If you are new to the social media game, you will hear a lot about Twitter, the micro-blogging platform connecting you with people in 140 characters or less. Don’t be afraid to try Twitter. Despite what you may have heard, Twitter is not full of people talking about what they ate for lunch.
Is It A Numbers Game?
I have been on Twitter for a little more than a year. I am not as popular as Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) or Oprah (@Oprah) or any of the other celebrities who have millions and hundreds of thousands of Twitter followers. I follow people who interest me and are informative. You will find interesting people and companies to follow using services like Listorious or Wefollow.
Twitter is Good for Business
Twitter gained popularity due to its use by corporations like Dell, Apple and even Sprinkles Cupcakes, who are using the power of Twitter to reach a whole new customer base in a radically different way. There are more than 200 million active users on Twitter, sending more than 3000 Tweets per second. As you can see, it is a vibrant form of communication. Take a look at these links to help you get started with Twitter and to give you advice from experts.
“Every day, millions of people use Twitter to create, discover and share ideas with others. Now, people are turning to Twitter as an effective way to reach out to businesses, too. From local stores to big brands, and from brick-and-mortar to internet-based or service sector, people are finding great value in the connections they make with businesses on Twitter.” –Twitter.com
Getting Started With Twitter
The best place to learn about using Twitter would probably be the website. Twitter 101 will guide you through your entry into Twitterland.
Chris Brogan, A-List Blogger and author of Trust Agents* posted a great list of 50 Power Twitter Tips on his blog Chris Brogan. Here are 10 of his Twitter Tips:
Intent (Human Artist)
- Don’t read EVERY tweet. It’s perfectly okay. You have permission.
- Follow anyone who follows you (and unfollow spammers/jerks).
- Promote other people 12x to every 1 self-promotional tweet.
- Build lists to watch people who matter to you more closely.
- Retweet the good stuff from others. Sharing is caring.
- A lot of @replies shows a lot of humanity/engagement.
- Robot tweets are less sexy than human tweets.
- Promote the new/less followed more than the “names.”
- Set an egg timer. Twitter is addictive.
- Everyone does it their own way.
Twitip: Darren Rowse, the man behind ProBlogger and Digital Photography School also has a blog devoted to Twitter, filled with helpful tips and information about how to get the most out of Twitter.
Twitter Lingo & Tips For New Twitter & Facebook Users
Clara Mathews is a website content copywriter for hospitality and service-based businesses. You can find Clara at