This document provides a beginner's guide to using Twitter for business purposes. It includes tips for getting started on Twitter, such as following influential Twitter users, learning Twitter lingo, delivering value in tweets, and starting to tweet regularly. It also discusses growing your following by jumping into conversations, what types of content to tweet, how much to tweet, essential Twitter tools, URL shorteners, tracking keywords with TweetBeep, and clarifying @replies on Twitter. The overall goal is to help new Twitter users understand how to use the platform effectively.
Twitter Tutorial: A Beginner's Guide to Using Twitter for Business
1. TWITTORIAL Twitter-Fever!!
updated October 2009
by
MICHELLE
VILLALOBOS Twitter Icons from:
(@MIVI) http://twitterrhea.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/icons/
A Beginner’s Guide To Using Twitter For Business What IS Twitter?
The next 5 pages are full of the things that 5.Be authentic. Even if you’re tweeting for
Twitter is a cross between Facebook
I would have liked to know when I started business, be a human being. Don’t status updates, blogging & IM.
using Twitter. I hope it helps!! promote yourself or your business in
every tweet. Provide value in your field Posts or “tweets” must be 140
First up: 10 tips to get you started of expertise. characters or fewer.
(assuming you’re already signed up). 6.No quid pro quo. Just because someone
When you follow someone, their
follows you doesn’t mean you have to
posts appear on your Twitter home
Top 10 Twitter Tips follow them. How many conversations page. When someone follows you,
can you realistically follow at once? your posts appear on their page.
7.No shortcuts. Corollary to #6: Following
1.Follow the leaders. They’re clearly
random people so they’ll follow you Most people who sign up for Twitter
doing it right: a few to look at:
doesn’t work in the long run (people quit after a few posts.
@mashable, @cracked, @ijustine,
who follow thousands of people are
@dooce. Lots of people would like to use
probably not really reading those
2.Learn the lingo. You only have 140 Twitter, but aren’t quite sure how to
tweets). do it right...
characters, so twitter shorthand is
8.Follow people. Notwithstanding #6 &
essential. See page 3 for some basics.
#7, When you follow people you’re We’re hoping to remedy that here.
3.Deliver value. Educate, entertain or
truly interested in, you expose yourself Our philosophy: listen, engage,
inform. Answering the question, “what deliver value, be consistent, be
to a whole new group of potential
are you doing right now” (the original patient.
followers.
Twitter catch-phrase) is usually NOT all
9.Jump in! Go ahead and jump into This tutorial ISN’T about scammy,
that compelling.
conversations if and when it makes spammy techniques designed to get
4.Start tweeting! The more you tweet
sense. If you contribute value, others you 100,000 random followers in 3
(good stuff, of course) the more
will appreciate it and may follow you. weeks... we believe in quality,
followers you’ll get. Trust me, it
10.Feed it. To keep your relationships qualified, engaged communities
happens. Focus on posts that people
alive, you’ve got to be consistent. held together by common interest.
will SHARE... That’s a great way to
Tweeting 5, 10 or 15 times a day is just
build your following. Deliver value, the followers follow.
fine... as long as people want to read
what you’re posting.
2. First Phase 1- Phase 2 - Phase 3 -
Things Setup Manage Grow
First 1. Choose a Name 4. Get An App 7. Tweet More
Even if you’re posting as a Now’s the time to download Now that you’re monitoring
TWITTER 101
company, it is good to “own an application that will make topics of interest, you’re
your name” wherever you managing Twitter easier. I following some people, and
can. Another idea is to use a suggest starting with you’ve tweeted a few times,
moniker that describes what TweetDeck, Twhirl or my chances are you’ve got a few
you do. I made a mistake on favorite, Seesmic. Go to followers. Tweet more often,
Are you really really just this one... I’m posting as www.tweetdeck.com, this will create some
getting started? Step 1: Go to @mivi, which is a nickname www.twhirl.org, or momentum.
www.twitter.com and sign up! and means nothing to anyone. www.seesmic.com to
Then keep reading... download.
2. Pimp Your Page 5. Send Tweets! 8. What to Tweet?
Visit some people’s Twitter Though few will likely see Tweet things of VALUE to your
pages and you’ll see some them, having some tweets audience. Rule of thumb:
interesting designs. You can early on will give people entertain, educate or inform.
get creative too... or at the something to look at when you Links are great! Use your
very least, upload your photo. follow them and they want to app’s URL shortener to make
Just click “Settings” in the see who you are. Make sure long web addresses shorter, or
upper right and play around. your tweets are consistent with visit www.bit.ly.
your “brand.”
3. Follow People 6. Set Up Alerts 9. Grow Your List
In the upper right corner of One great way to stay on top One great way to get followed
your personal Twitter home of specific topics or trends is to is to jump into conversations
page, click “Find People.” set up alerts. For example, I that you can add value to.
Look for me (@mivi) and other get an email alert whenever How? Click on the “reply”
people you know who are my name or company name is button and type your message
tweeting... or pick some celebs mentioned in a tweet. Visit after the @username. Send!
in your industry so you can www.tweetbeep.com to set Don’t go crazy, though, if all
jump into good conversations. this up. It’s very simple. you ever do is reply, it will
annoy your followers who
won’t know what you’re
talking about most of the time.
What to Post On Twitter
ranged from “10 times a day” to “200
How Much Is Too Much? • Links to great content
times a day.”
• Retweet (RT) other people’s
If you’re sending valuable information,
There really is no consensus on this one. posts (give credit!)
there’s (almost) no such thing as too
Ultimately, how much you tweet really • Tweets that ask questions
often. But it depends on your goals.
depends on what you’re sending, and • Entertaining thoughts &
Look at @mashable, he sends hundreds, how much people want to read it. musings
if not thousands, of tweets a week. That • Links to your blog posts
Remember the mantra: “If they don’t
said, he’s probably not writing all of • Mentions of other great
LOVE it, It’s just SPAM” (@LisaDSparks).
them himself (he’s way too cute to spend Twitterers (use the @-sign)
all that time in front of a computer... I • Industry-specific knowledge
think.)
• Breaking news in your field
I’ve asked people and dug around for a • Unique observations
better answer to this questions. But • Twit-pics of interesting things
opinions on “acceptable” tweeting levels • Important, useful info
3. Some DAVE MATTHEWS
@DaveJMatthews
LISA D. SPARKS
@LisaDSparks
RAINN WILSON
@rainnwilson
TIM FERRISS
@timferriss
Musician Email Marketing Expert & Actor (The Office) Author of The Four-
of 3 following Small Business Guru 139 following Hour Workweek
827,385 followers 128 following 1,548,646 followers 197 following
my Weirdest tweet: “I know
chimps should not be
337 followers
Most interesting tweet:
Most polemic (yet funny)
tweet: “Men are from
60,999 followers
Fave tweet: “Some
pets. I know I like cows Frequently Asked Mars, Women are from products/companies
faves and steak. I know that I Question: When do I Planet Koo Koo Bird.” launched during
will die. I know I love my send my email? recessions: Monopoly,
to family. I know You are
reading this”
Frequently Given Answer:
Tues. Wed. between 10
Apple, Facebook, Clif Bar,
Scrabble, KFC, Domino's
and 3. Best answer: ==> Pizza, FedEx, Microsoft...”
follow... see next tweet.
On Twitter, following strangers is cool, not creepy
Twitter Shorthand
- Use “4” instead of “for”
Basic Twitter Commands Twitter Lingo - Replace two, to or too with “2”
(adapted from help.twitter.com)
Tweets — When you post to your Twitter - Cut vowels & spaces wherever
account, what you wrote is a you can, i.e., cu2mrrw (see you
@username + message: Directs a tweet “Tweet” (not a Twitter.” So you say, “I tomorrow)
at that user, also your tweet is saved in just tweeted that.” - Use & instead of “and”
their replies tab. Example: @aplusk:
Thanks for the info! DM — Means “direct message.” To - B/c = because
interact with someone privately, you can
D username + message: Sends user a - BTW = by the way
DM them by simply placing a “d” at the
private message that goes to their beginning of the message, plus their - IMHO = In my humble opinion
device, and saves in their web archive. username (no @-sign). People use DM
Example: d mivi will you grab me a - W or w/ = with
as a verb, i.e., “DM me for more info.”
coffee while you’re there? This only - Tweetup = in-person meet up of
works if they’re following you. RT — Means “ReTweet.” When you RT, Twitter members
make sure you give credit (it’s proper
WHOIS + username: Retrieves profile “twittiquette.”) How? First, copy the - Ttyl = talk to you later
information for any public user on tweet. Then in a new message or - Peeps = people
Twitter. Example: whois mivi. “tweetbox” type “RT” then type the
original poster’s @name, then paste the - Tweeps = Twitter people
GET + username: Retrieves the latest
tweet. Voila!!
Twitter update posted by the person.
Example: get mivi. @ – The @-sign goes in front of every
NUDGE + username: Reminds someone to user’s name, whether you’re writing to
them or writing about them. Why & How I Use Twitter
update. Example: nudge mivi.
I use Twitter to drive traffic to my blog
STATS: Returns your number of followers, and my website. Ultimately my goal is
how many people you're following, and just to add to my audience since that’s
which words you're tracking. how word spreads of my workshops
and seminars. Then I use the content I
INVITE + phone number: Sends an text develop in those workshops and give it
message (SMS) to someone’s mobile back to my audience through special
phone. Example: Invite 3055551212. reports (like this one), newsletters and
“how-to’s.” I post to Twitter to let
people know when they can come and
download something new. It’s a
virtuous circle!
4. My Seesmic Desktop Application
Essential Twitter Tools
1. TweetDeck (or Twhirl)
These are free programs that you
download and install on your
computer to monitor Twitter more
easily and effectively than you
could from the web. I use
TweetDeck. It allows me to search
Twitter for specific keywords and
get updates in real time. It’s also a
great way to monitor specific
topics or even your own name or
brand. However, if you don’t want
to be constantly interrupted turn
off the alerts!
www.tweetdeck.com. Another
option is Twhirl: www.twhirl.org.
2. Twitter Mobile App
Above is a screenshot of my desktop application: Seesmic. This is what I use to tweet
TwitterFon is a great mobile app and monitor my 3 twitter accounts (@mivi, @solopreneurspeaker and
for the iPhone. Simple, clean @frizzytofabulous). As you can see, I keep several columns of searches going
interface & free. No iPhone? No simultaneously to keep track of things that interest me – from “Miami workshops” and
problem. If you use a BlackBerry, “Miami networking” to “Gossip Girl” and “Frizzy Hair.”
try TinyTwitter or TwitterBerry.
I also keep track of things like my company name and specific conversations like
3. URL Shorteners “killerkaraoke” or “dblstandard.” This would be a lot harder to do if I were just using
the web Twitter interface.
With only 140 characters, you
want to be as economical as you
can with your characters. To get
rid of long URLs that just eat up
An example. Let’s say someone @replies to
space, use tinyurl.com or bit.ly. @-Replies CONFUSION? you by starting a message with
How? Visit www.tinyurl.com or
www.bit.ly.com and paste in the @yourusername. If you follow that person, that
long URL, the rest is self- Probably one of the most confusing things on message will show up in your main messages
explanatory. Then copy and paste Twitter when you get started is the barrage of window AND in your replies window. If you
the shortened URL into your messages riddled with @somethings. don’t follow that person, it will only show up in
message. If you use TweetDeck, your replies window.
Twhirl or Seesmic you don’t need First: an @reply is a public message sent from
this, it’s integrated. one person to another. It’s different from Now, if what’s annoying you is that you have
regular updates because it has the @username to see a million replies between other people,
at the beginning of the tweet. who you don’t follow, and it’s confusing (like
4. TweetBeep reading the answer to a question you never
If a message begins with @yourusername, knew about), then you may need to make a
TweetBeep lets you track specific Twitter collects it as a reply and posts it in your quick change in your settings.
words and topics on Twitter. It replies tab in the Twitter sidebar, or in the
notifies you by email whenever a replies column on TweetDeck. What you’ll do in your web-based Twitter
specific word or phrase pops up in page (www.twitter.com/yourusername) is
a Tweet. For example, I’m notified You can reply publicly to any update on simply click settings, click “notices” and make
whenever my name or company Twitter by using @username at the start of the sure you’re not set to “all @ replies.”
name is mentioned. You can set up post. You don’t have to be following someone
alerts that let you know hourly or to reply to them, and they don’t have to be I’ve got mine set to “@ replies to the people
daily about specific topics, in following you to see the reply. I’m following” (which sometimes gets a little
specific geographic areas... even annoying too).
the attitude they’re sent in (positive, You can see all of your replies in the “replies”
negative, or asking a question). tab of your Twitter home page. I didn’t know If you change the setting to “no @ replies,”
about this tab for a couple of weeks, and you’ll stop seeing them altogether. That said,
Visit www.tweetbeep.com and sign up. when I went in there, I found a host of some people don’t do this because they feel
It’s pretty self-explanatory. unanswered messages to me! like they’re missing out. Test for yourself.
5. Why Use Twitter?
Besides “everyone’s
doing it” – what are
some good reasons to
use Twitter?
Connect & Network
Share knowledge, follow trends &
connect with people in your industry.
Follow people of note, then jump into
conversations when you have
something of value to add. Visit
www.twellow.com for a directory of
people on Twitter, by industry.
Be Informad
An example of a “hashtag.” #killerkaraoke will now be a tracked conversation Stay apprised of what’s going on in
your industry. You can use twitter
search (www.search.twitter.com) to
follow specific topics, or use
www.tweetbeep.com to set up alerts
From now on, whenever anyone wants
Advanced Twitter: Hashtags for when a specific word of phrase is
posted anywhere.
to get in on the conversation, they
Getting annoyed trying to read tweets should include the hashtag
Get Ideas
riddled with “#” signs? Those are #killerkaraoke, so that their response will By following the “gurus” in your
hashtags. Whenever you see a # be tracked as part of the thread. industry, you’ll probably get great
followed by a word, that means there is links to new, cutting edge ideas.
a thread that’s being tracked on Twitter (Please feel free to tweet in on this one...
It hasn’t really caught on, but I know it Extend Your Reach
about that topic. If you truly deliver value, chances are
has potential! Not to mention I’m in a people will link to you and RT you. The
For example, I recently introduced a Total Eclipse of the Heart/Love Is A scope of your reach will be broader.
subject about the best karaoke songs. I Battlefield karaoke rut and could use
some new songs – but please no I Will Promote Yourself To A Narrow Target
tweeted a request for suggestions, and Once you’ve got a following of people
called the conversation #killerkaraoke. Survive, thank you.)
who trust you, you can (with restraint)
promote products or services to them.
But bait-and-switch is no good... you
must continue to deliver value, or
Want More?
How To Use Hashtags people will unfollow you.
In order to create a hashtag like I did,
I give away lots more great, free first find the user @hashtag and follow
info and resources. Sign up at:
him (or her, or “it,” I guess).
www.MichelleVillalobos.com.
@hashtag will automatically follow you
Generate Leads on Twitter
Looking for a fun, educational
workshop, seminar or speaker? Let back, and then every time it sees a “#” Imagine if you could know, in real time,
me know! Topics include: in front of any word that you write, it will when someone out there in your area
networking (online & off) sales, either start tracking that conversation if needed your services. Well of course
marketing & social media. you can! Using Advanced Twitter
it’s new, or add that tweet to the existing
Search, you can search for specific
tagged conversation.
Email: mivi@mivistaconsulting.com phrases, and limit the search to your
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mivi geographic area.
Hashtags have been how many people
have spread the word about disasters Any tweets that reference that subject
and dangers. Promoting events and will pop up. You can read them, and
launches is another great use for @reply with advice for someone who
hashtags. You can find other uses and you have good information for.
Michelle Villalobos hashtag trends at
Mivista, Inc. www.twitter.pbwiki.com/Hashtags Just be careful to provide value.
Coral Gables, FL 33134 Otherwise, you’re just
spamming people!