The savviest internet users have been known to describe Twitter as “overwhelming” – but if you follow a few guidelines as you test the deeper waters of the Twitterverse, it can be a rewarding experience, help boost your professional reputation and productivity, and even grow your business.
Twitter can seem overwhelming, confusing, and leave the newer user of social media feeling non-plussed. “What do I do with it” may be the question that one asks oneself after going to the trouble of setting up the account and choosing an alias.
The first thing to do with Twitter is nothing – no input by you as the user is necessary to enjoy the features this service provides, after selecting a Twitter account to follow. Plug in a few search terms for things that interest you, follow that person or company or news outlet then sit back and watch the tweets scroll on by. Alternatively, as Twitter becomes more ubiquitous, it is often easier to go to any website that interest you, and click the “Follow Me on Twitter” button.
For example, I follow several social media news updates from TechCrunch, GigaOm, and AllThingsD, insurance companies, and insurance news sites because I write about these topics. I also follow several individuals and news outlets in Thailand in order to stay up on news in Thailand, since I live and work in this country. I usually start my day with a scan of my Twitter feed, and I quickly have a good feel for the news topics in my industry and any of my other interests relating to my personal life.
Following a select number of Twitter handles is an easy and powerful way to quickly stay up on the most up to date news that interest you and on developments in the industry in which you work, and this helps your productivity. And it requires little work or effort or work on your part, save following the Twitter account in the first place, then perhaps setting up lists for categories that interest you and learning how to use that all important hashtag for search queries.
For example, since there is currently a flood crisis going on in Thailand, I have found the best way to find the most current developments is to plug in #ThaiFloodEng in the search box on Twitter. It is far more effective then visiting any one website, buying any one newspaper, or even clicking through the channels on my TV set.
The second most important thing to do with Twitter is - be aware and informed, if you do decide to wade into the deep end and start posting your own carefully crafted 140 character tweets. Unlike Facebook, Twitter is an open ended social network. That is, unless you tick the box in the Twitter—Settings—Account tab that says: “Protect my Tweets”, anyone can follow you without you granting permission first, and anyone can find your tweets in a search without following you. So privacy on Twitter, unless you opt out – there is none.
A third rule to follow when using Twitter is related to its openness. Anybody can follow anybody (unless they opt out) but one can handle only so much information before it becomes overwhelming and ceases to have value. Choose a select number of Twitter accounts to follow, and perhaps create several lists to filter out the Twitter users that are the most interesting and relevant to you job and personal life, and it will be a very rewarding experience. But if one is following too many Twitter users - perhaps more than 50, the value of the Twitter experience becomes diluted and does feel overwhelming, even with the use of lists.
For companies using Twitter as a way to promote themselves, be aware that a few bits of important information are going to have a much bigger impact on your potential audience and customers than a lot of inconsequential tweets about latest promotions at a store, or every minor change or update to cell phones or other products. Tweet the most important information about your products or services, and if you are a news outlet the most important stories to draw your audience to your website. Further, businesses that choose to use Twitter should recognize that it is a social networking website, not a flyer advertisement Sunday’s news, and they will have more success in gaining an audience by projecting some personality into their Twitter voice.
Last, Twitter’s search engine is very effective for scanning words in phrases and real time and this means companies can track when others are tweeting about them, and use this information as a way to engage with customers, counter any misperceptions, and further a conversation and awareness about their products or services.
