@SuButcher Architectural practice manager |

Q1 Name

Su Butcher. Practice Manager at Barefoot & Gilles, Architects and Development Consultants.

Q2 Twitter username

SuButcher

Q3 Location

Ipswich, Suffolk, Chelmsford, Essex, and London, England and places in between.

Q4 Website

www.barefootgilles.com

Q5 Bio

I trained in Architecture and then went into the academic world, but for the last 11 years I have managed a number of Architects practices in the UK. In essence, I help people think strategically.

Q6 When did you start using Twitter and how were you introduced to it?

I’m a twitter newbie – only been using it for a few weeks. Before I tried twitter I thought it was a time waster, but in fact it’s a great way to connect likeminded people. It’s a natural place for keen networkers and I enjoy being at a rolling networking event.

I’m very active on Ecademy, which I found when looking for a way to network without compromising family commitments. I like to eat breakfast with my family, for a start When some of my good contacts on Ecademy started piling into a Twitter club I knew it was getting serious.

Q7 What are your typical Twitter habits on an average day (e.g. frequency & time of day most active)?

Much of my activity is during UK working hours but I also twitter on the train using my iPhone. Probably between 10-30 tweets a day.

Q8 What are the main reasons you use Twitter (e.g. business, marketing, fun, community etc)?

I use twitter to discuss issues in the construction industry that matter to me, and people follow me who want to know about this – well I hope they do. I follow a group of people who help form these thoughts – people I can learn from, and some who are fun! Twitter works best IMO when you have a focus. Concentrate on what type of person you want to communicate with and what their interests are.

Q9 What aspects of Twitter do you love?…

The way Twitter can demolish well structured baloney PR. Property Week posts the main points of Margaret Beckett’s speech to the Thames Gateway Forum, but my twitter friends let me know that she was heckled…

Q10 …and dislike (if any)?

I’ve not encountered any problems yet, except the usual ones you get in a networking environment.

Q11 If you could make changes to Twitter what would they be?

I’d like to be able to improve the signal on the way home Maybe National Express East Anglia could sort out Wifi on their trains… they might find me tweeting about delays a bit more often though.

Q12 If you Tweet from a PC or a Mac which Twitter applications do you use and why (e.g. main Twitter site, Tweetdeck etc)?

I use Tweetdeck on MS XP at work. Really helps manage groups, searching, keeps you in the loop.

Q13 When posting Tweets via mobile, what applications do you use most (e.g. Twitteriffic, Tweetie, Twinkle etc)?

Used to use Twitteriffic on my iPhone, but then picked up Tweetie from @stephenhealey and it turns out was one of the first respondents to confirm enthusiasm to @stephenfry here:

http://james.cridland.net/blog/2008/11/24/word-of-mouse-stephenfry-sells-bucketloads-of-tweetie/#comments

Q14 What other Twitter apps and tools do you use and would recommend?

@MrTweet provides interesting results, but not far enough. I’d like to find ways to look beyond immediate contacts two or three steps to find new areas to investigate.

Q15 Do you actively seek followers? If so how do you go about increasing your followers?

I don’t seek followers, I find that followers who like what you tweet turn up and stick. What I do seek are people to follow who are interested in construction and development in the UK. Please tweet me your suggestions at @SuButcher.

Q16 Do you automatically ‘follow’ back or are you more selective?

Initially I followed everyone back, but soon learned that focus is the key. Keep your eyes on your objective. Its not rude not to follow someone.

Q17 If looking for people to follow what attributes do you look for?

I follow people who tweet on subjects of interest to me! Imagine Twitter is a huge cocktail party and you’re picking the conversations you like. Braggers and people who don’t listen won’t get much attention. Say something interesting and I’ll ask for more or Retweet if I think it might be of interest to the people I tweet to.

Q18 What type of behaviour would make you unfollow someone?

You have to follow people to see how much value they add. Adding value is what it’s all about; sometimes I will stop following people when I feel the value I get is outweighed by the time I spend on their tweets. And there’s the usual rudeness I guess, but I haven’t met any rudeness on Twitter yet.

Q19 What tips do you have for newbies?

Focus, focus, focus. Why are you here? Keep reminding yourself. Share your expertise and interests. Be yourself. Be interested. Don’t say something you wouldn’t say to someone face to face.

Q20 Do you use an auto welcome message?

No. See Cocktail Party analogy. We are human.

Q21 How do you find new people to follow (e.g. Twellow, Summize, friends of friends etc)?

I look for who the people I am following follow, Tweetie is great for that. I also snaffle up Twitter mentions in the construction press.

Q22 How many Twitter accounts do you have? If more than one – how many actively used?

Just one. Thought about having more but decided on the advice of @jimconnolly that one is quite enough, its what you do with it that counts!

Q23 What are your views on Magpie?

If I wanted adverts I’d watch TV.

Q24 Do you know what hashtags are and do you use them?

Not much, but I love search.

Q25 Qwitter – do you use it? If someone unfollows you do you reciprocate?

Set up an account, but no emails yet. J Following and being followed are two different things and should be treated differently.