Twitter can help you make more sales. It can do so through SEO and through direct contact with prospective and existing customers. Your Twitter profile is important. Here are some ideas for boosting it so that you’re going to be considered to be more follow-worthy to others.
Your Twitter Avatar
If you’re tweeting as an individual, you’ll want to put up your face. A photo of you can help you connect with others. Some who use Twitter to spam use provocative and almost pornographic photos. This is not going to get you very far.
People follow others on social media sites because they believe that they can connect with them. Unless you’re a recognisable brand, you’re advised to use a photo.
Your Twitter Profile
On Twitter, you have space where you can show:
• Your name.
• URL.
• Location.
• 160 character (or less) bio.
This Twitter profile information, depending on what you put here, can make or break you on Twitter. If you follow someone, chances are that they’re going to click your Twitter profile to learn more about you before they decide whether or not they want to ‘listen’ to your tweets.
Putting a URL and a good bio can help pique peoples’ interest so that they’ll look closer and maybe even click through to your URL.
Your bio shouldn’t be spammy. If it is, people are likely to get turned “off” before learning much about you. It’s fine to say what you do but avoid “click my website” or “buy ____” at all costs.
Twitter Background
You can choose one of the default Twitter backgrounds or upload a photo to appear behind your profile. A lot of internet marketers choose to use a professional quality Twitter background that strategically places more information about you in the area of the screen that’s least likely to be obscured by Twitter updates.
You may choose a free or premium background through companies that provide these (or through your own design prowess) so that you have another opportunity to appeal to your potential audience in an unobtrusive way.
Follow-Worthy?
Are you follow-worthy? One of the keys to Twitter success is to be unobtrusive and helpful. Those who blatantly do constant self-promotion will get ignored. Those who add value to the conversation and have the skills to use timing to their advantage can use traffic as an income source because interested people will re-tweet what you say and send people to your links.
Look regularly at your last ten to twenty tweets. If someone visits your profile, they’ll see these tweets and chances are, they’ll analyse them to see if you appear follow-worthy or not. Is your ratio of promotional versus non-promotional tweets high? Is there value in some or most of the updates? Are you interacting with your tweeps or are you just pushing out your own updates?
Look at your Twitter profile as an outsider to see if you’d follow you and that can give you a good inclination of the potential for making great connections.
If you are interested in following me on Twitter, feel free to check out my Twitter profile.
See you at the top of Google!
Sean Rasmussen
SEO Australia Pacific
AussieSEO.com © 2007 - 2010
Having a Twitter Background is definitely a worthwhile thing to have. I think it adds to that whole concept of standing out from the crowd.
I have seen some really great ones which are absolutely amazing. You wouldn’t even think that it was a twitter page (until you look at the address bar). There are some free online tools that you can use to create a background, but the professional ones are the way to go if you are a serious Twitter user.
.-= Cemil´s last blog ..Thesis Theme 1.7 – Update =-.
Hi Sean,
thanks for the reminders. One question in regards to boosting your Twitter Profile – how do you distinguish between blatant self-promotion and “worthy” tweets?
I like to give links to websites I regard as interesting and worthy via Twitter, but others might see it as promotional when there is a bit.ly link in the tweet without checking out the link.
Would like to know what others think and how to solve that (if possible)
Renee
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Secrets Of The Millionaire Mind – Part 2 =-.
Hi Renee
Self promotional tweets can be classed as links that point to pages that promote products (your own product, or affiliate products you are marketing). It could also be classed as solely promoting your own blog or website. In my opinion, there is no problem whatsoever with adding links to sites you feel are interesting or just something you like and want to share, as there is a fair chance other Twitter users will also enjoy them. Mix your tweets up a bit, come across as a human and not a robot and you will be on the right track
Regards – Sean
Mention in Bio – what the followers will benefit when they follow
Best,
Jag
.-= Jag @twitter´s last blog ..jagadeeshmp: RT @Lataknair Fake tweeple more interesting than real ppl http://ow.ly/1dCZf =-.
Thanks Jag, good suggestion.
Very helpful! I need to work on my background…
.-= Andi´s last blog ..India: Day 1 =-.
I must admit that I’m a strong believer in providing a picture of yourself on any social media sites that you utilise. If you’re not willing to post your picture then I’m not too inclined to pay much attention to you unless you are a personal friend. That’s why you all get a chance to see my ugly mug whenever you come across me on the Net.
Since social media is social, I agree with you Don. People like to see who they are conversing with
I agree with you in some respects Don, but some of us like to use a picture that has some sort of meaning to us. My avatar is a Haida salmon which symbolizes wealth amongst other things, so this is important to me as this is one of my main goals. I believe that if you can provide quality comments or content on a social media site, then whether you have a picture of yourself or not as your avatar, is irrelevant. Having said that, I do use a picture of myself on my blog and other social media sites where I feel it is appropriate to do so.
.-= Colin´s last blog ..Gratitude =-.
I agree with Don also,
I find that profiles without a photo just naturally put me off because it seems that perhaps this person has something to hide or if they can’t be bothered posting a picture that also tells me a bit about that persons character.
.-= jeremy´s last blog ..jlagatule- RT -bullhunter Twitter Tips – Get The Most Out Of 140 Characters http-bitly-bwgCWb =-.
When people contact me on Facebook, I check them out. If they don’t supply a photograph I just delete them.
If I already know them it’s ok.
You’d delete me Elly? That’s so harsh. I’m glad you already know me so I don’t have to suffer the fate of being deleted.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Success – Make It Happen =-.
I used to think Twitter was a waste of time before I got into Internet marketing. I now see it as a very effective tool to advertise yourself for free. You can’t beat free traffic! I too need to work on my backround but I was thinking instead of using my personal Twitter account that I should have an account for my webpage instead. Kind of just like my fan page for facebook.
.-= Landon Steffensen´s last blog ..Dog Food: Is It Hurting Your Dog? =-.
Thanks Sean. I never liked any of the standard choices for backgrounds and didn’t realise I could upload an image of my own. Have tried but keep getting the whale error page. Will have to revisit later.
Yeah I just learn’t that too only I found that the photo could only be displayed in a tiled format that kinda looks funny so I decided to go with a custom backround instead : )
.-= jeremy´s last blog ..jlagatule- RT -bullhunter Twitter Tips – Get The Most Out Of 140 Characters http-bitly-bwgCWb =-.
I have just updated my background to have rows of babies since my niche is pregnancy parenting and babycare. The only thing I don’t like about it is it has writing on it.
.-= Jackie Stenhouse´s last blog ..Anxiety Separation in Children =-.
Hi Sean – I haven’t used Twitter all that much, but I actually have two accounts, as I received advice that it may be more beneficial to separate personal or different businesses into different profiles.. I was just wondering if I should only look at using just one account again for both personal & business(es) as the years unfold?
For instance, I’ve been involved in share market trading, but focussing on IM now. My first profile, mostly dealing with trading & personal tweets features my own picture. Whereas my second profile picture is a cloud/sunrays photo I snapped (instead of my mug-shot) & I have mostly used the account for IM/article tweets…
Is it better to keep all interests in just one profile, or keep separate? (Does anyone else here have multiple Twitter accounts?) Thanks Sean!
.-= Mel Smith´s last blog ..Simple Copywriting Mistakes to Avoid =-.
It’s totally up to you Mel, depending on the situation it can be a good idea to have separate accounts for separate niches. The reasoning for this, is that you want to try and build a reputation for being an expert in a particular field. There are many different ways of looking at this, it’s something best decided by yourself, taking your future plans into account
I always read someone’s bio and take a look at their tweets, it really does give you an insight into that person. Great idea to look at yourself from an outsider’s perspective, never really thought of doing that before.
Have attempted to customise my background, which I think makes it so much more personal. I also got the whale error page Tori, but think it might be a size issue.
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Indoor Air Quality =-.
I customized my background with what ColorMe offers. Could be better, but at least it’s better than nothing. Now I need good content.
Hi Sean,
Great tips for boosting your Twitter profile. I’m with Hilary on this. I always look at someone’s profile and their tweets to get a feel for what kind of person they are and to see if I would like what they’re sharing. Having said that though, there are only a few instances where I don’t follow back.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Learn and Earn – It’s a Marathon Not a Sprint =-.
Hi Sean,
Thanks for the Twitter tips as I have just signed up for an account with them and I am wondering how it all works. I just signed up the other day and followed about 6 or 7 people including yourself & a few other Internet Marketers which I’m guessing will be good way to keep up to date with current information. Hopefully I will be able to make myself follow worthy by using your tips! : )
Getting stuck into the action is what it’s all about Jeremy, you will learn lots as you continue to use the service for sure
thanks for this really helpful article sean- i am looking so forward to getting more followers, great content in my tweets and a better-looking profile. First thing we did was get photo up and background whale issue happening but still working! I think that the comments about creating a whole new user id for marketing and for another niche is an interesting topic and we’ve decided to separate our personal from professional too; for us it was that we do this together and it keeps it topical for building a following, hopefully, and have individual / personal accounts for our daily life; at least, that was how our conversation went anyway! we’re talking it up big so it sounds good anyway! preparing to be sean with 70k followers!
I like the idea of creating my own background on Twitter.
The first thing I need to do is get my blog sorted out before I put my URL link on my Twitter profile.
I have enjoyed reading this post as it makes Twitter more fun and I am looking forward to reading the “Ultimate Twitter Guide” when this competition has ended.
Hi Elly,
I agree, it’s fun to create something individual. And because of this full on competition I have not had a chance to really read the Twitter Guide. But the day will come, I am sure
Let me know once you have created your own background, I will have a look
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Self Improvement Books – What Are Your Favourites =-.
I am definately going to put more time into twitter when I regain some of my time. I only use it to post my blog updates on it at the moment so my profile looks pretty spammy and only includes links in all my posts. I will endeavour to change this.
.-= Jackie Stenhouse´s last blog ..Anxiety Separation in Children =-.