As every Twitter user knows, the popular microblogging site has become a hot spot for spammers intent on carpet bombing users with the usual pitches for government grants, debt-reduction services, and penile-enhancement pills.
The situation is pretty bad, particularly for naïve users who automatically follow people who follow them. This activity, which many newcomers undoubtedly do just to be polite, opens the door to an onslaught of sales pitches from sleazy marketers.
Here’s the bad news: According to a report by Steven Kotler of Fox News, the situation is bound to get worse. Christopher Peri, CEO of Twitfilter, a Web-based app that helps manage income tweets and Twitter followers, says that spammers are getting more sophisticated, and that what we’re seeing now is “Twitter spam 2.0.”
What exactly does this next-gen Twitter spam look like? Using computers to find keywords and target specific users, spammers are unloading messages into users’ timelines. Even worse, these unwanted posts now account for 10 percent of all tweets, Peri claims.
Twitter officials acknowledge they’ve got a serious spam problem, and they’ve taken action to fight the plague -- albeit with limited success. For months they’ve been working to reduce the amount of “follow spam,” which the official Twitter blog describes as ". . . the act of following mass numbers of people, not because you're actually interested in their tweets, but simply to gain attention, get views of your profile (and possibly clicks on URLs therein), or (ideally) to get followed back. Many people who are seeking to get attention in this way have even created programs to do the following on their behalf, which enable them to follow thousands of people at the blink of any eye.”

Is It Spam or Not?

The issue of Twitter spam is tricky, particularly since users sign up to receive tweets from marketers. When retailers like Amazon, Dell, and OfficeDepot blast Twitter feeds touting their latest bargains, is that spam? If you’ve signed up to receive these tweets, probably not. Then again, excessive marketing pitches get annoying fast, and retailers have to be careful not to overdo it.
If you’re having problems managing Twitter spam, check out CIO’s three simply rules to banish the junk tweets

Do you want to use Twitter for internet marketing purposes? If so, it is first important to familiarize yourself with the written and unwritten rules of Twitter.

Before outlining a few important rules of Twitter etiquette, it is important to know why you should know them. First, if your main goal of using Twitter is to market yourself or your business. You are still in the minority. Many use Twitter to update friends and family on simple aspects of their life, including new clothes, new job, life at college, and so forth. This does not mean that you cannot use the service to your advantage. It does means that you need to proceed with caution, otherwise your Tweets may come off as spam.

Twitter Etiquette: Following

To successfully market yourself and your business online, you need to develop a large list of followers. These individuals will receive your message and updates. The easiest way to do this is to ask for trades online. If you belong to an online message board, ask to get followers. State that as a return, you will do the same.

When on Twitter, you will find that you are approached. An old friend or coworker may add you to their list of contacts. You do not have to follow someone just because they followed you, but it is good etiquette.

Twitter Etiquette: Spam

At all costs, avoid spamming on Twitter. It is not only frowned upon, but you may lose followers, otherwise known as friends or contacts. This can be difficult if you are using the service for the sole purpose of marketing, but there are steps you can take.

For example, did you just start to offer your services as a freelance writer? If so, send a Twitter message stating the change. Your message could include something like “I left the corporate world to work from home. I am now employed as a freelance writer.” You will likely receive a lot of congratulations, but you may also get questions, such as what type of content you write or what your rates are.

Twitter Etiquette: Overuse

A message, otherwise known as a Tweet, must be 140 characters or shorter. This is one of the few rules and restrictions you will find. This means that you can send a lot of Tweets throughout the day, but you are urged against doing so. Once again, if only using Twitter for internet marketing purposes, your messages may come across as spam.

It may be ideal to send only one Tweet a day. You can, however, respond to responses you receive. More is okay, just don’t send out 20 Tweets in one hour. In addition to subtly marketing a product or service you are selling, include a few personal messages as well.

Twitter Etiquette: Respond on Occasion

Similar to the above mentioned followers etiquette, if someone regularly responds to your messages with an @ response, do the same. This shows that you aren’t just using the service for your own personal gain. Yes, you may be, but remember the goal of internet marketing through Twitter is to do it subtly.

Twitter Etiquette: Keep It Professional

Since your main goal of using Twitter is to market or promote your business, it is important to stay professional. Yes, you do want to be friendly and promote healthy conversations, but do not mix too much business with pleasure.

For example, you can send a message cleverly highlighting a blog you just started and follow it with a movie recommendation, but don’t make your following message be about a party you attended with lots of alcohol. This is unprofessional and can draw attention away from your original purpose of using the service.

In short, Twitter is as great service to use. Not only can you stay in easy contact with friends, family, and former coworkers, but you can also use it as an internet marketing tool. With that said, proceed with caution. When promoting a business, even if not outright doing so, your words have serious meaning.

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Have you started Twittering? If so, you may have a main goal. For that many, that goal is to keep their friends, family members, and coworkers updated with short messages. Yes, this is how many internet users use Twitter, but you may have other plans. You may wish to use the website to market your business and to promote a product or service you sell. If so, you can easily do so with @Replies on Twitter. How? Continue reading on to find out.

Before outlining how you can use @Replies to your advantage on Twitter, it is first important to understand the process. Twitter is an online social networking website and micro-blog. Once you register for a free account, you are able to develop a list of friends. You can follow these friends and they may do the same for you. Updates are sent through mobile phone web applications, RSS feeds, some instant messaging programs, and the Twitter website. These updates are text based messages, which should be shorter than 140 characters each.

When first signing up for a Twitter account, you will be promoted to provide the password for your email account. Although optional, this will allow you to see if your contacts have Twitter accounts. You can also find friends by searching by location, name, or email address. This is easy, but if your main goal is to use Twitter for internet market purposes, you need to expand your contacts. You can do this by simply reading profiles and finding someone interesting or you join online message boards. This is best if you stick with those inline with your business. Do you sell pet products? Join a pet message board and ask others to join you on Twitter.

As for how you can use @Replies to sell a product or a service, you do so by becoming a follower. This is where you can benefit from returning the favor. If someone becomes a follower and reads your updates, do the same. Although this is not required, it can work to your advantage. Why? Because some Twitter members do more than just post what they are doing. Some also ask questions or ask for help on a certain subject. If those questions or subjects pertain to what you are selling or have to offer, you could easily make a sale.

In keeping with the above mentioned example of selling pet supplies, do you run an online pet store? If so, you may sell a wide range of pet supplies. By finding other members of Twitter who are pet owners, you stand to make a profit. For example, did another member send an update saying “My dog ate my new pair of sandals. This is the 3rd time it has happened. I am so frustrated!” This is your perfect opportunity to mention a dog obedience training book or video you sell.

Online, you will find many people that outright advertise they have a product or service to sell. Yes, it is possible to do this, but you may be classified as a spammer. For that reason, it is best to use replies to your advantage. For example, you may already know that you can use affiliate websites and Google Adsense to make money online, but this is something that people learn each day. Someone may send a message saying “I want to make money with my blog, but it just isn’t working. What am I doing wrong?” If you are a web content writer, this is your chance. You can offer a response similar to “I am a professional web writer. For an affordable fee, I can write a few blog posts for you or show you how to make money with your blog.” Since you are responding to a Twitter, your post seems more helpful and less like spam.

As a recap, the best way to use Twitter for internet marketing to increase your sales is to doing so subtly. For that reason, use @replies to your advantage.

Have you heard of Twitter? If you are an avid internet user, you likel

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y have. Knowing what Twitter is and using it are two different things. In fact, Twitter can be used two different ways. Commonly, it is used to update friend and family, but Twitter can also be used as an effective internet marketing tool. So, if you have a product or service to sell, you should be using Twitter. If not, you may be making a costly mistake.

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At first glance, Twitter is a popular social networking website. If you use the internet to generate income, not to socialize your first thought may be “another MySpace.” Remember, Twitter can not only be used for social purposes, but for internet marketing. That is why you should get started today. In fact, the longer you wait, the more opportunities you miss.

So, why are you making a mistake if you fail to utilize Twitter as an internet marketing tool? Because:

It is free. There are very few successful internet marketing techniques that are free. Often times, you are left paying for a professional to optimize your website for the search engines or left buying advertisements. These investments are risky, as they may not pay off. Since Twitter is free to use, there is no investment and you assume no risk. Essentially, you have nothing to lose.

It is popular. Did you know that Twitter has over 2 million members? Since Twitter is a social networking website, you are paired with millions of internet users who want to communicate, network, and make new friends. Use this to your advantage.

Many well-known companies and organizations use Twitter. For example, you can find information on NFL updates, hit television shows, and news report updates on Search.Twitter.com. These Tweets come directly from the source. If the NFL, NBC, CNN, and other well-know companies and organizations are continuing to use Twitter, it must be producing results.

There are many ways for you to develop a list of contacts on Twitter. In terms of Twitter, contacts are referred to as follows and followers. If you receive updates from other Twitter members, you are considered a follower. The same is true if that person, in turn, follows you, as they will receive your updates. On the website, search for contacts based on email address, name, and location. Visit Search.Twitter.com to find those talking about subjects that interest you or are related to what you sell. Ask online for contact information exchanges.

You can advertise yourself casually, yet professionally. Do you sell a product or a service? If you were to create a banner for an exchange or for an advertising slot, a lot of time and energy will go into your creation. After all, these are supposed to be professional. Yes, you want to carry yourself in a professional manner on Twitter, but you will find the most success with casual, disguised advertisements. This means that it will be quick and easy for you to spread the word and market.

You may be losing money. When you are able to send an update or an @reply that casually incorporates your sellable products or services, you generate interest. If you provide a link, you will generate traffic. That traffic could easily lead to income. Although there are no guarantees, many internet marketers report success when using Twitter as a marketing tool.

Although many internet users use Twitter as a social networking tool, it can also be used as an internet marketing tool. Regardless of what you want

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to market, whether it be a website, a blog, a product, or a service, you can do so with Twitter and in 7 easy steps.

1 – Create a Free Twitter Account

To create your account, visit Twitter.com. Click on the link to join and fill out the requested information. This information will include your email address, a username, and a password. This process is very simple.

At this point in time, you can also customize your profile. Although optional, there are benefits to doing so. In your bio section, state your profession, such as freelance writer, web designer, or online retailer. Include a professional picture of yourself, as pictures always help to generate interest.

2 – Search for Friends on Twitter

After registering for a free account, you can find friends on the website. To do so, you have three main options. These options include importing your contacts from your email account, searching for members based on their email address, or by performing a search with name or location.

When you add friends, you will become followers of their messages and updates. Many times, they will return the favor to you. If a user has a private account, a friend request will be sent.

3 – Use Online Message Boards for More Contacts

To use Twitter to market a website, blog, product or service, target more than just friends and family. In fact, strangers will be your best option. Do you belong to any online message boards or other communities? If so, mention that you joined Twitter and ask to exchange information. This is an easy way to not only get people to follow your messages and updates, but individuals who share similar interests.

4 – Perform a Twitter Search to Find More Contacts

As previously stated, the best way to market a blog, website, service, or product is to extend your reach. You can target those who you do not personally know with a Twitter search. You can do so at Search.Twitter.com. Look for those talking about or asking questions on the subjects that interest you.

5 – Send Updates

Once you have developed a following on Twitter, you can start to send updates. Most users will highlight what they are doing or are about to do. For example, a Tweet may say “heading to the airport.” When marketing a website or a blog, send a quick message about a recent post or update. Offer a quick summary and provide a link.

6 – Respond to Updates You Receive

As stated above, many will send out updates on their daily activities. Others will ask questions. You may be provided with a few good opportunities. Is someone asking for tips on how to market a website or a blog? If you have a post on your website or blog about this very subject, send a @reply to your friend and link them to your blog. Not only do you give them an answer to their question, but you also gain website traffic.

7 – Answer Questions Through Twitter Search

The more contacts you have on your Twitter account, the more applicable questions you will come across; however, you can also perform a Twitter search. Your search phrase should be something that is line with your website or blog topic or a product or service you are selling. For example, is someone looking to buy a computer? Do you sell computers on your website, either directly or through an affiliate program? If so, send an @reply and direct them to your website.

As you can see, it is very easy to turn Twitter into an internet marketing tool. Once you register for a free account and start making contacts, you will find multiple opportunities to promote a service, product, website, or blog.

Are you a freelance web content writer? If so, you may have noticed an increase in competition. With high gas prices, the high unemployment rate, and various other reasons, more people want to work from home. Many of these individuals give writing a chance. Competition is nice, but it may leave you wi

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thout work. To find work, you may start to examine unconventional approaches, such as Twitter.

If you are a freelance writer, you may have heard of Twitter before. As a writer and researcher, it is your job to stay up-to-date with internet happenings. In fact, you may already be a member. But, are you only sending messages to friends and family? If so, you aren’t using Twitter to its fullest extent. As previously stated, you can use it to gain writing clients and projects. How? By using Twitter as an internet marketing tool.

If you aren’t a member of Twitter, signup for a free account. You can do so at Twitter.com. After creating your screen name, password, and providing your email address, you start adding contacts. You can do so by importing your email contact list or by searching for members based on email address, name, or location.

Before you start marketing your writing services on Twitter, you need to develop a list of contacts. As stated above, this needs to be more than friends and family. Start with a Twitter search. You can do so by visiting Search.Twitter.com. Perform a search with targeted phrases, like writing, writer, freelance writer, and so forth. These individuals share similar interests with you, so they make great Twitter contacts and friends.

You can also turn to online message boards. Since marketing is an important component of writing on the web, you may already belong to a few message boards for writers, internet users, or working from home. If so, create a new message stating that you are a member of Twitter and that you want to exchange information. If someone starts following you, do the same.

The above mentioned approaches will help you find those with similar interests, likely other writers. Now, you may wonder how this can benefit you. After all, these Twitter members may be your competition. They may apply and compete for the same jobs. Yes, this is true, but have you ever been overwhelmed as a freelance writer? If so, you may have turned to outsourcing. This is your goal.

When following Twitter users who are writers, you will commonly find updates that include “I am overwhelmed with this writing project,” “I am suffering from writer’s block,” and so forth. This is your opportunity to find outsourcing projects, even if they aren’t advertised as such. Send an @reply saying “Writer’s block. Yes, I have been there. Taking a break or asking for help works to overcome it.” You can also outright state that you are a writer and ask if any help is needed.

Using @replies is the best way to market yourself, subtly, online as a freelance writer, but so is sending updates. For example, do you have contacts on your list who run websites, are looking to work from home, and so forth? If so, send updates that cleverly mentioned you are a freelance writer. For example, “I just finished writing a series of articles for my blog. I hope it generates enough Adsense revenue.” First, you make it known that you write for money. Next, you generate interest. Someone on your follow list may respond to ask how you make online or they may even ask for paid help.

In short, Twitter is a social networking website that millions of internet users use. Although social networking is often regarded as playful fun, it can work to your advantage as an online writer. In fact, to become a successful and profitable web content writer, you need to rely heavily on internet marketing. Twitter can help you.

Do you want to use Twitter as an internet marketing tool? If so, it is important to proceed with caution. Developing a brand on Twitter is importan

t, but if you are not careful, that brand could come with a bad reputation. So, what are the biggest Twitter dos and don’ts?

Do register for a free account and now. Unfortunately, many new internet marketers put off registering for a free account. Yes, there are no guarantees that your Tweet messages will lead to increased traffic or income, but you won’t know until you try.

Do not send personal messages to potential clients. Do you already have a Twitter account for personal communications? If so, do not send personal messages to prospective clients or site visitors. This is very unprofessional. If you are trying to sell a product, don’t talk about how much fun you at a college party.

Do create two separate accounts for personal and business use. As previously stated, avoid sending personal messages to prospective clients. You can send private messages to your friends and family, but this can be a time consuming process. Instead, create two separate accounts, as you will save time and there will be no confusion.

Do not spam. Spam is a big violation on Twitter. You may find your account banned. If that wasn’t bad enough, think about the consequences. Your name, website, and products may be attached to your messages, resulting in a bad reputation.

Do use clever forms of advertising. Spamming is prohibited on Twitter, but advertisements are allowed in moderation. If you do not abuse the privilege, you will not find trouble. Even still, use clever forms of advertising. Instead of highlighting your services as a professional web content writer, ask readers to review your samples or give you input on your rates. Be sure to include a link.

Do not pressure your followers to buy. Your followers are those who signed up to receive your Tweet updates. They chose to do so of their own free will; however, they can also choose to end these updates. That is why no pressure should be applied. Users do not want to feel used; therefore, use clever forms of advertising, as there is less pressure.

Do include a link. When sending Twitter updates to followers, include a link. Do not over abuse links, but use them to your advantage. Once again, it is important to be clever. Do not spam your followers with advertisements highlighting your writing service rates. Instead, answer the Twitter question of what are you doing. Your message could say “Writing articles for a client.” Then, insert your link. You aren’t soliciting business, but making it know you work for hire.

Do not send late night tweets. It is no secret that home based and online workers work flexible hours. Yes, many may work the traditional 9-5, but others are up till the early morning hours. If you are one of those individuals, know that most are not on the same schedule. For that reason, avoid late night Tweets. Followers with mobile web alerts may be awoken from sleep.

Do visit Search.Twitter.com and use @replies to your advantage. Many people Tweet about what they are doing, but others ask questions. With a search, you can find members who are looking to buy a product you may sell, looking for a service you may offer, or looking for advice you may offer on your website or blog. If so, send an @reply with a personal message and a link.