This article was taken from the February 2011 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
You think Justin Bieber doesn't care about you, right? Well, calculated microblogging can get you into any A-lister's life. Social- media strategist Louise Howells reveals how to slip into the lives of others.
Get real
First, you need to make sure that your celebrity actually runs his or her Twitter account rather than using a PR representative to do it for them. "It's easier if it is the celebrity," explains Howells, "because then you have a better idea of the character traits of the person you're dealing with."
Be consistent...
When trying to get their attention with a tweet in their Twitter feed, you have to make yours stand out. "Be consistent in replying to everything they comment on or retweet, thinking about what will be on their wavelength," suggests Howells. And make your username and picture stand out.
... but don't come across as creepy
The worst thing you can do is make your username a stalkerish reference to the celebrity (@iwillcutyoubieberismine, for example).
Instead, "find something unrelated, catchy and easy for them to identify. That way, every time you reply they'll start to recognise that it's the same person."
Make their fans your fans
A more cunning tactic: flood their Twitter stream. Target their fan base by replying to other fans' posts. Then write your best tweet, with the aim of being retweeted. "Your celebrity will see that every single reply in their feed is a retweet of your tweet, because it's so witty and genius."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
