How to Set up Twitter Lists
Tips on Using the Twitter List Function, and Why Lists Are Helpful
Oct 30, 2009
In Late October 2009, Twitter began rolling out its Lists functionality to Twitter users world-wide. The List function was created to help Twitter users better organize and keep track of the accounts they follow.
The basic concept is that lists allow users to organize the tweeps they are following into sub-groups. These sub-groups - now labeled however the user wishes - can be accessed via his or her profile, and in a new navigation in the right-hand menu bar.
Why Twitter Users Should Create Twitter Lists
Primarily, this function will help users organize the people ythey are following by subject area or group. Each user should think about his various interests, and why he follows the accounts that he follows. Are they funny? Great bloggers? Industry leaders? Close personal friends? He could create a list for each of those.
Then, when he's in search of a pick-me-up, he can click on his "FunnyTweeps" list, and see only those tweets from people who make him laugh on a regular basis.
For business use, any way that users can segment the Twitter accounts they are following can be helpful. Are the accounts those of customers? subordinates? competition? Now, they can be organized as such!
How To Create a New Twitter List
Click on the "Following" page for the account. In the right hand section of each entry, beside the block / unblock settings management button, there is a new button for list management. This has been highlighted yellow in the screenshot below.
Click on this button to see a list of checkboxes with existing lists. The photo at the top depicts this, and is also available on the bottom left. There is an option for "New List" marked with a teal arrow in the photo below.
Click on "New List" and a small window will appear. This window prompts users to name the new list, and set the list as public or private.
Should New Lists Be Public or Private?
Without adjustment, lists will default to public view. A small lock appears beside those lists marked private. This is indicated with the red arrow in the screen shot on the left.
Like the Follow Friday hashtag, lists are meant to be a discovery tool - a way for Twitter followers to find new accounts to follow and a way to discover new people on Twitter. If all lists are marked Private, this is not going to help other people on Twitter!
For businesses using Twitter, it is a good idea to keep as many of your lists Public as possible, as this creates transparency, and encourages others to include the business Twitter account on their lists.
How To Use Twitter Lists
To begin with, they are a shortcut for users to check the people they are following on a given topic.
Once enough of users have lists created, Twitter users can go to their friends' profiles and browse their public lists to see if there is anyone new they would like to follow.
The screenshot below on the far right depicts what it looks like when a user navigates to a profile of someone she is following and who is also a member of one of her lists. This helps users keep track of who they are already following and listing, and if they need to add someone to a new list!
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