The Same Crap Again and Again Meme

Hopefully, by this point, we all know not to trumpet our political or religious views all over Twitter. We're definitely not using the site to complain about our jobs, co-workers, or bosses. And if whatsoever of u.s. ever posted inappropriate pictures on Twitter, they're gone now. (If they're not, bank check out tips on how to fix that trouble today.)

Just the rules of Twitter are constantly irresolute, and I see people make mistakes all the time. (I've fifty-fifty made a couple of them myself—oops.) So I've put together a Twitter "code of conduct" that's filled with the rules that are a piffling less obvious. Consider this your guide to being the all-time version of yourself online.

Do: Repeat Tweets

I never used to recycle my posts, assuming my followers would unfollow me afterwards seeing the aforementioned tweets over and over.

But that assumes people read every tweet in their feeds—which they don't. There'southward not plenty fourth dimension!

So, if y'all tweet something at 9 AM and once more at iii PM, you'll be hitting different groups of people. Plus, reposting tweets also gives those in other time zones the hazard to see your content.

Bottom line: Don't be scared to post the aforementioned tweet a couple hours, days, or fifty-fifty weeks apart, equally long as it'south still relevant.

(We've got some slap-up tools y'all can employ to easily schedule your posts.)

Don't: Tweet the Same Type of Content Again and Again

Your followers will observe, however, if all your tweets are the same blazon. For example, I unfollowed one guy because all he did was post article links—it got irksome, fast.

Equally Belle Beth Cooper of Buffer explains, there are five basic "tweet types:" links, images, quotes, retweets, and original comments. As you lot experiment with these, yous'll quickly effigy out which is nigh popular with your followers. Just brand sure you're not hitting any one type too heavily.

Do: Utilize a Ratio

To go on myself in check, I employ the 30/30/30 rule: 30% original content, 30% retweets, xxx% engagement. Then I'll postal service a link to an article, retweet something, and so tweet at an influential person.

Don't: Confuse Your Followers

I lost a ton of followers when I spontaneously started tweeting well-nigh Firm of Cards. Most of the people who follow me are interested in career and productivity advice—not what I think about Claire Underwood'due south graphic symbol arc.

Now I'm e'er careful to make sure my tweets are relevant to my audience. To exam this, look at the words in your bio. Do they friction match your last five tweets? Now, randomly choose 10 of your followers, and check out their bios. Exercise they friction match your last five tweets?

If you answered yes to both questions, you're in good shape.

Practise: Write a Good Bio

Speaking of bios, make certain yous've got a skillful 1. Your bio needs to tell people iii disquisitional things: who y'all are, why you're an authority, and what your focus is.

It establishes my identity (freelance writer), why I'k credible (I write for respected publications), and my focus (career, lifestyle, and higher educational activity).

Basically, brand your bio every bit specific and descriptive as possible.

Don't: Only Promote Yourself

I absolutely love sharing links to articles by fellow Muse writers Lily Herman and Lily Zhang. It'southward similar an internet thumbs-up, and it also introduces my followers to some awesome content.

Y'all don't have to piece of work with writers to promote your colleagues. Consider finding pieces y'all connections take written on LinkedIn, or their personal blogs, or on the company site.

In add-on, you tin can tweet when someone in your network has done something absurd.

Do: Inject Some Individuality Into Your Tweets

Yous know what's slow? When you accept an article, dump the link into a post, tag the writer and the publication, and add the championship.

Instead, put your own spin on information technology. Rather than tweeting:

The less formulaic y'all are, the better—I've found I get twice as many favorites and retweets and 3 times the number of clicks when I customize my tweets!

Don't: Retweet Anything Y'all Haven't Read

I've definitely retweeted links to articles but because they have great titles. Then, when I get back later and actually read the article, I realize it's either poorly written, has a misleading title, or worst of all, says something I doggedly disagree with.

Clearly, I get the appeal of seeing a cool-looking commodity, quickly firing information technology off, and moving on. Nonetheless, if yous want to make sure y'all're sending the right messages, don't retweet anything y'all oasis't at least skimmed.

Practise: Shut Down Frequent Retweeters

What if yous love a user'due south original tweets—but get tired of all his or her retweets? Fortunately, Twitter has a setting that volition block all of that user's retweets from your feed.

All you take to do is go to his or her profile, click on the gear, and so select "Plough off retweets."

Don't: Ignore People

When someone tweets at you or mentions you, the worst affair you can do is ignore it. I'm always a picayune disappointed when I write a complimentary mail or give a company a shout-out and hear crickets in response.

I know you're decorated, so just favorite the tweet if you don't take the time to answer. If you practice, I strongly encourage you to say something, even if it's every bit brief as, "Cheers then much!"

It'southward no blow brands brand a point of interacting with their customers on social media—it drives brand loyalty up the wazoo. And hey, your personal brand could use some fans, also!

Exercise: Ignore the Spammers

That'due south not to say y'all have to acknowledge absolutely everyone. When people ask me to follow them, it would be weirder to favorite their tweet and not also follow them, rather than just pretend I never saw the tweet at all.

(Bonus tip: Don't ever inquire anyone to follow you.)

And if someone is hostile, I don't appoint either. Almost of the time, responding to angry or irrational people simply spurs them on.

Don't: Be a Stalker

When yous're trying to reach out to someone, it's easy to come on too strong. But every bit Herman explains, "y'all don't need to favorite or retweet everything that appears on your feed from a particular person, nor do you have to respond to every single tweet he or she writes. You lot'd be really freaked out if someone did that to you, correct?"

I also recall it'due south weird when people favorite a bunch of my tweets from two or fifty-fifty three years ago. Allow's stick to the nowadays!

Do: Follow the Companies You're Interested In

You should definitely follow each and every company you'd like to work for—you lot'll be one of the first to know about open positions, you'll get valuable insights into their cultures, and you'll stay upwards-to-appointment on their news.

Hither are 31 to get you started.

Do: Utilise People's Names

I'chiliad a big believer in taking the extra two seconds to click over to a user's profile, find his or her beginning proper noun, and use it in my response. It makes the interaction feel friendlier and more genuine.

I'd much rather read, "Totally agree, Aja!" than "Totally agree!"

Don't: Forget the Ability of an Emoticon

As we all know, it's super easy to send the wrong impression over text. Emoticons in email may not be super professional person (depending on whom you lot're talking to and where you piece of work), but there's no doubt they are kosher on Twitter.

Honestly, I honey inserting smiley faces in my tweets to other people. The slightly cold, "Lamentable, I'm not enlightened of any jobs in Colorado right now," instantly becomes the warmly apologetic, "Sorry, I'thou not aware of whatever jobs in Colorado correct now. :) "

Don't: Swear

While Twitter is definitely a more than coincidental environment, I still cringe whenever I meet a professional swearing. Not only should you evidently non use the intense swear words, you should as well refrain from the a-, s-, and d-words.

By the style, I'd also stay abroad from "moderate" swear words like "crap," "Jesus Christ," "freaking," or "pissed off." They simply don't audio professional—and you never know who you might offend.

Practice: Stay Positive

I'chiliad occasionally tempted to tweet things similar, "Unannounced @Windows update means I can't employ my estimator for the next hour. This is why I love PCs #sarcasm."

While that statement might be mildly entertaining (to me, at to the lowest degree), it's too whiny—and I'd rather continue my professional reputation equally whine-free equally possible.

No ane'south going to follow y'all for being positive. But people will unfollow you for being negative.

Don't: Neglect These Key Tools

There are enough of tools and apps out there that volition assistance you really up your Twitter game. Hither are a few of my personal favorites:

ManageFlitter will pull up inactive accounts and people who oasis't followed you dorsum.
SocialBro will tell you the best times to tweet.
SocialRank will allow y'all in on who your most influential, engaged, and "all-time" followers are, and so you can target them accordingly.
Twtrland will grade your activity, popularity, and responsiveness.
Nuzzel volition show you lot what people in your network are talking about.
BuzzSumo will find the most influential people tweeting virtually whatever given topic.

Do: Use Photos

This ane is actually something I'1000 working on myself. According to a study done by Buffer, when you lot include a photo in your tweet, y'all get 35% more retweets.

Plus, having a moving picture in your feed every once and while makes it much more visually interesting.

My trouble is that including pictures takes extra fourth dimension—then I've committed myself to the very manageable goal of i tweet-photo a day. (If I employ my five-minute technique for reaching out to influencers, I can accomplish 2 things at one time.)

Don't: Repost Instagram Links

That same Buffer study showed that when tweets include Instagram links, people actually engage with them less. If yous're dead-set up on having your Instagram posts show up on your Twitter folio, all the same, yous tin utilise this IFTT "recipe." All yous have to do is tag your Instagram mail "#tw," and your photo will evidence up as an actual photo on Twitter, rather than a link to your original Instagram post.

Did I miss anything? Tell me in—what else—a tweet!

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Source: https://www.themuse.com/advice/20-essential-twitter-rules-youve-probably-never-heard