Twitter’s either a great time-waster or a powerful marketing tool, depending on how you want to look at it. Some people sign up, toss up a profile photo from their wild college days, and stand there scratching their heads as they try to find something interesting to write about. Others jump right in and promote the heck out of their products or services, and come off looking like egotistical spammers. If you’re going to use Twitter to promote yourself, there are a few things you can do to make yourself appealing to the Twittersphere:
1. Decide on a name, and stick with it. Using your real name will add legitimacy to your account and help people find you better. Pick a unique screen name you’re comfortable using for a long time and promote yourself with that. If you’re thinking something like WildBill666, you might want to think again.
Tip: Remember, Twitter profiles are visible on Google SERPs. If someone searches your name in Google, your profile will be sure to pop up near the top. Keep future impressions in mind if you go with a screen name. What may be funny to you now may not be so funny when a potential employer or co-worker finds you.
2. Fill out your profile information with your real name. User names and provided names both show up on Google searches, and showing your real name not only helps people find you, but it shows that you’re likely not just another spammer. It also helps people connect with you better if you use your real name on other networks and want to keep your brand consistent.
Tip: Try to keep your user names identical across social networks so people who like you on one can easily find you on another.
3. Use your 160 character bio to provide useful information and keywords to help people find you. Sure, “toast,” “bubblegum pink lipstick,” and “lollipops” may all be things you like. However, if you’re looking to connect with other people for networking purposes, you’re missing out on a valuable opportunity to showcase your talents. If networking contacts are what you’re seeking, try career-specific keywords like “personal trainer,” “real estate agent,” “SEO,” or “photographer” that can give people a better idea of what you’re about.
Tip: Be as concise as possible. You have only 20 more available characters than you do for a tweet, so use them wisely! Brevity with a punch is key. Try using specific search terms like “commercial photographer” to distinguish yourself in your field.
4. Tweet wisely. People follow others on Twitter because they see value in their tweets. Post links to material you find interesting and relevant, and feel free to comment on current events. Twitter’s all about engaging in conversation, and there are endless opportunities to connect with others. A quick search of a topic which interests you or a look at the day’s trending topics may help get the conversation started.
Alternatively, if you’re on Twitter to promote your products and services, engage your audience by posting relevant content and conversing with them about things they’re posting. If you tweet nothing but links to your web site or products, you may not engage your followers as much as you could. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but if you make an effort to connect and tweet with value, your followers are more likely to tweet about you.
Once you have your profile established on Twitter, get out there and promote yourself! Including your Twitter username in emails, posts, and contact information on other networks makes it easy for like-minded people to find you and follow you. You can find me on Twitter @JulieTyios.
Thanks for the tips. There are some things I'm going to change in my profiles. I think I'm too focused on the fact that I'm looking for a job. I mean, that's a very important thing for me right now but it's not the only thing I'm doing.
Posted by: Clark Palmer | July 15, 2009 at 02:54 PM