Success on any social media platform, including a blogging platform like WordPress, requires building relationships with other users.
Here, on WordPress, where I am very active, I have formed warm relationships with other writers around the world; but on Twitter, where I don’t engage much with others, I have failed to do so. That’s why I have incomparably more subscribers on WordPress than I do on Twitter. Really, I should have predicted this from the start.
Twitter is its own community, just as WordPress is, and those who succeed there are those who are invested in it. For me, Twitter has never been much more than a channel to promote my WordPress blog, and this is obvious to anyone who interacts with me there.
I’ve long since given up on responding to any poetry prompts on Twitter. Instead, I have found a number of prompts on WordPress that I enjoy; and whenever I look for sources of inspiration for my writing, I always turn to writers on WordPress. Also, much of my poetry is not well suited for Twitter because it’s too long, and I never bother writing poems for Twitter itself – I only cross-post poems from my blog to my Twitter account.
Most importantly, I don’t engage much at all with other poets on Twitter. Sure, I retweet a lot of people’s poems, but that’s about it ~ and that’s not exactly a major time investment. Most of the tweets I actually respond to on Twitter are those of individuals I know from WordPress.
All of my creative energy goes into The Skeptic’s Kaddish blog – not only into my poetry, but also into creative initiatives, such as Poetry Partners and W3 Poetry Prompt. I have no interest in creating a new poetry prompt on Twitter or anywhere else. Ultimately, I don’t really feel myself part of any other community.
In terms of gaining exposure for my poetry, this is somewhat unfortunate, but, unlike many other writers, I have no immediate intention to publish a book of poetry or market my writing services. So, I have no pressing need to promote myself widely. Besides, the interactions I most enjoy are the discussions that blossom here, in the comments section of my beloved blog, and those take place almost exclusively between WordPress bloggers.
So, in my final assessment, I am deliberately choosing to continue failing at Twitter, and I feel completely okay with that.
Sure, I’ll continue cross-posting my poetry there, and maybe I’ll decide to respond to a poetry prompt at some point… But my heart is here at The Skeptic’s Kaddish blog on WordPress; I simply don’t see myself investing significant time or energy into any other social media platform for the foreseeable future.
The Skeptic's Kaddish ๐ฎ๐ฑ 
A person can only do so much – a very pragmatic approach. ๐
๐๐๐ป Marion ๐๐ป๐
Itโs too time consuming and literally impossible to be so invested and active everywhere. I think WordPress is a great place to be. And definitely the interactions add a lot of depth and meaning to being creative. I will continue focusing here. ๐
๐ Terveen ๐ ~ me too!
Conceptually I never saw the point of Twitter. It just seemed like a place for people to get offended by tweet wars with no nuance and/or write subpar poetry.
I’ve read some good poetry there – I don’t think it’s subpar by default, but always having to limit one’s self to short poems get old fast… and you know that I happen to love short poetry… but even so – it’s annoyingly limiting for me.
Well, you know my feelings on micropoetry – I’m consistently unimpressed.
all these platforms require so much investment of time. WP does allow for more interaction, and getting to know other writers. IG recommends followers, so not all of them are authentic, and I guess twitter is the same as well. I agree with your decision to no longer invest too much time into twitter.
๐งก๐๐ป Nigel ๐๐ป๐งก ~ thanks; yeah, I do think I should be realistic for myself!
Personally, Iโm glad your heart is here in the WP community. We readers are blessed with your kindness and talent here. Twitter isโฆweird. I have an account there I set up years ago at the behest of my then-young niece who begged me to sign up so she could tweet me, so I did andโฆshe never tweeted me! ๐ Itโs now gathering virtual dust. Anyway, Iโm not big on social media in general, but I feel like Iโve found a home here on WP. Iโm glad we have folks like you here, David. ๐
๐๐๐ป Mike ๐๐ป๐ ~ I feel blessed to have met you here.
Good morning David
Main reason I respond here at WP is for some insane reason like I know you here, unlike at twitter, I don’t feel the connection.
It’s weird but I can’t explain it in any other way than connection.
Your blog here at WP is a whole library of poetry. The comment section here on your blog is insightful. I enjoy reading some of your followers.
Alongside your amazing poetry you impart so much knowledge affecting writing it is quite a feast.
I love this corner of you.
โค๏ธ๐๐ป Abi ๐๐ปโค๏ธ ~ thank you. I actually feel that my blog is an extension of myself in a deeply personal way.
You welcome David
And I delight in reading your workโค
I rarely go on Twitter. My blog and occasional photos and micro-poems on Instagram. That’s enough for me. ๐
Does Instagram give you more readers or followers that you would not otherwise have?
I may get a few blog readers from Instagram, but the platforms are mostly separate of each other. I like the quickness and ease of IG and I enjoy viewing the quotes, poetry, and photos of others but there are limitations to adding clickable links so that limits the amount of people clicking from one platform to another.
๐ David ๐
๐ ๐ค Selma ๐ ๐ค
Itโs the same with me. No time for tweeting ๐
๐๐ค Sadje ๐ค๐
Thanks David
I deleted my Twitter account a while back. My experience was similar to yours, and like you, I have no plans to publish a book, so donโt need to put myself out there. On a lark, I recently dipped my toes into Instagram. Iโll see how it goes.
Why do you expect that to be different, July?
๐
Dav
Iโm just curious
So far, Iโm not really getting into it; itโs a time-sucker like all social media, and I donโt see myself sticking with it. I feel most productive using WordPress to express myself.
๐ July ๐ ~ what boggles my mind is that some people somehow successfully manage multiple social media networks simultaneously…
The only thing I can think makes it possible, is that most of these people spend the majority of their free time posting on various sites or perhaps, have help. And probably, read very littleโbooks or the posts of the people they follow. I need some downtime, but maybe these super men and women donโt. Who knows, Ben? ๐คทโโ๏ธ๐งก
I think you’re right, July. I definitely can’t do it ๐
BTW, please feel free to call me ‘David’ – that’s my first name.
The word ‘ben’ simply means ‘son of’ in Hebrew, and my father’s name was ‘Alexander’… I created this blog in his memory; hence, the pen name!
I know it’s confusing because ‘Ben’ is also a common name in English ~ I’m sorry about that!
Much love,
David
Iโll try my best to rememberโฆDavid. ๐
๐ค July ๐ค
Iโm not good at twitter. Some from WordPress were reblogging my posts and so I returned the favor, but I get confused-itโs easier for me to read threads.
Yes, I agree, Ruth – it’s easier for me to follow discussions here on WP, rather than on Twitter. That’s not a “make it or break it” issue for me, but it does color my experience.
I had to turn off twitter notifications. I remember to check every few days.
Fck Twitter!
*shrugs*
I have no beef with it, but it’s just not a priority for me.