Blankenthoughts

I have been contacted by many folks that are new to Twitter because they want to know why I didn't follow them back. It's not personal, I promise. I've created a list of recommendations for people new to Twitter to help ensure that they'll get followed as well. Here goes:



1) Use your REAL name.
In your profile, you have the option to give your real name. Do it. People want to know who you are before they are going to follow you. And besides, how are your friends going to find you if you don't? If you can, make your alias name your name. Mine is jblankenburg.

2) Fill out ALL of the profile information.
Sometimes even using your real name doesn't ring a bell for some people. So make sure that your profile information is up to date. Let us know what you do, what you're interested in, where your blog is, etc. You can't follow everyone that follows you, that's just too much noise. So give us a reason to be interested in what you are going to be posting.

3) Start posting before you start following.
There are plenty of people trying to wreak havoc on Twitter. I get a request from "pornstargirl243" and "hotHaley99" (or some permutation) once a day. Their posts are irrelevant gibberish, and they usually just link you to some phishing site anyways. Get a solid set of 10 or more posts, so we know you're a human.

4) You can post links, but don't ONLY post links.
Some people only see Twitter as a place to promote things they've done elsewhere. Posts like "I just blogged about [something]. Click to read." are welcome when you're also participating in the conversation. If your list of posts looks like this one (@TheOBR), you're missing the mark.

5) Don't just answer the question "What are you doing?"
What are you doing is the conversation starter. Someone tweets about eating at a great restaurant, or rebuilding their computer. That's the little snowball at the top of the mountain. Once it gets rolling is where the true value of Twitter is found.

6) Please don't protect your updates.
Protected updates are like buying an HDTV without subscribing to HD channels. (thanks to @mmhaskar for the analogy) What could you possibly be posting that the world at large shouldn't be reading? Keep your content to subjects you're not going to regret in a court of law, and you should be fine. Protecting your updates is annoying, and will almost always result in a "no follow" decision.

7) Be active.
If you haven't posted in over a month, it's unlikely there's much value in following you. Keep up with it.

8) Find a Twitter client that fits you.
There's just under 500,000 Twitter client applications that have been written, and each one fits a different flavor of person. It will make your participation in the Twitter community much easier (and help you avoid constantly pressing F5 to see what has been said lately). I recommend Twhirl or Alert Thingy.

9) Your thoughts are far more interesting than your actions.
It's great to know that you're heading to the breakroom to get some coffee, but it's far more interesting to know about your obsession with coffee, or the type you're drinking. And please...we don't need to know that you're headed to the restroom. Ever.

10) Think before you post.
Those 140 characters are powerful. You have power at your fingertips. You can make someone's day. You can also wreck it. And just like email and IM, your words can be misunderstood. So take a breath before you post your message and think about it's impact. Yeah, there's a delete button, but that doesn't mean people didn't read it first. This is the Internet after all...don't put anything out there you wouldn't want EVERYONE to find.

Labels: alert thingy, jeff blankenburg, twhirl, twitter

Today I posted the question "Why Do You Code?" on the always-reliable Twitter, and I got some great responses. I am posting them here. I think this type of conversation is my favorite part about social networking, by far. Click on people's names to follow them on Twitter! Thank you to everyone that added their answers!

If you didn't get to participate, please add your answer to the comments!

ohiomikeward I code because I enjoy it... love seeing an idea that started in my head come together as a rendered page on the internet.

objo we get to learn how things work (domains) and we get paid to solve puzzles.

johnnystock I agree with @objo solving complex puzzles and finding ways to do what can't be done = cool feeling

mjeaton I enjoy taking an idea and making a working product out of it. Same reason I enjoy woodworking.

babernethy I tend to agree with Jon Rentzch http://snurl.com/1zg57 on the topic, that programmers like to solve problems, not "just code"

fallenrogue Mostly my love of correcting the factual inconsistencies of so-called "hacker" movies.

fallenrogue and the chix0rz, of course.

nathanblevins Coding is similiar to creating, like art or singing or etc. It is a way to express yourself. That is what got me into it.

jamesbender It allows me to be creative and play with all the "new shiny toys."

brianhprince creative outlet. quietly taking over the world. stress relief. can't throw a ball.

RossCode It's all about understanding someone's business and being able to help them better it. Coding is just the tool to get there.

MichaelDotNet Honestly? I love taking something and having complete control over it muhahahaha The computer is my [expletive deleted]!

toddkaufman Because my true dream of becoming a professional dancer went away after the knee injury in '95

bsherwin I'd go postal making Big Macs, paving roads or changing light bulbs in parking lots.

objo another one .... how many jobs out there get to create something from nothing?

timwingfield To create something, the continual learning, and the new challenges. And because those pesky mortgage bills keep showing up.

FalconGN because it can be fun to solve business problems with technology.

timwingfield forgot the obvious one...Because it's FUN! It's not a "job" if you love it.

ViNull I live to code of course, I don't code to live =) Seriously, it is a "runner's high" thing

allennoakes answer: to satisfy my curiosity of patterns and logic.

ViNull I'm about understanding someone's problem and solving with them; I get no greater "thanks" than seeing my software in use

lozanotek I've always in the "it's just fun" camp. A while back, I realized that I was good at it and had a blast

cwoodruff I code because I can and enjoy they look on people's faces when I deliver a great tool to make their lives easier.

davidmohara Because I get paid to do something I would be doing anyway. (I know that doesn't explain the why though)

davidmohara "Why" isn't any different for developers than it is for other careers - it's about an aptitude (calling?) and opportunity

mattblodgett I originally liked programming because it was hard. I'm still hooked because I realize how hard it is to do it _well_.

Arnulfo I code because it was MY career choice. Influences: fun, geek factor, money.

alanstevens I code because I couldn't stand the other careers I tried. Late one night, I realized people get paid to do what I was doing.

pandamonial Besides all the other stuff, you never go a day without learning something so you never get bored

nathanblevins cause "reaching rank 45 in Halo 3" does not really inspire an impressive image? lol

DavidWalker I started coding for fun & young w/ C64. For last 15 years its been about providing value for the cause - Biz, Community, etc.

dcampbell A little late to the game with a less altruistic answer. Cash.

gilesgoatboy honestly, because it's fun, it pays well, and it's so [expletive removed without permission from Giles Bowett] easy. solving puzzles in code ~= video games with words.

dshultz because it's challenging, fun and there's great satisfaction in creating a well-functioning app.

johnkellar I code because I enjoy making things easier for people. To help someone else be more productive and see their satisfaction.

sadukie It's my inner engineer that drives me to code.

Labels: code, code to live, jeff blankenburg, twitter