Twitter on my blog

[Chris Norman]

Hey everybody, hope all is well. A question regarding Twitter. I have set up a twitter account specifically for my target niche. Should I display those tweets on my blog?(using widgets) Are there any advantages? I have also started a facebook page for my blog.

I guess the big question is how best to use Twitter and Facebook pages in conjunction with my blog? Will this help with traffic and promoting my site? Again, advantages/disadvantages.

Thanking you all kindly in advance!
Take care, Chris Norman

[christianwins]

Paul Colligan mentioned having a strategy for blogging/twitter/facebook posts. If you post the same things or links to the blog in the post, then it would be pointless to have a widget in there. If on the other hand, it's additional content that users will get value from and enjoy, then it could work.

Would love to hear what others think.

[PpcJen]

I agree that you don't want to be doubling up.
If you are using an automated blog posting service like Posterous (or the service that is described above) where your facebook, twitter, and blog are all updated with the same content, then you do not need a widget.
If you're not doing that at this blog, then I think a widget is a good thing. The more ways your visitors can receive your content, the better, IMO. Some people like Facebook, others like RSS, others are on Twitter, and some people prefer to visit your blog. Give them options, and they're more likely to absorb your information.
I hope this makes sense.

[Lynn Terry]

Exactly. I hand-write my own tweets (no automated tweets) and have my tweets show up in the header of my blog at clicknewz.com. If my tweets were just automated posts with links to my blog, it would be pointless.

[Chris Norman]

Lynn, what software do you use to accomplish that?

Chris

[Lynn Terry]

Unfortunately, I have no idea :) lol - I outsourced the design of my current theme, including all the neato stuff embedded in it...

[Courtney]

Here is a good tutorial on how to add Twitter to your blog or site without a plugin, http://www.kristarella.com/2009/01/display-your-tweets-without-a-plugin/. It actually seems pretty simple to do.