Why Tweeting Instagrams Does Not Work

Sending photos from Instagram to Twitter is incredibly easy, but that doesn't mean that you're now social on Twitter. At least, not as social as you could be.

Jered Gruber is a professional photographer who spends his life roaming from race to race with his wife Ashley in search of pictures, stories, and places to ride. I recently contacted Jered with a simple request, “Would you ever consider posting your photos directly to Twitter instead of linking them through Instagram?” After showing Jered this report he soon started posting his work directly to Twitter. Curious to know the change I grabbed the last four photos he did as direct-Tweet versus the last four photos he posted linked-through-Instagram (all eight photos were taken within two months and he had no significant change in the number of followers).

Here are the results:

It’s a small sample right now, but posting photos directly to Twitter netted Jered an average of 23.25 Retweets and 41.75 Likes. Compared to Instagram links with an average of 4 Retweets and 4.75 Likes. Nearly 6x the Retweets and 9x the likes.

Instagram links posted to Twitter are not as effective because they are not native to the platform. Meaning, you cannot view an IG photo on a Twitter feed without opening a new app or webpage. Whereas photos posted directly to Twitter are not only native and viewable on all devices, they are also the only photos that can appear in the feed as photos, rather than links.

You can check out Jered’s work here and connect with him on Twitter.

If you found this interesting, please consider commenting and sharing. Thanks- Donny

5 Ways to Engage Your Audience. Without the Feeling that You’ve Been Tricked.

Whether posting to your Facebook page or sending out an email, an effective title can be the difference between clicking the link of ignoring it. Here are some of the most effective strategies when writing your title copy.

1. Who Else Wants [blank]?
Starting with “Who Else Wants” does two things: first it touches on the desire of want, second it confirms that the thing you’re offering has been proven to work by previous buyers.

Who Else Wants a Great Cyclocross Bike?
Who Else Wants a Winter Tune-Up?
Who Else Wants To Join Us For the Ride this Thursday?

2. The Secret of/to [blank]
You’ve probably seen this one used before. That’s because it works. It is implying some insider knowledge, something that can only be learned by consuming your content.

The Secret of Never Falling Down with Clip-In Pedals
The Secret to Climbing Without Losing Weight
The Secret to Riding in the Rain Without Getting Wet

3. Here is a Method That is Helping [blank] to [blank]
This will identify a target audience. Either one your speaking to directly or by illustrating a person or people that your target audience has aspirations to be.

Here is a Method That is Helping Pro Triathletes Rest Better
Here is a Method That is Helping Mothers Ride Mountain Bikes with Their Kids
Here is a Method That is Helping Cyclists Avoid Unnecessary Repair Costs

4. [Do something] like [world-class example]
If you were watching commercials in the early 90s you may remember when Gatorade did this with the “Be Like Mike” campaign featuring Michael Jordan.

Time Trial Like Tony Martin
Descend Like Aaron Gwin
Write Content Like Donny Perry

5. [Number] Ways to [solution/problem]. You will be [emotion]
This formula of words is like graduating to Copy Writing University. By showing a number we are setting the reader that this is a process that has been broken down to specific steps. Next it conveys an emotion and titles that convey emotion have a far greater open rate. Just check out Upworthy or Viralnova and just try not clicking one of those links.

6 Ways to Cure Saddle Pain. You’re Sex Life Will Thank You.
10 Ways to Handle Irate Drivers. You'll Laugh at #10.
3 Ways to Ride in the Snow. You’ll Love Winter in a Whole New Way

Check out the book. Leading Out Retail is a creative look at bicycle retail and teaches retailers simple strategies on how to increase profit through service, what the most important question to ask every customer is, and how to manage the dreaded Timmy Factor.

Why 99% of People Are Using Twitter Incorrectly

What is better? People who send a ton of email or people who thoughtfully respond to email? The latter of course. Adding insight and value is fare better than broadcasting. 99% of the people on Twitter use it as a broadcast channel. Shouting about their products, services, or whatever. This tutorial shows how to become one of the rare 1% that use Twitter to add value.

9 Twitter Ideas. A How-To for Bike Retailers from Donny Perry

If you found this valuable, I would mean a lot if you shared it. Thanks - Donny

What Happens Before We Buy?

Have you ever visited a store and saw something awesome, then went home and checked it out online, then asked your friends about it, and then went back to the store to buy it?

I like to call these points in time, micro conversions. Nearly every purchase we make is preempted by a micro conversion or a series of micro conversions. When someone is overwhelmed by micro conversions it can become too much to handle. The desire to purchase is like an enormous weight on their shoulders. These are the people that walk into the store, throw down a credit card, point to a bike and say, “That one. Now!”

In bike retail it’s easy to focus on the macro conversion (when someone makes a purchase). That’s where we find the glory of the sale, that’s where the commission is, and that’s when we feel the satisfaction of a job well done.

However, I like to remind retailers- without a healthy strategy around acquiring micro conversions, we will never see macro conversions.

If you found this post valuable. It would be amazing if you shared it. Thanks - Donny

Facebook for (Bike) Retailers

Your Facebook post was brilliant but no one liked it, commented on it, or shared it. So what happened? Are you wasting your time on Facebook? Is social media really worth the time and effort?

This quick lesson plan teaches you the basics of being awesome on Facebook. This is not a strategy, this is tactical! I wrote it for bike retailers but really, these rules apply to anyone- big or small- brand, business, or person.

Winning at Facebook. A How-To Lesson Plan for Bike Retailers. from Donny Perry

If you found this valuable I would appreciate it if you took a moment to share it. Thanks - Donny

Read This Before You Waste Another Tweet

When is the best time to tweet? How about the best time to update your Facebook status? Or Instagram? We're all looking for a shortcut but here is the hard truth.

There is no perfect time to tweet that works for every person or business. There is only the perfect time to tweet that works for you and your readers. Articles or experts that argue otherwise are usually presenting some form of aggregated data, which any data analyst will tell you, tends to clump.

Believing in clumps of aggregated data is falling victim to the shotgun fallacy. Aim a shotgun at the side of a barn, pull the trigger, and there will be hundreds of little holes spread across the barn. But there will also be a clump of those shots in the middle. A shotgun fallacy is when you draw a target around that clump and tell everyone, "I hit the target!"

For example, some social media experts will tell you that people check Twitter at 9:00 on Saturday. Though for a bike retailer, 9:00am on a Saturday may be the most popular time for their customers to be out riding their bike. So, that tweet is essentially wasted. Instead posting between 11 and noon might be better, when their customers are finished with their bike ride and checking their feeds.

I encourage the bike retailers I work with to test multiple times and track which times of day create the most engagement. Turning your calendar to the viewership f your audience is the best way to get huge results from your social channels.

Thank you for reading this far. If you have found this piece valuable I would appreciate it if you shared it on your social channels. Thanks again, Donny

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