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.

Do you sell online? Whether you run a full-fledge online store or if you only sell a few products on eBay, your success depends on marketing. After all,

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if consumers do not know you have products for sale, you will never make a sale. For that reason, internet marketing is crucial to your success. The good news is that you have many options, including Twitter.

Before focusing on how you can use Twitter to market products you sell, it is important to understand the system and how it works. Twitter is an online service that is defined as a social networking micro-blog. Users join the site and make contacts online. Then, messages or updates are sent. These updates can be received on the Twitter website, a mobile web application, instant messaging programs, Facebook, and more.

The first step in using Twitter to market your for sale products is to join. If you aren’t already a member, it is easy to get started. Visit the Twitter.com website and register for a free account. This involves creating a username, password, and providing your email address. Then, you are ready to get started.

The next step is to develop a list of friends, also known as contacts and followers. Fortunately, this is very easy. Start with importing your contacts from your email account. You can also search for contacts based on location, name, and email address. If you belong to an online message board community, create a post asking for other’s Twitter account information.

Once you have registered for a free Twitter account and created a fan following, you can start to market your products. Your first thought may be to create a short message outlining the products you have for sale, their price, and a link to buy. Yes, you can do so, but you want to avoid sounding like you are spamming. The key to making a sale on Twitter is to sound like you aren’t selling anything, even though you are.

To get started, send an update to your friends. The goal of your first message shouldn’t be to sell, but to rather reintroduce yourself. This is recommended if your list contains a bunch of unknowns from the internet. Your first message could be something like “Still trying to learn my way around the Twitter website. Thanks for joining me in the journey.” Then, you can work your way into marketing your products. This first personal message gives the impression that you aren’t just interested in making contact to sell.

Once again, it is important to be subtle. Instead of saying “Buy a leather office chair from my online store,” try something more creative. For example, say “I got a new leather office chair into sell. It looks pretty functional, what do you think?” Yes, you are advertising a product and your message implies so, but you aren’t outright asking for a sale. You will see this makes a huge difference. Twitter members don’t want to be bombarded with sales offers, but you will find that many like to express their opinions or give feedback. In the end, the results are the same. If someone likes what you are selling, they will buy.

Next, you can use Twitter @replies to market your products. When doing so, you can search for Twitter messages on Search.Twitter.com or send replies to updates you receive from those you follow. For searching, look for messages or questions pertaining to the products you sell. In keeping with the office furniture example, if someone states they are browsing for new furniture, send a quick @reply offering a link to your website.

When replying to members you follow, only market your products when applicable. For example, if you receive an update that says “heading out for the party,” don’t respond with a link to your office furniture store. This is considered spam and you may lose the contact in question. Remember, no one wants to be bombarded with sale offers on Twitter, so use clever marketing tactics.

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.

Do you sell a service online? If so, you will need to rely on the internet to generate income. Whether you work as a freelance writer, a web designe

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r, or in another similar position, internet marketing is a must. Your success and profits will depend on your internet marketing strategies and their success.

In terms of internet marketing, there are many successful methods. For example, article directories, link exchanges, search engine optimization, and buying advertisements can all increase your website traffic. Yes, your main goal is to make a sale of your service, but before you can do so website traffic needs to increase. In addition to the above mentioned internet marketing techniques, you can do so with a free Twitter account.

Twitter is a social networking website. It is user based. Internet users start by creating a free account. They create a username, password, provide their email address, and develop a list of contacts. These contacts can be found by performing a Twitter search based on location, name, and email address. Members then send updates, otherwise known as Tweets and visa versa. Replies can be sent with the use of @replies. These updates, which should be 140 characters or less, are shared via the Twitter website, RSS Feeds, Facebook, some mobile web applications, and more.

Since your goal is to use Twitter as an internet marketing tool, you may want your first post to direct people to your website where information on the service you sell is available. Yes, you want to do this, but it is important to be smart about it. Cleverly marketing your services on Twitter is important, as straight up advertisements are often frowned upon by other members.

If your list of followers includes your targeted market or internet users you do not personally know, it is important to create a personal message first. If your first Tweet is an advertisement, you may push members away from you. This is not your goal. Since you are still learning how to use Twitter, your answer to the “what are you doing question,” could be that you are exploring the Twitter website to learn more.

For your next Twitter update, start working on your website and the service you sell. As previously stated, Twitter asks what you are doing. So, answer the question, but incorporate your service into your Tweet. For example, freelance web designers could write “I just finished designing a website for a client.” This establishes that you are a web designer who works for pay. If anyone needs your service, they will inquire into your rates.

Although Twitter asks what you are doing, many internet users don’t answer the question. In fact, some ask a question. Whether you receive a question as an update from a member you follow or if you search on Search.Twitter.com, send an @response when applicable. Keeping with the example of web designer, is someone expressing their frustration with creating a website or does someone express interest in creating a site? If so, send a personal message outlining that you work as a web designer and include a link to your website. You may acquire a new client, especially if you offer a discount.

As previously stated, you want to smartly market your services on Twitter. Yes, you want to advertise your services, but they key is making your Tweets appear as personal, helpful messages, essentially advertisements in disguise

If you use the internet and stay up-to-date with the happenings online, you have likely heard of Twitter before.

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Twitter is a cross between a micro-blog and a social networking website. Most importantly, it is free to use. A Twitter member will share updates with other members. These updates are called Tweets. These updates are in text format and they can be up to 140 characters each. Depending on personal preferences, updates can be sent via instant messaging, RSS feeds, email, Facebook, mobile phones or the Twitter website.

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For the most part, Twitter is used for social networking. Members will message their friends with fun and interesting updates, such as a grade on a paper at school, a spring break trip, and so forth. Although popular with teens and adults of all ages, Twitter is very popular with college students. It allows them to stay in contact with their family and friends back home.

So, are you too busy to call your friends or family on a regular basis? If so, Twitter may be your best option. You can send messages through the Twitter website or your mobile phone. If you are Mac user, as opposed to a PC user, you can also use the Twitterrific desktop program. It allows you to send from your computer without first logging into the website.

Although Twitter is commonly used for social networking purposes, many businesses have started using the service to their advantage. For example, coworkers working jointly on a project can update each other with their progress. This service is also increasing in popularity for businesses where deliveries are required. Updates and changes to a route schedule can easily be uploaded and shared with delivery drivers already in the field.

So, are you a business owner? If so, you can use Twitter to your advantage. Whether you operate a large business or a small one, Twitter can give your business an edge. Although you may not run a factory-style business, your employees may work in a line. For example, one employee must finish their work before another can begin theirs. If that is the case, the free updates that Twitter allows can make it easy for constant communication.

There are over 2 million members at Twitter. Unfortunately, you may not be one of them. As previously stated, Twitter is a cross between a micro-blog and a social networking website. If you use the internet to work, not just for recreation, you might assume that you do not have the time or energy to Twitter. Yes, that may be true, but there is more to it.

So, are you self-employed? Even if you work by yourself, you can still use Twitter to your advantage. Although advertisements are advised against, there are roundabout ways for you to market your business. Whether you are selling a product, service, or a combination of the two, you can spread the word with Twitter. For example, are you employed as a web designer? If so, send a Twitter message to your followers stating that you are working on a new website project. In the event a follower needs a website developed, they may later remember your message and the services you offer.

As you can see, Twitter is more than just a social networking website and a micro-blog. If you aren’t already one of the 2 million users who have tried it, give it a try. With Twitter being free, you have nothing to lose.

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.

Are you an internet marketer? Although you may not technically be employed as one, it is one of the many hats you will and should wear when working online. Do you run a website or blog that sells a product, service, or generat

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es income through affiliate links? If so, you must double as an internet marketer. Why? Because marketing is vital to your success. After all, you will not generate income if consumers do not know you exist.

If you are new to internet marketing, you will turn to the internet for research. You will get many great ideas, including the use of article directory back links, buying advertisements on other sites, exchanging banners with other webmasters, and search engine optimization. These are important internet marketing steps, but to maximize your results, think outside-of-the-box. When you do, you will find Twitter.

Twitter is a social networking micro-blog. Users can communicate with each other through updates, also known as Tweets. Many Twitter members highlight their daily activities, but many also use updates to generate traffic to their websites or blogs and to increase sales. Straight up advertisements are allowed, as long as they do not qualify as spam. With that said, many find the best approach to be taking the roundabout way. If your sell a product or service, drop hints and highlight what you do or what you sell. Be sure to include a link.

As nice as it is to hear that you can use Twitter for internet marketing, as a newbie, you may have a few questions. Continue reading on for answers.

Question: Why use Twitter for internet marketing?

Answer: The better question should be why not. There are over 2 million members on Twitter.com. You will not communicate will all members, but it gives you an amazing opportunity to meet and network with others. By playing your cards right, you can find your targeted market. For example, do you work as a freelance web designer? If so, your target market is those who want to make money through affiliate links or business owners who want a professional website.

Question: How much time does Twitter take?

Answer: It all depends. Like any form of internet marketing, the time and energy you put forth depends on you. With Twitter, you want to take it slow and easy. If you create too many messages directing your followers to products you sell online, your messages may be considered spam. For that reason, send a few Tweets a day. Since Tweets are 140 characters or less, this is easy. The most time consuming part of Twitter is finding and adding contacts.

Question: What can be marketed on Twitter?

Answer: Just about anything. As previously stated, it doesn’t matter whether you sell a product, a service, or if you generate income through affiliate links, you can market yourself on Twitter. You can do so by sending carefully crafted updates. @replies can be sent to members on your list or those you find on Seach.Twitter.com. Look for members that ask questions you can answer. Always provide a link to your website or blog.

Question: Won’t people turn away from advertisements?

Answer: Yes. As previously stated, you want to carefully craft your Tweet messages and @replies. Don’t just say “Come shop at my online store.” Instead, send messages stating that you updated your store, got a new product in, or ask for feedback. Always provide a link and those interested will click, but without feeling forced into doing so.

Question: How much money can I make using Twitter?

Answer: It varies. Twitter is a service that is free to use. You are not paid for using it, but there is income potential. The first step is driving traffic to your website or blog, where you sell a product, service, or have affiliate links displayed. It is, however, important to have something good to sell. No matter how much traffic your generate, poor quality products and services will not sell.

Do you sell on eBay? If so, you may be facing some difficulties. Yes, eBay is still a great place to buy and sell goods online, but it has increas

Image of Ebay Auctions

ed in popularity. This means that you may find more competition. For that reason, you need a way to make your eBay auctions standout. The good news is that you can do so with Twitter.

Twitter is an online social networking website that doubles as a micro-blog. It is user based. To get started, create a free Twitter account. Next, you will need to add contacts. You can do so by importing your contact list from your email account, searching for friends based on name, location, and email address. Many times, when you start following the Twitter conversations of others, they will do the same for you.

Returning back to how you can use Twitter to market your eBay auctions, it is important to not jump right in and get started. If you do, you may make many costly mistakes. These mistakes can do more harm than good.

Twitter, as previously stated, is a social networking website. Most individuals use the service to keep their friends and family updated on their life. It is not uncommon to see messages, otherwise know as Tweets, talking about a new movie, a party attended, school, and so forth. Although Twitter can be used for just about any purpose, you want to avoid sounding spammy or like you are trying to sell something, even though you are.

Once you have developed a list of followers, who are people who will read your updates, you can start marketing your eBay auctions. As for how you can do so, remember to be subtle. Instead of saying “buy the Motorola cell phone I am selling on eBay,” say “I just finished uploading my eBay auctions. Check them out if you want,” and include a link. Although the two messages have the same purpose, they come across differently.

You can also use @replies to your advantage. The best way to do this is to look for updates your contacts send you. For example, if someone says they are looking for things to buy on eBay, send a message. Your message could say something along the lines of “Neat. I sell on eBay, checkout my auctions,” and include a link. Yes, you are outright asking someone to buy your merchandise, but you did so in a response. You did not outright solicit business.

In keeping with @replies, you can search the Twitter website. You can do this at Search.Twitter.com. Here, you can perform a search with the phrase “eBay.” You will then see all Tweets that have eBay in them. Look for those who are shopping on eBay, looking for something in particular, and so forth. Even if you are not a regular follower of that person, you can become one. Send them a message, directing them to your eBay website. To prevent spam, only send one message to one Twitter member and remember to be subtle. Do not instruct them to buy your merchandise, simply encourage them to look.

In short, Twitter is a great way to stay in contact with friends, family members, and coworkers, but it is also an amazing internet marketing tool. If you are an eBay seller who isn’t seeing success or an eBay seller who wants to increase your profits, give Twitter a try. Since the service is free to use, you have nothing to lose, but profits to gain.

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.

Are you a freelance web designer? If so, you may always be on the lookout for new clients. This should be relatively easy as many internet users want to capitalize on their internet use, but not all have the skills needed to create a moneymaking website. Although already in a potentially profitable career, there are ways that you can increase your earnings. You can use Twitter to land new clients and projects.

Have you heard of Twitter before? Since you work online, you likely have. Are you using it? If not, now is the time to start. Twitter is classified as a social networking website and a micro-blog. Although many use the service for personal purposes only, you can use to drive attention to your business. If you are only using Twitter to stay in contact with friends and family, you aren’t necessarily using it wrong, but you aren’t using it to your full advantage.

So, how can use you Twitter to land web design projects and clients? You can do so by not using Twitter as a social tool, but as an internet marketing tool.

If you do not have a Twitter account, register for a free one. Visit the Twitter.com website to get start. Choose a screen name, password, and provide your email address. Since your goal is to use Twitter to market your web design skills, choose a professional and catchy screen name. Next, add contacts. You can import contacts from your email account and search for members based on their location, name, or email address.

Once you have an account, you may want to start marketing right away. First, develop a list of contacts. To achieve ultimate marketing success, add more than just friends and family. Since networking is important to home based and online jobs, you may already belong to other social networking websites or message boards. Ask around to see who has a Twitter account and exchange information. If someone starts following you from your post, do the same.

A unique, but successful way to market your web design services online is to perform a Twitter search. You can do this at Search.Twitter.com. Here, you can use a phrase like “web design.” This allows you to find other Twitter members who enjoy the same interests as you. Many of these members are also employed as web designers or enjoy designing as a hobby. You can reply to a Tweet. This gets the process started of developing a new follower.

By asking other web designers for their Twitter information and by searching for similar interests on the website, you will find those who share similar interests as you. This may not always land you a job, but sometime freelancers become overwhelmed with work. If a fellow web designer knows through Twitter that you have the same skills, you may be approached for outsourced help.

You can also land web design projects and jobs on Twitter by looking for those who need or could benefit from your services. For example, you know that a website has the potential to make money, even if no products are actually sold on the website. A quick search on Twitter and you fill find that not everyone knows this. Some inquire as to how you can make money online. This is your opportunity to state “with a website.” You could also insert a plug claming you do web design and could help them get started for a small fee. It is best to be subtle, but when outright advertising your business online, it is best to do so in an @reply.

In short, Twitter is a popular social networking micro-blog that millions of internet users use. Yes, sending messages to those that you can know be fun, but it is important to look at the service from an internet marketing standpoint. Once you do, you will see that creating a free Twitter account can turn into an easy, yet profitable step.

Image via CrunchBase

Your Twitter Karma at http://dossy.org/twitter/karma/ is a really useful site for having a look at your followers and who you are following. It's great for managing your account from a followers/following perspective.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to load a fair few times and can be unreliable, but when it is working it's great. It shows you all you all the people you are following and all those that are following you. Underneath each avatar it tells you if you are following them and if they are following you. You can also sort by people that you are following who aren't following you back. This is great for management as you can decide whether or not to unfollow them.
By checking the boxes, you can actually do a bulk unfollow of a heap of people at once as opposed to going to every individual Twitter account and clicking on “unfollow”.
You can also list those that might only be following you and decide if you want to follow them back. Again, this can be done in a bulk manner