1. You need to have a clear and concise vision how you`re going to use Twitter. You need to know going in exactly what you want from Twitter. Are you going to use Twitter as a serious business tool, or for casual, social purposes? What is your end game?
2. You can use Twitter anyway you like. You can use it to build a mailing list - to announce specials or discounts - to take surveys - to announce new blog posts. Brick and mortar stores can use it to pre-take orders for pickup, like one coffee shop is doing. Authors can use it to post book excerpts. I`ll soon be using it to announce the launch of my new website, Reviews-by-Customers.com. I could go on and on and on. The point is you are limited only by your imagination.
3. Twitter works. In the approximately 4 weeks I`ve been using Twitter, I`ve increased my affiliate sales and my traffic. I`ve made invaluable business contacts and a few friends. That being said, Twitter is not a panacea. It`s a tool. Nothing more, nothing less. And it`s only as effective as the person using it.
4. It isn`t necessary to follow thousands of people to get the most out of Twitter. You can if you want to of course, but in my opinion, following that many people is counter-productive. Besides, it`s impossible to follow thousands of people and actually read what each one of them has to say. After awhile, following thousands of people becomes background noise. I was following nearly everyone who followed me - well over 1000 people. But I`ve recently cut that total nearly in half. I`m currently following approximately 500 people. I`m only interested in following people who I find interesting, have something of value to say, and who keep the personal chit-chat to a minimum.
5. The people who are the most successful on Twitter give value. Be it business tips, articles, free reports, free software downloads, etc. They spend the majority of their time giving value, and helping others. They don`t bombard their followers with spam, and they don`t spend the majority of their time talking about what they had for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
6. You have to participate. Get involved in conversations. Even if no one responds to you everytime, people do take notice of who participates and who sits on the sidelines. If someone tweets something you like and you think others would like it as well, retweet (RT) it to your followers.
7. Reach out to others. Even though I`m new to Twitter, I`ve already reached out to people who can help me get to where I want to go. For example, I`ve reached out to one lady who is a PR expert, and is constantly being interviewed on national television. I`ve also reached out to a blogger with a national radio show and 100,000 followers. A few people have reached out to me as well. Reach out!
Written By David Jackson
