This is also true online.

There are lots of things we help our clients with from the best way to announce product to which marketing solutions to use.

And when we see some of these do- it-yourself mistakes in setting up a business Twitter account, we feel we need to step in and and say, “Stop it – please.”

Here’s our list of the top 10 ways to screw-up your business Twitter presence -

10. Tiled image background.
This can make your Twitter presence appear like a home-made art project, and this type of background can distract from your business image. It can also look like whoever designed your Twitter background doesn’t know what they are doing.  Keep it simple and engaging.

9.  Immediate Self Promotion.
Immediately begin promoting your business. Don’t engage with your audience or ask questions. Doing this will insure that your Twitter account goes nowhere. Keep in mind that Twitter should be used to help build your brand, not drive direct sales. No one cares about what you are selling. Stop it.

8.  Auto Direct Messages (or DMs).
This is just another form of the automated phone telemarketing message. Stop it. Don’t do anything that creates more work for people you are connecting with online. Unless you have something you really need to say to someone – don’t DM them in Twitter, and don’t set up an auto thank you to people for connecting with you. If you can’t take the time to make an actual connection, then don’t bother.

7.  Posting Too Much.
When you over-post you icons monopolize your follower’s Twitter screens and prevent them from seeing anyone else. This is one of the quickest ways to get people to quit following what you have to say. Sorry, but most people aren’t interested in seeing you that much unless they are sleeping with you.

6.  Spamming With Re-Tweets.
Everyone hates seeing a steady stream of re-tweets – it’s just like posting too much (see above). Please do not re-tweet just for the sake of re-tweeting in hopes of getting noticed or getting people to follow you. It will backfire. It makes you look like the person at the party that only wants to talk about themselves and be the center of attention. What you re-tweet becomes part of your business brand, so re-tweet quality content.

5.  Posting Your Opinions on Politics or Religion.
Political and religious opinions create too much of a distraction so that people forget what your business is about. Do you want this? Besides, who says you’re right?  It’s best to stick to trying to help people trough your Twitter account like Media Temple at http://www.twitter.com/mediatemple. They do a terrific job of handling a business Twitter account.

4. Not Following back.
Don’t follow anyone back. Not a soul. OK, maybe like 50 people, but no more. Just let people follow you. Celebrities are famous for this and we feel it makes them look small and self-centered. Twitter is about connecting and engaging people while building a community. This includes following people back. Look like a business that cares. Thank you.

3.  Arguing A Point.
Nothing will make you look smaller than an ant in the middle of an elephant stampede faster than negatively engaging with customers (and potential customers) on Social Media. Do not engage in in an argument in any way. This is bad mojo and stays on the Internet forever. Learn to roll with any negativity and use a sense of humor. And remember that often when people are complaining, it is usually a sign that they want to stay with you. Help them.

2.  Posting Tweets Once In A While.
You should make a point of visiting your twitter account at least once a week. You should be posting something every business day. It’s only 140 characters – it’s not a marriage proposal. Irregular posting and ignoring your Twitter page makes it look like you do the same thing to your customers. Customers hate being ignored. Remember this.

1.  Abandoning your Twitter Account.
If you are in business, nothing looks worse than to open a Twitter account, begin Tweeting and then stop Tweeting for weeks and even months. It makes you look like you cannot commit, lack focus and will drop the ball with your clients. It isn’t difficult to throw up a Tweet with your morning coffee, at lunch or just before you go home for the day. Show you care enough about your brand and your customers to stay in the game.

What are you waiting for? Go tweet for your business today. If you aren’t sure where to begin, then let us help you by calling 707-578-1390 today. We can even create a custom Twitter Business background to drive your amazing brand.

About Forward Motion Studios
Forward Motion Studios™ is a Santa Rosa Web Design company that builds, hosts and supports custom websites for businesses. This includes simple, brochure-like web pages to highly complex, software and database-driven eCommerce websites with B2B shopping carts.  You can catch their Tweets at twitter/forwardmotion.

Contact us for a free estimate / consultation by calling 707-578-1390.

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