Twitter Tips and Secrets

Lets start with a definition from Wikipedia.

“Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.”

Now a bit of a disclaimer here. There are hundreds of manuals about Twitter and how best to use it and no one agrees on what is best. Here I am looking only at how you can use this to improve and leverage your blogging efforts.

Twitter can be used for much more than that but that is not our topic here.

So we have the Wikipedia definition and here is my take on it and what a blogger needs to know and use.

Twitter is a micro blog platform. You are limited to 140 characters per post. This forces you to be concise and keep each tweet (Twitter post) to just one topic.

The key to effectively using Twitter is to understand that it is a conversation between people. It is about sharing information. It is not a sales platform although some will disagree with that. I am not saying that you can't use it to sell but you need to do it the right way.

If all you are planning to use Twitter just as a platform to send out your links forget it now. Just like a blog you need to supply valuable information and build your reputation as a valuable resource.

Do that and when you occasionally recommend something people will be interested. Just send links and very few will continue to follow you.

It works like any type of networking. It is most valuable when you are sorting information about your niche for others. Just like a blog if you find valuable resources from others and let people know about what is valuable to your readers on your blog or followers on Twitter.

Just like off line networking you don’t go to the local Chamber meeting and introduce your business. You talk to people there and ask about theirs. Have an idea that can help them - share it. Do that and you develop relationships that will help your business not because you pitched your business but because you became a valuable resource that others will recommend.

Twitter works the same way.

Twitter can also be very powerful in keeping in touch with what is new in your marketplace. Some of the tools can allow you to follow any topic easily.

Internet relationships are very different from actual personal relationships. It is based primarily on like, know, and trust. Many people are reaching out to others through social network websites such as Twitter.

If you don’t like a person, then you can’t trust him or her. If you become a subscriber of Twitter, you can meet millions of people and perhaps you can find some individuals that you might like.

Experience Twitter now and see how many friends you can find. If you have a business, you can also promote it on the site.

Many business owners are now capitalizing on Twitter’s popularity to market their business. Twittering is very addictive and it’s no wonder why millions of people send out tweets all day long. The tweets are merely 140 characters and it is also called micro-blogging. With only a few characters, you will need to answer the Twitter question just like other users of the social site. Just keep in mind that if you set your perspectives straight and use the site properly, you can financially and personally gain something from these fanatics.

To implement Twitter as a marketing tool, here are ways to accomplish them:

Twitter Search is a very effective tool that allows you to check on your business. You will be surprised to find out how much chattering takes place in Twitter. Find out what others are saying about your business and learn from them. If you find out any criticisms, think about them carefully. You can also make some adjustments to your business if there is a need to so that you ensure profitability.

Keep your followers informed. Once you sign up for your Twitter account, you should be active in sending out tweets to all your followers. Choose the people you follow on Twitter. If this is your first time to use Twitter as a marketing tool, you should follow the right people. Choose the ones who are also utilizing Twitter for online marketing because you can learn a lot from them.

You should also check if the people you’re following are also following back. Once you have many followers, you can now send marketing messages but try to do this minimally; instead, send out more helpful community and social messages. Remember, Twitter is a social network and not a promotional machine.

You can also let your followers know about your promotions through the tweets. Again, don’t overdo it. There is always a proper way to do things. Now that you have lots of followers, you should not alienate them. With just one bad tweet, you can lose many of your followers.

Gathering as many followers as you can is vital to ensure your success in online marketing; have you heard of the Twitter slap? Check your numbers regularly. When you’ve followed 2,000 people and you have less than 1,800 followers, you can no longer follow more people. By checking your numbers, you can avoid technical problems like this one.

When someone follows you, take care of that person by sending him/her personal tweets. By befriending your followers, you can build stronger relationships. A relationship built on trust is very important for your marketing campaigns. Keep in mind that you can’t market your products or services to people you don’t know on Twitter.

For instance, you post a tweet saying ‘hey guys, check out my business ‘. If you post impersonal tweets, you can’t gain loyal followers. Try to build good relationships first before you send out promotional tweets.

Capitalizing on Twitter’s popularity can be rewarding but only if you know what you’re doing. Learn everything you can about the social network. Follow gurus and learn from their experience. If you keep yourself well-informed, you can succeed in online marketing through Twitter.

Many businesspersons are now utilizing social networks because they think that it is an effective platform for promotions. If you plan to use Twitter, you need to have the right knowledge.

Twitter is an exciting, cool, and extremely profitable social network site. Millions of people are now using the site to talk about various subjects. Indeed, it is a micro-blogging site for those who can’t stop talking. There are also common mistakes that most new users commit on Twitter. Before you start sending tweets, you must be aware of these common mistakes.

Mistake number 1 – the picture on your avatar is not yours. Most new users don’t post their real picture. They often use cartoon pictures, company logos, or their pet’s pictures. Although the pictures are quite cute, most Twitter users will appreciate a real picture of you. When you post your true picture on Avatar, others will think that you’re real and that you’re confident enough to let others see you. If you’re going to upload a photo, choose the ones where you give a beautiful smile. A smile can easily brighten the day of others.

Sending direct messages automatically through the AutoDM; direct messages are often impersonal and pushy. If you send this type of messages, you can lose your followers. TweetLater is another tool that sends automatic messages. When you use these tools, messages are automatically sent to those who follow you. A message saying ‘thanks for following me’ is fine but sending automated messages promoting your business or product is not a good idea and most people will just frown at them.

Do you have any followers? If you want to have followers, you need to follow people or you can at least create an interesting profile page. You can get followers by regularly posting updates. If you keep on following people and yet you don’t make updates on your page, you can’t get enough followers.

The 140-character tweets should be used to answer the Twitter question. Answering that question once a day may be enough to let others know that you’re interested in the community. You can post what you’re doing for the day or where you plan to go for the night. Tweets are great for starting conversations. You can also re-tweet other users or send them comments.

Check your numbers regularly. It’s not good to follow many people when you have very few individuals following you. Try to achieve balance. Make sure that the one you follow will also follow you back and you should also appreciate the ones who follow you. This is the easiest way to make friends on Twitter.

Use tools like Tweetdeck so that you don’t need to stay online all the time. Through this application, you can divide your followers into groups. Now, you can easily track them especially when they send direct messages and replies.

If you keep on promoting your business all the time, everyone will ‘unfollow’ you. No one likes a person who talks about his business or product most of the time. You must learn to respect others. As you may have forgotten, Twitter is a social network.

You must learn how to communicate and build good relationships before you start bombarding them with promotions. Even if you already have a god list of leads, it is still not a good idea to barrage them with promotions. Promotional tweets should be sent in limited numbers only.

These are the common mistakes committed by new and old tweeters. Take note of them and don’t commit the same mistakes.

Always stay connected and don’t forget to post tweets regularly. If you want others to feel your presence, Twitter everyday; soon you will be one of the twitter addicts out there.

If you want to get started on Twitter but don't know how to do it the right way then check out the Twitter Video Tutorials.

When you are set up and enjoying twitter please follow me at http://www.twitter.com/stirls and I'll follow you back. 

I look forward to reading your "Tweets"