
Watch the Birdie!
I used to check my twitter numbers regularly. Once I realized that the number changed even when I wasn’t tweeting, I checked daily. Then I started checking after every tweet – in case I’d said something profound enough to instantly garner a significant following…or any following.
I finally got real. I did not try any of those guaranteed methods of getting thousands of followers in a day. I realized that I was looking for relationships, not numbers, and I (hopefully) started to act that way.
My numbers go up and down (I still see them, I just don’t care.). At one point I’d considered signing up for Qwitter so I’d know when I was losing followers. I decided that was too…let’s just say, too much for me.
I’m more interested in a different aspect of twitter these days. I actually hit 500 followers for a few minutes over the weekend. I wonder how? Oh, I’ve got some followers who are just anxious to show me how to make money online; some who want to show me their nude pics; and some who just seem to be following people…not tweeting, not building a following, just following people. These people (well, not the last group), I understand.
What I don’t get is the real people who follow me. Instead of finding out that people quit following me and contacting them to find out why, I’d really love to DM my followers and ask, “What made you decide to follow @ispecialist?” I guess it’s like the answer to the question about the number of licks to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
…Sometimes I think that’s probably a good thing. Wow, 496!

Hey April we followed you because we like following people that talk to others and have real conversations. I like getting to know people and have made many friendships on twitter. Dave and I have just recently started to get to know you and your son Mac but it seems like we have know you guys longer. Great blog post by the way. Relationships are more important than numbers.
Hey Tim,
Thanks! You and Dave seem like good people, too. Mac and I have enjoyed interacting with you.
So, did you get my comment the other day? I mean my first reply to your comment on this post. Apparently, I thought it but never wrote it. Just checking to see if my telepathy is working.
Sorry about the delay.