Microblogging has emerged as a new and even faster way to connect with others via social media. Twitter as the most well known outlet for microblogging is now fulfilling this role of the “world wide talk show” according to the “Twitter Handbook” written by Deborah Micek and Warren Whitlock. Ironically enough, this world wide communication phenomenon has limited us to just 140 characters. The handbook points out what makes twitter and microblogging overall so unique to the social media world, “Twitter is all about SPEED and PARTICIAPTING in the CONVERSAITION.” By becoming an active tweeter, your company, brand, etc is now connected with an unlimited audience in a speed that was never before possible.
Despite its short and sweet nature of sharing brief thoughts, Twitter is anything but simple. Much thought is put behind the 140 character updates that companies produce. Beginning with the username, it is crucial for the name of one’s Twitter page to be easily accessible from a mobile phone (where much of tweeting originates from), meaning no symbols should be included. Additionally, using your brand as the twitter username ensures you to be as easy to find when searched as possible. Clearly stated in the “Twitter Handbook,” “the key is to be remembered.”
Also important to attracting followers and developing your brand on twitter, besides creating a simple and relevant username, is to personalize your page as much as possible. Immediately add a photo when you register as well as customize the background and color scheme of the text will attract others to following and engaging with you.
Obtaining followers for your brand is important and can be accomplished by being proactive and following people you think would be worthwhile to follow you back or to start a tweet conversation with others. However, once you get others to follow you, you need to keep them as well. By adding value to their twitter feed you can ensure not only that you will keep your followers but that they will spread your page to their followers as being of interest to many.
