In Part I, we got you signed up and your account set up on Twitter. Now, here's where the fun starts: Writing your first tweets, finding interesting people to Follow, and starting to build your own band of Followers.
In essence, it really is as easy as 1-2-3 to get going on Twitter. Here's a quick illustration:
Whenever starting anything new, whether it be riding a bike or starting your own business, I recommend easing in with small steps because as our theme goes here: tiny actions, doable results. Small wins also help build up your confidence. For you daredevils, go for it and jump right in.
First things first, let's start filling your Tweet table
Let's start by filling your Twitter stream with about 7 tweets. This way when folks come visit you, they can see that you've been tweeting. Think of it this way, how do you feel when you arrive at a party and there is no activity or food and drinks on the table. You'd probably go, "Ok, nothing here, I'm bouncing."
So, make your Twitter home inviting by putting some tweet food on the table. Here's 7 topic ideas to get you started writing something filling like cheese and crackers, "Just got my tax refund check in the mail. REI here I come," versus weightless like celery, "I'm doing laundry."
- Link to an interesting article you saw on one of your favorite websites and make a brief comment like: This is why diets fail, self control is not natural. I'm off the hook: {insert link}
- Quotes are really popular and I do them all the time like: On tenacity: "Actually, I'm an overnight success. But it took twenty years" ~Monty Hall
- Fascinating statistics like: Did you know that Americans throw out 27% of the 350,000,000 pounds of food they buy each year. ~New York Times, 5/18/08
- What you ate but add some details like, "For lunch, noshed on honey turkey, Jack, tomato, and mixed greens on Ciabatta in the park. Escaped the cubicle."
- Your workout. This is how I got started on Twitter. I tweeted my workouts to help me stay accountable to my exercise so I could drop the last 10lbs. Tweet something like, "Ran 3 miles near the river. Did some flats and hills. Having endorphin high now :)"
- You overheard something funny. If you have kids, you're lucky as kids say the funniest things like, "OH 5 year old: If we put a towel over it maybe mommy won't notice the dog knocked over the paint." In Twitter speak, the letters OH are used for "Overheard." It saves character space.
- Some light commentary on what you'd choose and why like Jen or Angelina, chicken or beef, brownies or cupcakes, Colbert or Stewart, boxers or briefs, Damon or Affleck, Leno or Conan.
Next, we'll give you some starting points to start Following people, Part III of IV: Finding People to Follow, Where Following is Good not Stalkerish
Related posts:
Part I of IV: Easy as Oatmeal, Creating Your Account on Twitter
