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"This Twitter Trends Series is supported by Bing.\u2122  Check out the Bing Local Twitter Trends Map on Mashable.\nOne of Twitter's most disappointing trends is its lack of solid user retention.\nIf you're a Twitter evangelist, the scenario is probably familiar.  You explain to friends and family how much value and fun can be had in 140 characters.  They sign up, test the waters for a few days, derive no use value, and promptly abandon their accounts.\nTo remedy this, we've outlined the common missteps of new users and some ways you can help prevent them from becoming part of the Twitter quitter trend.\nThey Only Follow People They Know\n\n\n\n\nThis is probably the most common reason why new users lose interest, and it stems from a division in social web culture.\nAt this moment, the standard bearer for social networking is Facebook, and it's generally a culture of in-person acquaintances: Classmates, personal friends, family, co-workers, and the like.  We friend on Facebook with a level of trust, and usually reject requests from strangers as \"spam\" or \"stalking.\"\nSocializers jumping into Twitter for the first time may be wary of following or engaging with people they don't know.  Consequently, they end up with a feed of 10-15 in-person friends who are likely facing the same issue, and tweet infrequently, if at all.  A \"dead\" feed like this won't bring new users back.\nNew User Advice: Start by following people you know, and build your feed by following people that they converse with regularly.  Ask your more established friends on Twitter to \"introduce\" you to new people.  There's no better way to become part of a Twitter community.  Following people at random is, for the most part, useless and unreciprocated.   \nThey Only Follow Brands and Celebrities\n\n\n\n\nYes, Oprah and Starbucks are on Twitter.  But that doesn't mean their feeds will be interesting to you. Most accounts with thousands (and even millions) of followers cannot carry on real conversations with every fan.  So while a feed full of celebs and retailers may provide some entertainment and the occasional discount code, it doesn't tap the real value of Twitter.  Without conversation, Twitter is boring, and thus highly quittable.\nNew User Advice: Follow a few high profile accounts that provide real value to you in the form of news and entertainment.  If you'd still like to keep tabs on a laundry list of celebrities and brands, try organizing them in Twitter Lists. Reserve the rest of your follows for \"real people.\"\nThey're Not Having Conversations\n\n\n\n\nInteractions with people on Twitter are not the same as interactions on other social networks, like Facebook. If you post a photo on Facebook, the people who already know you will likely comment, tag, and share it. \nIt's a different story with Twitter, because when you start out on Twitter, nobody knows you.  Expecting that people will follow, reply, and retweet your updates simply because you exist will set you on the path straight to Quitsville.  Twitter is not just a broadcast channel.  Real relationships must be earned.\nNew User Advice: Think of Twitter as a cocktail party where you know a few attendees, but most are strangers.  You wouldn't stand in the corner and shout, \"I'm very interesting!\"  You'd start with your existing friends, and gradually work the room through conversation.  On the plus side, small talk is minimal at 140 characters.\nThey Think They Have Nothing Interesting to Say\nSome of the most interesting people on Twitter are those who aren't shilling a blog or product, or aren't striving to be \"web famous.\"  They simply converse with real people about everyday topics.\nNew User Advice: Be yourself.  If you have nothing interesting to say in real life, then you have more to worry about than deciding what to tweet.\nThey're Not Mobile\n\n\n\n\nIf you're not using Twitter on your mobile device (via app, mobile web, text message, or any combination), it may be difficult to really make it part of your lifestyle.\nWith rare exceptions, nothing really interesting happens at your desk.  It's when you're out with friends, exploring, commuting, shopping, and dining that tweet-worthy experiences happen.\nNew User Advice: If you use an iPhone, Android device, or BlackBerry, there are plenty of Twitter apps to choose from.  If you're not on a smartphone, you can still tweet via text message. \nConclusion\nAt the end of the day, Twitter is not for everyone.  Many have no interest in connecting and sharing with new people, and that's perfectly fine.  Communities based on existing connections (like LinkedIn and Facebook) are extremely valuable and continue to thrive.\nTwitter must be experienced to be understood.  And a bad experience can easily lead to misunderstanding.  If you know someone who would really enjoy Twitter, help them overcome that initial hurdle of adoption.  200 followers later, they'll thank you for it.\n\n\n\nThis Twitter Trends Series is supported by Bing.\u2122 Check out the Bing Local Twitter Trends Map on Mashable.\n\n\n\n\nFor more social media coverage, follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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