twitter-snowballI started my twitter account a couple years ago. I never really understood it, and therefore never really used it. I would follow people I’d meet in the industry and occationally tweet about what I was doing. I just thought it was another network that I needed to be a part of because this industry demands that sort of thing. Slowly I’ve started to use it more and more. Instread of tweeting about what I’m doing, I post other snippets from my life too. I feel that I’m giving much better content now and that has translated into a larger numbers of followers. Actually it the acceleration I’m in fear of.

I went to a WordCamp in New Orleans (great city, great people) and since I had lost my voice I was relinquished to spreading my dribble on twitter. I didn’t use it as a chat so much as I used it to suppliment what the speakers were discussing with links and advice. I also made sure I threw in humor as often as anything else. In no time at all I had everyone following me, literally. I thought to myself “Wow, now this is how to twitter”. Everyone of them are quality followers which is key.

I was also asked “what is twitter and how do I use it”? Twitter is a free social messaging utility for staying connected in real-time. It’s also called a micro-blogging platform but in layamn’s terms it’s 140 characters of whatever you want, made semi-public. The best way to learn about it is to ask someone to show you. In the WWW, people are not used to such simplicity and I think that’s why it’s so difficult to wrap your head around it. Granted people have found endless ways of making it complicated but the core principle has remained… 140 characters of whatever you want, made semi-public. There is no official handbook that outlines ettiquet but standard are in place and you pick up on them. This leads me to the point of this post (sweet lord, about time).

If you use Twitter correctly, you will see results. Twitter is not a chat. Twitter is not a market place. Twitter IS a great way for you to let people know about you, what you do, why you do it and how much you hate you’re neighbor’s dog. Here are some suggestions for non-marketing on Twitter.

  • If you’re constantly messaging you’re followers via @’s you will alienate you’re other followers.
  • If you spend all day sending out tweets like… Spacely Sprockets has just released the SuperSprocket Glide edition click here to see the specs you’re not offering you followers anything interesting.  Try saying… We just released our new sproket and we couldn’t be more pumped. Well worth all the headaches. You’re followers will know what you’re talking about and you’re keeping your personality. It’s no longer a marketing ploy, it’s a tweet.
  • Don’t tweet too often. I know it’s only 140 characters but that’s not a reason for you to take a press release and cut it up into 15 tweets and post them in serial. Nothing makes me unfollow someone faster.
  • Break it up. Don’t always post about your products or services. Try telling people about the awesome event you plan to attend or tell a joke.

Let me know if this helps you out. Hollar at me if you think I’m wrong, or right, or make a suggestion.