To Tweet or not to Tweet? That may be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to your questions about this little thing called Twitter. We can break down some of your top questions a little later. But first ask yourself; do you and your company have something to say?

Twitter is filled with content from every type of person and every type of company – and that necessitates that you stand out with what you say and how you say it if you want to get noticed. Before you decorate a Twitter page, map out the kind of material that your audience needs and wants to know, then determine if Twitter is the right vehicle to deliver your brand message. If you decide using Twitter is a smart strategic move, read on to get started with your basic roadmap.

All Twitter, via Media Bistro, posted “10 Must-Learn Lessons for Twitter Newbies” by Shea Bennett, providing a great foundation for diving into this social media scene. Some of these tips have been generalized, with the inclusion of additional content, and summarized below:

Get to know this new Twitter world first

To be honest, Twitter is going to seem a little foreign at first – so take the time to understand it before you start tweeting. Start with the Twitter glossary (yes, this is a real thing) to familiarize yourself. You’ll get up to speed with everything from Geotagging, to hacking, to promotional tweets.

Do you have any idea what #yolo is? This hashtag translates into “you only live once” and is just one example of some popular lingo you may come across in the Twitter-sphere. Hashtags (the # symbol used to mark keywords or topics) are really important on Twitter – especially since it can make you visible on a hot topic. Pay attention to trending discussions (and relevant lingo) and use hashtags wisely. Too many hashtags are, well, too many.

From the characters in your username (15 is the max) to the characters in your tweet (140 is the max here), try to make yourself as concise as possible. When your username and actual tweets are short and simple, it makes it easier for people to retweet you and stay within their own character limits. If you want to share a URL, use bit.ly to shorten long links into 20 characters. Crafting an informative and witty tweet with such little room (aim for 120 characters) is challenging at first, but practice makes perfect!

Get familiar with direct messages, replies, and mentions

Very simply laid out – here are the top three communication methods on Twitter:

• Direct messages: You can only send a direct message to a person/company that is following you – and vice versa.
• Replies: Start a tweet with @username. This will only be seen by the person you replied to and shared followers of you and this person. This reply will show up on your profile page, but none-shared followers will not see this in their stream.
• Mentions: Include a username tag anywhere in the tweet (other than the beginning which would make it a reply) and everyone that follows you will see this message.

Get followers, in the RIGHT way

Twitter can seem like a lonely place when you first sign up, and you may be tempted to consider things like GFF (Get Followers Fast) from various sites that promise a huge following. Don’t do it – these are known sources of spamming. Instead, first follow people that you know and find relevant organizations. Building your base organically is a solid and smart strategy. And remember, you never have to follow people just because they follow you first – stick to followers that make sense for you.

In getting started with Twitter, please pace yourself. It’s understandable if you feel disappointed that people aren’t flocking to your page the second you start tweeting. It takes time to build your presence, attract the right followers, and engage in meaningful interactions. It also requires some daily work on your part – seeking out trending topics that you can be a part of, or becoming a visible go-to resource for a person/company that is looking for you – even if they don’t know your name yet. Stay smart on how and when you tweet and the benefits will be sweet.

This article is made possible by Checksforless.com. For more than 35 years, Checksforless.com has provided over 500,000 businesses with high quality business checks, deposit slips, and other banking supplies with easy ordering and fast production times; all at the guaranteed lowest price in the nation. Our discount business checks are easily customizable and compatible with over 4,500 software programs including QuickBooks® and Peachtree/Sage®. Email or call us toll-free at 800-245-5775.

References:
http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/10-lessons-twitter-newbies_b10079