Wednesday
Oct222008
Twitter tips for twits
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 11:33AM
Most of us have heard of, or use twitter right? Wrong! most don't, or at least not effectively. This social media, micro-blogging site, where you can send quick messages, links, and info to those who follow your updates, can be a lifeline to networking and building an internet presence.
I joined recently, and as a follow on to my post on social etiquette golden rules Here are some tips that I have to offer so far, as a relative newcomer.
Say who you are by including your name. Calling yourself sprogit may work as an enigmatic tease on a dating site, but this isn't it.
Log in each day, respond to those who have started following you, if you agree. Spend half an hour twice a day and then get off. You have a life don't you?
Don't just give impersonal updates, have short conversations with those who post on your subject or area.
Contribute something useful to the social space.
Don't spam other twitterers with a hard sell, this is not a place to sell your product it's a place to socialise.
Don't spend all day talking about your children and the chocolate cake they have smushed all over their faces. For you cute yes, for everyone else - not as cute.
Be a mentor to someone and receive mentoring from someone in your area of interest, that's powerful.
Don't blather on with political messages 24 /7, angry and bitter is what you become. Politicians have campaign managers for that, save your energy to make your business better.
Here's a post on the types of social media users
Be a happy twit!
Have something to say ? send us a comment.
Wisequeen
Donna Jackson
Social communications specialist
Reader Comments (9)
Good tips that a lot of folks would do well to take heed. Thanks!
Another tip I might add is to make use of one of the many third-party software tools that let tweeple receive tweets automatically without having to login and refresh from the twitter web site. The one I use is tweetdeck (I have no affiliation other than as a user).
Again, great tips. Thanks! :-)
@melaclaro
BusinessCasualBlog.com
Thanks for your twiiter tip Mel, and good luck with your blog.
Good tips. I am MyBellaVita on there. Hmmm... maybe I should change that to sweet cheeks or Wonder Woman.
Hi Bellavita I like the Cicina name better. How is life in bella Calabria?
Here's two more valuable tips. The spammers have discovered twitter of course, so I only respond to non auto messages.
If you have an automated response to welcome those who start following you, it can send multiple messages to them. This is overkill and is likely to frighten them away.
Great tips! Another thing you can do is include your Twitter address at the bottom of emails and on business cards, below where you put your email address. I don't even bother with my physical address anymore, since it's easier and more efficient to just find me online.
Good tips! Looking forward to chatting with you on twitter!
Twitter is something I really haven't learned to do yet, so I'm glad to read these tips. Maybe someday... right now I have trouble updating my blog more than once a week!
Hi Amy try it go on! set up a profile it makes it easier to follow the blogs you like and to communicate quicker with them. You can also let someone know when you have written or found content that they will like or need.
Its live so you have an immediate answer instead of waiting for them to check their comments.