you’ll probably enjoy following http://twitter.com/TraktorTopaz, for articles, stories, and freebies about two-handed tapping methods
Or, if you’re an internet marketer, interested in copywriting, you’d better prefer following http://twitter.com/CopyDragon for tweets about this subject, freebies, stories, and things like that.
I like TweetLater that I actually bought their $20/month pro upgrade, and schedule tweets in advance much more than you’re suggesting here.
Generally I like to have something like ten to one, helpy and fun stuff to anything somewhat commercial. For example, I’ll post funny quotes, retweets, notes about freebies, and stories … and every now and then will refer to a new model of tapping guitar that we’ve introduced, or free how-to-do-two-handed-tapping books.
Similarly on the CopyDragon persona.
Tweetlater is a great timesaver, and they’ll send those keyword alerts out by email. For me it’s better to get those once a day.
Cool and clear video, Robert. You’re one of my heroes. Keep up the good work.
— Arthur Cronos
PS: Yesterday, I had to fiddle some php. I was stumped for a little while, and then I simply asked myself, “What would Robert Plank do?”
Needless to say, the answer then appeared in a flash of light. How do you do that?
Robert
While too much automation reduces the effectiveness of Twitter, intelligent mix of manual and automated tweeting can create wonders for your networking.
I have experienced Tweelater myself and totally agree about its effectiveness.
Hey, Robert,
Good stuff. I’ve been wondering how to make Twitter less of a time sink. This will definitely help a lot.
Thanks!
Hey Robert,
I just HAVE to use automated tools to keep up with things. I use the Pro version of Tweetlater and it’s fantastic. I also have auto follow and unfollow set up and use several other tools as well. I find the Twitdom database a great resource for finding Twitter applications.
Cheers,
@RicRaftis on Twitter..
Great tips and resources Robert, thanks for putting them out!
Mark
Robert,
For a newbie like me, this was invaluable info. Thanks and keep them coming!
FSP
Cool stuff!
Robert…. any way to do a Vulcan Mind Meld? (Star Trek… after your time?)
I’m almost 2 generations beyond you… so all this technology is not native to me… unlike all the babies now being delivered out of the womb with iPhones in their hands. So all your training is always some type of time saver, or a literal unveiling of something new to me. How in the holy name of freedom does everyone keep up with all the latest techno-gagets and internet cutting edge stuff? Not enough hours in the day. So I really appreciate all you bring down for us. Thanks, Kara
Nice video. Automating Twitter can really help take the “time suck” factor out of the whole process. Have you tried my tool: http://www.tweetmanager.com ? It’s still in “Beta”, but does a good job for me.
Very helpful, Robert. Thanks.
I got a Tweetlater account some weeks ago, but stopped using it, because I couldn’t get the email filtering to work smoothly. But you’ve pointed out how the service has developed and added good new features, so I’ve just turned it on again.
Feel free to try it! http://twitter.com/Kevin_Brown
All the best.
Kevin
I haven’t jumped onto the Twitter bandwagon mainly because of the anticipated time commitment. The tips you provided here provide ways to keep things manageable. Much appreciated! (And I’m also developing a stronger appreciation for Camtasia…)
I’ve been coming across so many Twitter tools lately, I can’t keep track of where all my followers are coming from!
I use TweetLater and MrTweet quite a lot, and then there are also the Viral Tweets and TweetBlaster scripts, and so many more.
You’ve enlightened me on many things I hadn’t discovered yet. Come check out the numbers at my Twitter account now, because they’ve been climbing very rapidly.
http://twitter.com/MitchPowellLive
Hi Robert,
I have been a tweeter now for a while. I have automated alot of my Twitter stuff and i find its great. Socialising at 140 characters or less. I made a video, which is on youtube, more as an experiment than anything else.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVMIuNPdKU0
The idea was to see if I could get more followers. So far its not being advertised but i am going to set up an autotweet with the videoURL in the tweet to see if this helps.
Robert,
This was a great training video quick & simple.
Everyone should be using tweetlater and you’ve just taught me how to make it even better
Loved your Time Management on Crack course too 🙂
Also, I’m using a cool script to get others to share my products with others on Twitter. You can see it in action at: http://a.gd/total-success
Peter Loughlin
Hi Robert
Thanks for the tips.
I’ve been using Tweetlater for some time now but I only use the autofollow and a thank you message.
I also use a new desktop application on Adobe Air called TweetDeck thst is a real cool software and very useful.
http://www.Tweetdeck.com
Thanks
Hamant
“What Would Robert Plank Do?”
Classic.
I’ll use that too!
I’ve tried automatically following people who follow me (with the help of TweetLater and SocialToo), but have returned to manually following followers.
It helps me avoid following people I wouldn’t normally follow in Twitter.
Thanks for the great video. Does this mean you have a Twitter project in the works for us? hint, hint…
I’d bet a train ride to Iowa that that must be the case…
😀
Thanks for the video, very useful. I prefer the personal touch but as you get more followers it does get more time consuming and difficult.
Hi Robert,
Do you have an affiliate ID for tweetlater? if so let me know, as I will be subscribing once my free trial runs out and you showed me this app, if you got affiliate you might as well get a few $’s a month from it.
Cheers
I think I finally get the Twitter thing!!!
Thanks Robert – that’s a very cool automated service that I wasn’t aware of.
Matt
Hi Robert,
Nice video – although I don’t really agree with your idea of sending direct messages to people when they sign up to follow you. I know a lot of people, myself included, who totally disregard those automated replies and sometimes will even unfollow people who send them – I find it a bit arrogant to say the least.
It is sending the totally wrong message to people. The whole idea of Twitter is to get more personal and involved with certain people. When you send one of those automated messages right from the start it is basically telling me that you have no intention of trying to get to know me and that I am just going to be another person on your list to sell to.
If you’re serious about this whole Twitter thing and want to use it for maximum result, spend 10-15 mins a day replying personally to new people who follow you. Take a quick look at their page, read a few of their tweets, and then send a personal reply like… “Hey John, I saw you bought the new Kings of Leon album, me too. Love ’em! Look forward to getting to know you more.”
You get the idea. This will give you a much much better chance of turning those people into avid followers – people who will always be interested in hearing what you are up to.
Just a thought…
@will
nothing stopping you from doing the personal touch as well though, and vast majority of twitter users are into some for of personal marketing do you not think?
Understand what you are saying though.
Rob,
Yeah, I guess the point I was trying to get across was that first impressions last. If you start off your twitter ‘relationship’ with people on such an impersonal note, then you can’t expect too much response from your followers in the future.
Those who will go well using Twitter as a business tool will be those who are willing to put in the extra effort to add that little personal touch. Trust me, that little personal touch goes a long way.
The last few days I have been stocking up my Twitter account by following people and waiting for people to return the favor. It’s working but one thing I have noticed, is the amount of automated direct messages I have gotten from people saying things like, “Thanks for following me, go and check out my website… blah blah blah”.
I mean seriously, I have only just connected with you and all of a sudden you are going to try and sell me – hmm, says a lot about what’s to come.
Each to their own I guess, just wanted to give my opinion of the automated messages before everyone goes adding them to their accounts.
Hi guys gals tweet fans far n’wide … thanks for the heads up I had come across this site before but never really took the time to find out what it could do to help save time like you have shown here … myself I like to add followers by hand … but now after watching your video Robert I will now keep this in mind encase I start another twitter account this would be a great way to free up some time thanks
All my best to you and your tweets
Phillip Skinner
Robert –
You’re an angel – you just revolutionized my using Twitter (even if I’m not ready to have it text my phone yet 😉
Thanks!
Linda –
Thanks for your comments guys… nope I don’t have a Twitter product in development. Not enough to say on that subject IMO.
The automated replies get you off to a good start and sometimes I reply by hand. For me, having other people auto-reply when I follow them is helpful because I can see who I’ve followed in the last couple of days.
It’s no more impersonal than autoresponders once you’re on somebody’s mailing list.
Thanks Robert, I just signed up with tweetlater, I’ve been looking for something automated for a while.
Terrance Charles
http://www.twitter.com/TerranceCharles
Robert, this is a great site. I would like to speak with you more on how you can help me to build a website of my own. I am promoting my debut book, “WHEN WILL THE SKY FALL” which is a documentary in poetry about my experiences with Hurricane Katrina, Race and Class in America, and How America is more divided along color lines than we care to admit. I cannot afford a website at the moment, so I am trying to learn how to do it myself. My fear is my book will not get the readership it deserves if I make an amateurish website. I hope you can help.
Brad Bechler
Thanks for the info Robert. I am a newbie at twitter and I am amazed at how it can grow so fast. Just tried the automation now and it looks good.
(I know you got banned by YouTube) are you going to put up again this video ?
Thank you for this site i was going to put together a site that will show you some great tools for twitter. Still might.
Great Tips!
I actually wrote a program that helps me automate the process I need to keep my Twitter followers engaged and actually gets me more followers daily.
I have programmed it to
– Grab Headlines of the Web
– Post them to my Twitter Account every 30 minutes
– Programs HTML of Headlines and Articles for my Website/Blog
– Tweets Link back to my WebSite/Blog
If anyone is interested in using it I have it for FREE download at http://powerpagesdotca.99k.org
Or powerpagesdotca.blogspot.com
I need more tools to automate tasks on Twitter :
Hi Robert,
What are your views on automatic Twitter marketing now? It seemed like a bit of novelty a year or two ago, but these days I think you really need to be engaging people properly in order to make it work.
Cheers,
Atholl