Twitter lists have been around since 2009 so I might be a bit late to join the party, but I’ve only recently started using them as part of my social media strategy. I’ve come to realise that lists are as important as any other element within the social media spectrum and by not using it you’re basically shooting yourself in the foot. 



What is a Twitter List?

A Twitter list is a way of curating Twitter users and to organise what they have in common. Followers are organised into groups which means that you can easily read tweets from a specific group without skimming through your entire feed. 

Think about users who have more than 15,000 followers. Their feed will be updated by the second and this makes it impossible to keep up with all topics. Creating lists saves time and is far more productive than reading all those retweets about topics you have no interest in. 

So, in a nutshell, you get added to a list because you are relevant to it. Say the list is called “Social Media Experts” a group of individuals or companies with relevant input will be added to it. Once added you are a member and you can’t choose not to be. Then there is the option to subscribe (although this is not necessary to see the list’s feed) and you are limited to subscribe to only 20 lists. Luckily you have the option to unsubscribe if you find the list of no use. When you subscribe you essentially recognise that you are indeed interested in the topics discussed and would like to be associated with it. 

If a list is made public, Twitter users can follow it without you having to add them. When you add someone to a list you are basically identifying them as someone with a certain expertise. People love to be praised or acknowledged for what they do, so this will lead to them following you or even checking out your website or blog. 

The Uses

• Group Creation

This is, as discussed above, a way of separating your followers into curated groups. One of the main uses of Twitter lists is the creation of groups as it makes staying up to date on certain topics easy. Lists make precise targeting easy, but make sure that you stay on topic otherwise there is no point.

• Recommendation

Recommending lists is a good way to network on Twitter, so share your lists with people that you think might be interested. On the flip side you can also recommend people by creating a “recommendation” list of experts in a certain field. This will give people a sense of status and significance which would cause them to want to engage with you. 

• Trending Subjects

You can follow trends on lists as well as Twitter users. When creating a list you simply enter a # and the topic you are interested in. This is a good way of doing it because it makes you visible to not only your followers but others interested in the same subject or topic. So take the “Social Media Experts” list again, simply include #socialmedia and you’ll be updated with all tweets including this #.

• Start a Conversation

Lists make engagement easier because you’re less likely to get lost between millions of tweets on main feeds. Engaging on lists can easily spark new relationships because everyone on the list has the same thing in common. 

When creating lists, or being added to them for that matter, you increase your visibility. We all know that it is important to tweet as often as possible, and when you adhere to this your presence on lists will be huge. If you tweet often enough, other members might just get curious and look at your personal profile. 

Lists might not seem like the most exciting social media tool around but if you use it correctly it can open up a whole new world of networking and engagement. You build a community of people holding the same interests. This is after all what social media is all about – building communities and then engaging with them.

What has been your experience with lists? Do you find them at all helpful? Share your thoughts with me by commenting below or connect with me on Twitter @SoundIdea

Sound Idea Digital specialises in Social Media. For more information, contact 012 66 44 227 or email to info@soundidea.co.za

Carina Claassens is a Writer for Sound Idea Digital l carina@soundidea.co.za l Sound Idea Digital l www.soundidea.co.za