When using a personal social media account you can get away with the occasional mistake, but when it comes to posting for your business, good Twitter etiquette is essential. Twitter blunders can be entertaining when they happen to other people, but when your business is on the line, it’s a different story.

After you get started on Twitter, follow these Twitter etiquette tips to help you steer clear of common mistakes:

• Stop selling and start communicating. Your customers participate in Twitter and other social media platforms because they like interacting with a community of other users, not because they want to make a purchase. While it’s okay to post some promotional content, focus more on useful tips and ideas that will engage your customer. Participating in this type of dialogue may even help you understand your customers better.
• Nobody likes spam. Sending unsolicited promotional messages is generally not appreciated. However, you can respond to other tweets with helpful ideas or expert advice when appropriate. Many people also do not like receiving auto-response direct messages when they decide to follow you. If you do decide to use this feature, make sure you include something useful like a coupon code or a link to a free e-book.
• Mix it up. Status updates can get pretty boring if you constantly post the same types of messages. Mix it up with weekly contests, quizzes, tips of the day or other creative ways to engage your audience.
• Avoid double posting. There are some exceptions to this rule, but in general, posting the same article or other piece of content multiple times in one day should be avoided.
• Space out your posts. If your Twitter feed dominates the page, your readers will start dropping off quickly. Post at various times of the day to keep your brand in the minds of your customers without annoying them.
• Edit your tweets. This rule doesn’t just apply to Twitter etiquette, but to all of your social media efforts. Take the time to make sure your posts use proper grammar and spelling. A quick proofread doesn’t take long and it’s well worth the effort to protect your brand image.
• Complete your bio. In addition to being good Twitter etiquette, your bio gives you the chance to tell your customers more about your company. Use keywords appropriately and make sure you include a picture.

To get the most from your social media strategy, monitoring and reporting are essential. Let Social Strategy1 help you track your company’s impact in social media and other marketing channels. Contact us today to learn more or request a demo to see how it works.