Twitter is one of those tools in the online world that has great potential, but can cause a lot of confusion, apprehension and occasionally misuse. It is also one of those tools that requires a specific plan, or you may find yourself wasting very valuable time without much return. Here are some of favorite tips for how to use twitter effectively.
Setting Up Your Profile
Picture – Yes, use one. If you have one that you use frequently online, or perhaps a logo, use it for Twitter, too.
Bio – Twitter allows potential followers to search by keywords. Use those keywords that will match you with your future followers in your bio. Answer those important questions in your bio: Who are you? Why are you on Twitter? Why should someone follow you? “I love bacon!” isn’t going to cut it for a Twitter bio unless all you are tweeting about is bacon.
URL – This is one of my all time favorite Twitter Tips: Use your blog’s About Me page for your Twitter URL. We are human. We are curious and apprehensive about taking a stranger’s advice. When a follower, or potential follower, heads to your Twitter profile to investigate, they are usually asking a few questions: Who is this person? What makes them think they know what they are talking about? Why should I listen to them? You can’t fit that into 140 characters, let your About Me page do the talking. It beats landing on some random post that is currently on your homepage.
Getting Involved
Follow Others – Social media is a two-way street. If you want followers, you need to start following. Twitter offers several ways to find people to follow, and that will hopefully follow you back. Click on Who to Follow. There are will find View Suggestions, Browse Interests and Find Friends. Use these tools to get yourself positioned in the right circles.
Be a Giver – You can only get by for so long tweeting your own content and nothing else before people are going to focus their time and energy elsewhere. Twitter tends to be a place for reciprocal promotion. If you want retweeted, start retweeting others. If someone you are following is chatting about something of interest, reply back. This has two-fold benefits. You are sharing more relevant content with your followers. You may be grabbing the attention of someone you are following. You never know what further networking opportunities await. Don’t miss out.
Don’t Tweet Nonstop – If you are clogging up your followers’ Twitter streams with 16 tweets in a row repeatedly, they are likely to stop following or move you to their “tweets too much” list of people they no longer watch. Be cognizant of what you are putting out there and how it impacts your followers.
Use a Dashboard – HootSuite has become my best Twitter friend. I can setup separate streams for my lists, hashtags I want to follow and mentions. You can also add in your Facebook profile and Pages. This is truly a time-saver. One stop shopping for your most important social networking.
Manage Your Time – It is fairly easy to get sucked into Twitter for an extended period of time, if you allow that to happen. Check in periodically throughout the day, and only stay for a set amount of time. Use Twitter’s List function to keep track of your most important, lucrative networks. Check for mentions, and respond. Retweet good content and queries for help, and thank your retweeting followers.
What are your favorite tips to use Twitter effectively?
Angie Nelson
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I’ve attempted to “get into” Twitter. I understand how it works. I can tweet, but I can’t seem to develop very many “relationships”. I wonder if it’s because I can only tweet for a few minutes per day? If I found a Twitter app for my phone and tweeted more during the day, do you think that might help?
It may help, Kimberly. I usually check in 3 or 4 times per day. Not for long, just for a few minute each time. I don’t go looking for conversations, but if something is right there I pop in.
Great tips for using Twitter. The point about over twittering can not be overstated.
Aw, maaaaaan, do I gotta? LOL
At least I know where to look for great advice on how-to.
I suppose I should.
I think you will like it!
I really appreciate the tips, Angie. Tweaked my profile based on your recommendations. I really like the “about me” tip.
Twitter is amazing – I was terrified to begin (because of the time suck) but once I dove in, it’s been with good results. My target market is aware of my presence/brand and I’m able to share interesting tweets with my followers. Most of all, it’s the connections and information (a goldmine for writers)…I cannot believe I waited so long to jump in. I can see so many possibilities springing from this…
You are welcome, Laura. I love that About Me tip!
I tried using HootSuite to link my FB, Twitter, LinkedIN, and so on. For whatever reason nothing worked!! I tried the Flock browser, it was awesome, but the way they did bookmarks sucked and made me stop using it.
Well that plain stinks, Chrystal. I have been too scared to try Flock. Too busy (and distracting lol).
I love my Hootsuite! It really takes Twitter to a whole new level.
Peace.
Great Twitter tips! I’ve taken your advice and changed the URL for my profile to link to my “About Me.”
I also tweaked my Bio a little, so that more keywords will hopefully lead more ppl to my page when they search for green tips.
Thanks!
These tips will definitely come in handy. I was already doing most of it, but now I have to teach my boss the best way to utilize Twitter.