Twitter for Web Designers
If you’ve got any connection whatsoever to the web design industry, you’re either on Twitter, or you’ve got half a dozen colleagues trying to convince you to jump in. If you’re still waffling about it, read Twitter from Zero: an Introduction, as a prerequisite to this article.
Assuming you’ve taken the plunge, and now you’re staring at your blank Twitter page wondering “ok, now what?”, here’s where to start.
First of all, you’ve probably seen different people using Twitter in very different ways- this may contribute to the confusion that many people view it with. That’s only because it is merely a communication tool. It is not a strategy, it is not a resource. People are the resource that you are tapping into. Networking is how you are doing it, and Twitter is just a tool that helps you communicate. As such, your network will take time to build, parse, evolve, and become useful to yourself and others. Like with so many other things, you’ll get out of it what you put into it. And when you take the time and effort to invest in your network, others will benefit. Their reciprocation will benefit you in turn, and so on. This is the interactive web!
So back to your blank Twitter page. Where to begin? I’ll keep a focus on web design and related disciplines, as this where my experience lies. The first step is start following people, and to tap into the ongoing conversations and exchanges of information happening in the twitterverse. (get used to silly words like this- they are everywhere.)
I strongly recommend that you manage your network organically- by manually following people of interest and manually evaluating the people that choose to follow you. There are programs and systems out there that are designed “get followers” quickly and in great number. Avoid these, they will damage the quality of your network, and are likely a big turnoff to your most valuable connections.
I’ve compiled a list of individuals related to web design, graphic design, and typography. You’ll find more lists out there if you look for them- those listed here are my personal picks, and its just the tip of the iceberg.
Follow!
So make sure you’re logged into twitter, and visit the following people. Take a look at their twitter stream. Is it useful? interesting? Have they posted links that are of interest? It is common practice to post links to tutorials, examples, and design inspirations, as well as original content. If someone is posting links that you find valuable, then consider following them. Repeat! It takes time, but its a build-your-own network. Don’t follow someone that you wouldn’t want to talk to in person, or couldn’t find something to talk about with. Its also a good idea to look at their website or blog.
This should get you started. Add, remove, alter as you see fit. Now look through some of the people that these people are following.. if you click on “following” just below someone’s bio, you’ll get a list of who they follow. This is an easy way to expand your follows and find more interesting people.
Another helpful technique that makes for an informative twitter feed is to follow people in fields that are peripheral to your own. For instance, if your core skills are in graphic design, you may want to follow people who tweet about user experience design (UX), content strategy, web writing, search engine optimization/marketing, and web development - just to name a few. After all, these are the types of people with whom you may be working with on any given project. Its good to know how the other half thinks. (My own eyperience is more focused on front-end development, but I watch graphic design and related fields closely)
So here are a few more people to check out:
User Experience Design (UX)
Content Strategy/Writing
SEO
And finally, there’s a few twitter feeds that should come pre-installed with every twitter account. Here are a few, just for good measure:
If you’ve actually made it through this entire list, congratulations! i hope you’ve made some worthwhile connections. This is a vibrant collection of talented people- some of the most influential people in the business. Keep digging.. there’s more incredible people and resources out there, and we’ve only scratched the surface.
Comments
Post new comment