By Kristina Houck, Research and Online Content Specialist
Twitter is a must-use tool for people in the public relations industry. In 140 characters or less, you can share the inner workings of your agency, promote your clients’ messages, connect with reporters, network with others in the field and more. But make sure to think before you tweet. Here are 10 Twitter dos and don’ts so you can make the most of your tweets.
DO:
1. Tweet interesting information
The best way to gain followers and engage your audience on Twitter is to post interesting and useful content. Before you hit “tweet,” ask yourself if you would care about your message if you were a follower.
2. Engage fellow Twitter users
Social media gives you an opportunity to engage others, so engage! Ask open-ended questions, answer questions and give shoutouts to users who interact with you.
3. Respond timely
Respond to others in a timely manner when you are answering questions or engaged in a conversation on Twitter. Other users won’t interact with you if you don’t use proper Twitter etiquette.
4. Monitor keywords
Monitor keywords to find others to follow and interact with on Twitter. Monitoring keywords is also a great way to be aware of what others are saying about your agency and clients.
5. Have fun
Although Twitter is a great tool for work purposes, don’t think of tweeting as a chore. Have fun!
DON'T:
1. Tweet too much
You can lose followers by tweeting too much, so don’t spam them with constant tweets. Remember to only tweet interesting and relevant information.
2. Overuse hashtags
Hashtags are a great way to help others find information and encourage engagement, but don’t overuse them. #Using #too #many #hashtags #will #annoy #your #followers.
3. Use all 140 characters
A retweet is the highest form of compliment on Twitter. However, if you use all 140 characters, other users won’t be able to easily retweet your content. Make sure to leave space for “RT @yourname.”
4. Share too much
Although your tweets should show your personality, don’t be too personal on Twitter. Consider what is and isn’t appropriate to share with others.
5. Use poor grammar or spelling
Having a 140 character limit is no excuse for using multiple abbreviations. Don’t text your followers. Instead, represent your agency and your clients by maintaining a professional image and showing you can write well even when writing concisely.
