The one where I get to 60,000 Twitter followers and then feel a bit silly

I had a bit of a moment yesterday, and I can’t quite decide in my head whether it’s a proper achievement or a bit lame.

Yesterday, at (roughly) 6,42pm, I got my 60,000th follower on Twitter.

It’s been brewing for a while, and when I got to within 10 I became a bit obsessed, checking my phone repeatedly, refreshing the screen again and again so that I could take a screenshot of the moment when it said 60,000. (I think this was possibly the lame bit in the proceedings.)

Twitter mummy blogger

It was an awkward moment for me, because on the one hand I wanted to be proud and excited, but at the same time I was struggling with that little voice in my head saying things like ‘yeah, but come on, it’s not a real thing is it? Who plays with Twitter as a job?

“But it is real!” I say to the voice. “It’s important for people to connect online and create content that’s interesting and engaging…” and then I trail off for fear of sounding like a bit of a goon.

This isn’t about looking for praise, because I genuinely believe that anyone can build up a decent Twitter following if they really want to, (come on my workshop next week and I’ll show you how), it’s more about wondering what motivates that nagging voice and how we can stamp it out.

Why is it do you think that so many of us still suffer from that imposter syndrome, even when we’re successfully managing careers and families? At what point does that annoying inner voice shut up and let you get on with things?

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25 Comments

  1. 9 September, 2015 / 11:17 am

    Congratulations! And to think I was feeling all proud of my 7k! I seem to have ground to a halt again though.

    I would like to know how you’ve done it, although I can’t make your workshop sadly. I’m even more intrigued with how you manage following 27k!

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      9 September, 2015 / 5:42 pm

      It’s all about lists Jax! I don’t ever look at my home feed, I have lots of people organised into groups.

  2. 9 September, 2015 / 11:44 am

    Well I think it IS a big deal and you have done really well! There’s an element of truth in the ‘not a real thing’ thought. Not the achievement – that it real, but that Twitter is not owned by you so if they decided to close up shop tomorrow, your followers would go with them.
    This does allow some strategy though… How can you take your following and make it something you can control? Maybe seeing if you can get some of that number signed up to your mailing list which you WOULD own.
    But well done anyway – 60,000 is not to be sniffed at. You’ve done a great job! :-)

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      9 September, 2015 / 5:43 pm

      Oh God, I’d not even really thought about it from that angle!! Now I’m terrified!! You’re right though about finding a way to convert those people into ‘mine’ = that’s definitely a good plan.

      • 9 September, 2015 / 6:54 pm

        haha don’t be terrified! I’m sure you’ll find a way to leverage your following into something tangible. Good luck! x

  3. 9 September, 2015 / 8:01 pm

    I think it’s a fabulous achievement. Because it does take work to gain a following: you need regular interaction and great contact. And you put in the hours so you do deserve to be thrilled. Nadine’s plan would certainly take it to the “next level”. It makes me want to come to your event!

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      10 September, 2015 / 10:42 am

      Thank you! I just need to crack that next step now :-)

  4. Kim Styles
    9 September, 2015 / 8:37 pm

    Well done !!! a lot of hard work I am sure but obviously giving people what they want !

  5. 9 September, 2015 / 8:55 pm

    That is amazing!! I am just over 6k after one year- cannot imagine 10 x that!! Agree about the mailing list tho. Went to blog stock at the weekend and they were saying that you need to own your following and mailing lists are the only way. x

  6. 9 September, 2015 / 9:28 pm

    I had something similar to this feeling this morning. I’ve had the blog less than 2 years and I’d hoped for it to have over 20k readers a month by its 2nd anniversary. I’ve had to move that target because it’s already at 19k am this month, I’ve hit 25k last month and I was so pleased with my little achievement… Then I started to think, ‘does it really matter though? Am I being a geek wanting people to read my stuff, I mean, I’m not earning the big bucks like I would with a proper career…’

    You are right, why do we have these negative thoughts about our achievements?! Your 60k followers is something I mahoosively (yep, using that word) aspire to, it’s something to be proud of. Just like my meager target achievements are too! H x

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      10 September, 2015 / 10:44 am

      Those aren’t meager targets at all!! Those are really impressive numbers and definitely something to be proud of. Of course you’re not being a geek by wanting people to read your stuff – if you didn’t want people to read it you could write it on paper and stick it under the mattress! There’s no shame in wanting to be successful.

  7. Claire Elizabeth Noke
    9 September, 2015 / 9:39 pm

    Congrats !! XX

  8. 10 September, 2015 / 2:05 am

    I was pleased with 1 non family/friend. 60K is inconceivable. Congrats.

  9. Louise McNicol
    10 September, 2015 / 7:23 am

    Congrats Jo! I would have been doing exactly the same thing as you which makes me smile as I always think I am the only person to do things like that. I will however have about a 100 year wait to reach the same heady heights of followers as you. I’m so lazy with my social media interaction.

  10. Elaine Livingstone
    10 September, 2015 / 8:24 am

    That is a huge amount and well done for getting there. But I often wonder what benefit this has. You cannot see what they are up to as you have too many to even consider looking at what they have done. As you replied to somebody else it is all about lists and targeting the right people.
    I often wonder why PR people etc want huge numbers as if the 27.000 that you are following are also being followed by thousands and thousands of other then only a small amount of them will ever see what you or other people on their list post and you what they post, so where is the benefit?
    Maybe I just don’t get it

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      10 September, 2015 / 10:47 am

      It’s interesting to think about Elaine, as I do agree with the point you make about only a tiny proportion of your followers ever seeing what you say, but that’s exactly WHY you need the big numbers! I wouldn’t pretend that social media isn’t about business for me – I find it hard work sometimes and it’s definitely a ‘job’ in that sense. A lot of my career development has come through having an established social media following though, which is why I do it. I think it’s about more than the numbers, it’s about what the numbers mean to people – it shows that you can stick at something, that you can follow through, that you can commit to projects, that you’re respected in your industry, all that jazz!

  11. Jess Barnes
    10 September, 2015 / 10:01 pm

    That’s fab! Does it matter? Hell yeah! Especially if you can do some good with it. Your audience is huge and I’m pretty sure that your inner voice would pipe down if it knew you were helping others in some way :)

  12. 12 September, 2015 / 8:30 am

    I think this is amazing. Im nearing 1000…..and thats super impressive. One day I’ll get to your level. Love it:-)

  13. Jayne Townson
    14 September, 2015 / 7:27 pm

    congrats x

  14. 15 September, 2015 / 2:43 pm

    Well done. I can never keep it up. I keep changing accounts and blogs. Maybe this time I’ll keep going with your inspiration!

  15. 16 September, 2015 / 12:00 am

    That is an amazing achievement. I don’t know as I have the organisational skills to make it work myself. I have no idea how you find the time!

  16. 17 September, 2015 / 9:39 am

    When you tell yourself you’re a professional, and that not many people do what you do. Of course they all can, just like you could electrically engineer a shopping center if you put your mind to learning how and finding the work. But they don’t. You do.

    But bloody hell, 60K?!!!!!

    • 17 September, 2015 / 9:39 am

      Christ I just spelled centre the American way. I’ve been online too much… ;)

  17. 1 October, 2015 / 12:32 pm

    Wow!!! Congrats, that’s something!!! I have only a tiny 11.2K ha ha ha

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      2 October, 2015 / 11:45 am

      That’s not tiny at all!!

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