Twitter guide checklist

Starting to Twit

• Create a brief but interesting profile free of a sales pitch
• Upload a real photo to your profile
• A real photo is far better than a cartoon or logoPeople want to know they are communicating with a person, not a company (or fictional character!).
• Add your website or blog to your profile
• Letting people know where to find you is fine, but stuffing your site down their throats will alienate you fast.
• Add just one link to your site in your profile.
• Before you start marketing yourself, get ahead and write out 10-15 messages or Tweets.
• Start off by communicating about yourself or joining the conversationIt is a good idea because it will give people a great impression of who you are and why they should follow you.
• Follow people who catch your interest and respond to their tweets whenever relevant.
• Don't just pitch your website, but actually discuss your interests, hobbies and ideasDoing so will get your name out there and build your own followers.
• For every one promotional tweet, you should have at least 10 conversational tweets.
• If you think that a series of promotional pitches will drive you traffic, you are wrong.
• Remember, Twitter isn't about selling, it is about building relationships and entering into the conversation that's already happening.
• Use a desktop or mobile version of Twitter.
• Once you get comfortable with how Twitter works, use desktop or mobile phone applications to keep up.
• Know when others are talking about you.
• To keep track of the conversation, there are a number of tools that will alert you when someone tweets about you, your keywords, or your website.
• Start or join the conversation.
• It's easy to find something to tweet about, just ask questions, answer other people's questions, or join conversations that are already going onSoon enough, you will build your reputation and following.
• Limit your time.
• Twitter may be addictive, but don't let it waste your day.

How to get followers

• Follow to get followed, but take it easy.
• Don't follow 500 people a dayKeep your following/followers ratio near 1:1.
• Provide value, share interesting stuff, give relevant information.
• If you read something interesting on the web, share the linkParticipate in conversations.
• Fill in your bio and picturePeople get turned away if there is nothing to see in your Twitter profile.
• Write something about yourself and add a picture, preferably one that shows youPeople like to know who they talk to.
• Create a blog or a website.
• In addition to filling in your bio, a link to your blog will provide more information about youIt will show your personality in a more detailed way than the short bio in your Twitter profile.
• Re-tweet whatever you find valuable and reply to your followersThey will do the same to you and your name will appear to their followers.
• Participate in a Twitter partyIf there's a Twitter meetup in your area, make sure to be there. You'll find many new followers there.
• Share your Twitter username on your social networks, on the forums and blogs, get listed in Twitter directories.
• Be you and be originalDon't be afraid to say what you think.
• A good opinion on something will get retweeted or replied to and will expose your profile.
• Also, personalize your profile, change colors and background.
• Tweet regularlyThat doesn't mean you have to tweet 24/7, but try to do it every day.
• If people see your profile was last updated 1 week ago, they will probably not follow you.
• Finally, balance all of the above.
• If all you do is talk about yourself and what you do or if you only promote your product all the time, people will get tired of you.
• Good idea is to post 1-2 out of 10 messages about you and the rest to provide value to your followersBalance is the key.