Getting Started with Twitter–3 Actions You Must Do
Reasons for getting started with Twitter are many. As a way of self expression, to converse with like minded people, to enhance your business are all good reasons.
To avoid the most common mistakes, you need do only three things. These mistakes can cost you followers right from the start. But, they are easy to avoid.
The Truth of Your User Name Sets You Free
1. Choose your user name carefully. This should not be a whimsical decision, as it apparently is for many. If your own name is available, use it.
If you are building a business brand, that’s a good choice, too. Especially if you will be Tweeting about your business, or doing customer service with Twitter. A name that is based on a joke that seems outrageously funny right now will get moldy, and then become irrelevant.
If your name is not available, can you use some logical variation? A middle initial, or first initial and last name, first, middle name and last initial are possibilities. Avoid underscores or hyphens. They are an obstacle for phone texters.
Sometimes a name and a hobby or interest may work. TennisBobSmith or ChefSallyAnne are examples. Capitalize the first letters to foster easy recognition.
You Look Good in Your Photo
Most social media sites allow and encourage you to upload your image. If you don’t have a thumbnail picture of yourself on your desktop, make that happen. You want a head shot because the small image will make you into an ant otherwise.
Most computers have some kind of image manipulating software. If you need to call on help from a friend that is more computer savvy, then do it. Having that little photo of you on the desk top is so handy you can’t even imagine it.
Tell Me About Yourself in 140 Characters or Less
The thumbnail bio is just as important as the thumbnail photo. What you do, like, believe, think, practice, advocate, embody, represent…it’s all grist for the little mill.
You will be looking for people somewhat like yourself. People that have the same hobby, profession, passion, interest will naturally find they are like minded. Give them a clue in your bio.
If you have a blog of any kind, you can include the URL. There’s a place for it when you sign up to Twitter. Your YouTube page, MySpace or FaceBook page, or any other social media site that represents you can suit this criterion.
Signing up for Twitter is very easy. It’s all too easy to be sloppy, vague or unnoticed. Just do these three things well: choose a good user name for yourself, upload a good picture that makes you look friendly, write a short bio with a few key terms to show who you are.
Now if you follow anyone, they can see who you are. It’s still a good idea to Tweet first and then follow. But, now we’re getting into number four.
Happy Twittering.
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