Let me start with a question: Do you know you can favorite tweets? Seems many Twitter users don’t know about this option, or they are just not using it.
I noticed this because a lot of times, when I am thinking of following someone on Twitter, I check their favorite tweets to see what they like. Most of the times, there is nothing there…
This has to be one of the least mentioned Twitter features and the least used one. But there is so much potential in it. I want to tell you about two great ways to use favorite tweets and how to get the most out of it.
How can you favorite a tweet?
On Twitter site, you will find the little star icon just below the tweet. Click it and you favorited a tweet.
In HootSuite, you will see a little down arrow at the top right of the tweet. Select it and then choose the star icon where it says favorite.
How can you see someone’s favorite tweets?
On Twitter, when you go to someone’s profile, you automatically see the users tweets. The next tab on the right is the list of Favorite tweets.
In HootSuite, click on user’s name and you will have a smaller window pop up, then just pick the 4th tab.
Now let’s get to real business.
Why should you favorite tweets?
Because you like them, duh! 
They are your favorites and you want to make sure everyone knows that. Here is where I come to two ideas I want to give you on using them.
#1 Favorite tweets you like to show people what type of person/Twitter user you are and what can they expect in your tweet stream.
If you are into recipes niche, you can favorite best recipe tweets from other users. If you are into blogging, favorite those tweets that have links to the most useful posts you read, tweets with simple but effective tips, etc.
That way, when a person who doesn’t really know you, wants to see what you like, they will see if your favorites are beneficial to them and how good of a Twitter match are you.
#2 This is the way I use favorite tweets. Favorite all tweets that say something nice about you and your business/blog/service. By doing this, you are basically creating a stream of short testimonials.
If a person interested in following you looks at your favorites list and sees all those nice things people are saying about you, they are more likely to start following you.
Creating a list of great things people tweet about you, may bring you a new customer.
Let’s say you have an online fitness course, where you promise to help people lose 20 Lbs in a month. People go through the exercises with you and follow your diet plan and really lose all that weight. Many of them may tweet to thank you.
If you favorite all those tweets, every new potential customer that sees your favorite tweets stream will decide to make a purchase way easier than if he didn’t see all the 140 character testimonials.
Here is just a part of my stream, I mean who wouldn’t favorite these!?!
But who ever looks at the Favorites stream?
Well, maybe I am the only person in this world that does, but it still doesn’t mean you won’t get to show off.
How to show off your favorites?
Promote your favorites list like any other link you usually promote. This is the link to my favorites http://twitter.com/BrankicaU/favorites. Get your link and tweet about it, share it on Facebook, promote it the same way you would promote a blog post.
Add a widget to your blog. Here is how mine looks:
How to create a Twitter favorite widget?
Go to Twitter widget (favorites) page.
In settings — Fill in your username, title and caption fields (in example above the title is “The best of Twitter according to” and the caption is “Brankica U”).
Preferences — I left this at default settings, they are good.
Appearance — Choose the colors to match your blog.
Dimensions — Choose width and height so you can fit the widget in your sidebar (I guess that is where you will put it).
When you are done, hit “Finish and grab the code”. Copy the code.
Display the widget on your blog
Go to your WordPress dashboard.
Go to Appearance >> Widgets >> chose a text widget >>paste the code you copied from Twitter site into the text box. It is your choice if you want to add the name to the widget.
And there you go, you have your own stream of testimonials about what ever you do best
Conclusion
The list of favorites is very easy to create, all you have to do is click one thing when you see a tweet you like. It won’t take away any of your time so there is no reason not to start creating one.
It can show off your Twitter taste or present you and your business in the best way possible. I believe this is one of the underused Twitter features and definitely something you can use to build trust with your following.
Are you using Twitter favorites? How are you doing it? With what purpose?
Hey Brankice, that is awesome thing. I think I’ve heard that one before. I was favoriting them already, because I’ve watned to make testemonial page from Tweets of other people.
I had no idea people were checking that out
Does owner of a tweet gets an email notification, once you favorite their tweet?
So we are using it the same way.
Not sure if people do check it, I know I do. But that may be because I am using them. I guess those who don’t use them, don’t check them but that is why we can promote the favorites
I am not sure about email notification because I don’t get any notifications from Twitter, I turned them off, but I do remember getting a notification on Tweetdeck when someone favorites one of mine.
When you are on Twitter, hit me up, we can test it
Hi Brankica!
If I asked you this at my place, my community would be all over it as they THINK I never hug anyone. I’m sure I’d hug Roma, though, if she didn’t bite!
This is great information! I never paid attention to it, but I believe Bojan that you do get notice when someone favorites one of your Tweets. I’m going to have fun with this information!
Have a good one!
Lori
P.S. Did Roma ever learn to hug?
I am glad you like this info
Roma will do anything if I wiggle a piece of hot dog in front of her nose. She is the “suck-iest” pit bull ever, she would never bite so I bet you would hug her, she has such a cute face, and she can look at you and blink so cute that it is just irresistible!
I use favorites to save something with a link I want to read later, or remember for later use. I’ve just started using Instapaper instead but clicking favorite is still much faster!
I haven’t use Twitter like that, but that is another great idea. I use so many bookmarking ways that I have hundreds of posts all over the place and if I need anything I will never be able to dig it out, lol
I use favorites to bookmark tweets I want to come back and read later or retweet. I try not to retweet anything before first reading it first, so this system works well for me. I like your suggestions for being more strategic about this feature.
That sounds like a great use too! I think “my strategy” is great for those that need some testimonials because we only have one favorite stream, but what you are doing would probably work for more people that aren’t into providing service.
Hello Brankica. I just love these hidden tips and less-often used features. It’s usually ‘ReTweet, Mention, List!’ etc. But this is probably the most underrated way to promote the hell out of your friends. Sure, you can Retweet their posts, but hey, how much more powerful is a favourite. It’s like a ‘like’ in Youtube. Very valuable. At the end of the day we need to be educated about all these sweet, everyday tools that can make such a difference to your experience that very few people use. Thanks!
Thanks for such a great comment, Brian. I can only imagine how many great uses we can get from Twitter or any other tool we use on daily basis. I guess we just need to keep digging, lol
Hi Branikica,
This is a great idea, that I never thought of. I’ve never marked a tweet as a favorite because I thought of it as just a way to bookmark a tweet I wanted to come back to, and I haven’t come across a tweet I thought I’d need again.
When I get the site I’m working on up and running in a few weeks, both the site, and how I promote it will reflect some of the things I’ve learned from you.
P.S. I’m also flattered that my tweet made two of your screen shots.
I am so glad I gave you some new ideas! And not only it is in a screenshot, it is definitely staying in my favorites
Hey Brankica!
I use the “favorite” feature to save tweets that link to posts I really like. I will “favorite” something if I want to come back to refer to it later. However, I love the idea of using it for mini testimonials and adding a widget to your site for it. Another awesome idea!
I haven’t used it like that, I see a few of you mention here. I guess I missed using it that way cause I use so many ways to bookmark stuff (the posts themselves). But I love that idea too!
HI,
This will prove a good plan for make faith on others and get customers just on the behalf of add a tweet button. Beside that we all know very well how much traffic is come on Twitter so we should keep this thing in our mind and you can see lot of changes on your site in traffic.
I agree, Sam, I think this can be very beneficial for traffic.
Love, love, love this tutorial Brankica! I’ve putting putting off putting a Twitter widget such as this on my site. I’ve thought of using tweetimonials, but this one seems a lot easier and makes sense to me.
You’re so right about utilizing this technique. I love it when people favor my tweets. I think it will be a great networking tool in helping you connect with others as well.
Ciao!
So glad you like it. There are many services that can probably do this, but I love using the stuff the site itself gives us. I know you can make a hell of a testimonial stream, considering how rockin’ you are (and I mean it).
Nicely done Brankica. Perhaps you may be right about people not really looking at “fav” tweets, but I can definitely see the value in doing it and there you go again giving me stuff to do, lol. Kudos
Yeah, maybe many aren’t looking yet, but that is why we need to put those tweets in front of their eyes
Brankinca,
You make a great case for favorite tweets here. I’m one of those people who’s never really utilized this. I think the only tweets I may have Favorited are mistakes. lol
I never really thought of it the way you do, what you say makes a great sense and I think I will have to try to change it up and do better at this. Great idea, and thanks for letting some of your twitter expertise rub off…
Another great tip from the Twitter Goddess!
Steve
OMG, Thanks so much for such nice words, wish I could make this a favorite tweet
For you, it would be a great stream of people saying how great your course is, which it is. That way more people would see all the great tweets praising you !
Up until now, I did not know the real purpose or effect of the favorite button; I have just been hitting favorite for whatever I like in whatever niche from whoever. I have actually favorite my own tweet. LOL!
The way that you are using it makes a lot of sense to me; it can certainly be looked at as a testimonial. I will definitely begin checking that tab out before following anyone and also start getting my favorites aligned.
Hey Genie,
I would probably like and favorite different tweets if there were different streams or something, but since there is only one stream of favorites and I am offering services and promoting this blog, I thought there is no better (selfish) way but to blow my own horn, lol
Oh, so that is what favorite tweets are for? I used it as a way to mark a tweet on wanted to capture but didn’t have time to read. Then I would know where to find it. I’m guessing there is probably another way to do that, huh?
After I read the tweet, I clear them out of my favorites. Do you leave yours in their until the end of time?
Yes, since I favorite those that are kinda like testimonials, I am leaving them there in case someone checks them out. Egoooooooooo
Great idea! Talk about a simple way of getting a testimonial display. I feel like I’ve wasted a huge resource.
Hey, it is never too late, you can still find a few of the older ones and then start marking the new ones
Ooops…
I have been told I am a terrific guy to have on twitter (yeah right) and I have never even look at that function… shame on me!!
There are a LOT of tweets that should’ve been favored (or ‘faved’… that’s not even a word right?)
Anyway, I will have to look at your favorites stream and then try to sort mine as well, I have MANY tweets that should have this thing on.
Thanks Brankica, brilliant articles on twitter like always you social media queen you!
Sergio
As a total Twitter newbie (who’s having a hard time seeing the point of it all) this gives me a good reason to Tweet.