My 2011 Top 25 On Twitter List

One thousand eight hundred fifty one. (1851)

That’s exactly how many people had interactions with me on Twitter this past year. How do I know this? On December 3, 2010 at 2:03 PM PST, I set up RowFeeder to capture every mention of @respres. The first mention it captured was from Rachel Rusnak, who tweeted, “@respres is on TV! Pretty much made my day.. #twitter #facebook  http://plixi.com/p/60366358”

Row Feeder has captured every single mention since that one (13,286  as I write this) and all of the data associated with those tweets and saved them dynamically into a Google spreadsheet. I didn’t know what I was going do with that data until this morning, when it occurred to me, that if behavior is the truest form of communication, and it is, then looking at this data from that perspective might be an interesting exercise. Who were the top 25 people I had the most interaction with on Twitter this past year? Is that, in some way, an snapshot of who on Twitter might be influencing me and who I might be influencing? I think it is.

Of course, this snapshot is not a complete picture.

For example, Brad Nix is not on the list below. We had 38 interactions on Twitter from 12/3/2010 to 12/3/2011. We exchanged exactly 140 emails in that same time period and uncounted texts, phone calls and direct messages. By sheer character count, our interactions off of Twitter dwarf our interactions on Twitter. Steve Zehngut is also not on the list below. We had only had 24 interactions on Twitter this past year, and he is my business partner. So no, this is not a complete picture, but it was enlightening to dig deeper into this data.

Before I get to the list, here’s a deeper look at the numbers. Those 1851 people created 11,751 “mentions,” with a total reach of 6,444,020 people. Fifty four percent (54%) or 1001 of the 1851 people had only a single interaction with me during the year. 212 people had more than 10 interactions. I find it interesting, but certainly not surprising, that this latter number begins to look more like Dunbar’s Number. Multiple mentions (interactions) is an indication of the strength of both sides of the attention equation and illustrates just how much real bandwidth is available for extended conversations, and how many concerted attempts at conversation are actually taking place.

My Twitter Top 25 (By Number Of Mentions)

It’s an interesting list for me, because every single one of these people is associated with the real estate industry. (Edit: Except for one) Interesting, but not surprising. It’s interesting, to me, because in my “outside of Twitter” world, I spend more time interacting with people who are not in the real estate industry than with those who are. The vast majority of our clients at Zeek Interactive are not real estate related.  I think it’s proof of what I tell people all the time, I simply like the real estate industry and the vast, vast majority of the  people I meet in it. Now on to the list.

1. Matthew Shadboldt – @corcoran_group – 517:  Official Twitter account for Corcoran’s Director of Interactive Product & Marketing. Winner of Inman News’ 2011 Social Media Innovator of the Year Award

2. Gahlord Dewald – @gahlord – 455:  Data || Creativity || Strategy || Make Things

It wasn’t a surprise that these Matthew and Gahlord ended up at the top. If you were to have asked me randomly, who are the two people you’ve had the most interesting conversations with on Twitter in 2011, their names would have quickly come out of my mouth. By far, as you can see from the chart to the right, I have engaged with them more than any others. The conversations have been deeper and more sustained than any other conversations in the Twitter space. And I’ve enjoyed every single one. And them. 

3. Peter Brewer – @thatpeterbrewer – 330: Social Media Geek – Father – Friend – Hubby to a Special Lady. Has been known to enjoy a beer and a prawn (or 2)… 😉 (Views are my own and often erratic)

It’s no secret, Peter and I have become somewhat “close.” 🙂 And we love to give each other crap. Lately it’s been about deleting my Klout profile, but if it weren’t that it would be something else. Twitter just seems like the perfect place for our bromance. Though we are a Pacific Ocean apart, he is one of my closest friends.

4. Ines Hegedus-Garcia– @ines – 257: Architect • Realtor • Mojitos • Miamisms • not necessarily in that order.

I simply adore her and I’ve known her as long as anyone in this online space. She forces me to think. She’s intelligent, creative, opinionated, and high maintenance. Thankfully, that last one I don’t have to deal with much. 🙂

5. Michael McClure – @proffessionalone – 228: Believer, CEO of VerifiedAgent.com, 50 Most Influential in Real Estate, Inman NEXT Blogger & Speaker, MSU Spartan, 2nd City, CPA, Enemy of Status Quo

I would call Michael a relentless networker. He appears to always be in “reach out” mode, and almost always positive. In fact, I’d love to see what his interaction numbers on Twitter looked like over this past year. I’m sure it would make for interesting analysis. 

6. Laura Monroe– @lauramonroe – 164: CEO of Creative Agent Solutions.com, real estate techie, marketing, & social media virtual assistant. Momtrepreneur. Blue jeans. Wine lover.

Genuinely engaging. Those are the words I use to describe Laura. She engages fully. And having had the chance to witness how she works as a virtual assistant and budding wordpress geek, that engagement extends well beyond the 140 character world of Twitter. She knows her stuff.

7. Maura Neill – @mauraneill – 148: lover of Atlanta * musical theatre geek * dark chocolate aficionada * karaoke queen * lover of dark beer * grammar nerd * shoe addict * REALTOR®

I’m not sure anyone’s Twitter description has fit them more than Maura’s. If you’re going to Atlanta and you don’t ask her for her opinion on where you should go eat, drink or have a good time, you’re missing out. Period. End of story. Oh, and she’s wicked smart.

8. Chris Smith – @chris_smth – 144: Chief Evangelist Inman News. Writer. Observer. Believer that innovation is rewarded but execution is worshiped. Least influential person in my home.

Chris is an up and comer in the social media space. He may have a future here. 🙂 I only recently have had a chance to spend some time with him face-to-face and he’s every bit as energetic in person as his online persona indicates. And the fact he looks like Astro Boy is just a bonus.

9. Teri Conrad – @tericonrad – 140: Communications, Brand and Promotion Strategist/ Consultant / Speaker / Community Builder/ Wine lover/ Wife/ Mom/ Collecting the most amazing relationships 😉

10. Debra Trappen – @debra11 – 130: Sassy redhead who luvs 2 engage, elevate & empower my world. Laser-focused on bringing #swagga back 2 Real Estate as I lead training/engagement @cbbainseal.

When I think of Teri Conrad, I think of Debra Trappen, and vice versa. Perhaps I shouldn’t but in my mind they are joined at the hip. In fact, I was surprised that their mention numbers weren’t exactly the same. 🙂 I find them both to share a common set of values and a shared vision about how social media should work to build and strengthen brand. They are two people I’d like to lock myself in a room with with. With a whiteboard, of course. 

11. Marc Davison – @1000wattmarc – 114: Founding Partner at 1000watt. We help real estate companies find the one thing that makes them different and show them how to built upon it.

I simply have a profound level of respect for Marc. He may come off as a bit gruff at time, and quite frankly he is, but get him alone for a few hours and you’ll see a man who is passionate about his work, his music and his family. I’m proud to call him a friend.

12. Jeremy Blanton – @jb140 – 112: Founder of 210 Consulting, Father of 2, Dog Lover, & Professional Army Golfer.

I gave Jeremy his Twitter handle. For that reason alone, I’d be surprised if he weren’t on this list. 🙂

13. Derek Overbey – @doverbey – 112: Senior Manager of Social Media at VerticalResponse (Roost) / Co-Founder of 100 Interviews / Social Media Muskrat / Husband of @jaoverbey

Derek makes me smile. That may sound trite, but it’s true. He’s the kind of guy I want to go have a beer with, after we sit all day talking about life and work and family. And he’s great with kids. I know, I’ve seen him in action with mine.

14. Lara Scott – @larascott – 108: Information designer. Lover of great user experience. Marketing & content in Australian real estate. Child wrangler. Living by WYSIWYG.

Lara is the second Aussi on my list. She has simply become a good friend over the past 7 months. She’d bright, engaging, and fun to take a walk along Bondi Beach with. 

15. Teresa Boardman – @tboard – 103: Realtor with Saint Paul Home Realty, blogger, writer, photographer,and I am here

According to Teresa, she sees her role in my life as that of “person who makes sure Jeff doesn’t get a big head.” She seems to think my wife is not doing a good enough job of making sure I stay grounded. I can always count on T to make sure I don’t get out of line. 🙂

16. Inna Hardison – @innahamedia – 102: Own a full-service marketing firm. We do design, web, printing, wp, sm. We do kick ass work. Other than that – liberal, sarcastic, smart. 2kids+2pups=happy.

Inna is the only person on this list that I’ve NOT met face-to-face, and of all the people I interact with in the social media space, she is the person I most want to sit in the same room with this coming year. She’s passionate, intelligent and ruthlessly honest. I like her. 

17. Bill Lublin – @billlublin – 100: Realtor, Speaker, Educator, Tech Freak, New Media Marketing Mayven, Traveler, Movie Fan, Raconteur, and arbiter of Comedy

Bill is one of only a handful of people my children always refer to by their first and last name. Mr. Bill Lublin. Bill is a friend to me and my family. That should tell you something. 

18. Rob Hahn – @robhahn – 94: blogger, marketer, strategist, social media fella, fashion consultant, lawyer, tinker, tailor, spy

This one surprised me a bit. I had no idea we had this many interactions. I guess I like a good debate more than I thought I did. 🙂 If you know Rob, you know that’s a compliment. 

19. Ardell Dellaloggia – @ardelld – 94: Seattle Real Estate & Eastside Real Estate

I love this woman. We have had our share of debates in blog comments, but always with an air of mutual respect. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly, so the fact that she suffers me at all makes me feel better about myself and brings a smile to my face. 

20. Dave Cole – @heydavecole – 94: Founder of @DashterWP – #SJSU alum & USC football fan. Love WordPress. Kayaker, scifi geek, raised in Marin County, now reside in OC. http://heydavecole.com

Bright. Really, really bright.  I am one of Dave’s partners at Dahster, and I don’t enter into partnerships with anyone lightly. We are separated by a generation, but we tend to think in paths carved by the similar ideas. I respect his thinking and enjoy his company. And I’m very much looking forward to our 2012 together. (edit: and the only one on the list NOT directly associated with the real estate industry)

21. Todd Carpenter – @tcar – 93: Check it: I work for NAR and these are my personal opinions. See my link for details. Follow @realtors for real estate stuff.

Todd has greatly influenced my thinking about the need to focus on fewer, deeper relationships. He’s a creative thinker with a unique perspective on the world. Put me in a room with Todd and give us a whiteboard and I think we might be able to do a fair bit of damage. 

22. Brian Copeland – @nashvillebrian – 75: Lover of all things Nashville, Board member at Hands On Nashville, Friend to puppies and kitties and REALTOR w/ Village R.E.S. (615) 369-3278 Tennessee #298334

Love. This. Man. He’s simply become one of my closest friends over the past two years. His direct communication style can throw people off, but his heart is huge and always in the right place. He’s a pro. He attacks everything he does with a spirit of stewardship. Love. This. Man.

23. Dan Green– @mortgagereports – 74: Loan officer. When I was young, my parents moved around a lot, but I always found them.

Wicked smart, with a ridiculously sharp sense of humor. Creative in his approach to his business. Writes his own code for the products he creates. Blogs every single day. He impresses me. 

24. Jim Marks – @jimmarks – 72: http://virtualresults.net Develops Internet Strategies combining Websites that Work w/ Traffic Solutions to make SMBs Successful. Living Large in Laguna Beach

Sitting by Jim’s pool one day I realized that our two lives could not be more different. 🙂 As a result, we sometimes don’t see eye to eye on things, but we always seem to be able to find a common ground for conversation. And he probably hates this list, simply because he’s on it. 

25. Chris Drayer – @fpo – 70: I sail, canoe, hike & own Finch Mktg, where Real Estate Takes Flight. Marketing Dir for FloorPlanOnline & Real Satisfied CMO. Tech junkie.

Once I decided to work with David King and Phil Kells to bring RealSatisfied.com to the United States, Chris was the first and only person I called to help with marketing. I simply trust him. And I’ve come to learn that he is one of the hardest workers around. I can’t wait to see what 2012 brings, Chris. 

So. that’s my list. I checked it twice. You can decide for yourself who’s naughty or nice. I’m outta here… Santa Claus is coming to town.

Do you know who you spend the most time talking to on Twitter?