Twittiquette

As fast as social media has emerged and is expanding, no one can legitimately call themselves an expert. Furthermore, in spite of the innovative tools (created almost daily) to reach our friends and/or target demographic, there are inherent flaws in the social media universe.

The key characteristic of any social media tool is that the content is solely or primarily user-generated. As wonderful and opportunistic as this is in regard to reaching a broad audience quickly, there is the harmful potential for messages to be lost in translation. Effective communication, whether it be verbal, digital, print, or personal, must be based on commonly accepted rules or practices. SM tools are used by an endless variety of people, therefore, the cultural rules of any tool is essentially created the more often it is used.

Time to pick on Twitter

Everyone has a different reason for joining Twitter. No matter the activity, members of the Twitter community either use the program to stay in touch with friends, reach target audiences for commodity or business news, or to communicate instantaneously with members of a particular industry. Some may utilize it once a year, others 100 times daily. Despite who is "following" you, almost anyone can read your Tweets. Therefore, certain rules should be followed in order to maintain the respect of those you wish to reach.

The obvious rules that many don't follow:

1. Don't use swear words. Ever. Cursing will never help your image or reputation.
2. Don't Tweet about colleagues or friends derogatorily. As mentioned, anyone can find it. It's a quick way to get fired, make fast enemies, and ultimately embarrass yourself for gossiping like a 7th grade girl in gym class.
3. Don't send direct Tweets if it only applies to you and that person. If you have something to say to a person that concerns no one else, send them an email or a private text message. People who receive your updates on their phones will be quickly annoyed. Especially if you have the recipients number.

When NOT to Tweet:

1. Because you're bored. These messages are almost guaranteed to be meaningless and a counterproductive contribution.
2. While your drinking, going to drink, or drunk. Especially if you're drunk. It's not hard to tell what someone is doing when you read a Tweet such as "gionig to get pizzza and see my BFF!!!!" (SENT at 2:21am) Think of Twitter as you would Facebook or MySpace. Not the kind of material that you want employers to read.
3. Every 10 seconds. No one cares (other than your mom) to know when you just ate an apple, walked upstairs, or are yawning. Atleast try to make it interesting.

Twitter lingo (not the same at IM slang):

1. Twitterspeak- Using language found only in Tweets, words not typically used in normal conversation
2. Tweet- A Twitter messages
3. Twoosh- A tweet that is exactly 140 characters
4. Twude- A guy on Twitter. Twitter Dude.
5. Twerd- A word used mainly on Twitter. Anything in this list.
6. Twarf- A single word Tweet
7. Twerk- A Twitter jerk

Click here for a twictionary.

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