I tortured my husband in making this background. He did not want to hang ornaments from the ceiling for 30 minutes on Sunday afternoon, but somehow I convinced him that a good holiday background included ornaments hanging from the ceiling. And, we only shattered one ornament in the making. I think that’s pretty impressive.
The last minute of this video includes a Blacksburg Belle holiday medley which basically means my husband decided it would be a good idea for me to sing pieces of holiday songs. I’ve got two warnings for you before you watch:
1. I got kicked out of chorus in the fifth grade, because my singing was sooooooooooo bad.
2. I struggle to remember words of songs, even popular songs, so I make up my own words most of the time. The only song I know all of words to is Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-A-Lot. True story.
Wanna recap of the video? Here are the 5 tips for rocking it out on Twitter:
1. Just do it.
Just join already. Twitter is a lot of fun, and if you don’t think so, we can’t be friends. And, don’t worry too much about what you say on Twitter–it’s not that big a deal. If you want a rule, give it the customer and friend test. Would you say it to a friend? Would you say it to a customer?
2. Follow bloggers and creative entrepreneurs who you like.
3. Personalize your Twitter profile.
Use a picture of yourself for your avatar and personalize your background.
4. Don’t just promote yourself.
This is a super duper huge turnoff. Be social.
5. Don’t auto direct message people, especially a link that sends the person to a product or your shop.
Enjoy this video? Please share:
5 Tips to Rock Twitter + @blacksburgbelle singing a holiday medley. She got kicked out of chorus in fifth grade–just a warning. Click to Tweet.
LOL! I almost choked on my quinoa. Lesson learned: I shouldn’t eat lunch and watch your videos at the same time 🙂 You guys are too cute…hahaa
Well I guess I performed a Twitter no-no by direct messaging ppl. after they follow me, but I make the msg. personal, thank them for following and inviting them to connect with me ( i.e. get the ball rolling to start a conversation). Is that bad?
This whole Twitter thing makes me feel self-conscious or I’m a self conscious person, but I try and post something everyday and I don’t post about my products all of the time. I want ppl. to get into our world so I post things that pass the customer/friend test, things that I find unique and it’s working because our list of followers is growing, but I still don’t have much interaction with them yet.
Just the other day, I ventured out and started tweeting w/ppl. I follow and I started getting responses back. So I feel a bit more confident about getting out there and meeting ppl.
Thanks Tabassum! Choking on quinoa = a bad time!
I don’t think direct messages that are personal are a bad thing unless you’re encouraging the other person to buy something from you. Starting a conversation is NOT bad. I’m talking about the direct messages that are obviously the same ones that the person sends to every person who follows them that have that used car salesman feel–the pushy ones.
My best advice about starting interactions is to reply to people who are following you {which is sounds like you started doing!}. It doesn’t have to relate to your business. For instance, I once started talking to a photographer about her dogs and ended up buying a bunch of prints from her later. I liked her and I really liked her photography. I checked out her shop, because I wanted to know more about her–not because she asked me to.
I so agree with you on this one. I get very irritated at these generic direct messages that are obviously used ever time by the Twitter user when he or she gets a new follower. Like you said, it is a turnoff and if I want to look at their website or shop, I will, without them telling me to.
Thank you for all the info!
haha ! That was really funny .. your singing prowess can only be rivalled by my abysmal singing ! So, take heart .. if I ever have the courage to document it on video, I’ll let you know. You’ll feel better about yourself 😉 I do have one request- please sing Baby got back, someday 🙂
As for those annoying twitter auto DMs .. grrrr.. the worst is when someone follows you, they dm and say blah blah about their biz and ask you to follow them ..say what ?
And I quickly unfollow those who only tweet about themselves and their NEW LISTING ON ETSY !! sorry I just don’t have the patience for such tweets…rant over
I have been on twitter for maybe 18 months or little bit more.. I did hesitate to join twitter. I didn’t see the value in it. But once I reluctantly joined it, I was glad I did. All the bloggers and etsy shop owners that I kept in touch with were in 1 place and I could get to know them better. I’ve made connections that I wouldn’t have if it weren’t for twitter.
We should sing together 🙂
Good rant–I enjoyed it!
Thanks for sharing about your experience on Twitter. Lots of people that I talk to were hesitant to join but glad that they did after a few months.
Thank you for the twitter Tips…
LOVE the background, thank you to your husband for helping put them up.
*LOL!* I enjoyed the medley. =)
Happy Holidays!! =)
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you like the background. I sooooo enjoyed it.
Happy holidays to you, too.
*giggle* Thanks for starting my day with a laugh! 🙂 I almost had coffee coming out of my nose! no joke.
Excellent twitter tips! By following people you enjoy, you can learn what to tweet about by seeing what they’re doing. I love random twit pics. Oh please, no DMing spamminess — that’s just uncool!
Twitter has helped me find people who are interested in the same things I am, brought a smile to my face, kept me up to date on random good news and you’ll be surprised how supportive the twittersphere can be as well! 🙂 If you have a question about software, sourcing, etc. you can get a faster answer on twitter in most cases than emailing your personal network! 🙂
I follow back on twitter although not automatically as @laalicia 🙂
Hahahahahaha. Coffee coming out of nose = ouch!
So many people on Twitter are supportive. It’s a great way to network without wasting a lot of time, because you’ve only got 140 characters. I always ask questions on Twitter–I poll my target market on Twitter every once in a while, I’ve found a web designer that I worked with on Twitter, and I bought my camera after asking what I should get on Twitter.
the medley had me in hysterics! you know way more lyrics than me — I just hum along! 😉 you were having fun and that’s all that matters!
I know more lyrics than you?!?! That makes one person 🙂
I totally agree with you on that last point (about twitter, not the singing as I know way too many Christmas songs) about automatic direct messaging being really annoying and spammy.
I do have a question though – how often do you think you should post a tweet and do you think people notice when you’re not on twitter for a week or so? By the way, loving these videos and the ‘bloopers’ sections. 🙂
I tweet almost every day. Almost. There are some weekends that I don’t make an appearance and when I go on vacation, I try to unplug. The more you interact on Twitter and use it, the more you’ll get out of it. People don’t notice when you’re not on Twitter–it’s not like blogging where your readers notice. If you don’t have the time to tweet regularly, you should check out Timely: http://timely.is/#/ You can use that tool to schedule tweets–I do this for weekends and some weekdays that I know I’m going to be busy.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the videos! I’m having fun making them.
Thanks for the link April, will definitely be checking that out.
April,
That’s hilarious! I have tears in my eyes from laughing. 🙂 I love that your husband helps out with the songs and the decorating. What a ray of sunshine you guys are.
Anyway, yes, I love Twitter too. Everyone should do it…unless they want to be an internet hermit.
My best tip — reciprocate. When someone is kind enough to promote something that is important to you, do the same for them or at least send them a message thanking them.
Karen
I found a good one 🙂 My husband must love me a lot to help me with this!!!
YES–reciprocate! Good tip.
What a festive background & you are way too cute! I wasn’t kicked out of choir but I was kept after practice consistently to “work” on my vocals. I ended up quitting b/c I didn’t feel like I was improving & I didn’t enjoy it. 🙂
I still consider myself a newbie but I think I’ve been on Twitter for 4-5 months now. I am very sporadic about tweeting & often times, I just have nothing relevant to say. However, I really enjoy keeping in touch with others & I’ve made some new friends so that’s fun.
Thanks Danielle! It took me a few months to really get into Twitter when I joined, but I looooove it now. When I don’t have anything relevant to say, I just respond to other people and add to their conversations.
Oh, and yes, the auto direct messages bug me. I ignore DMs unless they are personal.
First off I want to thank you for the video and the side pony tail. LOL I absolutely think you guys are adorable but mostly your 100% right where twitter is concerned. It’s a SOCIAL place and you must be social. Read and retweet people’s content and interact with them on a social personal level. I also agree about the direct messages.. I do not like getting those automatic messages after I follow someone, big turn off. I think the key is build personal relationships and you will get super support. I know we have on my blog and my website. Our website has been going since June but worked hard since august and we are very pleased with the support we have gotten from twitter and the blog has only been going since september, but again the support has been awesome. My tip is to listen to you and watch that video!! 🙂
Yes to building personal relationships! Thanks for your comment and support!
Hi April
i love your video – so stinking funny! The background is perfect – great idea, and nice of your husband to help you – your idea was spot on!
I’m just so glad I hadn’t poured my morning coffee yet!
The tips are so helpful and you break it down so well. Twitter is such new territory for me and it’s so great that you are here to help! You should think about getting a cape – you are a twitter super hero! 🙂
I was glad to learn the friend/customer tip – that helps make it easier to think of what to write and not write! The DM tip makes sense – in my short twitter life so far, I’ve gotten a few of those and without realizing it, I was annoyed too, and now I know why
Signing off…with ‘we wish you a merry christmas…and a happy new year…fa-la-la-la!
Bonnie
I would love a cape! I think I need one.
Thanks for adding to the conversation and your support.
Hi April!
Love your post but I love your signing even more 😉
Have a great Holliday Season!
mmuuaahh!
Natso
Thanks Nathalie! Happy holidays to you, too.
Oh my goodness! Well you certainly brightened up the unusually grey day here in Sydney. I laughed so much I actually cried. I have also shared this with colleagues so that they can enjoy you giggling too. Thank you.
Great tips regarding twitter. It’s actually something that I just linked to my old facebook page so that I could avoid it entirely but I will absolutely change that in my next venture.
Happy holidays everyone!
Sarah
Yay! I love to brighten up grey days.
Happy holidays!
Ha Ha! Love the medley! Thanks for the laugh!
As for the auto DM’s…YES! They are definitely my biggest annoyance on twitter and will often result in me unfollowing the person if the DM is particularily pushy or just a sales pitch.
I probably don’t use twitter to the full potential because I feel kind of shy about tweeting people who I don’t know but I do try to make the effort. I usually use it to share helpful info (like your posts!) with my readers because I like to share helpful info. Getting into a better routine on twitter is definitely on my list of goals for 2012! Thanks for the tips!
Happy Holidays!
Thanks for sharing my posts! I also use Twitter as a way to share useful information that I find. It’s a great tool for that.
Happy holidays!
April, that Bill of yours is such an instigator hahaha!! I was laughing out loud!!! I have to tell you that when I sing the dog howls so I am right there with ya sista. Thanks for giving me such a start to my day. =)
You know I really do not use Twitter to much but that gave me inspiration to just jump in thank you for more ideas…
Hey Lynda! I think you mean Kris 🙂 He is an instigator–big time!
Thank you, April. I’ve been on Twitter for a few months and still feel like I don’t know what to do or what the etiquette is. Thankfully, I haven’t done anything you suggest not to do. : ) I will try to get out there more, have more fun with it and not take it too seriously.
P.S. I love how your ornaments match your outfit! The colours are perfect! Thanks, for a fun video!
Glad you enjoyed the video Maya. Just jump into it–you’ll get the hang of it.