5 Things To Do When Setting Up Your Twitter Account

Taking the plunge into the Twitterverse can be a little intimidating, not to mention a bit overwhelming. By following these 5 steps when setting up your Twitter account, you’ll get started on the right foot and be one step closer to developing a strong presence on Twitter. By the way, the first four are what I look at in deciding to follow someone on Twitter. If they are missing this information, I usually don’t follow.

1. Choose Twitter ID

There’s a choice to make here. Do you use your personal name or your blog’s name for your Twitter ID? there are pros and maybe some cons to each. I use my name because I feel most like myself that way. Also, I want to be known as an expert in my niche and I want people to know MY name, not just my blog.

Using your blog name helps build the brand of your blog. It helps people connect that you on Twitter is the same as you on your blog. However, Twitter IDs are only 15 characters long so you may need to do some tweaking.

Speaking of character length. Here are a few things to keep in mind. Longer names are harder to remember, especially if they include numbers that appear random. You may know that 985 is your anniversary, but no one else does and will therefore have a harder time remembering the numbers. Also, shorter names leave more characters for conversation. This is particularly important when you ask people to retweet.

2. Add Your Website

Once you click through the pages on adding followers, you are directed to your Home page. In the top menu bar on the right click on Settings. Here you’ll add your website. This is important for getting Twitter followers/potential followers to visit your blog. Avoid using a MySpace page and never, never, NEVER use your Twitter page as your website.

3. Add Your One Line Bio

Describe yourself in 160 characters. Don’t be too fancy, but please make it readable. Long lists of hobbies or areas of expertise don’t draw me in. Say something unique about you. Also include what topics you like to discuss.

While on this tab you can also add your location. This is important if you are building a network based on where you live. If you want to be invited to those cool blogger events, people need to know where you live! I am also turned off of a profile when the location is sarcastic or overly general: the universe, for example.

4. Add Your Profile Picture

This is so incredibly important, I cannot stress it enough. Add your pic. Before you tweet. Before you follow people. Add that picture! Click on the Picture tab at the top of the Setting page. Upload a pic that you like. If you don’t have one, use your computer’s camera and take one now. It’s that important.

As I mentioned earlier, I look at all this information when making the decision about following someone. I’ll give a new Tweep a chance if they have this filled out and match my interest, even if they don’t have many tweets yet.

5. Set Up TweetBeep

TweetBeep is a nifty little service that sends you an email notification if someone sends you and @ message on Twitter. Twitter sends you an email if someone sends you a DM, but as far as I know, TweetBeep is the only way to know that someone said something to you publicly on Twitter without checking your Twitter home page. In fact, you can set up notification for any information that’s tweeted that you want to know about.

Finally You’re Ready to Start Tweeting

Now you may send our your first tweet. Make it interesting. Make it relevant to your blog audience since that’s who you’re hoping to attract on Twitter. It’s also great to start with a conversation. Shows you know people on Twitter and lends a bit of authority and authenticity to your presence. If you’re just starting, you can talk to me, @ajpassey, in your first tweet. I’ll respond, I promise! Even if it’s not your first, you can talk to me {wink, wink}