December 20, 2009 79 Comments

I Was Wrong About Twitter Lists

I originally felt Twitter lists would be really harmful, that people would be upset by not showing up on certain lists. I find that I’m now using five private lists and growing. I have two public lists, too. So far, the world hasn’t ended. And, lists have really helped me tidy up my “views” of Twitter, which is important if you’re following 90,000 folks.

I am wrong from time to time. This time was one of them.

Related posts:

  1. Twitter Lists- Im Not Down
  2. Twitter MUST Stop the Spam Use of APIs Now
  3. Dear ESPN- You’re Doing it Wrong
  4. The Problems With Friends Lists
  5. Site Rework Done

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  • marryroy01

    How is the number of people you follow by stream relevant to who you follow by list? One does not necessitate the other, for the majority of those in my lists I don't follow by stream.I want to know suggestion from others.

    jeux ds

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=591295027 Perri Blake Gorman

    I have just started to use private lists. At first I created lists to acknowledge people in my region (Hong Kong), and people I really valued, but now I have started to use private lists mostly where I just don't feel the need to broadcast to the world or that person that they are on a list, just as I would sort in Tweetdeck. When I follow someone, I admit I look at the lists they are on, & in fact much of my following now is list based. It has been an interesting development on Twitter to say the least.

  • http://www.lifenotion.com Derek Jensen

    Chris,

    I really think a lot of people using Twitter do not fully understand the benefits of Twitter lists. Please take a look at a post along with the comments to see how I think Twitter lists could be used. You and others might find it very helpful.

    http://www.lifenotion.com/2009/12/twitter-lists…

    Best Regards,
    Derek

  • http://anastasiaashman.wordpress.com/ Thandelike

    Yet, so far, you can't add someone else's list to one of your own (which would consolidate those people quite easily)….as it stands you'd have to either subscribe to someone else's list, keeping them separate from your own lists or handpick ppl from it to add to your own.

  • geschenkefrmnner

    Hi,
    I never use twitter list but your post seems i should start using it as it looks very helpful.Thanks for sharing…

  • http://www.ivanwalsh.com Ivan Walsh

    ok. that makes sense. thanks.

  • http://www.wchingya.com wchingya

    I respect your honesty, Chris, and to have the courtesy to amend to a viewpoint you made earlier is a courageous act. I'm very happy that you had changed your mind about Twitter Lists as it has helped me a great deal in organizing and meeting new contacts as well. Of course, it's not possible to find a perf

  • http://www.lotusjump.com/ Robert

    Seems like private lists are popular, but no so much public. Is it to avoid having people feel left out?

  • Jennyfer

    I know what you mean.

    I didn't understand the point of Lists, and thought there were an unnecessary complexity. Also it seemed like they were yet another competition for popularity.

    The thing that changed my mind was the TweetDeck list search engine (http://www.tweetdeck.com). I have found a dozen incredibly helpful lists through that site and I probably search it once a day now.

    It totally changed the way I use Twitter.

  • http://www.virtualitassistants.com/ Amber Whitener

    I keep one list private. I keep track of those goofy people who mass follow everyone then they mass unfollow people. Next thing you know. . . “John Doe” has 22,000 followers and is only following 18 people! It's so lame.

  • http://www.virtualitassistants.com/ Amber Whitener

    You are definitely right on the focus part! :)

  • http://www.moneymakerexaminer.com/ igor Griffiths

    As a lonely marketer and as someone who works as a contractor by day. I saw the benefit of the List immediately.

    I have now compiled a team of advisors that keep me focussed, provide content, advice and news updates that are all relevant to my aims. This is all in a nice quiet side room of twitter away from the constant updates.

  • greeblemonkey

    I think your reasons were valid and I quoted them in one of my Microsoft Hands on Small Business classes when I was teaching everyone about lists. But I also see the value in them – I think it's just like anything. It's how you use them. And the people who use them in garbage ways are not people I want to be following anyway.

  • http://www.bitsfortheboat.com/ ropes

    I spent hours creating several lists and already regret it. There are too many people I like for a variety of reasons for me to single some out. I may end up just deleting them but this will undoubtedly hurt some feelings since not everyone will understand my intent is to be inclusive rather than exclusive.
    Great post! Thank you for writing it.

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  • http://www.shop78.blogspot.com/ ashok

    I have joined twitter 2 days this is very usefull to me

  • Geoff_Hoff

    I used to say “Sometimes, I'm mistaken. Once in 1969 I thought I was wring, but I was mistaken.” Kidding aside, I love my twitter lists! Putting all my writer friends in one list makes it so much easier to keep up with everyone. One day they weren't functioning and I was at a total loss! (Talk about becoming addicted quickly, they've only been there a month or two!)

  • http://www.wasi620.blogspot.com/ warrioRR

    Agreed

  • zetaclearreview

    yah this is good, if u r wrong then except your mistake, this is the good thing is your life,

  • http://reblogworld.com/ Jason Berman

    You aren't really following 90,000 folks. Lists just help you follow who you really want to follow. Curious, how many folks you put in each of those private lists?

    I love what you do and who you are Chris but 'following' is a term that has lost all meaning. Lists just provides cover for those who aren't nervy enough to unfollow people they don't want to read anymore.

  • http://www.lookwhatmomfound.com Rob Babiak

    I have not really spent much time looking into Twitter lists but I think I might need to. I am sure they are helpful I just hate to learn anything new. LOL. Thanks for the update.

  • Concern4Civility

    I keep mine private. Don't want it to become popularity contest. Will consider publishing some lists in future, but only after I've had time to give it time and thought.

  • edhardy11

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  • http://www.eyewear-rayban.com ray ban wayfarer

    I'm a little late finding this article, but I loved it.

  • http://www.yuregininsesi.com yuregininsesi

    How is the number of people you follow by stream relevant to who you follow by list? One does not necessitate the other, for the majority of those in my lists I don't follow by stream.I want to know suggestion from others.

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  • http://www.tradekey.com/reseller_overview.htm Reseller Program

    this is bogus. I have tried several list programs and they did nothing

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