My top 10 Twitter tips

I had a chat today with Elaine Knutt, editor of Construction Manager magazine. She's researching an article on the use of social media (Twitter, Linked In, blogs, online discussion forums etc) in the construction sector.

Elaine has just joined Twitter (you'll find her at @CMElaine), and she was looking for advice. So here's what I sent her - my 10 Twitter Tips for anyone who is new to any of this:

1. Follow the Twitter rules of etiquette
2. Put up a photo on your profile so we can see who we’re listening to.
3. Use the ‘Search’ facility to find people who are tweeting about topics that interest you.
4. Find a few people to follow who you think have something interesting to offer (not celebrities though!) and ask for their tips on how to make it work for you, who else you should follow and why.
5. Listen sensitively to what people are saying about your business sector. You will gain useful insights.
6. In fact, listen more than you tweet. But don’t stay silent for too long, otherwise people will get bored and stop following you.
7. Never think of Twitter and social media in terms of ‘getting a higher profile’ or blatant advertising for your company. Always think of Twitter in terms of sharing something of value. Give, and you shall receive.
8. Only retweet (RT) someone else’s update if you think it’s great and worth sharing with your followers. If it contains a link to something on the Internet, make sure you’ve read what you’re retweeting!
9. Keep genuinely personal stuff private. We do not want to know you've had a row with your partner. Do not tweet while drunk.
10. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: All the best communications happen face-to-face. So use Twitter (and all social media) to help develop business relationships offline.

July 09 POSTSCRIPT: Here is the article in Construction Manager about social networking in construction featuring, among others:

• fellow communicators Louise Reed at Capita Symonds (Twitter name: @Capita Symonds) and Paul Wilkinson (@EEPaul),
• architectural industry networker supreme Su Butcher (@SuButcher),
• architectural designer Jonathan Moreels (@Jmoreels),
• Kirk Smith at 4K Construction (@4k_construction),
• John Keleher at Crittall Windows (@johnkatcrittall)and
• Andrew McCormick at Hobson & Porter (@hobsonandporter).