So funny, I came across my old Twitter post from a few years ago while backing up my system. It is funny how the tools have changed but the types have not. Which one are you?

I created a Twitter account because a person I know, who I value as an intelligent, professional business mind recommended the tool. Later I found out the value of Twitter Marketing.

My first questions when I signed up were, “What is Twitter?”, “How do you use it?” and “Is it like Facebook?”- which I believed Facebook to be a cardholder for social inequities and a time waster for the popularity challenged.

To my great surprise, Twitter’s efficiency in connecting with others, broadening your personal and business networks and updating your activity to your followers is astounding! I jumped on the Twitter train, with no hesitation and I am loving the ride.

One of the things I have enjoyed most from Twitter is the learning and insight I have gleamed of the different stages I experienced in Twitterville. From my perspective, there are really Four Stages of Twitter Life:

STAGE ONE: “The Tweetbie”
The Tweetbie is a new Twitter account owner, who has been referred to Twitter. He or she is optimistic and excited by followship growth of direct contacts and peers. The primary Tweetbie purpose of adapting to Twitter is to try the tool, to be cool, to fit in and do what others are doing. The Tweetbie typically for the first two weeks is active in posting tweets about their personal activities, food selections, weather and responds (“replies”) to his direct tweet network. He or she uses ample references to “tweet” in their posts, the Tweetbie is easy to spot.

STAGE TWO: “The TweetSpy”
The TweetSpy is a user who has been active on Twitter for a few weeks/months and is envious of profiles with tons of followers. This curious tweeter is extremely excited by receiving followship from strangers (a really cool feeling, making you feel worthy) and has dabbled in replying to people he does not know directly. The TweetSpy reads his/her tweets actively and begins to investigate the ample Twitter tools available.

*****This is a pivotal stage for the twitterer – it is at this moment that he/she chooses to make Twitter an active part of the day (read:a time committment) and he/she has shifted the posts from self confessions to responding to others and engaging potential Tweetbies from their network. The Tweetspy purpose is to connect with others, feel ignited by the knowledge sources and incredible possibilities of the tool.

STAGE THREE: “The TwitFix”
This stage of twittering is a blast and once you experience it, you will know the true beauty of Twitter. A TwitFix user is one who is focused on growing their followship – but for purposes of learning, growing and connection. It is at this TwitFix stage, that the Twitter user realizes how the tool connects us geographically by our profiles, interests and humour. There are conglomerate communities at this stage that enrich and focus on specific likemindedness. Some excellent examples (these are only a tiny spec of what is available):
TwitterMoms(personal fav), Authors, Coupon Crazy People, Dallas Cowboys Fans, Entrepreneurs, Firefighters, iPhone Developers, Military Family, Musicians, NASCAR, Networking Divas, Nurses, Plurk Users, Seattle SeaHawks, Small Business Owners, Tupperware Reps, Work at Home Dads, Youth Marketing and SO MANY MORE!!

There are even many tools, like I used for the above groups (Twitter Groups), that help you to find people and groups with shared interests.
The type of communication for the TwitFix is unique and giving. The posts are not self-serving, they are direct responses to people’s inquiries, RTs of interesting info (RT=Retweet, the biggest compliment you can give a tweeter) and humourous, genuine replies to follower posts. It is at this stage you must be FOREWARNED: DO NOT autoreply for tweet followers-it is not approved by the twitter community and almost brings you down to a Tweetbie stage.

STAGE FOUR: “The Twitistoric”
Now, this stage is hard for me to identify as simply there are few Twitistorics out there. These users are the leading edge of social media, they adopt technologies quickly, have relevant, interesting tweets and have a fantastic ability to aggregate and educate Tweetbies and TweetSpies. They are NOT Twitistoric because of their number of followers (some people will follow just to build #’s and then not be active in DMs, replies or posts). Twitistorics have been utilizing Twitter for ages, they welcome everyone, respond to DMs (1000s of them daily) and help people to embrace the tool.

Overall, the important thing to note is where you sit currently in the four stages of Twitter and where you want to be. When you are figuring that out, ask yourself, why? What stage are you aspiring to achieve with Twitter and why do you want to be there?

Me – I’m between a TweetSpy and a TwitFix, you can follow me @SandyGerber and @NEXTMktg . I have definately learned that personal network posts are good for Tweetbies but responding and DMing Twitistorics provides me with way more enjoyment and education. Thank you Twitter for bringing our world together online with efficiency.