• Interaction, interaction, interaction. It is called a social network for a reason. And nothing will make me stop following you quicker than if all you use it for is to push out your information and you never initiate a conversation. This applies to business accounts as well as personal.
• Do not have a protected account. Twitter is different than Facebook in that it was not designed to be a private profile for only you and your friends. It is meant to be a public stream for people to get insight into your business, personality and daily life.
• Keep it even. Keep the number of people who are following you and the number of people you follow relatively close. If I go to check out a new follower’s page, and I see they are following 500 people, but only have 100 followers, I will assume they don’t know what they’re doing.
• Mix it up. Don’t stick to one kind of tweet. If all I ever get from you is links to health care news, even if it is interesting health care news, eventually I’m going to get bored and tune you out.
• Mix it up (2). Switch between @-replying with someone and sending a DM. People want to know you are interested in forming a connection with them personally. Not just using them to grow your popularity.
• Download a desktop application. If you really want to be successful on Twitter you have to tweet frequently. A desktop application such as TweetDeck and Seesmic help make this more manageable. Mobile applications also help you to keep up and tweet on-the-go.
• Don’t ask me to re-tweet your information. Now, this is something that many seasoned tweeters still do, so it may be more of a personal pet-peeve. If I like the comment, I will re-tweet it. You asking me to do so will not make me more inclined to re-tweet your content. If anything, it will make me less.
• Don’t give up. I have gone through stages where I am overwhelmed, frustrated or just plain bored with Twitter. But, it always manages to suck me back in because to put it simply, it’s awesome. If you do a good enough job building your network, you will end up with this group of amazing people who can provide you with an answer to any question, give you advice on how to become a better professional, keep you up-to-date on the latest breaking news and make you laugh at any  time of the day.
• Never stop developing your network. Eventually, a day will come that you will find yourself thinking in Tweets, and you will know you’re officially hooked. Now is the time to stop hiding behind your icon and meet your network IRL (in real life). Set up a coffee meeting with one of your tweeps or attend a networking event such as SMBMSP or YPCTC.

Strait from the Twittersphere – I asked my network if they had tips they would give  a Twitter newbie and Gregg Litman came back with these gems.

• Keep Tweets under 120 characters for easy retweeting. – You want people to retweet your content, right? Make it easy for them to add “RT @yourtwitterhandle”.
• Use a URL shortner – If you’re posting a long link use a URL shortner such as bit.ly or TinyURL. If you register for a bit.ly account, you will receive insights into how many people have clicked on the link.

Again, if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments and come back again for part 3: measuring your impact. Likewise, if you’re well-versed in Twitter rules (you’re probably not still reading), but if you are and I’ve missed any, please let me know in the comments section.

Photo credit: Cambodia4kidsorg on Flickr

Joining a new social network can be a daunting task, especially when you hope to use it as a professional tool. The concept of connecting with strangers and forging a beneficial relationship online can feel strange and unnatural.

The most important thing to remember is that there is not one right way to use a social network. At the end of 2009, there were 18 million people on Twitter, each using it in their own unique way. That being said, like any community, it has its own lingo and norms to follow if you want to be successful.

Twanguage, a.k.a Twitter language (yes, I made that word up)

All those @’s, RT’s, and #’s do have names and mean something.

• @ = at-reply and is a way to start a conversation with someone. When you put an @ before a person’s handle (Twitter username) you are directing your Tweet to them. It creates a hyperlink to that user’s Twitter account and goes into a special inbox on their Twitter homepage. Many users get alerts on their phones or desktop applications when they receive an at-reply.  Other Twitter users who are following both of your streams can also see the Tweet.
• RT = retweet and should be used when passing along information you discovered from another person’s tweet. Whether it is a link to a news article or a funny thought, if you first saw the content from another Twitter user you must give them credit. Using “via @twitterhandle” is another acceptable way to give credit for a tweet and is often used when the content has been changed so drastically it no longer represents the opinion of the original tweeter.
• # = hashtag and creates a hyperlink to anything connected to it. When you click on the hashtag it brings up a real-time list of everyone using that tag. Hashtags are used to connect people tweeting about the same topic, and will often be assigned to a particular event so people who are not in attendance can follow along with the chatter. People will also use hashtags to add creativity and humor to a tweet. For an example of someone who has mastered the art of #hilarioushashtags, follow Sam Boeser.
• DM = direct message and is a private message between you and one other person.
• #ff = follow Friday and is a way to recommend people who you think are worthy of a follow.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I find people to follow? First, find the people you already know on Twitter and comb through their follow lists. I, for instance, have a follow Friday list that includes my favorite Tweeps (Twitter Peeps).  Next, do a Twitter search for people who are Tweeting about topics you are interested in. For example, if you’re a sports fan, see who else is talking about your favorite team during the game.
• How do I get people to follow me? The hardest part of Twitter is developing a critical mass. There are social circles on Twitter that can be intimidating to break into. Be patient and don’t be afraid to add your two cents into a conversation. Be generous and pass along people’s content that you think is interesting. Even if they have 900 followers, if you re-tweet something someone says it will grab their attention.
• Why would people care about what I have to say? My twitter mentor, David Erickson, always says that this is the first thing you need to get out of your head. You must go in with the mentality “of course, people will care about what I have to say.”
• If I want to use Twitter as a professional tool, should I tweet about personal topics? This is a highly debated topic in the Twittersphere. Some people use it solely for business and never throw in a tweet about a good restaurant they tried, a sporting event they’re watching or anything else that does not directly benefit the bottom line. Personally, I throw a lot of non-business related tweets into my stream. It is my belief that part of developing yourself as a professional is connecting with other professionals. People like to see your human side and will be able to better relate to you, if they get a glimpse into what your passions are outside of work.

If you have additional questions about Twitter or other social networks you’re testing out, please leave them in the comments. And, be sure to check back soon for part 2: how to “get it” and part 3: measuring your impact.

Photo credit: Cambodia4kidsorg on Flickr

Personally, I am okay with sprinkling in a colorful word or two, if it is done tactfully. For instance, I try to avoid online swearing in times of anger, I don’t direct it towards people, and I contemplate other adjectives that could also get my point across. I justify my potty-mouth by saying that people don’t want to interact with a robot who has carefully calculated each word and sounds like a well-crafted PR pitch. They want someone with personality, who they can relate to and who is multidimensional. And, because sometimes it is just simply the best way to get the point across and bring humor into the mix.

My loving father, however, scolds me for my use of online swearing. Concerned about my online reputation he tells me that it is “nasty language to put on the World Wide Web.” His point is sound. And the truth is anyone can read my blog and form an opinion about who they think I am – my boss, my Grandma (okay, maybe not Grandma, but Aunts and Uncles). My future employers’ first impressions for the remainder of my career (did I mention I’m only 24) will be largely determined by a Google search. It is likely that someone, at some point, will look at my work and have the same reaction as my dad, feel it is unnecessary and vulgar.

Rather than simply write Dad off as an out-of-touch Boomer who doesn’t understand us Millennials, I decided to bring the question to you. All you SM and PR experts, gurus and practitioners. You bloggers and seasoned professionals. What is your online curse-word policy?

Photo credit: Solidstate on Flickr

I start poking around to see what life would be like in North Carolina, California or Colorado. I dig out photos from my semester in Australia, close my eyes and pretend I am laying on the tip of Whitehaven beach, the sun glaring down and the aqua blue water surrounding me. I even visit a tanning bed a time or two despite the severe cancer risk, not because I want a bronze glow, but because I desperately need to feel warmth.

I typically spend the winter months meandering in and out of my tundra-induced funk until April hits, the snow melts and I once again remember that life, and Minneapolis, is wonderful. A week ago, however, my Australian friend, Pete, stayed with me on his Minnesota visit. Seeing this city, and my everyday life, through the lens of an outsider, whose home country consists of nothing but heat, beach and sunshine actually helped remind me why I choose—yes, choose—Minnesota as my home.

Why Minnesota is great:

• We live through winter. Yes, I said it. The same element that sends me spiraling each year is at the top of my list of reasons why Minnesota, or rather Minnesotans are so wonderful. Pete commented on how much pride Minnesotans have for this state. I think it largely stems from the toughness that is required to survive, and enjoy, the winter months. There is a bond that forms between people who choose to live in a climate that is quite painful for much of the year. To survive Minnesota winters you have to be strong, resilient, a good driver and a generally happy person.

• Winter activities. Despite Pete visiting during the coldest winter snap of the season, we still managed to hit up Afton and do a little skiing/snowboarding. Man, had I forgotten how much I love to ski. And, going skiing reminded me of all the other winter activities that are available. How much fun would it be to go tubing at Green Acres? Or participate in the City of Lakes Loppet? The possibilities are endless, you just need to get off the couch, bundle up and take advantage.

(Side note: hibernating under a fluffy blanket on the couch for an entire day or weekend would also qualify as an appealing winter activity, in my book)

• When the snow melts. There is nothing quite like the months of April through November in the north. We have seven months to pack in as much outdoor activity as is physically possible, and we don’t waste a single moment. Hitting the beach, visiting cabins, biking the trails and having barbecues. Hell, it is sheer joy to simply put on a pair of flip-flops and walk out the door without the jacket, mittens, hat, scarf and boots (oof) that are required all winter. Wearing a dress without tights; I could go on and on.

Why my life is great:

• My roommates. It’s always fun when friends from different worlds are able to be in the same place and meet each other. It’s even more fun when they get along. My roommates not only allowed me to open our house to Pete and help make sure he stayed fed and entertained. But, they also embraced him as a friend. I think it can be summed up with Martina’s comment to Pete the night before he left. “I wish you were our fourth roommate,” she said.

• My job. I work at an amazing place with amazing people. And, considering the recent survey that states only 45 percent of American workers are happy with their jobs, this is no small feat. I go to a job every day where I am able to do the work that I want to be doing, with people who have become friends. I eat lunch with my coworkers (at all levels of the organization) and discuss topics ranging from which cartoon character is the hottest, to what type of person our ideal spouse would be (musician, politician, cowboy, etc), to such random shenanigans that it cannot be shared on the Web. We laugh hysterically.

• My friends all over the world. It is an odd thing having my best friends scattered all over the world. From Australia to Germany to states across the U.S. there is never a time when I am not missing someone who I love. But, I would not trade in these friendships for ones that are local. I would not trade the time spent with the people in Australia or the experience my friend Anne is surely having in South Korea to have everyone in close proximity to me. Having friends from other countries quite literally opens your world. It allows for visits from any number of Australians who have taken up residency on my couch. It allows for late night conversations on the comparison of cultures. It allows eating Tim-Tams and Vegemite and Kangaroo. It allows for extravagant vacations where I can impose on their couches and their worlds. And it allows me to see my world through a foreigner’s eyes. See its achievements and its faults. Its landmarks and hypocrisies. And it reminds me why I think it’s so damn great.

Since I often call to light the unfairness bestowed upon women, I wanted to pass along some good news. We have come a long way for women’s equality.

The questions that I found the most interesting:

Will a woman be elected president in the next 20 years?

• Possibly. I’d certainly consider voting for a woman – 78%
• Possibly, but she won’t get my vote – 15%
• No way. Americans will never elect a female president – 7%

In 1995, only 29% said they would elect a female president. Nearly 50% more men would consider voting for a woman! That is progress.

Complete the following statement: Breast-feeding in public is…

• Natural and a mother’s right – 78%
• Really gross – 22%

I don’t even know how I feel about this topic. Part of me thinks there is always someplace you can go to be discrete.

If it were painless, safe and free, would you encourage your wife or girlfriend to get breast implants?

• Yes – 25%
• No – 75%

In 1995, 55% of men said they’d go for bigger boobs. Hooray for the flat chested!

Nice work, men. Way to be empowering.

Photo Credit: Walter Parenteau on Flickr

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