Props to those of you who attempted the Twitter challenge.  The consensus is that Twitter is relatively easy to use.

Here are a few pointers that will help make messaging on Twitter much simpler:

If you want to refer to another Twitter user or address them publicly use @theirTwiiterid
Ex:  Going to dinner with @lisabuck01 or @lisabuck01 thanks for the follow

Direct Message someone from the right side of your Home page.  Click the DM tab, message at top by choosing recipient in drop down box. 

Search for people using the third tab from the left at the top of the page.  Click 'Find People' and type in their name, business name, or Twitter id.

Friends, you have made it through a week of Twitter 101.  Now, its your turn to Twitter. 

Your June 12th Twitter Challenge Task List

1. Take twenty minutes out of your Saturday morning to set-up a Twitter account. 
2. Establish a user name and password. 
3. Personalize your profile, adding a portrait if possible.
4. Search for five friends you are interested in following.  Follow them. 
5. Find five businesses of interest.  Follow them.
6. Send five updates over the course of the weekend. 
7. Send two direct messages. 
8. Retweet two updates.
9. Reply to two Tweets.
10. Visit four profiles. 
11.  Come back to Root & Madison and discuss your experience with your friends here at RM and many others just like you. 

I am intentionally leaving out usage instructions and how to's.  I want to test Twitter's usability and your ability to tap into your tech side.  Good luck! 

Ready, Set, GO! 

Twitter is quickly becoming one of the most powerful vehicles for communication--a way to reach thousands in seconds.  The immediate dissemination of information enamors individuals and businesses alike.  As a growing number of Tweeters log onto Twitter to get their message out, boundaries will become grayed and limits will be pushed.

Twitter, though powerful, is fragile.  People control their accounts and who they follow.  Followers choose the information they want to know.  As a Tweeter, you must be respectful and follow the golden rule, exercising Twitterquette at all times.  If you offend your following, they can and they will stop following you.  Consider your spam email box, a place where your junk mail goes, never to be looked at again.  Twitter account holders do not have to put up with your junk, they will just delete you.

So, a word of advice:  Follow these ten Twitter rules.

10 Rules of Twitter

1.  Don't be the psycho girlfriend!  Avoid Twittering more than once every 15 minutes.

2.  Don't be a Twitter snob!  If they follow you, follow them (unless you are totally uninterested).

3.  No one wants to know what size soft drink you ordered!  Do not barrage your audience with the mundane details of your life. 

4.  Did you find the cure for the dreaded red wine hang over?  People like to learn.  Share interesting tips and facts with them. 

5.  One too many links and the tower falls.  If you post too many links to follow, people will get bored. 

6.  Tweet-Tweet a Tweet-Tweet.  If you are in a meeting or at dinner, please turn your Tweeting Blackberry on silent or better yet, turn it off!  It is rude to be Tweeting when your attention should be focused on a presenter or date. 

7.  Auto-Twitter=Auto-Dump.  If you want to keep your following, avoid Tweets that appear to be automated.

8.  Appropriate touch.  If you really want to woo your followers- reach out and touch them, send a Direct Message.  This is a great way to show them that you care and know that they are there.  Take a look at their profile or updates and make an appropriate remark.

9.  Leave the work at the office.  Don't Tweet business after the shop is locked.  Allow people to relax on the evenings and weekends.  Keep the Tweets light.

10.  Religion and politics don't mix.  If you feel strongly about a current event, direct your followers to a link that pertains to the issue.  Try not to blast them with your opinion.  Remember, not everyone cares what you think.

Twittering should be fun.  If we all follow the rules, Twitter will continue to grow and serve a purpose far beyond its original mission.  Twitter will change our world for the better.  Keep your Twitter personal and you will keep your followers.  And as always, remember to treat them how you want to be treated.

Followers and fans want knowledge.  They want to feel in the loop, a part of the action, in the know.  So, if that is what they want, give it to them!

Twitter provides an awesome platform to disseminate information rapidly.  Like Facebook, Twitter is mobile.  Your followers can receive your updates at their desk, in the car, at the salon, anywhere.  Take advantage of this.  Feed them information they want to know.  Though you should avoid barraging followers with a bunch of links to web articles, share a link to the web updates on your page.  Dish out information that matters.

Help your clients.  Post out their links.  Share the latest sales, new summer hours and featured services at your place of business.  Say happy birthday to a long time customer, happy anniversary to your long time employee, celebrate a new hire.  Make your followers, clients and customers a part of your family.

Tweets should be brief (140 characters or less) and to the point. Though short, they should be interesting to your audience.  Tweets should not appear automated or generic.  You do not need to list your name as it will appear with your post.  For further explanation of your topic, provide a link to your website.  Remember, you want to draw people into your store and your website. 

Check out these sample tweets: 

Everyone Cheer!  Jenny Smith was promoted to HR manager. 

New Summer Hours: 12-8.  Come beat the heat in the wave pool.

New Blog Post:  Turning Your Dollar into a Million.  http://khdoiah

Sale on Brand Name Tennis Shoes.  1/2 off!

Want to lose 5 lbs by the 4th.  Join June's Extreme Fitness Campaign.

Do you agree with the new stimulus plan?  Check out http://jkahgdsiug.

First 10 customers get a free mp3 player.

You get the picture.  Simple, sweet, and sexy.  Don't bore your audience, make your news enticing.  In other words, post interesting thoughts and updates to get your name out and develop your brand.

Follow me as I explore Twitter etiquette on Wednesday.

From a PR standpoint the idea of raw unedited information being flung all over the Web is scary.  Why?  There are so many voices, saying so many things.  Much of the information is unsubstantiated venting or blogging by unqualified Web users.  The internet, however, is a very powerful tool if used correctly.  If you can cut through the clutter and deliver a pointed, polished message you are ahead of the game, poising your company in a position to reach millions.

Take Youtube.  People spend countless hours viewing homemade videos and bootlegged versions of action flicks.  Imagine the power of a well-filmed, well planned clip discussing your company's mission, product launch, or upcoming event.   Do you have a Web following?  Use this to your advantage and lead them to your YouTube trailer. 

Here are a few facts from marketingcharts.com that you should consider:

Online video findings from April 2009:
78.6% of the total US internet audience viewed online video.

• The average online video viewer watched 385 minutes of video, or 6.4 hours.
• 107.1 million viewers watched 6.8 billion videos on YouTube.com (63.5 videos per viewer).
• 49 million viewers watched 387 million videos on MySpace.com (7.9 videos per viewer).
• Hulu accounted for 2.4 percent of videos viewed, but 4.2% of all minutes spent watching online video.
• The duration of the average online video was 3.5 minutes.

YouTube is the hottest thing that has happened to the Web in a while.  It sucks people in and makes them listen.  If they like what they see, they spread the word.  Grow your business.  Listen to your audience.  If they like YouTube, you like YouTube.  Put yourself where your public is.  Allow internet vehicles like YouTube drive you to success.