The ONLY Twitter List that Matters

twitter-logo_000This week there has been arguing, debating, whining, complaining, comparing and all other sorts of conversation about which list of influential list of Twitter users is better, cleaner, more important, etc…

It all started when Stefan Swanepoel @swanepoel published his first list this past Sunday of 100 Influential and Interesting real estate people on twitter.

His first list started a little bit of Hubub about how it was great and other thought it was horid and filled with spammers. I will agree somewhat that the first list had some people IN MY OPINION were neither influential nor interesting but instead tweeted out crap, but that doesn’t matter.

He then on Wednesday of this week published another list of another 100 Influential and Interesting real estate people to follow up to the first list. It was also a good list (and better IMO). But that doesn’t matter.

On Monday between the publishing of those two lists, Dustin Luther @tyr did his own list of 50 Most Influential Real Estate People on Twitter.I will be honest I like Dustin’s list better. Not because I was on it or who was on it. Instead I liked it because it was a geeky representation with little emotion that went into building the list. It was 99% analytical and 1% emotion.

BUT NONE OF THOSE LISTS MATTER!

Why?

Because those lists are not YOUR lists. It is their lists.

Yes, their lists had very great recommendations and others that I wasn’t interested in. But still it is MY opinion and Stefan and Dustin’s lists were THEIR OWN opinion of whom they thought was interesting and influential.

So then what is the point?

Make your own list.

You might have thousands of followers, but there really is probably only a few hundred people that are influential and intesting to you. Make that list and keep in contact with that list.

Or, make a few lists such as:

  • Industry People
  • Customers
  • Neighbors
  • Friends

The main thing to remember is to connect with your list. If you have a list but do nothing with your list then it’s pointless.

If you want to connect with me on Twitter I am here @lorennason

P.S.
I know, I know.. I should have a Twitter link in my sidebar, and maybe I should finish the redesign of my site. But I do apologize as I have been busy working with others to make their lives easier when working with technology.

P.P.S.
Was I bummed I was not on Stefan’s list (i know you’re wondering if i was)
Nope. It’s not because I don’t think Stefan doesn’t like me or think I’m not influential. It’s just because neither of us have interacted and therefore are not acquainted with each other.

We are now. Hi Stefan, thanks for the great content you and Dustin have provided me.

12 Comments

  1. Eric Stegemann on September 25, 2009 at 12:04 am

    I totally agree that lists are great for new individuals starting out on Twitter, but once you are comfortable and past the “lurking” phase, then use lists and tools like Mr Tweet to find people you MIGHT be interested, peek in on them. If they provide you entertainment or information, follow them, if it’s junk stay away! But the key is Twitter is NOT a numbers game. You can follow 4 people and enjoy your interactions even more than someone with 40,000 followers.

  2. Jim Marks on September 25, 2009 at 12:43 am

    Here is the deal… 1) I totally agree with you. 2) I totally agree with you.. and 3) All of the aforementioned lists were flawed.. if they were entitled, “The top 50 real estate people who influence Twitter users” this is an accurate description of the list. But the fact remains, the most most influential real estate people on twitter can not be measured by looking at twitter. The most Influential are still influencing 1.0 Realtors, (hopefully to become 2.0) because that is where MOST Realtors are. There are just not enough Realtors on twitter to be influential…

    Wanna know who the most influential RE Tweeters are? People like Sherry Chris, and Tom Ferry, who are touching 1000s of Realtors on a regular basis teaching them about social media…

  3. Stefan Swanepoel on September 25, 2009 at 6:40 am

    Well one huge benefit from the list that started the whole big discussion this week is that that I am posting on Loren?s site of which I was not even aware of week. Now that I see we both live in southern California maybe we are going to have many great on- and offline discussions.

    You’re right Loren. My list represented a list of people that I have interacted on Twitter with recently and people that contributed to knowledge or share an interesting discussion with me. In a way I was acknowledging, thanking and sharing them with others.

    IMO you should befriend/follow anyone and everyone that you find interesting, influential, can learn from, or would just like to chat to. Social media open those types of new doors?doors to new friendships and new conversations that may otherwise not have existed.

    Social media is a wonderful new medium that has thousands and thousands of awesome capabilities and fuctionalities we are yet to discover.

    Enjoy the process and let?s try to leave the ego?s and pettiness at the door.

    Oh by the way, ?Hi Loren, great to meet you!?

  4. Kori Covrigaru on September 25, 2009 at 8:03 am

    The List. The list discussion always makes me chuckle inside. OK, maybe I laugh out loud too. The List debate makes me think of:

    Homecoming Court/Prom King & Queen
    My grocery list
    A list a bouncer holds at the bar
    Popularity contests
    Restaurant reservations

    I was on a list. The very list I made fun of a in a previous month. It’s great to be on the list, but honestly, I had no business being on it. I was there because I interacted a couple times with that particular person who wrote the list. Loren, you’re right. It’s all about who influences YOU. Others “sharing” their lists is just sharing who influences them in one way or another. It’s far from a RE.net celebrity list. It literally reminds me of elementary school kids sitting on the playground during recess, discussing who the coolest kids in school are.

    This reminds me, I need to add eggs to my grocery list.

  5. Bob Gibbs on September 25, 2009 at 8:14 am

    I actually consider Facebook a better site for close relationships. While there are a lot of Twitter users most of the people I know are on Facebook.

  6. linsey on September 25, 2009 at 9:33 am

    I’ll admit – it’s fun to make a list. But, as you and I have discussed Loren, some of the lists feel almost as if there is a group of us talking to one another about how influential and important we all are – and to who? To one another?

    Eric Stegemann made a point on Twitter yesterday that I think has value. “When starting many people don’t know who to follow and what to look for so they look for lists such as this in their field.” I think there is merit in that. If the goal is to find people in the Real Estate community that may be interesting/influential/connected, the list may at least provide a starting point.

  7. Mark Gundlach on September 25, 2009 at 9:56 am

    I found it ironic that I came across this blog today. Just last night I was going through my tweetdeck, scanning to find someone saying something interesting. I thought to myself, “Who am I following, and why?” I would not consider most of the 800 or so I follow influential, interesting, or even entertaining as Eric suggested.

    So, this all started because of some list(s). OK, so you made a list…great! What makes these people so influential? That’s what I want to know. Instead of getting on top of the table and shouting “Now Hear This!! I Have A List Of 100 Influential People, You Should Follow Them!” I would rather you give me a list of 10-25, AND TELL ME WHY! What makes these people so influential that they belong on your list or anyone elses. That’s what I want to know!

  8. Tweeter on September 25, 2009 at 10:18 am

    Just because they people say use Twitter, Twitter is useful, Twitter is the way of the future or they post RE news like madmen does not mean they are teaching people how to use social media or mentoring or growing their businesses…they are just active like million of others of everyday users.

    Show me the ones making things happen in real life for their businesses, selling homes, making customers happy and leading not just tossing a flurry of Twitter and Social Media confetti online and in the RE media.

  9. Carolynn Santaniello on September 25, 2009 at 10:53 am

    Loren,

    Thank you for putting your thoughts out in the open. What I found most entertaining and insightful about Dustin’s list was his intricate method of comprising his list. I agree that the industry professionals who are on your followers list is quite important in evaluating your impact in RE social media.

    I do not have over a 1000 followers, so clearly I would not qualify at 600+, but in my opinion growing your influence organically allows you to personally cultivate your garden.

    Thank you Jim Marks for addressing the pink elephant in the room: We are by far the minority. Those of us who are practicing REALTORS can’t spend too much time doing the geeky stuff, we need to focus on the relationships both online and, more importantly, offline!

    By the way Loren, you are on my list……..

  10. Mike Mueller on September 25, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    Loren’s on my list too.
    : )

  11. Loren Nason on September 26, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    Thanks to all for you comments.

    This has been a fun converstation.

  12. AJ Kumar on September 27, 2009 at 10:43 am

    I agree with you. I think it would a great a idea if someone was to create a big vote of who you think should make the top 10 people to follow on twitter as far as real estate professionals go.

    Maybe everyone can submit someone and then filter it down to the top 50 and then have people vote for the best 10 or 20.

    Personally, I think my broker Neil Schwartz has more powerful information to offer than 95% of the people on the list. He’s one of of the few brokers that I have seen that has a sales training blog with articles that are actually worth reading ;). http://neilschwartz.net

    I believe that it’s important to find the best people to follow because there is just so much junk out there. Well, that’s my 2 cents.

    AJ

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