Want to get more twitter followers? Who doesn’t?! Twitter has always been my strongest social network in terms of number of followers. Ironically, it’s the platform that I’ve spent less time trying to grow it over the years. After 4 years I’ve increased my followers to almost 24k. Not too shabby considering the lack of focused attention on growth. So here are my free, low maintenance ways to get more twitter followers.
‘On twitter if someone follows us we get excited, in real life we get really scared and run away!’ Anonymous
26 awesome free ways to get more twitter followers
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Use other people’s twitter followers lists
When I first started on Twitter, I wanted to follow lots of people in the same area as me; to interact with people doing a similar thing and make connections so that, hopefully, my following would grow. I went to the profile’s of people I liked (or big players in my blogging niche), scrolled through their followers and following lists and simply followed people I liked the sound of.
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Be consistent
Building relationships is about using twitter every day. There’s no point in tweeting for a few days and then not for a week. You have to be in it to win it! Stay consistent.
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Engage
I wish I had more time to engage, but I do a bit everyday. Twitter is a great place to spend time. Don’t just promote blog posts, but chat to people to build relationships too.
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Be friendly & don’t moan
O.K, so everyone is allowed a bad moment and people want to know the real you, but no-one wants to follow someone who frequently shares negativity. Also think of the brands who might be checking out your social feeds when trying to decide whether they want to work with you…. They do check!
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Add a twitter widget to your blog sidebar or at least a twitter icon
Make it easy for people to follow you; don’t make them hunt around for your twitter link, hand it to them on a plate. At the very least you should have the social media icon, but if you have space you could include a twitter widget. Perhaps one which shares your follower numbers, then you can tap into social proof to encourage more people to follow you.
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Support others
Twitter and the blogging world in general can be a really supportive place to be. So, support others by retweeting a tweet of theirs you have enjoyed or by commenting on a tweet. This will go a long way and you never know they may return the favour.
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Use Hashtags
These help your tweets get seen by more people. Use the search function to research which hashtags are appropriate for your tweet. Ideally, use 1-3 hashtags, anymore will come off as spammy on Twitter. Your tweet is likely to get 2 x more engagement than without hashtags.
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Social media icons at the bottom of each post (even if they’re on your sidebar)
Again, just make things really easy for people. If they read a post and like it, having the icons just right there may help them decide to follow you or share the post. Also make sure your social sharing is set up to include your @’YourTwitterName’ in the share. This way you will know if people are sharing your posts from your blog and you can say thanks. So many blog I come across haven’t set this up, so it’s worth checking if you have.
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Social media icons on your email signature
Make sure all your contacts have links to your social media channels. Some people even link to their most recent blog post (I do!). Wise Stamp can do this for you for free.
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Ask for Retweets
There’s a 12 times higher retweet rate if you ask for retweet than not and your tweet is 23 x more likely to be ‘retweeted’ if you ask for retweet rather than ‘RT’. Your tweets are then seen by lots more potential followers. This one is so easy to do!
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Include links
Tweets with links are 88% more like to be retweeted than tweets without. When we are trying to organically increase our following then any retweets will help us do just that. So while all tweets don’t need/suit a link, pop them in where you can.
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Participate in #FF
Follow Friday is a great way to show your thanks to others. An example would be ‘#FF lovely ladies @WhatKatySaidUK @ThisWelshMother @Amytreasureblog’. By tweeting this I’m asking all my followers to follow these lovely ladies. You can also use it to give a shout out to brands you like or are working with at the moment. Participating will make you more visible too and again you’re building up points in your karma bank.
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Respond
If someone tweets you, respond, even if it’s just favouriting the tweet (at the very least!). I realise that sometimes we miss people when our timelines go crazy, but try to stick to it as people will appreciate your responses. After all it is ‘social’ media!
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Thank people
I always try to thank people for RT’s. Again it’s possible to miss a few here and there, but generally just a quick thanks goes a long way and they will be more likely to share your stuff in the future.
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Profile picture
Make sure your profile picture is the same across your networks, so you’re identifiable and there’s consistency. Some people think this should be your face, which I actually do agree with. Make sure the picture you use is a good picture and hat you look happy or at least not miserable! Check out the background, make it clean and uncluttered. Oh and your profile picture should not be a picture of your cat, your dog or your kid’s guinea pig!
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Include images in your tweets
Stats show that engagement is 2 x higher for tweets with image links. That’s so easy to do and such a great pay off!
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Schedule
Schedule your blog post links to go out as tweets, more often that you think you should. I do this a lot and it hasn’t done me any harm! For years I got most of my traffic from Twitter too. I feel as long as people interact, as well as schedule, then there’s a good balance. I use Social Oomph* for scheduling Twitter, which is by far the best programme I have used. There are free and paid for versions.
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Lists
Use Twitter lists to make your following timeline more manageable. You will be able to interact more effectively and get more benefit. I have a list that includes people that have interacted with me and that I like chatting to. You can get more more organised than this and maybe have one for brands you have worked with, perhaps one for brands you would love to work with. Which would be a great way to interact with them and look out for potential opportunities.
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Social media bio
Make sure your bio says something about you. Having a blank profile will not encourage me to follow you. I want to know a little snippet of what you are all about. Make it fun and engaging.
- Peak tweeting hours – Between 9am and 3pm Monday to Thursday.
- Best time – Wednesday 12pm, 3pm and between 5-6pm.
- Worst time – Every day after 8pm and Fridays after 3pm.
- Tweet a Question -21% higher engagement if tweet includes a question.
- Be concise – 17% higher if tweet is less than 100 characters.
- Cross promote – Use your other social networks to promote Twitter. Encourage your followers on other platforms to come across and help you get more twitter followers.
- Pin a tweet to the top of your profile – You can use this to pin a tweet which says something about you, promotes a current competition or any tweet you would like people to see first when landing on your profile. Go to your profile and find the Tweet you would like to pin. Click on the ellipsis icon (…), select ‘Pin to your profile page’ and click ‘Pin’.
Which is your most successful social media network? Do you like Twitter? Any tips of your own to get more twitter followers?
LIKE IT? PIN IT!
Twitter stats from Hubspot.com
Comments 157
What a great list, twitter is my favourite Social platform and I’ve been hanging out here for 4 years now. I would agree with everything here, sadly I tend to make it there mostly in the anti social hours!
Author
Thanks hun x
I did not know you could pin a tweet! Great tips hun! You are one of the people I browse through your followers 🙂 xxx
Author
Bless you huni xxx
Wow-what great tips! Thank you for these. I will be looking more closely about how I use Twitter now. Plus, I will now be pinning a tweet now that I know how 🙂 x
Author
Glad it is useful hun x
I love Twitter and have ended up making friends who I have now met in the real world too! It’s has also been instrumental on several bookings for the gite so it certainly works for me!
Great tips! I love Twitter although find that now I’m back at work it’s harder to dedicate as much time to it x
Author
Thanks hun! I struggle with time too, but it is a great place to spend time when you have it x
Great tips Aby, definitely agree with intereacting as well as scheduling tweet – I love twitter for the chattiness and it is probably my favourite social media platform. I didn’t know you could pin a tweet though so thank you for sharing that!
I also did not know you can pin a tweet. #totesamaze tips Aby! Xx
Author
Thanks huni, glad there was something useful for you xx
And the post we’ve all been waiting for…! Thanks Aby this is so helpful!! You’re going to kill me but I don’t use lists at all!!!!! I know. Can you tell me how you sort yours?! xxx
Author
Ha ha! I aim to please! 🙂 I actually only have two lists, one called YBMM which is basically everyone I interact with & that interacts with me. Then I have another for friends. xxx
Very helpful post!! I need to learn how to make a twitter list.
Author
It is easy hun. Just click on your profile icon, go down to list, create list (give it a name like fav bloggers) then in the same place that you can dm someone, you will see an ‘add to list’ option, then just select the list and they are added. It is time consuming to start with, so just let your lists up, then as you speak to people you can add them as you go along x
Good post and some great advice. I probably should use lists more *hangs head in shame* #mmwbh
I battle with social networking, I don’t know how people find the time to spend networking. I am working on it though!
I never thought I would reach 100 followers on Twitter, but I have! I would say that my favourite social network is Google+, even though I have let that go a little trying to get the hang of Twitter. I really don’t like Facebook, but enjoy Pinterest, although I’m not sure how it would bring readers to my blog.
Your post is ideal for people like me (pretty clueless!) and thank you for sharing your knowledge!
#MMWBH
Author
It is so hard to find the time, I struggle every day and always want to do more. Really glad it has been helpful x
More great tips!! Thank you!! I do find it hard to keep up on Twitter and need to use it more…I always forget or can’t think of anything to write!!! But I guess my tweets haven’t got to be ground breaking! x
Author
Really happy to help, glad you liked it x
Thanks, some great tips. I’ve only recently started using twitter more regularly. Finally getting my head around it all x
What a great list, I don’t use twitter at the moment – or even look at it, but I think its something I need to learn more about and use to promote my business. Your post has helped me feel less scared by the whole idea, thank you.
Author
Ah I am glad x
Fantastically useful as always, thank you!! xx
Author
Thanks hun xx
Fab post – lots of useful tips, which I’ll def be putting into action! Thanks again #brilliantblogposts
Author
Hope it helps x
I love twitter, but I just don’t have the time to be on it regularly. I’m always on in the evenings (which according to your info isn’t the best time!), and occasionally in the day.
Thanks for a great post, I’m such a newbie to everything in blog land so all the tips are great!
Author
Glad it is useful to you x
Oh my gosh – you are just the most amazing Blogging Guru!!! Your tips are always so amazingly helpful, and you always seem to post when I’d been thinking of something in particular so you are also a mind reader
Author
Thanks huni, I love writing these posts and am just really glad they are helpful. And yes, I am a mind reader 😉 xx
Once again some fabulous advice which I have taken on board. I even went through old tweets to see how much I moaned. Ha, not to self… Be More Positive. Thank you for this fab post. #Mentormaterial
Author
I am glad it is helpful. I just remember someone saying that if a brand wants to work with a blogger they often scroll through all their sm feeds. So best to (where possible) try to be positive. Hard sometimes and no-one expects you to not be truthful, but I guess what I am saying it think before you tweet 😉 x
You are the Queen of blogging/social media tips! I always know to look you up if I need any guidance, which I do, regularly lol. I hope to make a blogfest or something similar next year and would love to meet you. #brillblogposts #thelist
Author
Ha ha, not sure I am the Queen 😉 I am glad the posts are helpful. Yes it would be great to meet up x
Your blogging posts are so helpful to a new starting blogger like me, thank you for sharing so much great information.
Author
Thanks, that is great to hear. If you have any areas that you want me to try to cover, please just tweet me x
Thanks, brilliant tips. My following is quite small and I am keen to grow! I have tried a few of your tips and instantly got more followers 🙂
#TheList
#BrilliantBlogPosts
Author
That’s great news, I am glad it helped x
I so agree with you on these points. Twitter is my new favourite social media network and I get most of my blog interaction from there too. I had to unfollow a load of people recently though cos I was missing out on loads of things in my timeline. I’ve noticed that you still follow quite a lot of people – do you use lists to manage it?
Author
I do huni, I only have a couple but I don’t look at my whole TL as much as my lists x
A reference blog post to return to again and again. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I’ve now pinned a tweet to my page. I’ve got lists but I need to grow in using them effectively.
Author
My pleasure x
Top tips, i’ve had a browse through but shall take a proper look later tonight and start working on it!! ‘#TheList
Great tips! I love Twitter and couldn’t use it properly without lists; I follow sooo many people so I’d never be able to pay attention to the people that I interact with without using lists. I have lots, but have a Parent Blogger one that I check the most. I get most of my blog traffic from Twitter too so it’s a good job I love it; or maybe thats why, because I’m on it a lot! Such a useful post xx #TheList
Author
I couldn’t cope without lists either x
As always Aby so many great tips 🙂 I think I am doing most, but there’s still a few areas I can improve on.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience xx
#thelist
Author
Bless you, I love writing these posts, so I am glad they help xx
Great post, really helpful. Relatively new to Twitter and still feel like I am just getting to grips with it, so this is so great direction, thanks!
Author
Thanks hun, hope it helps x
What a great post! I have to say that I am not a twitter savvy, actually far from it! So these tips are really simple to follow, and hopefully I will be able to grow my followers! Many thanks! x
Author
Hope it helps x
I never knew you could pin Tweets?! That’s interesting. I really need to sort out a list but it’s one of those things on the To Do list!! x
#thelist
I am a complete twitter novice so this post is so helpful to me. Adding to my reading list for reference. #thelist
These are fantastic tips. I really thought evenings would be more popular so I was surprised at those times. As always, thanks for sharing.
Author
Hope it helps x
I seem to spend less and less time on Twitter these days. I just can’t seem to find the time to look at it. I’m offically rubbish at blogging!
Super tips and from a PR and brand perspective, social media following matters a lot too on twitter, instagram and pinterest. I read recently that pinterest is the most powerful when it comes to traffic boosts so I want to spend more time there. It used to be my joint online happy place with Twitter but after 4 years on Twitter and much, much less on Pinterest, I need to share my love!
Ideally you should have more followers than those who follow you and not to forget to converse too. I schedule tweets and have an auto archive tweets widget linked to my blog which generates traffic and love tweepi to unfollow users who aren’t following back.
I do like to follow some HUGE tweeters/ corps that don’t return the favour though as RT’ing quality info/links adds value too. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts
Author
Exactly. I need to do so much more on Pinterest, but just find there aren’t enough hours in the day x
Thank you so much for this post! I am just getting started with twitter and this post is extremely helpful. I will definitely be referring back to it in the future!
Author
My pleasure, I hope it helps you x
All great advice thanks!
Author
My pleasure x
I am struggling with twitter if I’m honest, but that is probably because I’m using it after 8 and its just constantly moving I can’t keep up!! I will get there hopefully
Author
If I were you I would use Twitter lists, I think that will help you keep up x
Thank you again for such a helpful blog post! I had neglected my twitter account in favour of instagram but I am working on spending more time there too! Nicki x
Author
Thanks for your lovely comment, I hope these tips help x
Another fab post full of tips! You’re such a clever lady, and totally deserve your high followers rate. Those stats were really interesting, thanks for sharing! X
Author
Aww thank you so much huni. That is really kind of you to say xx
Thank you for this. I need to spend more time chatting to others and building relationships as tend to pop on, read and run to sort out kids.
Author
Hope it helps x
fab advice as ever Aby! I’ve just downloaded the tag for likes app. thank you
Author
Hope it helps huni x
Great advice. I definitely need to interact more #thelist
Author
Thanks huni, hope it helps x
This was really helpful, as I have only been on Twitter a couple of months I feel like I am still learning, so I loved this List. Thanks xx #The List
Author
Ah thanks huni. Hope it is useful x
Very useful tips! Thanks for sharing, I’ll try to implement them. I particularly like the advise on timings of tweets.
Author
Hope they help! x
Great list – so much to keep on top of on Twitter…a very hander reminder! #thelist
Author
Hope it helps x
Thanks for this I think I’m slowly getting there with twitter but it’s never been something I used before I started blogging xx
Author
My pleasure, hope it helps x
Great tips – we are getting there slowly! It all takes so much time! #TheList
Author
Hope they help! I know that feeling x
Hey!
Just read through this, it’s super useful. I am trying to increase my followers and I think this will help 🙂 #TheList
Author
Happy to help x
Great info., I’m fairly new to twitter so great to have some tips. I was wondering what the #FF meant, will need to start doing that and I had no idea you could pin a tweet to the top! Bookmarking your post for later! 🙂 x
Author
Glad it will be useful for you x
I’m new to blogging and new to Twitter, so this was v useful. Tho I now realise I’ve A LOT to learn :-/
Author
Hope it helps, good luck x
Thanks for emailing me the link to this page! Your advise is appreciated & I need the help!
Author
My pleasure 🙂 x
Aby – Great advice. Have been following you on twitter and knew you would have some great words of wisdom. I was wondering if you could advise on how to schedule tweets and about “unfollower” filtering. I know there are several programs that you can use but do you have a recommendation?
Author
I use social oomph. My Blog Club post on Tuesday is about social media management x
Another fantastically informative post Aby! Thank You. I am just new to blogging and very new to Twitter. I am still a bit lost in the Twittersphere but this post has helped me 🙂
Absolutely amazing tips Aby! I adore Twitter so much – the connections I have made on there have been wonderful. Def need to add more images to my tweets. Thanks for the reminder! x
Author
Thanks huni, Twitter is such a great place x
I love Twitter but lately I do keep bumping up against that 2001 following limit. Thanks for the tips!
Twitter is my favourite social media network by far.
Just need to be online other than the early hours when my little teeny man wants to wake up! 🙂
Great tips as always x
I used these tips first time round and really saw a difference. I might try changing to a picture of myself and see how that works. I’m just shy of 3k at the moment. #TheList
I love twitter. I used it for years before Ibstarted blogging, sonit seamed like the natural forum for promoting my blog. I spend a lot of time chatting on there. #Thelist
Another great post full of ideas! I will definitely try some of these! #thelist
Great tips as ever lady and thanks for your #ff in this post! Haha 🙂 xx
Loved this. Twitter is by far my fav social media now. Amazing when I didn’t know what it was a year ago. I’ve learned loads from this post. Thank you! #thelist
Great tips! My twitter following is a bit depressing at the minute, I need to try doing a few more of these things I think to give it a boost. Brilliant list xx #TheList
I know I’ve commented on this before but it is really useful – I forgot about pinning tweets, great idea! #thelist
Great post. Twitter is by far and away my favourite social media channel. Just wish I had more time to give it #TheList
Great tips – I do not understand people that do not use lists and actually need to spend some more time improving on mine. I am trying on the interaction time is such a factor but it does make a huge difference #thelist
Fantastic tips, really helpful. Thank you for sharing #TheList
Nadia – ScandiMummy x
Thanks Aby you always have such great advice. You’re my goto guru for all things blogging while I’m so new to this and learning as I go along.
Author
Ah thanks huni, glad I can be of help x
Great & informative post as always Aby, full of great tips for improving on Twitter. I never ask for a RT but probably should I always RT & reply to those who tweet me. Thank you for hosting #TheList x
Some great tips here! I’ve been trying to get into Twitter more as in the past I’ve pretty much just used it for comping. I’ve found using other people’s lists really useful for connecting with other bloggers x #thelist
Great tips Aby, I don’t currently use lists but this is definitely something I need to start doing. Also haven’t heard of Social Oomph before but will be checking that up. I would never have guessed that the worst times to tweet are in the evening. Thanks for sharing #TheList
Such awesome tips. I am always looking for ways to grow on twitter and it’s by far my favourite social network. Simply because i find the most “social”! Thanks for the tips 🙂 #TheList
These are great tips – I’m new to twitter and seriously have no idea what I am doing! xx
Love this! Some great ideas… I always thought bloggers would be at large after kids in bed but guess we are all guilty of looking for a bit of interaction during the day! X MMT #thelist
Author
You know I got the stats from Hubspot, but I think it would vary depending on loads of factors x
Great advice Aby as usual – I enjoy Twitter but probably use it at all the wrong times! Thanks for sharing #TheList
Really useful as ever! I always forget to actually ask for RTs!! #thelist xx
Author
I only ever do it for linky tweets xx
Some very impressive figures – and great tips! 🙂
This is a really useful and concise overview of how to make Twitter work for you.
I think Twitter’s great but it can be such a time-suck too! 😀
#TheList
Great tips thank you ! #TheList
Always learn invaluable tips off you!! You are awesome in the way you give back and share your tips. Thanks!
Fantastic tips as always. It is so daunting when you first sign up to Twitter and have 0 followers! I particularly like your advice about checking out who other bloggers follow to get a feel for people in your community 🙂 Thanks for hosting #TheList
Debbie
Great tips! Thanks for sharing them, it’s so nice to hear from someone who has tried/used these tips and gained a nice large following!! So impressed. But, I need your secret…how the heck do you do all of this in the normal 24 hour day? For reals! I need some more caffeine I think! LOL
Brilliant tips Aby. #TheList
Great tips. I love Twitter and even though Instagram is creeping up in my list of favourite social media Twitter is still the one I enjoy the the most. I really need to go back through my following list from the early days and use more pictures to up my game #thelist
Really useful tips, and so many things I don’t do and didn’t know about! Need to interact more, but don’t have enough time! #TheList
I love Twitter, it is by far my favourite social media platform and the one that brings me the greatest return on my time invested … hopefully your tips will help those returns get even bigger 🙂 #TheList
I love the idea about checking out and following other peoples lists! Will be doing some list snooping soon!
A fantastic list! Another one for my favourites I think. I started using Twitter lists a few weeks ago and it makes it sooooo much easier.
Thanks for sharing. #thelist
Great tips. I love Twitter, it’s my favourite platform but I still have so much to learn! Can’t wait to put this advice to the test. #TheList
I remember reading this post a few months ago actually and have now seen it again on #thelist
It’s nice to come back and reflect. About 80% of my traffic comes from Facebook, but I’ve been trying to generate more from Twitter. The biggest help for me has been scheduling tweets with Hootsuite – it’s made a big difference, although as I only really get to work on my blog in the evenings when my children are in bed, I don’t have a great deal of time to interact on there. That’s the next thing I need to work on! x
Excellent tips. I wish there were more hours in the day to do it all!
Insanely good tips. Thank you! New Year’s resolution is to crack Twitter. I’ve put lots of energy into IG and I do love it but it hasn’t been great for pushing engagement back to my blog. Thanks again,
This is so helpful Aby, I really need to start using social oomph and scheduling some tweets then I can focus on interacting when I go on twitter more. Thanks for sharing xxx
This is really helpful – I have started looking at how to boost my twitter following as it’s sadly lacking #TheListLinky
I followed these tips when I was starting out and they absolutely work. I need to work on my engagement, but that’s mainly because I hate twitter. I ramble on too much to be limited by a character account. I prefer to hangout on facebook! #TheList
Thanks for all the tips. I really need to start schedualing so I can focus more on engagement with my twitter time. #thelistlinky
I totally forgot about follow-friday! Thanks for the tips x #TheListLinky
I never ask people to RT – seems strange but it obviously works. Might try on important posts to start with and see how my followers feel. Thanks.
Amazing advice as always!! I followed your lead and done my first FF in ages this week! Thanks again 🙂
Great tips! Thanks for sharing.
Great post. Really useful as i’m working on my Twitter atm xx
I really need to work on my Twitter account – I really struggle to grow it #thelist
What a great list. Twitter is being my favorite social media channel but due to time crisis i am not much active there though i try to login daily and tweet a bit. #FF thing is completely new to me #TheListLinky
Great tips. I do most but I have to confess I rarely use hashtags and have never outright asked for retweets. I’m clearly missing a trick! I also need to start using lists x
#TheListLinky
Must start schedualing….must start schedualing. It’s been on my to do list for a month!!! #thelistlinky
These are great tips… I’m currently working on scheduling more, and also just being more consistent. I’ve been doing better but not there yet. Thank you Aby for this and all your other posts!! You have been more helpful than you know!
Brilliant tips Aby, as always! I love using Twitter. 🙂 #thelistlinky
Wizugo com is till now the best tool I have found for managing my Twitter and the webpage with respect to the schedule and the content. The amazing thing about it is that it is ever evolving and learning and this is possible due to the sophisticated artificial intelligence that it uses. It analyses the tweets, images, the content and the way I set the schedules for the whole week and then it works automatically following the pattern and even saving the account from being banned as it imitates the human-speed…now that is something you don’t see in other tools 😀
Thanks for sharing such a great, very informative and useful article to Twitter followers improvement tips.
Keep it up.