Twitter 101: Reply to Followers, Keep it Short and Sweet

If you're not one of the millions of people tweeting like it's their job, starting a Twitter account can be a great way to stay in contact with friends, network with other professionals in your field, or keep tabs on celebrities. Everyone has a unique way to use their Twitter account, but regardless of your own personal Twitter habits, we could all use a refresher course on Twitter tips and etiquette. Here are some simple tips and tricks that can help you make the most of your tweets.

10 Quick & Dirty Twitter Tips

1. Short & sweet.

Sharing links? Be sure to shorten your URL's in order to save space, you only have 140 characters, so use them wisely! Try bit.ly to condense longer links.

2. Holy hashtag!

Hashtags make your tweets more searchable and easily connects you to others who are discussing the same thing. Participate in trending topics, or, better yet, start your own!

3. Get that RT.

Getting others to retweet your posts can expand your Twitter network. Sometimes getting that ever-elusive RT can be as simple as posting some interesting information. According to Guy Kawasaki, some great ways to get retweeted are to talk about twitter, break news, or explain how to do something.

4. Don't auto message new followers.

Although there is dissent among bloggers on the many do's and dont's of Twitter, almost every single blog, article or piece of literature I've read on the topic dissuades people from setting up an automatic direct messaging system that goes out to your new followers. Why? Because it's impersonal, serves no purpose, and makes you look like a spammer. Just don't do it.

5. Create an account for your business.

It's a great way to reach new people and customers, get feedback, and inform more people about what you do! Restaurants often use Twitter to send out specials or discounts, websites and blogs use it to send out new articles and content to their readers. For other ideas on what to tweet, check out Chris Brogan's suggestions on how to use Twitter as a tool for your business.

6. Reply to your followers!

Talk back to the people who talk to you. Unless you're overwhelmed by 200 tweets per day, try to respond to people who ask you appropriate or relevant questions. Thank the people who give you a RT. It's simple etiquette, and a nice way to engage with the people who are interested in what you're tweeting! Twitter is about online community building, and your community wants to know you're listening.

7. Fill out your profile...obviously.

This tip may seem like a no-brainer, but it's definitely important. Your avatar and bio are the first places on your Twitter profile where people look to learn more about you. Think of it as an opportunity to brand yourself. It defines your Twitter page, and can even get you more followers.

8. Tweet from your mobile device.

There are a ton of cool apps that can make your tweets more interesting. If you tweet from your phone you can send out pictures and video from on-the-go. See some of the most popular downloadable apps here.

9. Tweet on a Friday.

#FollowFriday may be a dying trend, but it's still a nice time to show your support with a #ff shout out. Another bonus of tweeting on a Friday is the higher possibility of a RT. It's proven to be the best day to get retweeted.

10. Put a limit on boring, personal tweets.

Don't bore people with your mundane daily activities, few people are actually interested in reading them. "Picking up my dry cleaning," "Watching re-runs. LOL," and "Waking my dog," are boring and banal to everyone, even your mother.