Do you ever feel like you’re Tweeting to yourself? Does anyone answer your Tweets? Instead of just watching random messages go by at Twitter or wondering if anyone is hearing you, why not search for the conversations you’d most like to hear?
Just go to Twitter Search and type in what you want to know about right now. You’ll see the results of any Tweet that included the keywords you searched on plus how long ago each message was posted. Want some ideas on what to do with it?
Twitter Search Ideas:
- Search on your “location” and find others talking about where you are. (You can also locate Twitter users by location.)
- Maybe you want to do some “online shopping”? Type it in and ask others where they like to shop.
- Wish you knew of a good cause to support? Type in charity ideas to get personal recommendations. (Try “animal rescue”, “feed the hungry”, “clean water”, “charity” or “favorite charity”).
- Want the latest on a current news event direct from someone close to that location?
- Looking to find the perfect cufflinks, business card holders, engraved gifts or any other gift idea? Ask other Twitter users where they shop and why. (If I’m online and see your request I’d personally point you to the URLs I linked here.)
- Do you sell something? Do regular searches to see who is looking for what you offer. Answer their questions live. As long as you’re not a pushy salesperson they’ll probably appreciate the assistance.
- Have a particular area of expertise? Why not see who is searching for what you know and offer them links to the solutions they’re seeking. (Offer both yours and others.)
- Are you writing a new blog post and interested in more related links to add? Try searching on your latest topic to see what others have shared. You might find the perfect finishing touch for your post.
Put your search words in quotes to hone in on the best results. Use your imagination and try many different phrases. Remember what works for you and make it a regular activity. Oh, and remember to leave YOUR ideas on using Twitter Search in the comments – links are do follow and always welcome.
Don’t forget to follow us at Twitter and FriendFeed so we can follow you back.
NEW: Check out a new semantic search for Twitter called TipTop to see the most relevant Tweets for any search.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I like these ideas, particularly #8. I never want to be saying *exactly* what someone else might be, so using the Twitter search in this way seems rather useful.
There is so much data being gathered by Twitter these days, using Search is really becoming an interesting (and relevant) analytic tool.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hello Ryan,
Glad you like the idea. I hope you saw the tip on using Zuula to find recent, relevant blog posts. Derek really liked that one. You’ll find it in the second half of the post at http://www.growmap.com/blogging/.
I hope you’ll come back and visit often.
Yep, I saw the Zuula tip and it’s already been added to my copy of Firefox…
I liked point number 7,It seems helpful to twitter enthusiasts.
Twitter: @GrowMap
@Ryan I use Zuula all the time – especially the blog search when I’m researching a new post – so I know you’ll find it useful.
@host Thanks for the feedback. It is always good to know what readers find most useful.
@jobbercypr While this isn’t the best place for a job posting I do always like to spread the word to others. I’ll leave your comment and also shared it in the Hire Me room at FriendFeed for you. That room is at http://friendfeed.com/rooms/hireme
@EvewsSepetems Blogs aren’t usually referred to as forums, but welcome. We usually call our interactions discussions and refer to those who comment as commentators (and collectively as a blogging community).
@Preston You’re right. One of the reasons I post what I do is because when you’re new at something you frequently don’t even know the right questions to ask much less what is going to work and what won’t.
While we CAN learn from those who have already accomplished what we’ve set as goals, the real trick is figuring out who is writing from true experience and who is full of hot air. In the end we still have to jump in and just start testing.
Twitter: @Ben10Fan
I find Twitter search a bit overwhelming. Most of the results are garbage but if you have a good eye for scanning you can find some interesting things. I used to do number (7) and try to answer people’s questions on Ben 10 toys but there got to be so many results it could take me all day to sift through them so I gave up, probably unwisely but there you go! I like number (8) though to get related links but also maybe to get ideas for themes or angles within a post. You could use it a bit like a forum to find out people’s issues.
Cheers, Chloe
.-= Chloe @ Ben 10 Toys´s last blog ..The Busy Parents Guide To Green Toys For Boys =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hi Chloe,
You could try using Twilerts to get the most relevant results. Remember that the more general your search phrase the more “garbage” you will get. Some unrelated results are almost inevitable though.
I recently came across a new semantic Twitter search tool called Tip Top you may want to test out. I will be writing about it in the near future. Semantic search attempts to determine the context so that it can return better results.
To find more related links for you own blog posts you might check out Zemanta. It makes it easy to quickly locate images and related posts and instantly drop them into your own.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Write a Review at Merchant Circle =-.
Twitter: @Ben10Fan
Is Twilerts different from the twitter search stream? How does it get the most relevant results? Thanks for the other two resources – I will check them out!
Cheers, Chloe
.-= Chloe @ Ben 10 Toys´s last blog ..The Busy Parents Guide To Green Toys For Boys =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hi Chloe. Yes, Twilert is a third party app and not a part of Twitter. Here is how they describe their offering:
“Twilert is a Twitter application that lets you receive regular email updates of tweets containing your brand, product, service, well any keyword you like really.”
You tell their tool what keyword phrases you want to track and schedule when you want them to send you a list of Tweets related to your alerts.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Add Your Free Business Listing to infoUSA =-.
I cannot write enough good things about your write-up. It is extremely important to tell everyone how rich the Twitter data and platform are for any and all purposes. Most of the time, I do not need to use any other service anymore to get what I want. In particular, TipTop at FeelTipTop.com, the first and only semantic search solution built on top of Twitter data which you mentioned in your article, offers capabilities far beyond any other comparable service. There is no limit to what is now possible in this new, new world that is dawning upon us rapidly. Come one, come all, let us grab this opportunity with wide-open hands.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Welcome Shyam,
I was just using Tip Top to search out business opportunities when I saw this comment come in. Even though I am always overcommitted I will definitely be doing a new post specifically about ways to use TipTop to grow small businesses and to get the most out of what we spend our money on.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Add Your Free Business Listing to infoUSA =-.
Thanks for the handy details.Must read for those who want to make the most use of Twitter.Many times I used to get lost how to go about it,but now I would know what I have to do.
Twitter Search is great. You can pretty much find anything you want. Sometimes I even quote tweets in my post – I find it fascinating what people are saying on a given topic.
The only negative is that as Twitter becomes more popluar, it also is filling up with spam.
.-= Steve @ Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters´s last blog ..Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters – Full Product Range =-.
i recently created twitter id.i do not know much about it but i like it as i came to know many things about it.
Twitter can add a great idea to increase my business sales. More the good followers i get, more are the chances.
To be honest, I am not very familiar to social networks like twitter, as i have read many reviews & it is heavily crowded by people around the globe. But i have heard that there are spammers too. I am using facebook & its quite user friendly. However, Social Networks provides a good chance to meet new peoples, it’s like social gathering. After reading your post i think i should try to join twitter.
Twitter is the best platform I have ever came across with, since when I have made group and published my blog on twitter I can see lot of change of traffic towards my side.
I recently came across a new semantic Twitter search tool called Tip Top you may want to test out. I will be writing about it in the near future. Semantic search attempts to determine the context so that it can return better results.
Twitter: @chdutta
Thanks for the tips. Yet I did not use Twitter search. I will use it to get some idea as well as to get some traffic.
Have a good time
.-= Chandan@earning money online´s last blog ..Earn Money From Home – Let’s Get Real With It =-.
Very interesting selection of tools, I’m still learning the ins and outs of twitter – there is so much one can do with it besides letting everyone know you are brushing your teeth at 2am. Who would have thought it would have grown into such a useful tool for businesses. There is a fine line between giving out links to useful information on your site and spamming however no matter how pure your intentions. Many might misinterpret one’s helpfulness for the latter more often than not.
.-= Chris@Sports Cars for Sale´s featured blog ..Rosso Corsa 2007 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano for Sale =-.
Very insightful article, I really enjoyed reading it. All the success tips that you mentioned in this post regarding Twitter search are very useful and also very handy, as i will definitely go with these tips. Thanks for sharing this amazing tools.
.-= Daniella @ hulk halloween costume´s featured blog ..Hulk Toddler Costumes =-.
Twitter is a growing industry and almost everyone have it. Well, I will use your tips so that I can get more followers and of course to inform my friends on Twitter about my business. I will be searching often, really.
.-= Ben from Sell Property Fast´s featured blog ..Top 5 Reasons Why Homeowners are Compelled to Sell Properties in UK =-.