Details that can increase your success on Twitter
Understanding the basics and user expectations can give you a competative advantage when using Twitter to increase revenue, productivity, or brand recognition.
Twitter works like a public messaging system, where anything you post can be seen by anyone:

Mentions & Replies: You can mention a user by using the @ symbol before a users name. Your message will end up appearing in the users @ stream.

Benefits
- Likely to increase perceived value of relationship between you and the user you’ve mentioned
- Appearing in a users @ stream can help your tweet stand out amongst the rest of the general stream
- The more frequently you mention or reply to users, the more likely users are to interact with you on a personal level
- Mentioning & replying shows users that you understand how to communicate on Twitter

- More likely to be read by the intended user
- Helps develop a more personal relationship
- Helps facilitate private or personal communication

Benefits
- Helps your tweet to be read by users who follow (or search) for your specified hashtag
- Allows users to follow a conversation, thread or event
- Allows users to gain more context around a tweet

- Helps users segment and access more relevant streams
- Following lists can show users that you’re interested in a particular subject
- Adding users to lists helps develop a more personal relationship & can increase perceived value of relationship
Background: You can personalize your profile by changing design elements on your page. Adding a background image is a good way to tell users something about yourself.

Benefits
- Can reinforce branding
- Can relay additional information (i.e. additional digital properties, personalities that use the account, etc)
- Can include clickable links with proper software
Avatar: Attached to every tweet you send, your avatar is a quick way for users to identify who’s Tweeting.

- Consistency can increase recognition (even available when using 3rd party apps or viewing from a feed)
- Can positively affect reputation and increase respect
- Can show support for causes or affiliations (i.e. Twibbons)
- Can be used to relay information (i.e. email address, name, etc)
User Name: Your user name isn’t just the name attached to each of your tweets; it’s also the URL users type to see your page.

- Can reinforce branding
- Can improve memorability
- Can show affiliations (i.e. BillfromDell)
Following: A list of everyone you follow.

- Following a user shows that users tweets in your stream
- Shows that you are interested
- Shows that you don’t just use Twitter for broadcasting
- Makes you more approachable
- Allows users to direct message you
- Promotes a closer relationship
- Allows users in your region to connect with you
- Important information when users are looking to do business
- Allows users to target tweets for tweet-ups
Bio: A short (160 char) description of yourself.
- Allows searchers to link with other users who share similar interests
- Provides a brief history which can improve credibility
- Gives users an idea about who you are (or how you use the Twitter account)
Website: A link that appears on your profile page.

- Easy way for users to find out more information about you
- Important way to connect your Twitter account with the rest of your digital properties
- Good for search
Name: The name that will appear on your profile. Good for searching.
- Helps users find you
- Helps users connect with you through multiple channels
- Helps with personal branding
- Helps users identify with who they’re communicating with
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