If you want to maximize the benefits from the social network, make sure you avoid these common mistakes that people commit on Twitter
If you want to maximize the use of Twitter then you should definitely avoid these common mistakes that new Twitter users often commit.  
Mistake #1:  Following everyone that follows you.  Try to be selective about the people you follow.  Make sure you only follow the people that will bring value to your network.  Of course your goal is to connect with as many people as possible but you want to connect with “real” individuals and groups and not spammers telling you to look at their sexy pictures or telling you how to gain 1000 followers when they only have 10.  You also want to make sure that you are connecting with the right people.

Mistake #2: Using photos of inanimate objects on your avatar or profile picture, even worse- not using any profile photo at all. People feel more comfortable interacting with people online when they know that they are communicating with a real person.  

Mistake #3: Posting nothing but totally random drivel daily.  While this could work if you are only using the network to connect with family and friends, if you are using Twitter for business then you should post meaningful messages that can help you grow your business.  You can post promos, updates, and links to articles that provide value to people within your network.  You can also post humorous tweets and other more personal tweets just make sure that they are interesting.

Mistake #4:  Automating functions such as Direct Messages and “Follow Friday”.  Automating certain functions may make things easier for you on the social networks like Twitter but it doesn’t mean that it makes your Twitter account more effective.  Automating the sending of DMs and the posting of “Follow Friday” can even be counter-productive because it can make you seem insincere to the people on your network.  Sincerity is extremely important in building trust online.

Mistake #4:  Not making regular Twitter updates.  If you want to gain followers on Twitter, you need to post updates or tweets at least once a day.  You can’t expect people to follow you if they see that the last message on your feed was posted a month or two ago.
Mistake #5: Using Twitter to whine and rant.  People are turned off by people who do nothing but whine and rant.  Twitter is a social network not the psychiatrist’s chair.  Even if you are only networking with family and friends, whining and ranting get old and people will get sick of your tweets.

Mistake #6:  Choosing ridiculous user names and URLs. This applies to all types of online accounts, not just Twitter- you must choose a good username that best represents your company or your identity.

Of course we are all guilty of making some of the mistake I've been talking about, aren't we? But even some gurus like Thomas Power go over the top and tell us what they are doing right through the day - they're just plain nuts aren't they, but are they human?



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