offering an incomplete tweet cheat sheet

I’m new to Twitter and just learning. Here are some of the things I think I’ve figured out so far that I think will be useful to anyone just starting out - let me know if I have anything wrong. I certainly do not know the correct jargon for this whole thing yet so I have made up some of my own along the way and when I refer to Twitter users as Twits I certainly don’t mean any offense…

If you are just reading this now, I would suggest that you read my updates on a more recent post called “…transmitting about Twitting” as I have dragged myself up a few notches on the learning curve…

Tip 1: Don’t Drag Your Feet

Twitter is an opportunity to get your blog, writing, music, poetry, photography - whatever - to a new group of people. It is also a great way to network: want to connect with other moms? Other musicians?

Here are some ways I’ve benefited so far:

• I’ve already learned a lot from some of the bloggers I’m following, thanks to their posts and links to articles like this NY Time article, “Twittering Tips for Beginners” tweeted by HowToMakeMyBlog
• I’m getting the lastest updates on a 3 Day Novel Contest I entered (so I don’t have to compulsively check their website for the results 5 times a day)
• I’ve already met some local moms who have the same interests as me
• I’m getting inspired by following other writers and musicians and getting my daily craft fix from Craft Ideas
• I’m getting news about local deals from Canada Mom Lucia

Tip 2: Don’t Take the Backseat

Don’t by shy. So far in my experience, all of the people I’ve interacted with on Twitter have been friendly. Engage in a conversation: respond back to other tweets (just click the return arrow next to the tweet that interests you) or send a direct (private) message.

Tip 3: Be Sweet: Greet and Re-Tweet

Updated perspective on this at a more recent post called “…transmitting about Twitting”

I check out my new followers (I actually go to their website or blog if they have one in their profile and look around.) I often follow them back and I always thank them for the follow. If I have the time and inclination, I also tweet a link to them if it’s appropriate.

If you like something that you see, re-tweet it. This is particularly nice if it is a tweet that will drive traffic to one of your fellow twit’s blogs, websites, etc. It also may result in some more follows for that person.

Tip 4: Check out the Extra Tweet Treats

Just Tweet It

Add your name to the directory in each category that suits you. Then, look through the directories that interest you and find yourself some new people to follow. You can use this tool to build your network if, like me, none of your real-life friends are on Twitter…

Twitterrific

This is a Mac application that allows you to have a small open twitter window on your desktop. It allows you to customize what you see. It also hooks up to your Skype account so that your tweets show up in your Skype status line, which is pretty cool. It’s free if you’re okay with advertising ($14.95 if you don’t want any ads) and super fast and easy to get up and running: I was using mine within 5 minutes of finding the website.

The Follow Game - To Cheat or Not to Cheat?

It seems like there are some applications out there that promise to build up your following exponentially but these don’t interest me at this time. I found following 30 people in my first week already a bit overwhelming - I can’t imagine having tweets from 2,000 people landing in my newsfeed all day long. My objective right now is to only follow tweets that interest me and to maintain a two-way conversation with my followers. On the other hand, I would like oodles of followers to send out my tweets to - but I’d like to earn them… I may change my mind as I grow to understand how Twitter works and I’d love to hear other people’s opinions about this.

In the meantime I am only following tweets that interest me and I’m hoping to grow my followers by capturing their interest with my tweets. I am looking for tweets to follow but I’m doing it the slow way: I troll through people I’m already following to see who they are following and I get automatic notifications when new members join my Just Tweet It directories…

Press Delete?

I’ve also read strategies about how some Twits erase people who don’t follow them back in order to keep their following/follower numbers balanced. So far I’ve erased some people who just send out too many tweets, particularly if they are all @replies that I don’t understand or on topics that don’t interest me. I give someone a few days after I follow them: but just in real life, new relationships don’t always work out.