Perspectives & Strategy

Twitter makes communication with other people easy. Your message can be heard by a large audience therefore etiquette and good manners are important when you are using any website. With Twitter first contact is so easy, but then it is also so easy to have people stop following you, or after the most excessive bad behaviour block you.

Many rules have been published before. Here are the 13 most important rules to remember and practice everyday:

1. Have a BIO – those 160 characters can say so much about the quintessential YOU.

2. Have a picture or avatar. It help us identify you. It is also best this picture is consistent with the image used on other Social Media sites.

3. Never (ever) use bad language – I am one of many people that will stop following people then its used.

4. Talk Business, avoid Politics & Religion like the plague.

5. Be inventive with your 140 characters, its not much but it is so powerful.

6. Follow people in your marketplace, your customers, your prospects, your competitors.

7. Be a marketplace expert – give your followers information of value through your blog.

8. Be a marketplace expert – answer people’s questions

9. Multi-Level Marketing schemes are not welcome here either.

10. Unless you are associated with Show business following stars does not get you followers.

11. Be active! ONE message a week is an absolute MINIMUM. One message per day preferable.

12. The wider the group of followers you build the better. Remember it is safe as no-one knows your email address unless you tell them.

13. When you get followers, build relationships with people. Not everyone responds those that do can become key contacts.

Twitter can be a great way of building a large number of business contacts in a short period of time. You must treat people as you expect them to treat you, with respect.

Connect with me on Twitter at @pgiblett