50 Tips for using Twitter as a learning tool

Twitter is the tool of the moment. 12 months ago if you had asked anyone about twitter they would have though you a bit of a geek - now many people are using it.

If you are using Twitter for business purposes, have two accounts - one for personal use and one for business use. Keep the business one 'human' rather than just 'push' type messages.

Twitter is a powerful way to hear about the 'hear and now' thoughts on a key topic - not just from people you know or follow you - but from anyone interested in the topic - all in 140 character bite sizes pieces.

For Twitter to 'work' for you, below are some 'rules' or netiquette to follow, the key is to develop a style of your own. Don't expect quick results, building trust and relationships takes tenacity and time.

50 tips for using twitter as a learning vehicle:

1) Add value - share interesting or useful info, blogs (others as well as your own) etc
2) Always respond to peoples @ messages
3) Avoid political, religious and other subjects which people will find offencive
4) Big followers - does not mean many listeners - the RTs tell that story
5) Change your BIO regularly
6) Don't expect Twitter to deliver revenue alone, it is only ONE element of the strategy
7) Even an attentive follower won't read all your messages
8) Follow people who are in your field or area of interest
9) Follow the advice of people that have demonstrated competence - not think they know how to...
10) FollowFriday send a message saying why people should follow them
11) Getting followers is not a right its a privilege
12) Give - don't take
13) Have an avatar (picture) of your face or company logo
14) Help promote the dreams of other people, and they may return the favour
15) If someone RT re-Tweets a message - send them a thank you
16) If you are going to auto DM only send a welcome message
17) If you post info of any kind, leave plenty of room for retweeting
18) In marketing messages use appropriate keywords
19) Its not the number of followers but the number of Re-Tweets you get
20) Limit what you automate
21) Make sure your BIO is up to date and human
22) NEVER DM a request to follow you on another social networking site ie FaceBook
23) NEVER DM or tweet a MLM program
24) NEVER DM or tweet a traffic follower program
25) NEVER sign up to any of the Twitter ad services-it undermines your position
26) NEVER tweet when drunk or under the influence
27) Occasionally ask people to RT a post, if you ask every time they wont
28) Only promote your services less than once every 10-20 tweets
29) ONLY use a DM for personal messages or if you must to welcome a follower
30) Open up a bit.ly account for short URLs
31) Please report (@spam) unfollow & Block Twitter Spammers
32) Rerunning tweets occasionally is a good idea
33) Set your wallpaper to promote your message
34) Share thoughts and links from others (RT)
35) Thank people who re-tweet you. Either DM, @ reply, or re-tweet something of theirs
36) Treat followers with respect & courtesy & every now & then thank them
37) Tweet real stuff - highs and lows
38) Tweet regularly - at least 4 times a day
39) Tweet to show you are human
40) Tweet to show you are more than a marketing machine
41) Twitter is not an IM service-keep private discussions short
42) Use a # in front of #keywords - it helps people track useful information
43) Use favourites to save and show brand/product testimonials
44) Use travel time to tweet and read tweets on smartphones
45) Use twitpic or other photo services occasionally
46) Use Twitter to meet up with your new contacts
47) Want more followers? Re-tweet the good stuff you find
48) When you have over 100 friends use Tweetdeck or Seesmic to help you to manage
49) Work on building a relationship-not pushing message to people
50) You don't have to follow everyone, only those of interest

Above all have fun and share the learning

Mike Morrison is director of RapidBI and an avid user of social media for learning, OD and business use.