Use Twitter to Boost Your Writing Career

We all heard of Twitter but some aspiring writers may not know how to use this social networking site to boost their writing careers. Below I will examine Twitter.com and tips on how to use Twitter to help your writing career.

First, let us examine the purpose of having a social networking profile.

We all know that word of mouth is the most powerful form of marketing. With a profile on a site such as Twitter, you have the opportunity to connect with hundreds of people who may be interested in you and your work. Connecting online with people with similar interests is the first step to becoming a household name.  You have an opportunity to display your writing and skills, and readers can browse your writing easier and faster than in bookstores. Social networking is almost as important as any other form of marketing out there.

Twitter is the fastest growing social networking site right now. Everyone tweets from Oprah to the guy next door. If you have a favorite celebrity, musician, or author the chances are you will find them on Twitter. And what makes Twitter so fun and addictive is that there are a lot of your favorite people who will have a conversation with you (even if it is one hundred-and-forty characters at a time).

Twitter takes a minute to get used to but by no means is it impossible or difficult. Actually, it’s simple. Once you dedicate a couple hours to familiarizing yourself with it you would believe the same, I am sure.

Start by signing up. If you are a writer, use your author name as your username, doing so will make it easier for others to find you. You can add a picture, a short bio, your location and customize your profile background to your liking. All this is to set up your presence in Twitterland.

The trick to successful tweeting is to play around with it and learn where every button links. You have six buttons on the top right corner of your profile that are self-explanatory.  Below those is the number of followers you have and the number of people you follow. To get some followers first you have to follow some folk.

Search and follow those who interest you. Do not just follow the big celebrities but the average Joes who seem interested in the same things you are. Do not be afraid to click names and pictures. It will take you directly to that person’s profile where you can read some of their tweets to see if you want to follow them. If they are interesting, follow them and every time they tweet, you will receive a copy of their messages on your homepage.

Once you are a follower, start communicating. Read other’s tweets and respond to them. A simple, “Thanks for sharing!” reply is greatly appreciated and can earn you some follows.

However, remember, just as you are looking for tweets that interest you, others are looking for tweets that interest them. So start sharing but be interesting. Share a little more than “what you are doing now.” Talk about your favorite books and what makes them your favorite. Talk about a tweet you saw that intrigued you or talk about one of the Trending Topics since they will most likely be very interesting.

Wondering if others are talking about you or your tweets? Or maybe someone replied to one of your tweets or replies. Then click on the @yourname link.  It will take you to a page where all the replies directed to you are stored.

Simple. Talk about your writing and/or your websites. Update your profile with links to your books, website, blogs or social networking site.

BUT . . . and this is a big but, Do Not Spam.

Everyone hates spam but the spammer. Do not just update your page with links to your stuff because people will stop reading your tweets or worse, they will never follow you or un-follow you. Engage with others, this is the point of being social. Retweet other peoples tweets that are interesting or that you think your followers would think is interesting and give useful tips or info. Be a useful and interesting Twitter presence.

Exercising these easy steps will help you familiarize yourself with Twitter and ultimately boost your writing career on this popular website. Moreover, you will meet tons of interesting people.

Leslie Lee Sanders

www.twitter.com/LeslieLSanders