There is one simple way to spend less time on Twitter and get more done. Twitter Lists. If you would like to save hours and keep your finger on the pulse read on.

What is a Twitter List?

A way to organize people on Twitter, or find new people. It’s a group of people that you can personalize any way you see fit. They’re a static list of people and a live feed of their posts.

There’s a few ways you can use them to save time and get the information you want when you want it.

1. You can create a list, public or private. More on this in a minute.
2. You can follow lists created by others.
3. Others can add you to a list, public or private.

You then return to your list to see what these people are saying. So you don’t have to sift through your entire news feed to try and find specific people. Time saver!

Twitter lists save you hours and allow you to truly connect with those who matter to you. Get organized and have fun!

There’s two mistakes I see entrepreneurs make: They ignore Twitter Lists. Or they have 20 of them that they don’t use. Let’s find the perfect balance. Ready to get organized and have fun?

[clickToTweet tweet=”Real engagement. Real connections. Real results.” quote=”Real engagement. Real connections. Real results.”]

How to create a Twitter List:

1. Navigate to your Lists page on Twitter. There are two ways to reach your lists; via the profile drop-down menu in the top navigation bar or by going to your profile page and clicking the Lists tab.
2. Click Create list.
3. Enter the name of your list (Note: The title of your list cannot exceed 25 characters), a short description of the list, and select whether you want the list to be private (you’ll be the only person who can see and access the list) or public (anyone view and subscribe to the list).
4. Click Save list.

How to Make a Twitter List

How to Add (and remove) People from Your Twitter Lists

• Click the person avatar which brings you to their profile. This brings up a drop-down menu.
• Select Add or remove from lists. (Note: You don’t need to be following a person to add them to a list.)
• A pop-up will appear displaying your created lists. Check the lists you would like to add the user to, or uncheck the lists you’d like to remove the user from.

How to view Tweets from your Twitter Lists:

• Go to your profile page.
• Click the profile drop-down menu in the top navigation bar.
• Choose which list you’d like to view.
• Right away, you’ll see a stream of Tweets from the users included in that list.

8 Ways to Use Twitter Lists to Easily Engage & Boost Your Visibility

Let me share a few strategies as to when and why I create a list. Here are a few ideas to get your juices flowing:

1. Thought Leaders – I love to share posts and tips from users I admire that can help my audience.
2. Business Partners – These come in many shapes and sizes: JV Partners, Affiliates, Co-Owners, Team Members and so on. Connecting with these partners and sharing content that compliments my expertise keeps engagement going between promotions.
3. Clients – I have a private list of my clients so I can watch their posts easily. This allows me to give congratulations, share their content, as well as provide any feedback I can to improve their Twitter marketing efforts.
4. Fellow Mastermind or Program Members – If you’re a member of a Mastermind consider making a list of your colleagues and enjoy supporting their endeavors!
5. Connect With – If you’re looking forward to meeting someone in person, or you’d like to interview them add them to a private group like this. You can see what they’re posting, what interests them and this allows you to best connect with them when the time comes.
6. Events – Whether you’re hosting or attending an event consider making a list of people you meet. I’ve found when meeting in person a strong connection is often created and I want to maintain the relationship virtually…that is until we meet in person again This is a great way to stay in touch!
7. Personal Interests – All those hobbies! This is a great way to keep everything in one tidy place.
8. Industry Research – See what others in your industry are up to and possibly find creative ways to work together.

One additional note, I will say I still enjoy browsing through my Twitter feed on a regular basis. I mean I did follow a bunch of people for a reason. So even when you create your lists be sure to hop over to your main feed to engage with more people.

Your turn, go forth…create one Twitter list and add a few people you would like to connect with more. Then check it daily and start conversions!

How do you keep up with the never-ending feed on Twitter? Let me know in the comments below and I’d love to see your smiling face over on Twitter! I look forward to Tweeting with you.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2012 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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A signature is placed at the end of emails you sent. Most often people use this to simply to state their name and title. Think about the possibilities if you had an automated system to share your newest blog, your Facebook Page or current promotion. How could this impact your business?

Moral of the story, every business owner should have an email signature. I say why not take that to the next level with an optimized and preferably automated solution that drives tangible actions.

If not setup correctly your signature may be ignored completely! You’ve seen those signatures that could take up an entire web page on their own, ya we all skip those. The good news is you can avoid this with a great set up. I have a few general rules to follow when setting up your signature for best results:

• Keep it short, no more than 3 or 4 lines
• Give something of value, like your latest blog post
• Add your photo or a company logo, this can be placed to the side of your text
• Include a current promotion. I like to do this with a nice clickable graphic…nothing huge!

Now, you don’t want your signature to go stale. Keep it updated regularly – with promotions, seasons, events, new content have fun. This is where a good graphic comes into play. If you make small, subtle changes no one will notice. Now if you have a beautiful graphic (made with Canva or similar tool) that is distinctively different people will notice and they will want to see what you’re up to. And voila… you have increased your track with every email you send…

[Tweet “Keep it relevant. If your email signature goes stale no one pays attention.”]

I use a simple tool to make all this email signature magic, it’s called WiseStamp. It’s very easy to use and works with many email platforms. Here’s some how to videos on this tool so you can jump right in and put it to work!

What can an email signature do for you? Every email you send on a day to day basis can support your overall online business health. You have the opportunity to get more visits to your website and latest blog posts with an easy 15 minutes setup, like you say in the video. If you have a VA (Virtual Assistant) this is a task they can do this for you.

This is what I call an integrated strategy. It’s built into what you’re already doing. That’s what makes it so powerful. You don’t have to go out and spend weeks creating something.

Drive traffic. Increase social sharing. Build your tribe. Share the love. You’ve got this!

Let’s hear it. Do you leverage your email signature? What’s one thing you’d like to include in your email signature now? Share with me below, let’s talk about it

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I just returned from a two-week adventure in India. It was beautiful, challenging, chaotic and fabulous.

The other night while suffering from extreme jet lag and unable to sleep it hit me that we can learn a lot from the business owners in India.

I spent 8 days in Rishikesh, in the north of India and the self-proclaimed capital of Yoga. There are dozens of yoga training programs offered in Rishikesh. It’s also a holy city, located on the banks of the Ganges River in the foothills of the Himalayas. The city is teeming with tourists, yogis and spiritual pilgrims, both from the West and from all over India.

There are hundreds of shops selling trinkets, jewelry, souvenirs, clothing, etc., etc. Most of the stuff is similar, if not exactly the same, from shop to shop. So how does one shop standout from another to attract the valuable tourist rupees?

There is a cacophony of advertising EVERYWHERE, and the shop owners frequently stand in the doorway shouting about their ware, engaging with people as they wander by, inviting them to enter their shop where they can move into their masterful sales patter.

Shop owners do not sit in the back of the shop and wait and hope you’ll enter. They actively engage passersby with enticing offers. They have signs and ads and displays right in your face as you walk by.
And it works. A smile, a particularly appealing invitation or beautiful bracelet catches your eye, and you’re in.

The vendors in Rishikesh know they have a lot of competition and they knowthey are all vying for the same small niche audience. And, they work it, constantly. Their livelihood depends on it.

We, online entrepreneurs, are spoiled. For years we have enjoyed using the free tools of the Web to attract new customers and clients. We rarely felt we had to pay for ads to attract eyeballs on our offers.

But things have changed.

There’s more competition for the same eyeballs. You can no longer sit at the back of your virtual shop and wait for people to notice you, wander in, and buy your programs and products.

It’s time to get more vocal and be proactive about getting in front of your ideal audience. You don’t need to stand on a corner and shout to passersby. You do need get your message and invitations in front of them, though, and on the Web, that’s with ads.

[Tweet “Facebook is one of the best platforms for targeting and reaching your specific niche of buyers”]

But, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re wasting your money. It’s much better to learn how to create targeted ads and campaigns the right way. It will save you a ton of time, money and lots of grief in the long run. And, you’ll see better results.

It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, either. In fact, for as little as $50 a month, you can create a steady stream of leads for your business. Wouldn’t that be worth it?

• You have to know the 3 best ads for reaching your business.
• You have to know how piggyback on the others’ success to target the right people.
• You have to know how to create a campaign and set a reasonable budget.
• And, you do have to be willing to invest in your business.

In your business, I want for you to be found and seen and hired by the right clients and customers. Because, when you’re successful, there’s a domino effect that spreads to those you serve and touch.

There’s a huge untapped audience waiting to find you on Facebook. It’s time for you get out there so you can make a positive impact on their lives.

Sounds good, right?

Best,
Denise

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Part of a strategic social media presence will always include lead generation. This is the art of taking a casual connection from a social network to the next level. Generally, the next level is joining your mailing list.

That’s where we come to today’s topic. Once they’ve raised their hand and said yes I want to get to know this person, even more, you have to continue to nurture them.

THis is often where I work with clients to create or enhance their follow up systems to improve their retention rates. While they will continue to follow on social media, you have a new place you have to take of as well.

Let’s take a look at autoresponders today and how they can propel your business results!

What is an autoresponder?

These could also be referred to as bounce back emails or a drip campaign. They’re essentially a sequence of pre-written and scheduled email messages that are automatically sent after an action has been taken.

Autoresponder Organization

Ok folks, here’s the important part — and where I see soo many businesses go awry. If you start off organized in the beginning you will be lightyears ahead of the game.

You want to keep your autoresponder lists, also known as campaigns, clearly defined. This will help your database segmented so you can follow up with select individuals as the opportunity arises.

For example, if you have a free worksheet to help people improve their handwriting and on the other hand, you have a video series that teach people how to personalized cards those two groups have different interests.

You wouldn’t follow up or even make the same offer to these two groups, well more than likely anyways

Moral of the story friends, segment, segment, segment — thank me later.

Build the Relationship

This is a one and done deal. Nope.

It’s called nurture for a reason. You want to take care of them, share more about your self in emails than you do on social media, share success stories, case studies, and resources.

Take really great care of your peeps.

[time-restrict off=”2015-01-01″]If you’d like to really optimize your opt-ins and increase your list check out my Autoresponder Worksheet for some fantastic ideas![/time-restrict]

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The Perfect 2 Minute Video by www.erintillotson.com

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Check out these 5 easy ways to start engaging now.

1. Add value – Share valuable, useful content that your target audience can use. The more value you share the more they will comment and strike up conversations.
   Another way to add value would be to help others. Visit your communities often and answer questions, provide insights as resources as you can.
2. Reply and respond to posts – When someone shares or says something great let them know it. It’s one of the easiest ways to start a conversation
3. Provide relevant and timely tips, insights, blog posts, and links – This is one of the best ways to get out, get noticed, get engaged and build relationships. Sharing other people’s content and industry news shows you’re on the ball for your speciality! These are the posts that get a ton of RTs on Twitter.
4. Be helpful (position yourself as an expert) – Share hot tips in 140 characters on Twitter. Make your content visual and share it on Pinterest. Then be sure to make it fun and interesting for Facebook, get tons of shares and loads of likes.
5. Reference an interesting update from a follower – Did one of your followers say something fun, cool or helpful? Share it with your followers and fans. The same goes for Facebook. Give recognition when you can and build a loyal following of engaged individuals.

Have fun and build amazing social relationships!

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Now wouldn’t it be great to log into Facebook or Twitter spend about 10 or 15 minutes on each site and really connect with people and build your authority? I’m going to share 5 foundations you can start putting into place today that will save you hours every week.

1. Delegate – there are definitely tasks you can outsource to a trained professional. You don’t want to outsource your personality of course. But consider tasks that need to be done, but not by you personally. Let’s take a look a few ideas: weekly or monthly post scheduling, customer service questions to your profiles, JV or affiliate requests, posting events and inviting friends and fans, and inbox management.
2. Boundaries – put in place specific rules for yourself, and your team if it applies. If you put some delegation into place be sure there are clear guidelines in place so both you and your team are clear on what needs to be handled and how it is to be handled so nothing falls between the cracks. What does that mean? If you have a professional scheduling your social media posts, have a process in place were its clear when the content will be given to them, how will it be provided (I personally love to use Google Docs for team collaboration) and how will all this be tracked. Perhaps your team is also handling customer service and inbox management; should requests be handled online or should the prospect be directed to email – or will it be a combo? In what cases should email be necessary? How often is your team to check your inbox for messages, maybe once a week? Are they to forward them to you for review, or respond to some if possible and keep you in the loop with a weekly update?
3. Lists – create several lists for your accounts to save time everyday. On Facebook you can create Friend Lists, I have quite a few of these in place. Here’s some ideas to get you started; a list for thought leaders, one for close friends and family, a list of joint ventures, and possibly a list of Facebook pages you want to closely follow.
   On Twitter you can have lists as well. I have both public (these lists are visible on my profile) and private (I am the only one who can see these) lists. You can have lists very similar to the ones I just listed for Facebook. Once you have the lists in place be sure to start using them. I save a TON of time by using these more often then scrolling down the live home feeds of each network.
4. Vetting – this is a big time saver for me. This is a big one! I use Social Oomph to vet all new Twitter followers, and actually this is a task I have my assistant help me with. When someone new follows me the system does not follow the person back right away. Instead it places everyone in a queue for me to review. I review this list Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If the person appears to be a spammer or does not have a profile picture, or for another specific reason I choose not to follow them. Everyone else I chose to follow. This helps to keep my network completely targeted!
   I do something similar with Facebook, when I receive a friend request I do not simply hit accept. I go to the person’s profile and see who they are and what they’re interests are. If we have something in common then I can approve, otherwise if I don’t find something of common interest I will likely not accept. For me personally I want people to connect with my fan page over my personal profile.
5. Targeted Audience – nothing can waste more time then questions or concerns from people that are not your ideal client. You want your message to reach the right people, and have a meaningful impact on their life or business. By maintaining a targeted audience your message will have a much greater impact on your connections and they will likely share it with their connections!

Start working on at least two of these items this week. And put the other items on your calendar to work on as well. Once you have these 5 foundations in place you will see time wasting dwindle down to almost nothing.

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How?
What system are you going to use to distribute your newsletter? When you’re searching for a provider for your business you may want to “date” a few before you commit. Most companies are offering a trial period for a low cost that will let you check out the inter workings. I recommend you sign up for a few that you have been considering and play around with the system. Then you’ll have more information to make an educated decision. Two systems that I recommend are 1ShoppingCart and Aweber.

Template
I’m sure you’ve seen a wide range of ideas from businesses you follow. Some you love, some not so much. Think about what fits you and your business best. You are the person who is going to have to keep up with this every month…so be sure you love it! Also consider the amount of content you plan on sharing every month. If you have too many content pieces to keep up with frustration may set in. Love your layout and be excited about the content you’re going to share with everyone.

Video Newsletter
There are some awesome video newsletters out there right now, I love Marie Forleo’s! If you’re comfortable with video this could be really fun and engaging for your peeps.

When?
How often do you want to publish a newsletter, once a week or once a month? Think about the amount of time this take from your schedule. Be sure you can commit that time to creating quality content.

Publishing Calendar
Once you’ve worked out what you want in each issue and how often you’re publishing it, consider creating a publishing calendar. Plan long term and make the commitment. Do you want to hold a spot for affiliate opportunities? Factor in any launches you have planned and think about all the other content you have going out on the internet. Everything you publish should work together in harmony.

Spontaneous Moments
Ah yes, don’t forget those times when you have a light bulb moment and have to share something with your list. Have a simple template in your email system where you can plop in some yummy message and send it off! Simple, stress-free and easy…that’s what you’ll need

There you have it 6 things to consider when getting ready to launch your newsletter.

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Let’s talk about how you can get your account ready for all those new followers,

1. Complete Bio: When people check out your Twitter profile one of the 1st things they will look at is your bio. You want to be memorable and unique. Always have your most relevant website link as the URL. Last but not least, be sure to add a professional picture of yourself as well, nothing is worse than seeing a new follower with the “egg!”
   A few actions to avoid in your bio:
   • Don’t stuff your bio exclusively with keywords. People cannot connect with just words. You want your personality to be present.
   • Don’t use industry lingo. Use words and phrases that your target client or market uses.
2. Have at least 20 Tweets on your profile: With a full page of tweets people will know you are serious about twitter. They can get a feel for who you are, what you have to say and if you match what they are looking for. Offer some good content that will benefit your target market.
3. A Professional Background: This is a great way to increase brand awareness. Use your logo, tag line, photo and anything else that helps represent your business. Mari Smith is a great example of branding. She changes her background to support her current marketing plans.
4. A Giveaway or Link for New Followers: Here is an opportunity to further connect with your new connection. Offer a great resource to them.

   This can come in a variety of forms – I use SocialOomph to set this up:

   • Share a popular blog post. If one of your blog posts gained a high number of comments and social interactions it must have been extremely helpful to your audience. Share this with new connections!
   • A free report. These are generally behind a lead generation form (opt-in form), where the visitor will enter their name and email address to receive your free gift.
   • A Custom Welcome to Twitter Page: Setup a page on your website just for new followers. Have a nice introduction video with something they can walk away with, a tip or action step they can do right away.
5. Understand the basics of Twitter: When you know a bit about Twitter you can engage much more efficiently and save yourself a lot of time.

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