Build Your Business Using Twitter - Part 4
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 4:56PM 
Hey guys!
This blog post is the final in my 4 part series on how to build your business using Twitter. Part 1 looked at building your fan base, Part 2 was all about engaging with that fan base once you have them, and Part 3 was using Twitter to launch a product. In this final part we talk about the biggest Twitter no-no's. Things to avoid that could damage your brand and business from RTing Follow Fridays to baby bowel movements.. you need to know this, it's essential!
I put this out to my Twitter followers to find out what they thought were the ultimate Twitter no-no's, I also added in some that I find personally annoying or damaging to a brand. Here we go..
10 - Sending a DM to thank someone for following you
This was put to me by one of my twitter followers. Personally, I have done this in the past but I can see why it's a little annoying. DMs aren't really the point of twitter and I think if you want to thank someone, do it via the main timeline and send a link to your site. Make sure it isn't a generic reply and tailor it to the person who followed so they feel like it's a person and not a spambot.
9 - Linking your Twitter account to your Facebook account
Again this was a reader submission, but I have to admit.. I do this! Mainly as I link business type accounts together and I have a separate personal facebook account. However is has bitten me in the ass a few times. I swear a lot and sometimes things I write on twitter I forget will be shown on my facebook where my grandpa, baby cousins etc are friends with me. Not such a great role model!
8 - Tweeting a running commentary of your day
Missed a bus? Accidentally trod in a puddle? Ordered a vanilla late? Busy train? Do we care? No.
7 - Using automated messages or tweeting on behalf of someone
The whole point of Twitter is to get to know the real person - their opinions, interests and quirky little things they find funny. Constantly being on the business promo or using automated tweet services does not bode well with twitter followers. I agree that something like Tweetadder is great for automating certain messages, for instance the day of product release, but make sure they are still personally written and only on occasions.
6 - Going on a rant
It's good to have opinions. In fact, opinions and the contrast of them on Twitter is what makes it so great! However, some people do take this just a tad too far. Putting forward a logical argument against something is cool, and maybe do it over 1-3 tweets. Anything that goes over 3 tweets is going to make you look like a moody, negative mentalist. Trust me, I've been there. Close friends and family told me at the time that I looked like a moaner, and I insisted it was all part of my image and my personality. Nope, I just looked like a moaner.
5 - Indirect insults
I see this so much on Twitter. I mean, it is a great place to make deliberately vague, catty comments without anyone ever being able to actually pin you down for who you were talking about. 9 times out of 10 though, it's totally obvious who you're 'indirecting' and it just makes you look like a pussy.
4 - Asking people to follow you
Mentioning someone to say 'Yo, check out my new video' or 'follow me I follow back' are not good methods of communication. In fact, this is more likely to turn off your potential customer than anything. So just don't do it. You look desperate. Would you walk round a club saying 'please date me?' - I hope not.
3 - Slagging off your company / boss
Ahhh so fun yet so risky! Obviously, Twitter is supposed to be a place of free speech, opinions, moans and all. But in this day and age, it's so ridiculously easy to read someone's whole twitter timeline unless it is protected, so just be very very careful. Unless you don't give a flying fuck, then I would say good on you! Who wants a boss anyway?
2 - Retweeting compliments, Follow Friday mentions, or just anything that mentions your name
This is by far, THE most annoying thing to ever happen to social networking. FF mention? Retweet it. Someone said you look fit in your picture? Retweet that? Someone said your song is the shit? Retweet it. NO NO NO NO NO, I don't know how many times I can say no. NO NO NO NONONONONO.
If a customer or fan has sent you a genuinely heartfelt message that you would love to share then this is perhaps OK once a week. Once a day, or more than once a day means you are a totally self obsessed twat. Don't do it. We all find you annoying. We want to like you, we really do, but you're being annoying.
1 - Writing anything offensive, racist, homophobic or sexist.
This doesn't need an explanation.
I have to say one of my personal hates is people who tweet about these 2 things.
1 - their babies bowel movements / sleep habits or eating schedule
2 - people who talk in any shape or form about their poo. That is all.
Be safe out there people, don't make it into the Twitter no-no list!
Sarah x
Reader Comments (2)
Hey
Not sure I agree with these 10 no-no's especially retweeting cool stuff people say about you. Loads of people do it all the time, myself included & it gives you a sense of how people feel about the music or product etc. With everything there is a limit so 10 tweets in a row about how wonderful you are is too much, 1-3 is acceptable I think.
Since I've started being active on Twitter, I've realised there are so many different ways you can use it. I don't think there is a one size fits all approach. You have to be true to your own personal brand and make it work for you.
That said, asking people to follow you back just because is always lame :)
X
This post made me laugh :) Nice one!