How to be a Top Tweeter on Twitter

With the sudden rise in popularity of the micro blogging website Twitter, it’s only natural that there is an influx of new users that just don’t quite get it.

Twitter is a vibrant community which has become an important network for news, business intelligence, and even social camaraderie. However, if you want to get your message across to a wider audience, here are a few tips you’re going to want to keep in mind.

Build rapport with your audience. You want people to listen to what you have to say, and – unless you’re already a celebrity – it is likely most people will have no idea who you are. So, in order to get your audience to pay attention to your tweets, you want to connect with them. One of the best ways of doing this is by asking and answer questions – engage them by having a conversation. Always be polite and don’t be overly critical of other people’s points of view.

Include links as much as possible. There’s only so much you can say in a micro post, so the best way to share an idea is link to an interesting article, site, or blog post. However, it can be a fine line – don’t just pimp your own blog posts or those of your clients all day. Mix it up: share news, pontifications, reaction, blog posts. Aid in others’ discovery and contribute to the conversation.

Be entertaining. Don’t compulsively post every little thing you do in your day – honestly, nobody cares. These kind of posts are dull and boring and you’ll find most people tune out.

Don’t over-tweet. If you need half a dozen tweets to make your point, do one that points to a blog post. Also, if you find yourself having a conversation with another tweetie, continue it offline after a couple of @someone tweets – the rest of your audience will likely be less interested. I think it is a good idea to pick up the phone and call tweeties with whom you interact often.

Following and Blocking. Don’t be promiscuous with the “Follow” button – there are only so many hours in a day in which to keep track of what’s going on. And don’t feel bad about blocking people – you don’t have to let everyone and his dog follow you. Twitter is a network and the benefit should be two-way.