How-To

Joining the conversation on sports Twitter

Want to grow your followers? Get in the game.

One of the most frequent questions we receive @TwitterSports is “How do I grow my account following?”

There is no simple formula for growing your followers. Using photos, GIFs, and live video in your Tweets all can help; making timely commentary also has a positive impact.

But the single best thing you can do to increase your follower count is to join the conversation and allow your voice to be heard. That will expose your account to new audiences, which is the key to an effective follower growth strategy.

Every day we see amazing exchanges that we like to call #OnlyOnTwitter moments, where members’ unique voices and personalities shine through. A few years ago it was common for a Twitter sports account to be full of bland, generic updates. But no more. That’s because Twitter members have discovered that accounts featuring a unique voice and personality garner more engagement and more followers, and retain them longer than those who play it safe. That doesn’t mean you need to be sarcastic or snarky. You can join the conversation on Twitter in many different ways, even if you operate one of the more protective or conservative accounts.

Use an authentic voice when Tweeting

Having an authentic brand voice that is conversational and fun is the key to successfully growing followers and increasing engagement. Many accounts do this incredibly well; here are just a few of our favorite examples of Tweets that show some personality.

Check out this fun Tweet as news broke that the team was acquiring a star wide receiver. 

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Interact with other teams

Some of the best back-and-forth conversations on Twitter occur between rival team and player accounts. Sometimes it’s related to a game and sometimes it’s more random. But at the end of the day, having a little back-and-forth with your counterparts is fun for fans, exposes your account to new audiences, and will likely lead to new followers. 

Interact with the fans.

It’s almost always a good idea to interact with the team’s fans. Whether you’re answering a question, ReTweeting them, or even engaging in a lengthy conversation, it lets fans know that the conversation really is two way; you’re not just throwing content at them.

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React to pop culture or breaking news

So many great moments on Twitter are spurred by pop culture references, memes, jokes, and news. When something big is happening… join in!

Take part in a conversation that may help a fan

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