Twitter is a great way to promote products, services and social good by connecting with people and getting them to click links to your websites, but it is not as easy to use as other social media like Facebook.
When I began Twitter, I was so lost. I remember my first day, and how it seemed so confusing. However, I took it on as a challenge. I had been urged to do it by a mentor, I had been communicating online for a decade, and Twitter certainly appeared worthwhile to many. Also, it was free, and I had a book that was going to come out, so it made sense that if I put some time into growing a following, it would help me publicize that and whatever other projects that were to come along.
Of course, Twitter is much more than free communication, it is about reaching the masses with a message. More followers, more chances that message has of being heard. So invest a little work to get more followers. Half an hour a day is more than enough. Be aware that Twitter success means getting lots of followers, but it is never about numbers. It is about being effectively relational. Numbers count, but building relationships is much more important than building numbers.
Twitter is all learn as you go. If you are just beginning, don’t worry, it gets better. Figure out who are the different kinds of people on Twitter and begin to identify the things you have in common. This is a skill you developed for communication with people in the real world, so use what you already know. All you have to do on Twitter is learn to be brief, which is a very good skill to have and Twitter is a good teacher for that.
Avoid the auto-follow programs. The only way to be relational is to use the organic system of following people one at a time. Twitter will allow you to follow up to 2,000 people before enforcing a limit. Follow people and give them a week or two to follow you back. You can use an app to show you who are not following you back. How do you choose who to follow? Simply find people who are your peers and follow their followers. A good percentage will follow you back. Thank them when they do, and use this as a way to begin a conversation.
One last tip: follow back everyone who follows you who appears to be a real person, and do not follow back the ones who look like they are fakes. An easy way to tell is to download the Klout.com extension Google Chrome. If an account doesn’t have a bio, no tweets and no score on Klout, do not return the follow.
You may well have a knack for Twitter. If you like making friends in the real world that gift transfers easily to Twitterworld. It is the most natural thing in the world for many to try and collect friends and contacts. Once you have some early success, keep at it. As they say, nothing breeds success like success. Shed light by smiling to your Twitterfriends in 140 characters or less at a time.
You will find other tips on using Twitter at our website Sound Shore Media. http://www.soundshoremedia.com/
