GrowMap

Map Your Path To Grow Your Business

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • G.A.S.P
  • Press
  • Portfolio
  • GrowMap Services
  • PostsComments

Twitter Best Practices: How to Use Twitter Effectively ~ Make Twitter Work for YOU

September 28, 2015 By Gail Gardner 102 Comments

HOW TO TWITTER

Many ask How Does Twitter Work?

But that isn’t really what you need to know to learn how to use Twitter.

The most important thing to remember about Twitter and other social media sites is that they are SOCIAL.

It isn’t about broadcasting or advertising. It is about interacting and relationships.

Twitter Best Practices Chalk board with Twitter bird
Image created on Canva; Chalkboard Image Credit WebDesignerDepot ~ FREE Twitter icons ~ Click image to download icons

You do NOT have to live on Twitter like I do to benefit from using it.

How to Save Time Using TwitterClick this Star to get free Twitter Social Media Icons

  • Just pop in whenever you have a little time.
  • Click on @mentions and answer any tweets that came to you.
  • Type your username into the search box and answer any tweets you’re interested in that mention you.
  • Be helpful to others.
  • Share and retweet what interests you.

Special thanks to Julie Weishaar at NewHorizons123.com for turning my Twitter Best Practices post into the
SlideShare above. If you want your content turned into a SlideShare or video, contact Julie here.

TWITTER BEST PRACTICES

Everything you to know from the basics to advanced Twitter strategies to becoming a major influencer.

  1. How to Get Started on Twitter and the most common Twitter Term Definitions
  2. What NOT to Tweet on Twitter
  3. What TO Tweet on Twitter
  4. Use Twitter Lists so you can find what you want and still follow those who follow you – and why you should
  5. *** COLLABORATORS be sure you do this using TwitterFeed or any other Twitter management solution you use: How to Use Twitterfeed for a consistent Twitter presence
  6. *** COLLABORATORS also do this: Strategy for getting more Twitter followers interested in YOUR niche
  7. Join us on JustRetweet where influential bloggers support each other with Twitter retweets
  8. Better Twitter Retweets
  9. Twitter Tools for Managing Multiple Twitter Accounts
  10. Geo-targeting Twitter – also see How to Use Twellow
  11. Twitterquette – Twitter Etiquette – Twitter Feeds are NOT Burger King – Why Everyone Can Not Have It THEIR Way
  12. Twitter Fail – Why You Should NOT Just Keep Tweeting About Your Business
  13. Twitter Limits – What they are and what to do if you hit them.
  14. Twitter Study: New Data: How To Get More Clicks, Retweets and Followers
  15. Twitter Local for Business: How to Geo Target Twitter for Small Business Local Social Media
  16. How to get Twitter Cards Working on Your Site ~ Why and How You Need to Source and Push Amazing Visuals to Twitter
  17. 4 Valuable Ways You Will Benefit Using Twitter Now
  18. 5 Effective Tips to Maximize Twitter Advertising
  19. NEW: How to Use Twitter Advanced Search Like a Pro

CRITICAL for BLOGGERS: Put Your Twitter UserName on your BLOG!!!!

Twitter How-To Resources

  • Hubspot: How to Create a Custom Twitter Background
  • NEW: Twitter’s New Design: The Marketers How To Guide

People who are influencers on Twitter and who write blogs can create a better world for us all. If you’re serious about being influential I encourage you to contact me and to follow the other influencers I linked to in my Small Business Advice post. Want more? See my lists of Exceptional Bloggers with Influence on Twitter.

HAVE QUESTIONS? Tweet @GrowMap for answers (no charge).
If you want assistance setting up or optimizing your Twitter account,
Gail @GrowMap can help you. See the Hire Me tab.

[This post was originally published March 4, 2011; It was updated and republished on 9/28/15]

 

 

The following two tabs change content below.
  • Bio
  • Latest Posts
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Pinterest profileMy Tumblr blogMy YouTube channel

Gail Gardner

Small Business Marketing Strategist at GrowMap
Gail Gardner is the founder of GrowMap.com. She is a Small Business Marketing Strategist she mentors small businesses, bloggers, and freelancers. After 23 years in the field with IBM and 5.5 years managing AdWords accounts, her focus shifted to small business marketing strategy. GrowMap.com is listed by Cision as a Top 100 Site for Marketers and has received three Small Business Influencer Awards from Small Business Trends. Named by D&B a Top 50 SMB Influencer on Twitter, you can follow Gail @GrowMap and on LinkedIn.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Pinterest profileMy Tumblr blogMy YouTube channel

Latest posts by Gail Gardner (see all)

  • Ann Smarty Answers About Link Building and Featured Snippets - February 3, 2019
  • Greatest eCommerce Competitive Risks to Small Businesses - January 27, 2019
  • SharpSpring Free CRM is an Innovative Game-Changer - December 12, 2018

Filed Under: Twitter Tagged With: Twitter, twitter best practices, twitter tips, twitter tools

Comments

  1. hicham says

    January 27, 2017 at 11:08 am

    i think that twitter is a very powerful traffic source, and if we avoid the bad habits we can make use of it.
    hicham would love you to read ..How to add facebook comment box to your blogMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Hajar says

    November 12, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    Before, I just think if twitter was just perfect for well-known business that already has a broad target market. So I never optimally use my twitter account despite I have it since 4 years ago. Thanks for these valuable tips

    Reply
    • Gail Gardner says

      November 12, 2016 at 8:42 pm

      Hello Hajar,

      Twitter is a major source of my traffic and how I share quality content (mine and others’) and keep in touch with other influencers. Although many of us are also connected on Skype, it is Twitter that made us influential.
      Gail Gardner would love you to read ..Skyrocket Your Traffic and Income EcourseMy Profile

      Reply
  3. Golam Qauser says

    September 3, 2016 at 4:58 am

    Twitter is a best social media to share short message. we can promote our product on twitter.
    Golam Qauser would love you to read ..How to Remove Background from a Picture Using Photoshop ?My Profile

    Reply
  4. Abrar Shahriar Alam says

    March 21, 2016 at 10:34 am

    Thanks for guiding us Gail. I go through your content and realize that how often small business owners can overlook the benefit of twitter.

    Reply
  5. zaskia says

    January 26, 2016 at 11:26 am

    Hi Gail,

    I have read your post, I try your best practice, really help me much to grow my audience on twitter, because I have more than one account, so it was really great best practice..

    Please visit my blog also, if you have time, once again, I really thank you for your effort to share this tips

    Reply
  6. Sania hassan says

    November 16, 2015 at 4:50 am

    I gave a try to Twitter list and I must say that it is an amazing idea to work on. Your Twitter followers increase day by day but you definitely have to spend a little time on finding influencer kind people. I also check twitter counter, just to know what are top 10 twitter accounts. I follow top accounts and at the very same day my twitter follower increase. Try this trick mate.
    Thanks
    Sania hassan would love you to read ..When is Chinese New Year 2016 ? Know DateMy Profile

    Reply
    • suman says

      December 15, 2015 at 6:01 pm

      I don’t know twitter can do this much. I only concentrated on Facebook more have to try these thank you for sharing…
      suman would love you to read ..Happy New Year 2016 Ideas Family Friends Lovers KidsMy Profile

      Reply
  7. Kristina says

    October 14, 2015 at 9:35 am

    I am actually Facebook addicted, i always wondered that how twitter has a huge use, i get the answer of my questions in this useful article. Now i will apply these tips on my twitter accounts.

    Reply
    • Gail Gardner says

      October 15, 2015 at 12:52 am

      Hi Kristina,

      Facebook seems to be more for socializing while Twitter is where we keep in touch with collaborators, find content, and hear about breaking news.
      Gail Gardner would love you to read ..Do You Have What it Takes to Found a Startup?My Profile

      Reply
      • Kristina says

        October 15, 2015 at 6:09 am

        Hi Gail Gardner thank you very much for reply my comment, i got it what you wanna say. i really appreciate your reply.

        Reply
  8. Ana Hoffman says

    October 5, 2015 at 2:13 am

    Love the bite-sized format, Gail – easy to scan and click on what I need/want to learn more about.

    Reply
    • Gail Gardner says

      October 5, 2015 at 5:08 am

      Thanks, Ana. I was trying to make it easy for beginners while still having advanced strategies available for those who are ready for them.
      Gail Gardner would love you to read ..How to Build a Blogging CommunityMy Profile

      Reply
  9. Brent Jones says

    October 3, 2015 at 9:25 pm

    Gail,

    What an amazing resource! I’m glad you updated and re-published this guide. I’ll be sharing it my clients going forward. Seems that a lot of folks still don’t understand the benefits of being on Twitter.

    Best,

    Brent
    Brent Jones would love you to read ..Publish Your Writing with Don EastonMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gail Gardner says

      October 4, 2015 at 5:34 pm

      Thanks, Brent. I find that people new to Twitter are often confused. What each of them sees depends heavily on who they follow. That is why I wrote this post the way I did – so they could get started easily and not spend too much time on it.
      Gail Gardner would love you to read ..WANTED: Bloggers Interested in Collaborating to Increase Their IncomesMy Profile

      Reply
  10. Gavi says

    October 1, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    Amazing article! I am a social media manager and I’m still learning something new every day, great post!

    Reply
  11. anamzara says

    September 30, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    Especially like the focus on tweet length.
    I also pay close attention to the visual appearance of a tweet, the included hashtags and any links that may show up.
    Thanks, ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  12. Arbaz K says

    September 30, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    Wow Gail,
    Thanks for the complete list of Twitter related articles.
    I have started reading these articles and got some really good tips. Also, I had to think of the strategy I was using to promote my posts on Twitter.

    Thanks for the curated list! ๐Ÿ™‚
    Arbaz K would love you to read ..How to Delete Twitter Account Permanently? (Official Method)My Profile

    Reply
    • Gail Gardner says

      September 30, 2015 at 10:13 pm

      You’re welcome, Arbaz. I’m glad you found the information useful.
      Gail Gardner would love you to read ..GrowMap Anti-Spambot PluginMy Profile

      Reply
  13. Rebecca Johnson says

    September 30, 2015 at 8:15 am

    Thank you Gail for sharing this valuable information about using twitter effectively. I should definitely try this strategy you have shared.

    Reply
  14. Dan Ewah says

    September 30, 2015 at 9:53 am

    Hi Gail,

    Thanks for this curated posts you’ve collated here.

    It was a good read, I got a couple of strategies re-emphasized.

    I’m glad I read this post and I noticed the way you curated the post, very creative, I’ll keep that in mind and try it out on my blog.

    Cheers.

    Dan
    Dan Ewah would love you to read ..40 Actionable SEO Tips from The Best – INFOGRAPHICMy Profile

    Reply
  15. Al says

    September 30, 2015 at 7:49 am

    Hi,
    There is a problem in twitter that everybody puts their own concept they do not hear anything from other.After reading this post here is a dilemma in my mind.What concept I choose for my internet marketing………………..Thanks for giving us a post.It’s controversial but I like the way of your research…………

    Reply
  16. Bryan Cinco says

    September 29, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    Wow Gail, thanks for this consolidated information about twitter strategy. I been working with twitter for multiple social media campaign and these are the same reference I apply with.

    Reply
  17. Don Purdum says

    September 29, 2015 at 1:54 pm

    Hi Gail,

    Over the last four months I started getting serious about Twitter and now it’s one of my favorite social sites.

    Like you said, it’s social. I find following up with those who re-tweet with a thank you and how is your week are really powerful at starting conversations.

    And, like you said, not just posting your own stuff but that of others. I’ve found it a great way to connect with other bloggers and businesses. If used right, it’s a great way to discover new opportunities for business.

    I really appreciate your post Gail and I’m clicking over to check out the link to the exceptional bloggers list.

    I’m sharing out to both my Twitter pages as well!!! Of course, I have to now, right? LOL… ๐Ÿ™‚

    Have a great week Gail!

    ~ Don Purdum
    Don Purdum would love you to read ..Why Iโ€™m Simplifying the Presentation of My MessageMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gail Gardner says

      September 29, 2015 at 5:29 pm

      Hi Don,

      Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment. Twitter is my favorite and I’ve been collecting tips and strategies on it since 2008. In my case, I love it when people start a conversation about content or ideas. I sometimes struggle to answer “how are you” or “thanks for following” type questions. While I’m not a big fan of tough questions as a way to start new relationships, I do tend to answer them.
      Gail Gardner would love you to read ..Introducing AtomicWriter: Your New Intelligent Editing Writing ToolMy Profile

      Reply
  18. Elliott Smedley says

    September 29, 2015 at 12:13 pm

    Especially like the focus on tweet length.
    I also pay close attention to the visual appearance of a tweet, the included hashtags and any links that may show up.
    Thanks, ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  19. Babejo says

    September 29, 2015 at 10:02 am

    It is help me much, thank you for sharing,
    currently I just use buffer for my business in social media,
    you give much tips, well. I appreciate it dude

    Reply
  20. Erastus Klose says

    September 29, 2015 at 9:25 am

    Thanks Gail for a really good resource to use twitter. It is not easy to use Twitter effectively

    Reply
    • Gail Gardner says

      September 29, 2015 at 5:32 pm

      You’re welcome, Erastus. If you have any questions feel free to ask in my comments or tweet @GrowMap.
      Gail Gardner would love you to read ..Creativity and Technology Coming Together for Live EventsMy Profile

      Reply
  21. ramraj says

    September 29, 2015 at 10:01 am

    I am pretty new to websites and twitter in general. I make sure that I tweet anything that I write, and sure enough some people started following me. It is early days still, but the give and take nature of this platform definitely works and is exciting to see grow.
    click here for

    Reply
  22. Dinesh says

    October 5, 2013 at 3:35 am

    Thank you very much for providing such great resources here Gail. I am so behind when it comes to twitter.
    I have not been able to take advantage of it for traffic and promotion, as I donโ€™t really know who to properly use it..

    Reply
    • Gail Gardner says

      October 3, 2014 at 2:24 am

      Hi Dinesh,

      If you ever have questions or need help you can tweet at me or ask me here or add me on Skype (username growmap) or see if I’m online in chat at http://SocialImplications.com.
      Gail Gardner would love you to read ..50 Places to Repurpose Your Web Conferences as Video ContentMy Profile

      Reply
  23. Aaron says

    March 15, 2012 at 7:32 am

    LOVE this Gail, thank you so much for the resources. Definitely bookmarking this so I can come back to it later on.

    Definitely a couple of articles that I have not read of before.

    thanks!
    Aaron would love you to read ..6 ways to find relevant and valuable content ideas for your social media marketingMy Profile

    Reply
  24. web design buffalo says

    February 16, 2012 at 1:44 am

    as usual Growmap this is a great guideline for Twitter use…i have been a twitter user for years and still this helps me a lot

    Reply
    • Gail Gardner says

      February 22, 2012 at 7:57 pm

      Hi Matt,

      Thank you. Feel free to share this information with any and all. Most are still not using Twitter very effectively and many never think to even check to see who is trying to interact with them.

      I teach these strategies one-on-one and when mentoring groups so that we can all work toward building a better world.
      Gail Gardner would love you to read ..Top Small Business Books โ€“ My Picks for SmallBizTrends 2012 #BizBookAwardsMy Profile

      Reply
  25. Tinnitus Cure says

    January 11, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    I took your advice and read this article, I have learned at least 10 things in less than 5 minutes – You advised me to get an avatar in one of your other post about going viral. I have my work cut out for me getting my twitter page updated. Be back to comment sonn on another great post of your in the future

    Thanks,
    Dori ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • growmap says

      January 30, 2012 at 8:55 am

      Hi Dori,

      Success requires optimizing and attention to detail – and that is a lot faster and easier when we share what we learn with each other. Those who think doing things with mediocrity will not get the same results as those who get serious and keep building on their strengths and planting seeds for future growth.
      growmap would love you to read ..Engagement From Scratch Compiled by Danny Iny: Free eBook Download ~ Win a Printed CopyMy Profile

      Reply
  26. AstroGremlin says

    December 21, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    Wow, just beginning to mine this Twitter resource. Have to admit I don’t make maximal use of Twitter, and sometimes wonder about my etiquette. There’s so much stuff to look at I wonder how other Twitter users sort through it all. For example, I found this article on my latest Twitter feed!
    AstroGremlin would love you to read ..CommentLuv Enabled Search EngineMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      January 30, 2012 at 8:57 am

      Hi,

      That’s the beauty of collaborating using CommentLuv – we can learn what works and implement it much faster. It still takes time, but the tips in this post can really make a HUGE difference. That is why I often include TwitterCounter images in them as visual proof that these strategies work.
      growmap would love you to read ..Why Your Geographic Location IS a NicheMy Profile

      Reply
  27. Satrap says

    November 8, 2011 at 10:56 pm

    Thank you very much for providing such great resources here Gail. I am so behind when it comes to twitter.

    I have not been able to take advantage of it for traffic and promotion, as I don’t really know who to properly use it. I am hoping I can use the links and tips you included here to finally get going with twitter. Thanks.
    Satrap would love you to read ..Get Paid to Translate Online as a Freelance Language TranslatorMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      December 21, 2011 at 3:38 pm

      Hi Satrap,

      I just edited this post so I could more easily call your attention to what you need to know first. Just look for the big Twitter Star and the Sub-title SAVE TIME USING TWITTER.

      If you do just those things that will make a HUGE difference – and then you can use some of the other links and strategies to become influential on Twitter and send more traffic to any site that deserves it.
      growmap would love you to read ..Quantity Equals Failure. Success Focuses on Quality!My Profile

      Reply
  28. Brian says

    November 8, 2011 at 8:55 am

    I’ve written on twitter and love all the help you’ve provided. Just saw another blogger encouraging people to auto-tweet and buy followers. Should have told them to come here and see what Twitter is all about.
    Brian would love you to read ..What is Twitter? How Do I Use Twitter? And Does Twitter Really Matter?My Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      December 21, 2011 at 2:57 pm

      Hi Brian,

      I encourage bloggers and Twitter users to auto-tweet each others’ high quality content that is relevant to their followers. I do NOT recommend EVER buying followers for two reasons:

      1) That is a great way to get banned by Twitter and have to start over.
      2) You don’t get targeted followers that way.

      How many followers you have is irrelevant – what matters is having followers interested in what you share who want to interact with you!
      growmap would love you to read ..Why We Need Group Geo-Targeted Niche BlogsMy Profile

      Reply
  29. Dave_Steffens says

    November 5, 2011 at 8:19 pm

    I am pretty new to websites and twitter in general. I make sure that I tweet anything that I write, and sure enough some people started following me. It is early days still, but the give and take nature of this platform definitely works and is exciting to see grow.

    Reply
    • growmap says

      November 8, 2011 at 1:43 pm

      Hi Dave,

      Don’t just tweet your own posts or people will stop following you. You have to share other interesting things and interact with people directly for Twitter to really be effective.
      growmap would love you to read ..Small Business Internet Marketing: Where to StartMy Profile

      Reply
  30. Sharon Hurley Hall says

    October 28, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    Thanks for this exhaustive list of resources, Gail. Now I know what I’ll be doing this weekend! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • growmap says

      November 8, 2011 at 1:44 pm

      You’re very welcome, Sharon. If I can ever be of assistance or you have any questions about anything I’ve written do please just ask.
      growmap would love you to read ..Bloggers: Are You Doing Link RoundUps? Or Recommending Each Other for FollowFriday #FF ?My Profile

      Reply
  31. Noel Addison says

    September 1, 2011 at 5:56 am

    If you wish to use twitter for your business you should interact with people following you. Please them, you can do this by replying to their tweets or retweeting tweets that are worth sharing.

    Reply
    • growmap says

      December 21, 2011 at 3:39 pm

      Hi Noel,

      Yes, being “social” is what social media is all about!
      growmap would love you to read ..Using Social Media: How Not to Burn Bridges in Your Social Media CampaignsMy Profile

      Reply
  32. matei says

    August 29, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    The main problem for most of the online entrepreneurs is they they only tweet about their blog or business. That’s the biggest mistake. There is nothing wrong to updated your followers with your latest posts. But if you do only that and do not reply too often and neither you interact with them, you will rapidly loose them as followers.
    matei would love you to read ..Inflatable Wetsuit: Mandatory Accessory For Surfers?My Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      August 30, 2011 at 5:48 pm

      Hi Matei,

      You’re absolutely correct – and that is what inspired me to write the post mentioned in Step 9 of this post.
      growmap would love you to read ..Case Study: How to Deal with a Negative Review on Google PlacesMy Profile

      Reply
  33. Jeff says

    May 8, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    When I started trying to use twitter I made the mistake of using twitter just as a “sales pitch” to each post. This was probably annoying to my followers. You need to interact more on a personal level and your occasional sales pitches are more effective.
    Jeff would love you to read ..Shirataki Angel Hair Pasta Noodles- Zero Calories- CarbsMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      May 15, 2011 at 10:56 am

      Hi Jeff,

      I suspect most of us started out making that mistake. Besides being somewhat boring to your existing followers, when someone new checks you out if your Twitter stream is nothing but repeated “buy from me” tweets who would want to follow you?

      This is THE most common mistake I see businesses still making today.
      growmap would love you to read ..Small Business Internet Marketing Starter PackageMy Profile

      Reply
  34. Flowers says

    May 2, 2011 at 7:05 am

    I find it’s just important to not bombard your followers with cynical sales tweets all the time. Intersperse them with light-hearted tweets as well

    Reply
    • growmap says

      May 15, 2011 at 10:56 am

      Even more important is to actually have conversations instead of broadcasting. THAT is what REALLY works.
      growmap would love you to read ..Small Business Internet MarketingMy Profile

      Reply
  35. Jody says

    April 20, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    It’s the lists I am not sure about

    Reply
    • growmap says

      April 25, 2011 at 3:38 pm

      Hi Jody,

      Did you click through to the post on Using Twitter Lists for more details? I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
      growmap would love you to read ..Guest Blogging Invitation Hiring Writers Ask Me!My Profile

      Reply
  36. Karen says

    March 31, 2011 at 4:11 am

    The way social networking sites are improving are amazing to think sometimes. It’s a boon and we have to use it wisely. I devote more time on facebook but after reading about all the new different ways I can use on twitter is making me lean more towards using twitter. I also noticed that Twitter introduced the IOS application which include the Quick Bar but sadly this new update does not take away the dickbar.

    Reply
    • growmap says

      December 21, 2011 at 3:44 pm

      Hi Karen,

      Be sure to check out my post on how to geo-target your Twitter account. It is #15 in the list in this post. What local businesses including realtors need to understand is that they need to reach their target audience – and most of the time that means other people where you are located.

      Few realize you can and should follow and be followed primarily by this target audience and you can make that happen fairly easily. It just takes some time to do it.

      Realtors should also think ab0ut what would keep their target audience interested in reading their blogs. Most people are NOT watching to see what is getting listed unless they are ready to buy so why not write about other things of local interest so you already have an established relationship and they think of you first when the time to buy or sell arrives?
      growmap would love you to read ..Why Your Geographic Location IS a NicheMy Profile

      Reply
  37. Linda G. Cox says

    March 25, 2011 at 9:05 am

    Gail,
    This is where my focus really is, with MSrelief.com I want to get tweetdeck up and running so I can see both my accounts on one page. Kimberly Castleberry loves houte suite but It’s not comming to me quickly, I first learned with tweetdeck but now after so many months and too many mistakes I can’t even get logged in to TweetDeck and when I tried to download it again, it remembers my lindagrace8 but it’s blank! I’ll read here and learn! My problem is that I can only devote about an hour a day to twitter! Wish me luck!
    Thank you for all the information here!
    Linda
    Linda G. Cox would love you to read ..Shower Chair AnyoneMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 25, 2011 at 1:54 pm

      Hi Linda,

      If Tweetdeck or Hootsuite are both too challenging to pick up for now, look at CoTweet. When I researched how to manage multiple Twitter Accounts Hootsuite was by far the most used and recommended, but the more powerful it gets the longer the learning curve will be.

      I found Cotweet much easier to learn and use and have still not made the time to learn Hootsuite because CoTweet does what I need to do at least for now.
      growmap would love you to read ..Small Business Internet MarketingMy Profile

      Reply
  38. Linda G. Cox says

    March 25, 2011 at 9:00 am

    Gail,
    I am so excited that you found me! Twitter was the first thing I learned about when I started social networking. After TONS of learning about other social networks, blogging, viruses, brain overload, I’ve stopped focusing on Twitter. Now I need HELP to start again! I’ll be visiting you often!
    Linda

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 25, 2011 at 9:21 am

      Hi Linda,

      You’ll find just about anything you need in the links in this post including videos and how-tos for getting started on Twitter on that first link. If you have any questions just ask. Sometimes a quick answer is all someone needs for something new to become easy.
      growmap would love you to read ..How to Win Friends and Influence Bloggers- OthersMy Profile

      Reply
  39. suraj says

    March 16, 2011 at 1:49 am

    I never able to use twitter effectively. Let i try your tips. Twitter is nice way to gain traffic.

    Reply
  40. Louie Harris says

    March 13, 2011 at 1:13 pm

    The problem with Twitter is that everyone is “talking” and nobody seems to “listen”.

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 20, 2011 at 1:21 am

      Hi Louie,

      While it IS true that many are using Twitter only as a broadcast medium, those who interact with others will see much greater success. Building relationships is the key.
      growmap would love you to read ..Twitterquette- Twitter Feeds are NOT Burger King โ€“ Why Everyone Can Not Have It Their WayMy Profile

      Reply
  41. Rohit says

    March 13, 2011 at 5:20 am

    Twitter collaborations are always a good way to boost your presence and increase your reach. I really love this tip!
    Rohit would love you to read ..Leather Lounge FurnitureMy Profile

    Reply
  42. Paul says

    March 10, 2011 at 7:44 am

    I think having too much followers or following too many people is a bane. You just can’t keep up with their tweets or build up proper relationships.

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 20, 2011 at 1:22 am

      Hi Paul, Cynthia,

      Each of us has a different calling. You CAN keep up with tens of thousands if you learn to use Twitter lists to hone in on what you need at any particular time. There is a link to a post about that in this post.
      growmap would love you to read ..Happy Second Business Blog Birthday to Andrew Rondeau โ€“ GrowMap Hits 17-000 Twitter FollowersMy Profile

      Reply
  43. Replica Designer Handbags says

    March 10, 2011 at 2:07 am

    Many accounts are zoombie accounts, followers exist but not real!!! I hate This!

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 20, 2011 at 1:23 am

      Yes, it is true that many accounts are filters that RT niche content or basically on auto-pilot; however, we simply focus on those who interact and don’t worry about those who do not.
      growmap would love you to read ..How to Win Friends and Influence Bloggers- OthersMy Profile

      Reply
  44. Gustavo says

    March 9, 2011 at 3:37 pm

    What has worked for me the most is to follow users that follow accounts with the same interests as me. As a result I get around 35% users that follow me back. It may not sound as much but 35 new followers each day is not bad.

    Not to mention that my traffic from twitter has increased accorsingly as well.
    Gustavo would love you to read ..Twitter for MacMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 20, 2011 at 1:24 am

      Hi Gustavo,

      Yes, that it the gist of one of the key posts on this page. I get the highest percentage of real followers who follow back from following @Kikolani’s followers – and that makes sense because Kristi and I write similar content and mention each other often.
      growmap would love you to read ..Kikolani Blog Post Promotion Ultimate Guide EbookMy Profile

      Reply
  45. LS Geekster SEO says

    March 9, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Thanks for these tips Gail! Very much helpful! Also if you have a high PageRank in your Twitter profile, I believe the links you tweet will have an effect on the search engines results , the link could potentially help get a rank as well. The authority person’s tweets are also beneficial for organic search especially in Google. Thanks Gail for the great share!

    Reply
    • growmap says

      January 30, 2012 at 9:08 am

      I noticed today that I don’t see PageRank on Twitter profiles any more. I suspect that is because of this latest change at Google that promotes Google+ and doesn’t include any social shares for Facebook or Twitter.

      See Google + Your World = Google + Google+.
      growmap would love you to read ..Engagement From Scratch Compiled by Danny Iny: Free eBook Download ~ Win a Printed CopyMy Profile

      Reply
  46. raymund camat says

    March 9, 2011 at 4:00 am

    Although we are using Twitter for our toner business, we are yet to see its effect on increasing brand awareness, customer loyalty, and more importantly sales.

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 20, 2011 at 1:29 am

      Hi Raymund,

      You have the challenge of having an enormous, highly divergent and not very targeted market that will only be interested when they need toner or ink. That type of product is also much harder to write or find compelling content to share.

      You might want to try finding either highly entertaining computer related blogs or tech gadget bloggers who frequently write about new computer products to feed using the TwitterFeed strategy linked to in this post.

      Businesses that sell common products need their Twitter accounts to have a personality and interact on things besides just your products.
      growmap would love you to read ..How to Win Friends and Influence Bloggers- OthersMy Profile

      Reply
  47. Nancy Williams says

    March 8, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    Thanks for the great list of Twitter resources! I find it crazy that so many people and businesses still donโ€™t understand the best practices in using Twitter. If you spend your time answering questions, connecting people, and promoting othersโ€ฆit will always make for an incredibly positive experience

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 20, 2011 at 1:30 am

      Hi Nancy,

      I agree that interacting by providing useful assistance IS the very best way to benefit from time spent on Twitter and other Social Media sites.
      growmap would love you to read ..Best of GrowMap – Our Most Important Posts All in One PlaceMy Profile

      Reply
  48. Self Publishing Blog says

    March 7, 2011 at 1:40 pm

    I am just to start using Twitter Feed. Isn’t it the same as perhaps dlvr.it?

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 7, 2011 at 5:57 pm

      Hi Ivin,

      There are many ways to feed to Twitter. Dragonblogger suggested that we might like dlvr.it better but I haven’t made time to check it out yet.
      growmap would love you to read ..Twitterquette- Twitter Feeds are NOT Burger King โ€“ Why Everyone Can Not Have It Their WayMy Profile

      Reply
  49. reehasmith says

    March 7, 2011 at 9:00 am

    great post and also very useful ..mostly elements you mentioned i already know bcoz i was using tweeter for previous six to eight months but your this information helps newbies when they join tweeter

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 7, 2011 at 5:58 pm

      Hi reehasmith,

      If you already learned all that in 6-8 mos. you’re definitely a fast learner. The two posts that serious bloggers should check out are the one about TwitterFeed and growing followers in specific niches.
      growmap would love you to read ..How to Monetize Your BlogsMy Profile

      Reply
      • louis vuitton replica handbags says

        May 2, 2011 at 5:05 pm

        hy
        thanks for all that! i had a very fast picking quality that,s why if you told me the main concept than i can handle all the things at any situation

        Reply
  50. Andersson says

    March 6, 2011 at 11:56 pm

    While Twitter began as a self-promoting platform, like a sort of microblog, the application has evolved to become a social media tool which allows people to express their opinion on a certain topic. This is very much helpful to market analysts in need of ideas to improve their product.

    For instance, an energy drink company introduces a new product in the market and tweets about it. While feedback may come in the form of blog review, raw data may also be sourced from Twitter. By just typing the name of the produce on the search tab, you can see who among the Tweeple patronize your drink.

    Reply
  51. Sarah says

    March 6, 2011 at 8:10 am

    Just getting started with Twitter, and I just finished the article on using Twitterfeed to post others’ blog posts. That’s brilliant!

    I have to be honest, I’m still struggling to see the “big deal” of these social marketing sites. I suppose it’s because I’m not the most social person, lol. But, I’ve come to the realization that it’s time to get on board. Too many success stories to ignore, ya know?

    Iโ€™m planning to go through the other articles now ๐Ÿ™‚

    Sarah would love you to read ..Make Affiliate Money Creating Review SitesMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 6, 2011 at 6:28 pm

      Hi Sarah,

      The benefit of using Twitter is that it makes it easy to filter interests by subject using lists and connect with others who are in your target audience.

      Twitter is the primary method the very best bloggers in the niches I write about and read regularly first “met” and connected and that led to collaborations that greatly speed up learning curves of all kinds.

      Instead of each of us learning how to do something individually, we each learn different things and then pool our knowledge. When multiple bloggers already know a subject well, we compare experiences and come to a consensus on best practices.

      You can see who the bloggers are that I collaborate most often by looking at the list in my recent post about joining BizSugar to find and share Small Business Advice.

      When a new solution comes out to do something instead of us all having to check it out we decide who wants to look at it and that person or persons can then fill the others in.

      growmap would love you to read ..Kikolani Blog Post Promotion Ultimate Guide EbookMy Profile

      Reply
      • Sarah says

        March 10, 2011 at 6:51 am

        Thanks for the reply – that makes so much sense. I guess I just never looked at it that way before. So, essentially you’re forming a mastermind group online vs. in person. I like it!

        Since I’m new to using Twitter, I wasn’t familiar with using lists (until I read your post, lol!) to segment interest groups. I like that idea, as well.

        Thanks again!

        Reply
        • growmap says

          January 30, 2012 at 9:13 am

          Hi Sarah,

          Yes, we use Twitter to connect and then take our “Master Mind” groups to a domain we control (because Twitter and Facebook censor some shares and sometimes just delete accounts out of the blue).

          Twitter is like a fast way to leave messages for busy influencers so that we can operate at full efficiency.
          growmap would love you to read ..Why Your Geographic Location IS a NicheMy Profile

          Reply
  52. growmap says

    March 6, 2011 at 1:03 am

    Thank you, Cynthia, for taking the time to comment so that others will benefit from your experiences. I believe that Twitter is an essential part of any Internet marketing effort and highly valuable for connecting with people who can be very difficult to reach using any other method.

    Do you have a blog anywhere or are you interested in doing any business blogging?
    growmap would love you to read ..Twitterquette- Twitter Feeds are NOT Burger King โ€“ Why Everyone Can Not Have It Their WayMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 6, 2011 at 6:33 pm

      Hi Cynthia,

      Check out my post on the benefits of using KeywordLuv and also be sure to see the section on using CommentLuv Default Links for anchor text in my post about CommentLuv.

      You may want to consider Kristi Hine’s new ebook on advanced methods for promoting blogs and specific blog posts.
      growmap would love you to read ..Kikolani Blog Post Promotion Ultimate Guide EbookMy Profile

      Reply
  53. khaled says

    March 5, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    Have to be honest I still just don’t get the whole twitter thing, I have had an account for a while and even read a few books about using it but it just doesn’t appeal to me. As a business owner there are supposed to be lots of benefits for advertising yourself but it just seems to me that its used for talking rubbish most of the time.
    khaled would love you to read ..What are the Differences Between Natural and Cultured PearlsMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 6, 2011 at 12:29 am

      Hi Khaled,

      What you see depends on who you follow. Try clicking on the lists you find in any Twitter account and you’ll see what I mean. Here are some for you to check out:

      Social Media twitter list

      Golf Twitter List

      Wedding Experts

      As you can see, when you look at the tweets on those lists they are primarily on topic and there is very little “talking rubbish” going on.
      growmap would love you to read ..Google Farmer Update Slaps Google Shopping and Google Maps CompetitorsMy Profile

      Reply
  54. Keith says

    March 5, 2011 at 3:03 pm

    Thanks so much for the links! I have been working on my twitter account and not really sure what to do. These links will help so much!

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 6, 2011 at 12:18 am

      Hi Keith,

      These posts should answer just about any question you have so if anything is NOT completely clear please do me a favor and ask so I can improve whatever is not. If you do that you will be helping anyone else using those posts to improve their Twitter productivity.
      growmap would love you to read ..How to Monetize Your BlogsMy Profile

      Reply
  55. Dennis Edell says

    March 5, 2011 at 11:59 am

    Sweet link list Gail, thanks.

    Speaking of having your link on your blog, all bloggers should use their twitter ID box (in comments) for themselves as well.

    I wrote about it back in January, if I may – – Why you should use TwitterLinks
    Dennis Edell would love you to read ..Should Guest Bloggers be Responsible for Their Own SEOMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 6, 2011 at 12:15 am

      Hi Dennis,

      I’ll have some more to add but I needed this post up quickly to link to that specific information from another post that went live elsewhere this morning.

      As you can see in my replies throughout this blog I totally agree with you about Twitterlinks and CommentLuv.
      growmap would love you to read ..How CommentLuv Grows Businesses and BlogsMy Profile

      Reply
      • Dennis Edell says

        March 7, 2011 at 7:29 am

        Oh I know you do, you point to CL all the time in comments…I’d be very curious to know how many you’ve bought through Comluv. lol
        Dennis Edell would love you to read ..Should Guest Bloggers be Responsible for Their Own SEOMy Profile

        Reply
  56. HUG says

    March 5, 2011 at 12:13 am

    Thanks for the great list of Twitter resources! I find it crazy that so many people and businesses still don’t understand the best practices in using Twitter. If you spend your time answering questions, connecting people, and promoting others…it will always make for an incredibly positive experience. I have made an unbelievable amount of area connections through Twitter, especially in the marketing, media, and PR industries. It couldn’t be more worthwhile when used effectively.
    HUG would love you to read ..4-7-11 โ€“ Party for a PurposeMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 6, 2011 at 12:58 am

      Welcome Hug,

      Thanks for taking the time to comment. Many ARE still confused about the value of Twitter as you can see by some of the comments in this post. They are probably watching the general feed flowing by full of silly nonsense instead of the kind of feed I see because I use Twitter lists and follow people with specific interests.

      I put some examples of highly targeted feeds in one of the other replies in this post that we can use to show people what a targeted Twitter account can look like.

      I feed only the blogs related to a specific account into it so it becomes an easy way to see the best content in each niche I am active in.
      growmap would love you to read ..Small Business Internet MarketingMy Profile

      Reply
  57. Henway says

    March 4, 2011 at 9:07 pm

    I quit Twitter awhile ago. It’s just a waste of time, although if you’re smart there are potential ways to make some very cool connections (think angel investors, potential employers, etc) there. Other than that, ppl seem to use it for egotistical purposes, thinking everyone cares about what happens in their day to day life. Waste of time!
    Henway would love you to read ..Discover Card TipsMy Profile

    Reply
    • growmap says

      March 6, 2011 at 12:12 am

      Hi Henway,

      If you believe Twitter is a waste of time you haven’t seen the true potential. The key is to have what you Tweet and who you follow match. For example, I originally followed other serious bloggers from @GrowMap because we share and are interested in the same things.

      Now I am connecting with more small businesses because they are who needs the information that I and my other bloggers have.

      In my NoBogies account I only tweet golf related stuff and only follow others interested in golf. I very rarely tweet marketing related posts there and I don’t feed any of the other blogs I feed into GrowMap into NoBogies.

      It could be argued that connecting with an angel investor or finding a new position make Twitter very valuable and definitely not a waste of time. I find that people who are extremely challenging to reach by phone or email can be easy to connect with on Twitter.

      What those who do not understand why we spend time on Twitter or why we follow so many people consider this. Every tweet I make from GrowMap gets about 60-90 clicks and when they go viral they can get 50,000+. I have screen captures from su.pr showing multiple Tweets with 30,000-50,000 clicks EACH for one event I was promoting. That kind of traffic is not easy to come by from ANY source.
      growmap would love you to read ..Small Business Internet MarketingMy Profile

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts
You can add a link to follow you on twitter if you put your username in this box.
Only needs to be added once (unless you change your username). No http or @
Designhill Banner 300x250

Search

Are You a Small Business Owner or Manager?
Categories
Are You a Blogger or a Freelancer?

Recent Posts

  • 11 Unique Content Marketing Examples Inspired By Brand Strategies
  • Ann Smarty Answers About Link Building and Featured Snippets
  • Greatest eCommerce Competitive Risks to Small Businesses
  • Understanding Customer Churn and How to Prevent it
  • Minimizing Your Vulnerability to Online Security Risks
Are You a Small Business Consultant?
Don't Miss Your Path to Growth!
Enter your email to receive new
blog posts:

GrowMap Policies

  • Disclosure Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • GrowMap Guest Blogging Guidelines

Connect With Growmap

growmap on twitter growmap on g plus growmap on linkedin growmap on pinterest growmap on facebook growmap on stumbleupon growmap on skype

Copyright ยฉ 2008-2017 Growmap ยท Centric Mobile Responsive Theme by StudioPress ยท Genesis Framework ยท Site maintaned By MarketingTilt

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

GrowMap

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side. Read our complete privacy policy.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.