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The Six Twitter Types

Guy Kawasaki Co-Founder, Alltop Recent Posts

26 Comments

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December 11, 2009

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It took me a few months to figure out that all Twitter users are not created equal and don’t have the same agenda. It’s much more complex than “cool people talking about cool things.” In order for you to come up to speed faster than I did, here is an explanation of the principle types of Twitter users, how they predominantly tweet, and a recommended approach to each of them.

The Newbie. “What am I doing?” The Newbie signed up for Twitter less than three months ago and thinks it’s all about lifestreaming: “Watching my cat roll over.” These people quickly progress to a different type of use or abandon Twitter when no one pays attention to them. Motivation: curiosity about Twitter. Recommended approach: understand.
The Brand. “What can I get away with?” The Brand balances the tension between using Twitter as a marketing tool and socially engaging people so as not to appear to be using Twitter as a marketing tool. Motivation: greater brand awareness. Recommended approach: observe.
The Smore. “What’s in it for me?” The Smore (social media whore) sees Twitter primarily as a self-promotion tool to get something from people although a transparent Smore (“Bubbles”) is often a delightful person. The delusional ones are the pains. Motivations: making a buck off and gaining followers. Recommended approach: tolerate.
The Bitch. “What can I complain about?” Despite deriving this name from female dogs, this is usually an angry man who envies people who generate content. They can be briefly amusing in a “shock jock” kind of way, but their bark is greater than their bite, and their bite is greater than their insight. Motivation: generating angry reactions. Recommended approach: block.
The Maven. “What’s interesting in my niche?” The Maven is an expert in a field such as recruiting, marketing, or web design. If you’re interested in their field, following them is a rich, rewarding, and time-saving experience. Motivation: getting retweeted and recognized as an expert. Recommended approach: follow.
The Mensch. “How can I help?” Mensches are few and far between. They lurk in the background until people need help and then they either know, or know how to find, the answer. They are seldom well-known or highly followed, but they save you tons of time and effort when you want to know something like the ideal dimensions of a profile background. Motivation: helping others. Recommended approach: adore.

Now comes the hard part: What kind of Twitter user are you? To make Twitter an effective tool, you need to be a Brand, Maven, or Mensch. To go even further, you need to be able to adopt the roles of Brand, Maven, Mensch, and a touch of the Smore, and that is truly an art. For all my Twitter tips in one place, go here.

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Join the conversation ( 26 )

topspeed topspeed 1 year 10 months and 0 days ago

It'll be interesting to see if/when these develop into research tools. Though on second thought, maybe they already have. methoo.com
Gail Severini 1 year 10 months and 7 days ago

I am a Mensch so I became a Maven now I must be a Brand to support the compulsion to share great information and resources :) Does that make me a Smore?

You be the judge - "symphini" on Twitter - We tweet about "change": what's coming, why to care, what to do about it, how to do it effectively.

We always aim to make it a fair trade between value-added information and referrals.
Swati Maderna 1 year 10 months and 7 days ago

I am a newbie...And feel the same like this as I have just started using Twitter.....

http://www.isol.co.in/
http://isol.co.in/blog
Lynn Fishman R.N. 2 years 0 months and 21 days ago

I find Twitter to be an amazing tool for self-expression and for connecting in ways that might not be available to me otherwise. I strive to be a cross breed of mensch, maven, & brand, but ultimately I can only be one thing and that is myself. If you are authentic, provide good content, and can be somewhat engaging, I think that you will find your place in the Twitter community.
Rendy Sugiarto 2 years 0 months and 22 days ago

I sincerely believe Twitter is full of The Brands and The Smores trying to sell things to each other :)

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www.thinkerati.com/whiterabbit/
Jason Davis 2 years 0 months and 27 days ago

Howabout - "Smooker" ( Social Media *** ) One who pimps out everybody else's stuff - never their own. Pushy - Persistent - Never Rtwts - Never Replies - Never Follows - Never friends - Neverminds. I like to call 'em Smookers
Sylvia Warren 2 years 0 months and 28 days ago

I am a cross pollination of Maven, Mensch and Brand - delighted to be engaged in the Twitter community.
Nando Rodriguez 2 years 0 months and 28 days ago

What an eye-opener. I'm a mix--but of what I don't know. I think you also left out one:

The non-committed Twitterer--the guy/gal who signed up and tweets like twice a week and doesn't "get it". They've been on for 6 months, but never really captured the power of twitter.

Great post.
Joe Robertson 2 years 1 months and 3 days ago

A fun post. Interesting that many media reports are still portraying all of Twitter in the "Newbie" mindset, while the truth is Twitter is amazing for staying current on trends and news.
Amy Kincaid 2 years 1 months and 5 days ago

Definitely, Maven and Mensch. With Newbies, my approach is Wait. With all the but other Mavens and Mensches, though, I ignore (maybe this is functional equivalent of tolerate) or block. Can't see why it would be worth my attention to tolerate or observe the Brand or Smore.
Daisy Nguyen 2 years 1 months and 6 days ago

Guy - great article. I wrote a similar article (but took a little bit different path) - and one of my readers pointed me to your article. I like your take on it, and your "recommendations: adore!" FUN! Here's a link to my article: http://bit.ly/6rU5mL
Brian Rutledge 2 years 1 months and 6 days ago

I'm sure, at one time or another, most people have been all of your six types. I know I have. But...the big question is which Twitter type are you, Guy?
Pamela Grow 2 years 1 months and 6 days ago

What a great post! I'm definitely a Maven with a little bit of Mensch and a little bit of Brand thrown in. I've got to say that I resisted Twitter for well over a year - and I'm sorry I held out so long! It's been an amazing ride!
Mike Shields 2 years 1 months and 10 days ago

These may be the base types, however, there are combinations, and based on the six you've provided, it implies 2^6, or 64 different actual types. I'm probably #37 :)
Courtney Bennett 2 years 1 months and 13 days ago

how about the comedian or friends and family? Not everyone is on twitter to further their career! Those people are SO BORING. I just want to know where my friends are and what they're up to. I only subscribe to celebrities/artists/personalities that make me laugh. These six types are so stuffy!
Kimberly Garcia (LION) 2 years 1 months and 13 days ago

Am I am Mensch? Or AM I a Maven? The trick is to never over brand, over spam, and annoy your followers so much, that they block you. I love Twitter on the weekends to chat about football, music, life. You have to be a real person, and not addicted to the mighty dollar 24/7. Twitter is a way to share knowledge, and reach out to people. It is not supposed to be the advertisement for your free download on how to make $. SMORES ARE marked as spam the 3rd time I get their tweet in an hour.
Gianluigi Cuccureddu 2 years 1 months and 13 days ago

Combination between Brand and Maven.
Tyler Gillies 2 years 1 months and 13 days ago

I would like to consider myself a mensch ;)
Shevonne Polastre 2 years 1 months and 14 days ago

I'm a Smore mixed in with the Maven and a touch of Mensch
Dr. Elon D. Bomani 2 years 1 months and 14 days ago

It was very informative article and I figured out that I am a cross btw. brand, mensch and maven.

Dr. Elon Bomani
www.elonbomani.com
www.mlmmysteries.com
Lynn Fishman R.N. 2 years 1 months and 16 days ago

I'm reading this list & checking it twice!!

Thanks for the insight.

(Thought I would throw a little Christmas spirit into this discussion.)

Regards,

Lynn Fishman RN
Jill Thoms 2 years 1 months and 17 days ago

Social Media Guru=The Smore
Jill Fehrenbacher 2 years 1 months and 17 days ago

I like to think that Mavens are often Mensches in disguise. In some ways, they answer your questions before you even know you have questions! It'll be interesting to see if/when these develop into research tools. Though on second thought, maybe they already have.
Rixon Rodricks 2 years 1 months and 18 days ago

I am a little of Brand and Maven and Mensch and Smore :) glad to be using and be part of the Twitter community :)
JAN KASAL 2 years 1 months and 22 days ago

Hey, I am a newbie, but realized right away how powerful tool Twitter is. It's a central station of all topics on demand. I would never be able to find on my own all the information I want.
DONNA JOHNSON 2 years 1 months and 23 days ago

I'm definitely a cross between a Brand and a Maven.