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5 Reasons To Tweet Before You Blog

Written by - 41 Comments
Categories: Blog, Social Media, twitter

Comments on your blog let you know that someone is out there reading your posts, it lets you know that  they are reading and finding the content occasionally interesting enough to make a statement.

If it wasn’t for comments I would feel like a Town Crier at the South Pole.

5 Reasons To Tweet Before You Blog

Comments can either  agree and support your  argument in your post or they can offer an alternate view.

Negative comments are like being heckled during a speech but being ignored is a lonely experience.

A comment was posted recently that actually disagreed with my post “20 Reasons You Should Blog Before You Twitter” and after thinking about it… he is right!

Here is John’s comment.

“I started with Twitter to listen and learn and now have recently joined the conversation with my own blog to share and engage. My Twitter friends have given me so much in terms of great content. I share that primarily as most of my tweeting is RTs of other peoples blogs and content.
I see my new blog as my contribution platform – where I can make my offer my knowledge and expertise in return to the community. I could not have started with a blog. I needed Twitter to help me learn first.”
(John’s blog just launched in August and can be found at  jdbcolley.com)

So why do I now agree?

Twitter is a very simple way to dip your toe into social media and start finding out what other people are saying and you can build a following that then can provide a fast way to grow your blog with a ready to go audience.

So why tweet before you blog?

1. Twitter is simple

2. Twitter is non -threatening

3. You can build followers ready for launching your blog or website

4. On Twitter you can learn from the conversations

5. On Twitter you can be up and running fast

The only thing to keep in mind is that Twitter is not yours (you are there under their terms and conditions and that applies to other platforms like Facebook) and as such is your outpost, in essence they are your embassies in foreign lands and your tribe and followers are your envoys.

A blog is a home where you can build a substantial home base where you can build your brand and content.

You still need a blog it just doesn’t have to be the first thing you do.

What do you think?

Image by Jacob Whittaker


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  • http://www.icon-presentations.com/blog/ Jenise Fryatt

    John’s experience is mine almost verbatim. I learned about marketing strategy from Twitter and by using what I learned there, I made wonderful connections and friends who supported me when I started blogging. Feedback really does help determine whether you continue or not. When I hear people saying you shouldn’t even get on social media unless you have a strategy or plan, it makes me cringe a little. Social media is the ultimate do it yourself marketing vehicle as long as you keep listening and learning.

  • http://www.proctoracademy.org/chucks_corner/ Chuck Will

    I’ve been blogging since 1999….long before I heard of the term “weblog.” Twitter is a great resource for me, because–if you follow interesting people who write provocative stuff and offer links to great articles–it’s a goldmine of material (for which you want to credit.) The more you link to other bloggers and promote smart twitterati in your blog, the more you reap reciprocal dividends down the road. We create the rising tide that lifts all (deserving) boats. Thanks, Jeff!

    • Angela

      @Chuck: Smart, succinct comment on the power of reciprocal sharing/crediting … something everyone intending to use social media to improve personal or professional brand should practice. Thank you, Chuck.

  • http://stevecassady.blogspot.com Steve Cassady

    Jeff, your five points are what I have experienced. The links I find on Twitter offer great content and gets me thinking. I have built up a queue of blog topics to expand upon based on the tweets I have seen.

  • http://www.oooooozoooooone.come Fatin khawarizmi

    Twitter is a wonderful social networking, i did meet great people and learned a lot of things about social media and others in addition my English start to progress as it is not my mother tongue!

  • http://www.melodylealamb.com Melody Lamb

    Really great suggestions Jeff. I love the image you found for this post too!

  • Nicole Schaeffer

    Jeff I find your suggestions to be very true. I am taking a Marketing Social Media class at UCLA extension and my first assignment was to start a blog. At first I thought how do I begin and what do I write about and then I turned to Twitter to get ideas. I have followers because people enjoy my tweets so I used the conversation and expanded my tweets in my blog. I also wondered how I would get readers to follow my blog and once again I turned to Twitter. Many of my Twitter followers now follow my blog. I definitely agree with you… it is best to tweet before you blog.

  • http://www.essentialwholesale.com Kayla @EssentialU

    I already had a blog before twitter came out, but I have seen others build excitement for their blog and website on twitter prior to launching. It make sense.

  • http://aaronbeashel.com Aaron Beashel

    I couldnt agree more with this post and many of the subsequent comments.
    I started by getting myself on twitter and following the likes of yourself, chris brogan, etc.
    All of these people have taught me more about marketing than my university course did (im being dead serious) and from there i started to blog to contribute my own thoughts and ideas as well as help formulate them in my own head for use in my job.
    I also agree wholeheartedly with Steve Cassady and i was only thinking the other day about how many people would have a queue of posts they want to write based on what they have read on twitter or other peoples blogs. My queue is currently about 15 posts long.
    Great article and great insight Jeff

  • http://hospitality.about.com Rebeca Frisch

    Absolutely agree with this. I started on Twitter before my site launched and have an amazing group of followers even before I started promoting some of my articles. The people I follow (and who follow me) definitely influence what I write and I get new ideas and inspiration every day.

  • http://www.ivanwalsh.com Ivan Walsh

    Hey Jeff,

    Yes and No…

    I publish articles most every day, so if I were to do this my readers (at least on twitter) I think it would be counter-productive.

    Saying that, I would use TT and FB to ‘warm up’ readers if I have a significant post coming online and/or a product launch.

    The key here is to use the tools at the right time. Marketing, when done right, is a balancing act.

    The challenge is to use the right tools, strategies when they have most impact.

    Does that make sense?

    Regards,

    Ivan

  • http://www.polarismr.com Debra Semans

    I started blogging before I was on Twitter, but the contacts and content I get from Twitter have definitely contributed to my blog. I kind of wish I had started the other way around – it would not have been so daunting!

    Great articles, Jeff – I enjoy your work.

  • http://www.indiebusinessblog.com Donna Maria Coles Johnson

    This is a great post, Jeff. And for someone who has neither a blog nor a Twitter account, and is just starting with both, I totally agree. I have worked with clients many times using this strategy. I get them situated on Twitter and build a following of people who are interested in what they have to say. That way, when the blog launches, it launches to real people instead of crickets chirping. Love the strategy and it works for those who are patient and willing to build their platforms with intention and specificity. (Which, unfortunately, is not everyone …) Thanks again!

  • http://blog.esimplestudios.com Gabriele Maidecchi

    I definitely think Twitter is much more suited for getting your feet wet in social media. As you mention, it’s a lot simpler and faster than setting up a blog. It’s true that with evolutions of platforms like WordPress and the aid of all the awesome themes out there it’s becoming increasingly easy to be up and running, but Twitter is still great to get valuable content, connect with awesome people and practice on those skills you will really need to be a successful blogger.

  • http://budurl.com/t67q Michele Price

    You both have valid points. I started blogging before twitter so meh.

    I find listening to people period is great for headlines as well as blog posts. I hear it in what they complain about, I hear it is what they ask for, I hear it on their tweets…ok I think this could be a new blog post “I don;t see dead people, I hear them” ROFLMAO. Ok, seriousness aside, the first thing I teach clients is to use the tool twitter as a listening device.

    I love having a free focus group top call on and enjoy them at the same time, now that’s business.

  • http://tomdurkin.me Tom Durkin

    I had an interesting exchange with an online marketer called Dareen Monroe on Twitter this last week on a similar subject.

    I asked him if he thought starting a blog was a good way to become a master of a topic, but he thinks its more about learning about a topic first and then starting the blog. From what I can gather this is what your post is basically saying too!

    I have to admit that I am still undecided. Does anyone have any further thoughts?

    thanks for the post

    Tom Durkin – http://tomdukin.me

    • jeffbullas

      Hi Tom I started blogging when I knew that I was passionate about my niche “Social Media”. If you wait to be an expert you will never start. The task of research and writing for your blog will continue to grow your knowledge and skills. There is no right or wrong on Tweeting before blogging or Blogging before tweeting. Just start Blogging and Tweeting. I would certainly recommend growing your Twitter followers as that will give you an audience to promote your blog to, that are targeted in your niche. Good luck and look forward to reading your blog soon.

  • Albert

    This is a great way to look at it. Use Twitter as fuel for content.

  • http://www.darraghkelly.me Darragh kelly

    What you mentioned about you base and outposts is nail on the head stuff. From my personal experience i started with Twitter as it gave me a better understanding of what is out there and where i should pitch my blog.

    In a sense twitter as it is am embassy as you said it helps you get to know the locals and learn how to talk about your material in their language.

    Congrats on having the openmindness to go back on your original post and be influenced by the comments on your blog, true engagement

  • http://notreadyyet billy

    It’s all about the conversation. You have to start one with questions, comments or views: twitter lets you do that.
    The electronic conversation is a pale version of the real one, but it a beginning isn’t it?
    After a two month learning curve, I only use twitter at this time, no web site yet, and no blog. I know what I want to speak about, twitter lets me get my voice going.
    I want so much to prove that the conversation works. I hate seeing so much “drivel” out there, and that I wont participate in. I read your stuff because it leads to things that I want to understand; but it’s still not the conversation is it? It’s a precurser to it, and that I like.
    But it is a start, so thanks for your post.
    Billy

  • http://www.signsoveramerica.com Casey Valiant

    The beautiful thing about SoMe (and marketing in general) is that there is no singularly right way to do it. As long as you are within the service’s Terms and Conditions, the flexibility of all these different platforms can yield results using a variety of different strategies.

    Love seeing the counterpoint to your original article. Nicely done listening to your audience!

  • http://passaggiowines.com Cynthia Cosco

    It’s all about connections…when people are able to cennect with you they will read your blog. The conversations can turn into content for blogs – I like that…

    Thanks for your post

    Cindy

  • Elissa

    Completely agree! Twitter has allowed me to connect, share and manifest great conversation…plus build critical mass among my followers – so by the time I may decide to blog, I have a ‘built-in’ audience base. Right now, I’m guest blogging on various sites – which allows me to dip my toe into that world. And that’s enough for me…for now!

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  • http://theryanmason.com Ryan Mason

    It strikes me as a chicken or the egg scenario. I instruct our Associates who are learning social media to write blogs first, then learn Twitter. Because the natural tendency is to broadcast on Twitter before getting into conversations. And I’d like them to be broadcasting their own content to ideally attract followers with similar interests. And then as they expand their reach on Twitter with people that engage in conversation, they have something to talk about and also to point their followers toward that shows how they’re an expert in their field: their blog.

  • http://deswalsh.com Des Walsh

    It’s a very good post Jeff, but then so was the original one that triggered this. I hope all the “I’m for Twitter” people who read this will do themselves a good favour and go back and read your case for blogging. Great insight, great summary.

    That said, the more I am involved with social media the less I believe in either/or answers about platforms, or “this before that” approaches. In my view that’s tactical thinking, not strategic, and does not take enough account of differences in people’s/organisations’ strategic needs. I know you think strategically but from reading the comment stream here I believe we all need to remind ourselves frequently that each business, each non-for-profit, each community organisation, each freelance professional has to work out (with help from seasoned social media players if necessary) their strategic objectives, the online social behaviour of the people they want to reach, and so on, before they get to “which platform” or “which platform first” or which platforms together”.

    And as Ryan says, there’s a bit of the old chicken and egg here.

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  • Troll

    LoL – if your expert opinion is so easily changed so drastically, maybe consider not offering advice to others. Follow, stop trying to lead.

  • http://livingpower.blogspot.com Laurie Wallin

    I completely agree. I coach people to listen before they write, as an inspiration, a way to find out what others are talking about, and to get the creative juices and idea-making part of their minds going. Twitter or reading feeds I follow are how I prep to blog each time too. It’s fun to be a part of the conversation instead of being, as you said, the town crier :) .

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  • http://michaelshoup.com michaelshoup

    I’m a big believer in this method for artists. I hear so many people say “every artist needs a website”… but if you have no community, no product, and no experience with content, you need to just get your neck out there first, whether it’s FB or Twitter.

    Nothing worse than starting a blog hoping for a giant social influx and hearing crickets.

  • http://community.ca.com/blogs/theitgovernanceevangelist/ Steve Romero

    Given there are practically no barriers to entry to Twitter, this is pretty much a no-brainer. I think you could have just as easily said, “If you blog, you should also tweet” – for all of the reasons you listed in your article. The “before” you blog then becomes moot because you’ll be tweeting in two minutes as opposed to the time it will take to set up a decent blog.
     
    If you are truly proposing a “chicken and egg scenario” then I think there might be some problems in your advice. Signing up for twitter and posting tweets is one thing, amassing followers is another. The latter takes time and this means it could be a while before you post your first blog.

    The only reason for waiting would be if you want to limit your blog to topics with proven interest to, as you suggest, ”find out what other people are saying so you can build a following that then can provide a fast way to grow your blog with a ready to go audience.” I admit most blogs tap into hot topics and existing communities of interest but I actually find the most thought-provoking articles come from blogs that create and foster interest, as opposed to simply joining existing frays.
     
    Steve Romero, IT Governance Evangelist
    http://www.itgevangelist.com/

  • http://www.facebook.com/andersongarya Gary Anderson

    Twitter T, Twitter tumb, I smell the tweet of and English mum. Twitter use to be twttr, until they changed their name and nor twttr is no longer a tweet and this statement could be tweeted as from a twit to a tweet 

  • http://decarospot.blogspot.com/ Sharon DeCaro

    Jeff, your blog inspires me. Thanks for sharing. You’re right. Twitter is simple. If I see relevant info that I want to share, it’s quick and easy to do. Also, if there’s an article that I want to review later, I tweet it. Writing in my blog takes time, so I do it weekly or bi-monthly. Although, sometimes I find something so interesting, I have to write about it, now. 

    Sharon DeCaro
    Graphic/Web Design/Branding/Identity/Social Media

  • Jayshurling

    Totally agree. Have a personal blog, but trying to develop a biz blog now and Twitter has helped find a niche in the social world to stand out and helped me focus. Will have it up soon and hope you will offer feedback.

    Cheers !

  • http://twitter.com/Politicohack Jeff Watson

    Tweet first of course!! Why would you cook a full course meal before you can toast bread!?

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  • http://twitter.com/sally07 sally07

    I started blogging in 2003. Then it was sort of like Twitter in that you built up a network of trusted and reliable followers and you reciprocated in kind. Twitter has added to my blogging but so has SlideShare before they changed its capacity to create a personal network. I think that is the key, building a personal network which is a kind and encouraging network and then building confidence from there. I have several blogs but one is just for me. It has what I want on it and it doesn’t worry me if no one else sees it. It is a good place to experiment when I want to so Lone Blogging can have its place. Great post, though, because it’s time we thought about what supports us as bloggers. I do not think Twitter should necessarily come before blogging. If you build your blog and then advertise it on Twitter that can work well.

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  • http://twitter.com/4kristian Christian Daoust

    This content is from 2 years ago? I thought you just wrote it and sent it out today..

  • http://tnssn2013.blogspot.com/ Nessinuet

    I recently joined twitter for the sole reason to obtain insight and exposure. It has helped me reach communities I had trouble getting access to via the web. I think you hit it on the head!