Do you Twitter?

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Recent polls at InSights show that about half the people in the room at a local networking event have at least heard of twitter. The other half laugh at the word. You have to admit, at first it sounds kind of silly. For the purpose of this discussion, let’s start with what twitter is:

Now that you’ve seen the video, here are my top five tips to using twitter.

1. Identify the reasons you are going to twitter, once you have a goal, you can work out a twitter plan, otherwise you might use all of your time surfing and playing, without getting closer to your purpose
Are you hoping to connect with friends and family?
Do you want to promote your brand or blog?
Do you want to meet new people?
Use it for netwokring?
Keep tabs on your brand, image, or company?

All of the above, and more, are great reasons and uses for twitter.

2. Tweet
Jump in with both feet. You will build a great twitter network through your activity. If you post interesting things, people will be inclined to follow you. Share useful information, fun facts, and add some of your personality. That’s what it’s all about! Give people a reason to follow you. Be interesting, not overly shamlessly self promoting.

3. Follow other Twitter users. Follow people because of their interesing posts. Target conversations near you if you are looking to grow in your geographic area. Expand your reach if you have a futher reaching goal.

4. Reply, Retweet, and have those conversations!
Reach out, share information, and let others know that you find them interesting. Asking questions is a great way to get some answers! Respond to others. Use the reply feature or the @username to have those two sided conversations.

5. Practice restraint and Twitter Etiquitte
Avoid spam. Promote content that is interesting. Don’t bring in the band and banners declaring yourself the next best thing since sliced bread. Insert your personality, interests, and yes promote yourself, but do it in balance with everything else. Share other’s links and information. Be the person in the party that listens as well as they talk.

I could go on and on, but would love your opinion. What is your best advice for the next Twitter user?

This post was written by

Sandi Maki, InSights Group – who has written 835 posts on InSights Group.
Bliss in a Bubble – In the moment – my favorite place to be. As a creative outlet, I enjoy ‘Heavy Breathing Just Before Midnight‘ – a series of podcasts on fun, interesting, and random topics that I share. At InSights Group – I mastermind, coach, consult, and use Organic Marketing to empower businesses tell their stories to the world to become more productive and profitable – especially in the online world. I am also a coach and take on personal clients to help empower positive changes and growth within their lives and businesses. I have experience in many areas of philosophy and psychology including face reading, personality studies and motivation, as well as many holistic modalities such as Reiki Master, and core-conscious transformation. Ask the Pool Guy: I’m a partner in a trio of swimming pool companies from construction to service to online sales – we are changing the industry – and the experience of customers across the country – based in Brighton, MI.