Do you find yourself spending more time on Twitter than you would like? Do you know how you may save your time on Twitter? Powerful Twitter Lists! I will share in the blog post how to use Twitter lists effectively.
I have been putting people on lists for years now as it saves me valuable time while on Twitter.
So, I had built up quite a following on my own Twitter account for 14 years. When I want to see what is on Twitter, it has become difficult to find my focus when on my main Twitter feed.
That is especially true today with everything going on in the world. You can easily get pulled away from the tasks at hand and get sidetracked quickly.
Twitter Lists Explained To Help You Stay Focused On Twitter
When I teach people how to use Twitter I always recommend they start out using lists. It can seem overwhelming to them at first but in the long run, it will save YOU valuable time on Twitter.
It can seem overwhelming to them at first but in the long run it will save YOU valuable time on Twitter. #Twitterlists
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What Are Lists On Twitter?
Lists on Twitter are a way to categorize users so you can follow the list vs. your main Twitter feed. For example, I have an awesome bloggers list.
This has been an especially great feature since I lost my Triberr API a few weeks back. Now I can easily share other bloggers’ tweets right from this list feed.
You can also follow any public lists on Twitter. (You can also set a list to private.)
This is an example of a list in Twitter.
How To Use These Lists Effectively
It took me years to learn this Twitter tip. When something is happening locally I now follow my local folk’s list. This is great during weather events or any other type of local news story that is breaking.
Of course, I have a weather list to follow now for weather events locally.
I also have a list for SEO and when there is talk of a new Google update I’m there using that list to follow the latest SEO news. I use another list for customers of mine in Real Estate.
This helps me keep up with their world and what’s happening in the real estate world. I have a total of 282 lists, some of which I subscribed to or am a member of.
Notice below the new look of the lists! Now you can pin your top 5 lists to the top of your list page for easy access. This will help with using Twitter lists more efficiently.
The new looks of lists on your account.
It’s fun to get creative with lists. I also tell people to have fun on Twitter so that they use it often. Find your interests and start creating those lists to save YOURSELF some time. 
Not only that but you will stay focused on the business at hand on Twitter with your lists. No more getting pulled into other topics on this social network.
Public or Private Twitter List?
When you create lists and they are public everyone and anyone can see them. People will be notified they have been on a list which sometimes leads to them following you.
So if you do not want people to see a list of peeps you create, then make the Twitter list private. I do that for customers, non-related categories to my niche, and other interesting accounts. It is similar to having a private Instagram close friends list.
So if you do not want people to see a list of peeps you create, then make the Twitter list private. #Twitterlists
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Pin Your Lists On Twitter For Quick Access
Did you know you can now pin your top 5 lists? I’m loving this newer feature! No more going through a hundred lists to see what they look like on a desktop. These pinned lists also work well on mobile.
You can pin your list like a pinned tweet
6 Ways To Use Lists Explained Now!
- Put all your favorite tweeps on lists, not just one but several lists if applicable. I have some people on awesome bloggers and friends.
- When you are in your Twitter stream, right-click on the lists, see which lists you have created, then click on the one you choose to read. This keeps you focused when on Twitter and saves you much-needed TIME. Otherwise, you could be on Twitter for hours on end.
- Subscribe to other lists that include you, it’s like following them on Twitter.
- You can add yourself to your lists too if you want to be included in a particular group. You must use Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to do this.
- Create a list for an event. If you are running an event or going to one, create a list. Great way to connect with others!
- Share your Twitter lists on the Twitter feed with your followers.
Update Your Lists More Often
Recently, I’ve been updating my old Twitter lists. I wanted to follow bloggers as many older bloggers have left the blogging industry. My friend Ryan recently posted some ideas on how to find new bloggers.
But once I updated my Twitter list it become easier to find others through other bloggers. You can follow my Awesome Blogger list here.
Furthermore, the more often you update your lists the more relevant they will be to you and your time on this social network. It will save you time in the long run as well.
Also, you can easily delete old lists that are no longer applicable for you to use on Twitter. If you have been on this network for years your lists may contain folks that are no longer users or who have changed their profiles to reflect other interests, etc.
I have seen this a lot over the past year or so with bloggers who have turned into activists.
Furthermore, the more often you update your lists the more relevant they will be to you and your time on this social network. #Twitterlists
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Adding Images To Your List
If you want to add images to your Twitter list it is easier to do via mobile. You can use Canva to make your horizontal image. The sizes for Twitter list covers are 1500×500 pixels.
Moreover, having images for your favorite lists makes them easier to find and use. They also make it interesting for your followers to follow, etc. A picture tells a thousand words, right?
You can use an image resizer tool for the correct dimensions.
What Others Have To Say
I have my besties and mastermind group in a List to make it super easy to see and engage with their latest tweets.
— Mike Allton (@mike_allton) July 31, 2020
Some ideas :
?Create 2 lists with your Top 10 & 50 favorites accounts.
?Of course, create a list for each interesting topic.
?Create a private list “Most interactions”
?In addition, using saved searches with advanced search operators is very powerful.
Richard
— Evaneto (@EvanetoApp) August 1, 2020
Maximum Users For Twitter Lists
Remember, you can now have up to 1,000 lists, no more of the old 20! You can have up to 5,000 users on the lists too – no longer just 500 people.
Now, that’s a big improvement on Twitter lists! However, you can mention and reply to others on lists.
You can also check out Twitter’s help center for more on lists. Twitter lists are a MUST today if you use Twitter to drive sales to your website.
Now, can you see yourself saving time with these lists on your Twitter account?
If you use Twitter lists in other ways I’d love to know in the comments below how many Twitter lists you currently have. I’d love to know if you have a clever way to use them.
Want to learn about tweetstorms? Check out the updated post here on using Tweetstorms.
Learn more about how to clean up your Twitter inactive users too!
Twitter List FAQs
What Is A List On Twitter?Twitter Lists allow you to customize, organize and prioritize the Tweets you see in your timeline. (Instead of the main Twitter feed.)
You can choose to join Lists created by others on Twitter or from your own lists.
However, you can choose to create Twitter lists of other accounts by group, topic, or interest.
You may have up to 1,000 lists per account.
How Many Lists Can You Pin to Your Profile?You can pin up to 5 lists per Twitter profile.
What is the Difference Between Public and Private Lists?Public lists are searchable and can be seen by anyone. Private lists have none of that. They are for your use only; no one else can see them, even if they have the URL.
Private lists do not notify the user when they are added to the list, and they do not appear in search.
In your Home timeline on Twitter for mobile, you may see a prompt to discover new lists. If Twitter suggests a list to you that’s of interest, simply tap Follow.
From the prompt, you can also tap show more to browse through their lists discovery page. Depending on your settings you may see tweets from your Twitter lists in the main feed as well.
If the list is private you will NOT be notified. However, if it’s public you will be notified on Twitter that you were added to a list. Therefore, you can then follow it.
How to Create a List Effectively:Click on Lists in your navigation, then create a new list icon and name your list. Your description cannot be over 25 characters. Then decide if it is a private or public list. You can then add a horizontal image to your list. Click next and begin adding people to your list.
Can You Remove Yourself From a List?Yes, you will have to block the creator of the list. Click on the More icon next to the list icon to block them.
How Many People Can You Add to Your Lists?You can add up to 5,000 peeps to your list.
