This is Iain Dale’s list of top 20 Tory Twitterers ranked by their number of followers:
1. Boris Johnson 24,341
2. Conservative Party 5,453
3. Iain Dale 3,025
4. James Cleverly 1,701
5. Jonathan Sheppard 1,482
6. Grant Shapps 814
7. Steve Green 793
8. Tim Montgomerie 761
9. Craig Elder 736
10. Conservative Future 709
11. Michael Fabricant MP 496
12. Tory Bear 465
13. Louise Bagshawe 454
14. Ed Vaizey MP 451
15. Phil Hendren (Dizzy) 361
16. Jonathan Isaby 393
17. Shane Greer 386
18. Ellee Seymour 295
19. David Evennett MP 263
20. Alex Singleton 254
This morning my followers were in excess of 320, and last year I deleted 100 when I wasn’t sure about wanting strangers with odd sounding names to know my whereabouts.
I use it in a much more informal way than my blog and write about going to the gym or out with my mother at the weekend. I didn’t think it was the kind of stuff which would interest readers of my blog, though these twitterings are now also published on the side of my site. I also use Twitter to update a link to my blog posts when they are published, alerting Twitter followers if they wish to read them.
I’ve since come to enjoy Twitter very much and use it as a news feed from Sky News or the BBC for their latest bulletins. I hardly ever use Facebook these days; it’s too much of a nuisance to have to sign in every time I want to read or reply to a message, many of which will be of no relevance. With Twitter you don’t have all that bother.
I have been building up new Twitter followers over the weekend either because they interest me on a personal or professional level, or amuse me. I’m particularly keen to build up more media followers in the Eastern Region as I want to use Twitter as a communications tool. So please, if any journalists from East Anglia – and beyond – are reading this and use Twitter, please sign up and follow my Twitterings at this link here. Anyone else is welcome too, of course.
*Louise Bagshawe pointed out to me that we are the only two Tory women on the list. It would be great to see more sign up. The beauty of Twitter is that it is not time consuming, you only type 140 characters and it’s an endless source of information, fun and support when you need it.
Boris Johnson is way out in front, I see. 🙂 It’s a shame that women don’t make more use of this technology, though.
Twittering is great! Keep up the good work Ellee, you won the Most interesting political Twitterer in my awards last month.
Hey well done. It’s funny to see you only a few places down from Boris.
I love Twitter too although I have to say that with all these online things that for me (and I use it in a different way than you) small is beautiful. I find they become meaningless when the number of followers/friends becomes too large. I just can’t keep up with updates anymore so I don’t try!!
But yes, for you, the more the merrier.
You are amazing, Ellee!
Benny, thanks, I had no idea my twitterings were that interesting.
Reluctant Blogger, I think if I was twittering on a personal level only, I would keep it small and inclusive too. But it’s become so much more than that to me and I am usihg it professionally too.
Jennyta, yes, let’s hope more women sign up for Twitter.
It’s the down to earth attitude and blogging the simplest of things that make it great. Also, you don’t only use Twitter to promote your blog like a lot of bloggers do.
I am really quite a fan of Twitter, it can be used in lots of ways.
I have found it useful to advertise important issues that I haven’t posted about on my blog.
I don’t think I have ever really understood the Twitter thing. Mine languishes for months at a time. But you did remind me to go twitter something.
I am amazed at those who ask to follow me as I am sure they cannot have looked at how little I use it.
I’ve got a big mouth so I use Twitter and Facebook. Unfortunately I don’t have the motivation to write more substantially otherwise I’d inflict a Blog on the world too.