How To Use Twitter List

You’ve probably noticed that tiny note up at the top of your Twitter page saying that you can now create lists to better sort your update streams. It’s actually a pretty handy thing, that list function.

I previously wrote something about organizing Twitter update streams here and here. The tools mentioned in those posts were really helpful, however they required the use of a 3rd party application or website to do group updates.

Now, thanks to Twitters list function, you can make following a certain group easier than ever.

When you make a list, you pretty much group your friends into a certain, well, list. You can make a list for your gamer friends, your school friends, your family members (if they tweet), it’s entirely up to you.

Once you’re able to make a list, you can now view the streams according to the group they belong to. Each group you make will have their own corresponding list page. Say you made a group for your family, you simply go to the list page and you’ll see a collection of Twitter updates from family members whom you added into the group.

The cool thing about this new list function is that it allows you to add people who aren’t on your follow list. So say for example you’d like to add your favorite artist in a certain list you made,you can do it.

How to make a list

You’ll notice a list section added to your Twitter homepage’s sidebar, Just click on the “New List” link, make a name for your list and choose the privacy setting for that specific list and you’re all set. All you need to do next is add your contacts to the list.

Keep in mind that the name of the group corresponds to the list page. So if you named a group “whackjobs”, you’ll get a list page in this format: www.twitter.com/username/whackjobs/. And also, in terms of the privacy setting, setting a list on private means you, the creator of the list, are the only one who can see the list. Not even people who are in the list can see it.

How to add people to the list

After clicking on the “Create List” button, your list is done and ready to be populated with members to follow. You can only add a maximum of 500 people for each list so choose wisely.

You can add friends by going to your contact list and clicking on the Lists dropdown button beside your contact’s name and checking on the group you want to add that specific contact to. You can also do this through a person’s profile page or by going to the lists that other people follow. You don’t have to worry about boxing one contact in to just one list because you can add contacts to multiple lists at the same time.

How to manage lists

Every list you’ve made and followed will appear on the list section of your Twitter page’s side bar. You’ll be able to determine private lists from the public ones because of the closed lock icon beside it. You can load the update stream for the group by clicking on the list name on the sidebar or by type the list page’s URL directly on your address bar.

When you visit a group you created, you will have the option to edit or delete it. When you hit edit, you can change the name of the group and it’s privacy setting.

Removing friends is rather similar to adding friends to a list. You click on the dropdown button and uncheck the group you placed them on.

How to Find and Follow lists

The easiest way to find lists is through your friends. Visit their pages and see which lists they subscribe to and which ones they are a part of. If you’re interested in any one of them or would like to be a part of them, you can visit the list’s page and follow it, too.

As for 3^rd party applications/sites that help you discover lists, Listorius and TweetMeme can help you sift through different lists by category and choose the ones you’d like to subscribe to. To subscribe, simply click on the “Follow this list” button beside the group name. Unfollowing a list is easy as you simply have to click “Unfollow”

How to know where you’re listed

You’ll probably want to know what lists you’ve been added to or who’s following you. To do so, simply click on the “Listed” link beside your following and followers counters below your username. It’ll show the list following your posts and the lists you follow.

If you don’t feel like being part of a particular list, blocking the creator will remove you from the list. Of course, if you still want to allow the person to follow you but not include you on that specific list, you can simply ask the creator to remove you from the group. Keep in mind that by blocking a user, you completely block them from following your tweets altogether.

Now, on the other hand, if you simply wish to block someone from the lists page, not the list altogether, you can just click on the “Block <username>” link that appears on the Actions section on the sidebar.

What do you think? I think it’s easy enough to use Twitter Lists. Not only does this make your tweet stream organized, you can also be a part of another group without having to add people to your already long follow list.

Got any more tips you’d like to share on using Twitter Lists? Do add them over at the comments section.