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Author: Patrick Rhone

Elements of Style for Twitter: ReTweets and Follow Friday

This is the first in what may end up being a series of posts. This is my attempt to provide some proper style guidelines for Twitter. It is my hope that, with enough uptake, these will help to raise the level of conversation and quality on Twitter. If you do not know what Twitter is (and hopefully you enjoy that rock you are living under) please see: http://twitter.com/

The Useful ReTweet
A ReTweet (RT) is the re posting of a tweet that someone you follow has posted so that your followers might be exposed to the information if they, themselves, do not follow the original author of the tweet.
Here is an example of how it is often done…
Original Tweet:

Here is a great link on personal productivity. Get your butt in gear: http://examplehere.com

ReTweet:

RT @patrickrhone: Here is a great link on personal productivity. Get your butt in gear: http://examplehere.com

The problem with this is that there is no context provided by the retweeter as to why he or she may find this important enough to retweet. It is for this reason that I generally suggest avoiding them. Instead, choose to do what I like to call a “via” instead.
Here is the Original Tweet again:

Here is a great link on personal productivity. Get your butt in gear: http://examplehere.com

Via:

This is a fantastic post about productivity. Really helped me out: http://examplehere.com (via @patrickrhone)

The advantage to this is that now those who follow you to hear your voice and opinions actually receive them. Not those that belong to someone who they may or may not choose to follow.
The Proper “Follow Friday”
Follow Friday is a kind of Twitter tradition. Basically, every Friday you post a Tweet to recommend people you think are worth following and include the #followfriday hashtag.
Here is an example of the usual and, in my opinion, unstylish norm for this:

Follow @person1, @person2, @person3, @person4, @person5, #followfriday

I hate it when people do it like this example (just spew a list of usernames). I think what would be far more stylish and useful to do something like this:

Follow @person1 for great quotes, funny asides and interesting links #followfriday

By doing so, you are telling your followers not only who you think they should follow but also why. Therefore they can make an informed choice on the matter without needing to do further research.

Stealing thunder

In 1704, playright John Dennis invented a new method of producing the sound of thunder during a play. Dennis’ play was unsuccessful, but his thunder technique was soon borrowed by another production, leading Dennis to exclaim:

Damn them! They will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder.

(via Kottke)

Mea culpa

The next time someone points out something you have done wrong – a loved one, a boss, a coworker – Own it. Don’t deny it, don’t try to defend it, don’t make excuses. If there is any truth whatsoever to the accusation, take the blame.
Owning up to our shortcomings actually puts us in the more powerful position. By facing them, we assume the power to correct them. By denying them, we deny ourselves this ability, thus leaving ourselves powerless.
Also, admitting fault and expressing an honest apology and desire for improvement, more often than not, immediately renders the temper and ill will of the accuser moot. If someone is angered by something that you have done, and they approach you with that anger, that anger is much harder to hold when met with “You are right. I am sorry. Let’s all learn from this.”
I often think about how many corporations could improve their customer service experience by simply training their employees to make “We’re sorry” be the first thing that leaves their mouth when met with a customer complaint. Combining that with giving those workers the power to correct any issue is what separates the companies with unmatched service from the rest.
The bottom line: Mea culpa. Assume the empowerment (and responsibility) that comes from being the one who is actually in control of the situation and the only one who can do something to correct it. Be the hero, not the zero.
This post was inspired by a comment made by my lovely and brilliant wife, who is often burdened with way too many excuse makers in her life.