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Twitter isn't just about letting the world know what you had for breakfast.
I should add the disclaimer: unless that's what you're using it for. Like every tool, it's only going to fulfill your needs if you know how to use it correctly. The problem is, there's a great deal of people who go to the Twitter homepage, typify it as a glorified Facebook status update, and never give it a second chance.
The reality is, Twitter is a hugely powerful tool. It has the power to land someone a career, get them fired, create and destroy celebrities, distribute relevant and important data, share popular articles and photos, and keep you informed about things you actually care about. (And no, I'm not talking about what Ashton Kutcher had for breakfast.)
The trick is simply learning how to use it. Before you write Twitter off as a passing fad, take a look at these guidelines that can help you get the most out of your Twitter account.
1) Carefully choose what content you want to see
Most people who complain about Twitter assume that its main demographic is teenage girls tweeting frantically about their trip to the mall. Here's the truth: A Nielsen survey revealed that ages 2-17 returned the smallest amount of Twitter users of any age group surveyed! Which age group had the most Tweeters? Ages 35-49 posted 2,935,000 users; over double the numbers of any other group, followed by 1,379,000 25-34 year olds.
That means there's a lot of progressive, well-educated ideas flying around on Twitter. Just pick an interest: Whether it's sports, music, news, marketing, astronomy, comedy, or art; Almost every subject has its own community on Twitter, delivering comments and articles that are tailored to your interests. Enjoy UFC? Follow @danawhiteufc (current president of UFC) for information on upcoming fights, promotions, and training updates. Want to be the first to know about local Tallahassee news? Follow @TDOnline for breaking news from the Tallahassee Democrat. There's something for everyone, so build your list based on what you want to read.
3) Remember the most important rule: ANYONE can read your tweets!
There's no such thing as privacy when it comes to your tweets. A simple off-color comment can go a long way in today's social media environment. One potential Cisco employee faced enormous heat for his now infamous tweet: "Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.” It wasn't long before a representative of Cisco replied to the comment with: ""Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web." Ouch.
The best policy to use when addressing sensitive topics via Twitter status updates is this: Before you tweet, ask yourself if you would let your boss, your preacher, and your grandmother read it. If it wouldn't fly with granny, chances are it probably doesn't need to be said.
2) You don't have to follow everyone who follows you
There are opposing views on this, but in the end, it all comes down to personal preference. "Following" someone means that every time they update their status, it will show up on your update feed. If someone follows you, your updates will show up on their feeds, but not vice-versa. Here's a good rule of thumb: Only follow people whose opinions you value.
There are opposing views on this, but in the end, it all comes down to personal preference. "Following" someone means that every time they update their status, it will show up on your update feed. If someone follows you, your updates will show up on their feeds, but not vice-versa. Here's a good rule of thumb: Only follow people whose opinions you value.
Marketers search your tweets for keywords, so don't be surprised if one of your tweets mentioning the word "tennis" elicits a handful of tennis companies to begin following your tweets. Don't feel pressured to follow them back; unless of course you're generally interested in what they have to offer. Also, don't try to follow too many people; if your feed is updated faster than you can read them than you'll end up missing a lot of posts.
3) Remember the most important rule: ANYONE can read your tweets!
There's no such thing as privacy when it comes to your tweets. A simple off-color comment can go a long way in today's social media environment. One potential Cisco employee faced enormous heat for his now infamous tweet: "Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.” It wasn't long before a representative of Cisco replied to the comment with: ""Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web." Ouch.
The best policy to use when addressing sensitive topics via Twitter status updates is this: Before you tweet, ask yourself if you would let your boss, your preacher, and your grandmother read it. If it wouldn't fly with granny, chances are it probably doesn't need to be said.
If you've never given Twitter a fair chance, now's the time. Head to www.twitter.com to set up an account and discover what made Twitter the fastest growing social networking site of 2009.
(This week's listening recommendation: "Over the Moon" by Colour)
-Brock ><(("> (aka @brock_whitfield)
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