20 Twitter Tips for New Grads and Entrepreneurs

Twitter can serve as an excellent resource and springboard for college grads and entrepreneurs who are on the lookout for new opportunities. Unfortunately, it can also impede progress when used incorrectly. Following this list of Twitter tips will help you to make Twitter an asset versus a liability.

Creating a Dynamic Profile

-Before you can create a dynamic profile, you need to decide what your goals are. Do you want to meet new employers, network with fellow grads, attract customers, etc. Establishing goals will help you craft a profile that attracts and impresses the proper audience.

-People like to see who they're following. You should post a personal picture on your profile, not a generic avatar. If your Twitter account is for your business and not you personally, consider using a professionally-designed company logo.

-It is very important to use keywords in your Twitter profile. Remember, you are still on the web. If you don't use the proper keywords, people will not be able to find you. To find out which keywords are popular, you can use Tweetbeep, which provides Twitter alerts by email, or Twitscoop, which tracks buzzworthy keywords.

-Use the 'More Info URL' to direct people to a page that has more info about you or your business. New grads can use this field to send potential employers and contacts to a LinkedIn profile or online resume. Entrepreneurs can use it to direct potential customers to a website or business blog.

-See how well your profile measures up against the profiles of other Twitter users by visiting TwitterScore for a free analysis.

Finding Followers

-One of the best ways to find followers is to use Twitter's profile search to find other people who already have a Twitter account. Follow those who are interesting or share your interests--most of them will begin following you as well.

-Twitter directories are another good place to find other Twitter users just like you. There are tons of different directories out there. Good ones to try include Just Tweet It, WeFollow and Twellow.

-People can't follow you if they don't know you are on Twitter. You can advertise your Twitter account for free on sites like TwittieMe.

-It is also a good idea to advertise your Twitter page on your website or blog. You can put a permanent link on your pages with a prompt like 'Follow Me On Twitter.'

-You can accumulate more followers if you actively try to build your online reputation and brand. There are several Twitter-related sites that can help you with this. A fun site to try is TweetBrain, which invites questions and answers from the Twitter community.

Increasing Productivity

-Taking time out of the day to post to your Twitter account can get annoying when you are really busy. Fortunately, there are now several services available that are designed to help you boost productivity by post-dating your Tweets. This means that you can type all of your tweets in one day and schedule them for auto-posting later in the week/month. Good services to try include TweetLater and Twuffer.

-If you visit Twitter several time each day, you can limit your clicks and make access easier with the Twitter Toolbar. The toolbar is free to use and compatible with both Firefox and IE.

-Before spending too much time sharing links on Twitter, it is a good idea to see if your efforts are paying off. You can quickly and easily track Twitter traffic results with free apps like Tweetburner.

-After you have been on Twitter for awhile, it can become difficult to keep tweets and contacts organized. You can simplify the process with Twitter apps made specifically for this purpose. Popular apps include TweetDeck and Twhirl.

-If you use a lot of different Twitter apps, you may want to consider ditching them for an all-in-one ensemble, such as HootSuite.

Miscellaneous Tips

-Twitter is full of decision-makers--from people who hire new employees to businesses looking for new products and services to market. New grads and entrepreneurs can grab their attention by contributing to Twitter in a positive way. In other words, do not flame people or waste your time antagonizing someone. While it is okay to disagree with others, Twitter is best used for other purposes.

-Combine your social media efforts with Twitter using Twiggit. This free app lets your followers see the articles you Digg.

-There are many free ways to advertise your Twitter account or profile, but sometimes free isn't enough. If you are looking to attract more followers or drive traffic to your website, you may want to consider purchasing advertising through CheapTweet or another ad service.

-Twitter is a great way for entrepreneurs to collect opinions and gauge the public's stance on a particular topic. You can host polls on your Twitter account using Twtpoll.

-If you're a new grad, make it known through your Twitter account that you are looking for a job. You never know who may be reading and may be able to help you in your job search.

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