How to Tweet, with Nansen Malin
BY Nancy Scola | Friday, October 23 2009
Who?
With all due respect to Ms. Malin, it does catch the eye to wander down the Top Conservatives on Twitter leaderboard -- a ranking, for better or worse, of those right-leaning folks on Twitter -- and see the name Nansen Malin in slot number four, just below the somewhat more household names like former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, and national media personality Glenn Beck. Let's set aside for a minute the perfectly deserved qualms about devoting all that much attention to Twitter metrics. You just have to wonder, who is Nansen Malin? Well, we asked her. The basics: she lives in Sea View, Washington and serves as the Pacific County chairperson on the Washington State Republican Party. Beyond that, she was kind enough to share over email her reflections on how she has been able to find herself in such company and with a sliver of brain space of more than 144,000 people.
First, Malin on how it all began:
The large growth spurt came when I was identified as a ‘top conservative on twitter’. I had been on Twitter since April '08…and found myself tweeting during the 08 presidential debates. I guess it was clear where my politics were at. I traveled to DC to ‘live tweet’ the RNC Chair election- the end of Jan 09. My tweets were featured on a few conservative blogs then...and with cspan covering the event… I quickly found myself in the top 100 of twitter and at the top of the #TCOT list.
What do other people find attractive about you online?
There are a few things: a good profile page. My bio is interesting, the photos are unique. Every single day… I get comments about the whale on the page…and my red hair. I live in a beautiful area. We moved to our rural historic beach house full time… when our youngest went away to college. I don’t lead a fancy life… but my life is full of really cool things. The beach, salmon, technology, kids and of course…lots of politics. I guess I am saying that I am down to earth…and people respond to that.
I do lead an interesting life. I am involved in everything from politics to environmental causes. Perhaps I don’t fit the mold of what many think of as a typical republican. I try to make my tweets interesting with photos, video and links. People like a glimpse into your life. Don’t be afraid to be a little bit personal. Did I tell you about my favorite hashtag? #TROT Top Redheads on Twitter. I have fun with that. When I see a redhead… I tell them they are in the special group… #TROT.
Malin's advice on how to put together a good tweet:
A good tweet doesn’t pontificate. A good tweet asks questions and gives good information. The art of messaging gets lost by many who misuse twitter. I feel they are missing a huge opportunity to reach out and influence. And guess what? Influence works both ways. I’ve been known to change my mind because of a twitter conversation.
I don’t just talk politics. I find people respond to tweets about salmon, crab, wetland mitigation, recipes, wine. Family….just my life!! Mix – it up. Be authentic. I build rapport with people…by NOT CELEBRITY tweeting. (you know the- ‘I am driving by 7-11 now’… “I am making a piece of toast now’ – those are celebrity tweets). I ask questions, I give information that is helpful…and I help other tweeple solve problems with twitter.
On the wisdom of hashtags:
These are so important to find like-minded people, events, issues, geographic areas and topics. Twitter is self-organizing in that respect. You should find a niche…and begin in that niche. Followers grow from there.
Finally, on the importance of relationships when it comes to Twitter:
Follow people back. #1 advice. Golden rule. [ed. -- Malin indeed follows more people than anyone else on the conservative leaderboard, a fact that you have to imagine contributes to her high follower tally.] Indeed Follow back, don’t criticize, give recommendations of others to follow. Use #followfriday. However, the new twitter list feature is pretty awesome…and I can see it over-taking #followfriday. Twitter is about relationships. I am honored to have so many friends. I have met the most amazing people via twitter…and they are a huge part of my life now.
"Someone once asked me to sum up my recommendation" for Twitter success, wrote Malin. The answer? "Red hair, fish, and," she warns, "don’t focus on the # of followers.'" Duly noted.