Are You Using Twitter Correctly?

THIS IS A GUEST POST BY CHERIE BURBACH. CHERIE IS AN AUTHOR, BLOGGER, POET, CROCHETER AND GEEK.  

Is Twitter working for you? If the answer is no, you might want to address some of these common mistakes that people make when using Twitter. If you use the site correctly, it can be a wonderful source for information, networking, and promotion. Here are some tips to make sure your Twitter experience is as positive as it can be.


Banish the Egg

You look like a creepy spammer if you don’t put up your photo. Twitter is about conversation, so if you don’t put up a (real) picture you won’t be as successful in engaging people.


Post Often Enough

If you post once every couple of weeks (or longer) with a link to something you want to promote and that's it, you won't have a positive experience. The benefit of Twitter is that it's a dynamic community. Popping in once every few weeks just to promote yourself is like entering a football stadium with a piece of paper that says: "Look at me."


Don’t Just Post Links

While Twitter can be a good source of promotion, don't go into trying only to promote. Instead, engage in conversation. Get to know people. Retweet other people's links, and aim to connect people with resources rather than sell them something.


Fill Out Your Profile

If you want people to find you, you need to fill out your Twitter profile. Update your bio, put in your website, and make sure your background is pleasing. All of these pieces can make your Twitter profile something of interest rather than something people ignore.


Think "Search" Rather Than "Inbox"

One of the best things about Twitter is that it is a massive search resource. You don't need to follow people in order to see tweets (nor do they need to follow you) because you can search for the terms you want to chat about. Do you want to know what's happening in your hometown? Enter the city name in the search box. Looking for what's news on your favorite TV show? Enter the name and you'll get a list of tweeters who are talking about it.


Use Hashtags

People can find the things you post easier when you use hashtags. So instead of saying, "Give money to diabetes research," say, "Give money to #diabetes research." When someone searches for diabetes, your tweet will come up whether they follow you or not.


Stop Following People to Get Followed

I've heard this from a bunch of people, and I'm not sure why they think they will get more followers if they follow others. Instead, follow the people you find interesting. They might follow you back. If you want more followers, get engaged in the community and be an interesting tweeter.


Cherie is an author, blogger, poet, crocheter and geek. She is the About.com Guide to Friendship and has penned eleven books and ebooks, including Internet Dating Is Not Like Ordering a Pizza and 21 Ways to Promote Your Book on Twitter. She has published over 500 articles on the subjects of health, sports, and lifestyle. For more info, visit her website, http://www.cherieburbach.com.