What Twitter is Not by Joyce Anthony

What Twitter Is Not

Twitter is not an end in itself. While some people may find themselves attracted to Twitter simply for the high-paced interaction, most people are trying to get more from it. Twitter is a means to get your name in front of others. The most successful Twitter users see it as a stepping-stone for others to find their way to blogs and websites. To make Twitter useful, you need to consider it as a tool. Get your name out there. Let people get to know you as both a person and an individual with something to say that is worth listening to. Encourage followers to visit your blog or website.

Twitter is not a competition. Yes, you want to increase your list of followers on Twitter, but you want followers who are interested in you and what you are saying. It is much better to have a hundred followers who actually read your posts and visit your blog or website than it is to have a thousand followers who skip your posts and have no idea who you are or what you are about. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to gain followers simply for sheer number.

Twitter is not the school playground. Many people fall into the trap of saying “I’ll follow you if you follow me.” Even worse, they end up unfollowing people who don’t follow them. With this kind of attitude, you are apt to miss out on important information and a lot of interesting people. For example, big publishers are not likely to follow unknown writers, yet by following these publishers, you can gain insight into their needs and what they are looking for. If you have a specialty, following leaders in that area is a good thing, even if they do not follow you. Don’t fall into the trap of only following those who follow you. It is a sure way to miss out on a large benefit of Twitter.

Twitter is not all about you. Yes, you are asked the question: What are you doing? This should not be taken literally. People want to hear about you, but they also want o know that they are heard by you. A good rule of thumb is that for every ten tweets is to make no more than two self-promotion. Of the other eight, mix re-tweets, answers to other’s tweets and informative links or information. This will allow others to see you as someone who actually cares about them. In the end, this is what will make you a success at Twitter.

Check out Joyce's blog at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com/