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To Jeanie's Profiles

Twitter: Now You're Ready to Tweet!

After you've gotten on board with Twitter and have your profile complete, you're ready to tweet!

Think of each tweet as a miniblog. You have 140 characters, and they go FAST. Consider the image you want to convey about yourself as a professional with each tweet. RSS can not be retrieved; when your message is sent through cyberspace it's available to anyone who has access to the Internet. And Google indexes Twitter — very quickly!

In Twitter-style — under 140 characters — I've created Tweets about Twitter that include some practical ideas about Twitter that can help you to develop a strategy that is right for you as you get ready to tweet.

The Proper Mindset

Kindness, appreciation, and generosity are very meaningful on Twitter, just as in real life. Come to think of it, Twitter IS real life with real people who think and feel.

I'd like to recommend that you NOT make your first tweet "Trying to figure out Twitter." Everyone will know you're new (and trying to figure it out!) if you have only one tweet. Instead, say something more original or inspiring or welcoming. If you're really ready to tweet when you compose your first item by following some of my suggestions for getting on board, those early tweets will probably be obvious to you. If not, read on for additional ideas.

Many people use text-messaging lingo, for example "u" instead of "you" and "4" instead of "for." For me personally, that does not reflect the professional image I want to convey, so I don't use it except on the very rare occasions when I simply cannot say want I need to say in 140 characters. In fact, the writer/editor in me finds it an interesting challenge to compose meaningful tweets with proper spelling and punctuation.

Following Others and Getting On Board

I know, I know, it's exciting to get started right away — following others and being followed. Except for people you know really well, it's probably better not to start following peeps until you have a few tweets so that others can decide if they want to follow your updates. Generally, tweeple decide if they want to follow or not follow you when they first see your profile and rarely return to check your profile later. So, give them some reason to follow your updates, so they don't conclude that you're not really ready to tweet.

In the previous paragraph, I introduced you to some of the wonderful language that has emerged in Twitterville. "Tw" is often use to replace letters in many words, like Tweetheart instead of Sweetheart. People are often referred to as tweeple, peeps, tweeps, twitterers, twits. I love calling some people "Big Twits" when they know I mean it as a compliment.

When you feel ready to have others follow you, that's the time to look for peeps to follow. You can start with those you know personally. You can also search for subject areas and niches. At the bottom of each Twitter page is a link to "Search." Search by keyword to find who is tweeting about your areas of interest.

I highly recommend that you review each person's profile and tweets to be certain this is someone you want to follow. Be selective. If they're not really ready to tweet, you might now be inclined to not follow. If you follow someone and you wish to unfollow, you're only two clicks away from activating the unfollow button.

How Variety and Intention Work Together

As a professional, I think that you'll have the most success on Twitter when you have some variety in your Tweets, based on your intention or purpose.

Ways of Being

Likely, you'll want to be helpful and supportive — it's my experience that most consultants and coaches truly desire to be helpful and supportive. In addition, being interesting, informative, inspiring, and empowering will attract the kinds of followers you're most likely to want.

Information sharing is easy on Twitter, so consider what kinds of information you can share. Rather than sharing only information directly from your own consulting or coaching practice, consider sharing others' information.

Ways of Doing

Built into Twitter are several features that facilitate your communication. for example:

Hyperlinking. Be sure to include an active link (aka, hyperlink) when your tweet suggests visiting a web page. For example, http://www.jeaniemarshall.com says that you really want your followers to visit. Just www.jeaniemarshall.com will not, unless they are really, really interested. In addition, there are many free web site services that will shorten URLS. For example, http://cli.gs/jtwit will take you to this web site, the beginning page on Twitter.

@ replies. To reply directly to someone, put @ before the person's Twitter username with no space between. For example, to reply directly to me, use @JeanieMarshall. It will be a hyperlink on Twitter, and the person you have replied to will be alerted. Replying to others makes Twitter more interactive.

Re-Tweeting. A Re-tweet is a posting of an original tweet that acknowledges the original twitterer. This becomes part of your own twitter stream. It's designated by RT followed by @username. Hint: If you hope that others will RT something, be certain that your tweet is about 120 characters, rather than the limit of 140 characters. The RT'ed Tweet must include the user's name, etc.

Private Direct Message. When you want to say something more private to someone who is following you, you can click on the "message" link under the "Actions" at the person's profile page. A few people abuse that by sending spams, but all you have to do is unfollow the person and be done with such behavior from him or her. I've seen the private message feature shortened to both PM and DM, with the latter being more prevalent.

There are many other features and services offered by industrious programmers to help you to "do" Twitter more easily. I suggest you proceed with caution. While I'm very much in favor of using technology to enhance efficiency, too much automation is the opposite of relationship building.

At first, you might think that an automatic "thank you for following me" message is rather neat. I know I did at first. However, experienced twits do not find them so neat, but a nuisance. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent your receiving these automatic direct messages.

An alternative to the automatic "thanks for following" message, is the Private Direct Message. If you do that, though, I suggest that you don't send a link or an offer. Rather than making it about you, make it about the person who has just started following your updates!

Finding Your Way and Maintaining Balance

Forget the media misinformation about Twitter. Some of this is led by the late night talk show hosts and their jokes based on a narrow view of Twitter. Many people who have never used Twitter are swayed by derogatory comments made by those who cite examples of Tweets like, "I am drinking a cup of coffee." "Now I am sitting at my chair." I've made over 2000 updates and have written about 3 such tweets.

Some people think that reporting something mundane that they're doing makes their participation on Twitter more human. If that's true for you, do it. Just remember to find a balance that keeps your Twitter stream interesting. If you have several such tweets in a row, likely the people you hope will follow you, will more likely give you a pass.

As in all aspects of life, you find what you're seeking. I've recently heard people talking about Twitter in ways that show their ignorance. And people have a right to be ignorant. They also will find whatever they're looking for. To quote Anaïs Nin:

"We don't see things as they are,
we see them as we are."

Many coaches and consultants use Twitter as only one of their Social Networking Sites. There are others, such as Linkedin, Facebook, and many related to niches or types of consulting.

WARNING: if you love Twitter, you may find it addictive. However, establishing a time limit and a time of day works well for many peeps.

Remember, Twitter is a large community, in which there are smaller communities. Find your own group of like-minded and like-hearted friends.

And, by all means, follow my Twitter updates at http://twitter.com/JeanieMarshall I have a clear intention and my own unique voice in Twitterland, as does everyone. Find yours, and you'll benefit greatly. Just remember, if you're not really ready to tweet, I will probably not follow you back; if you are ready to tweet, I will.

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