4 Things NOT To Do When Using Twitter for Business

If you're delving into Twitter for marketing purposes, you're probably wondering how to effectively use Twitter for your business. While it's vital to know what to do to make Twitter work for your marketing needs, it's also critical to know what NOT to do when using Twitter for business.

It can all seem a little daunting at first, particularly as you learn to use the network initially and we understand that the advice and directives can sometimes seem contradictory: Post a lot! Don't post too much! Sell yourself! Don't be pushy!

Twitter doesn't need to be overwhelming. Just try to think of it as having a conversation, and implement rules of standard back-and-forth. Just as there are things that you should aim to accomplish with your Tweets/talking points, there are a few things to avoid at all costs.

Listed below are 4 things NOT to do when using Twitter for your business: 

• Don't post too often - Your users want you to contribute to the conversation; not to dominate it. Keep it between 3 to 15 or 20 posts a day. 
• Don't be repetitive - You wouldn't tell the same joke five times to the same person in the same day, no matter how funny the punch line. Likewise, if you've written a great blog post or article, share the link on Twitter. But don't post a link to the same page more than 2 or 3 times; it comes across as repetitive and pushy. 
• Don't be pushy - Speaking of being pushy, don't be that. It's OK to talk about your services and products, but be subtle about it and mix up your company plugs with links to interesting articles and content that doesn't isn't strictly marketing. Today's consumers and web users are acutely aware of when they are being sold to, and the Twitter community is particularly wary of pushy sales pitches. 
• Don't become overly comfortable - The fast, casual 140-character nature of Twitter can cause some people to get too comfortable with what they share. Remember that Twitter is a part of your overall marketing plan and should reflect your company or firm's image, voice and values. Don't dis the competition. Don't stray from your message. And don't post @replies when a direct (private) message is more appropriate. Don't Tweet your views on politics, religion or celebrity meltdowns, as this comes across as unprofessional and can alienate some members of your audience.

Now that we've gotten all of those negatives out of the way, here's one final, resounding DO when using Twitter. Do stay actively engaged in Twitter, as the more you participate, the greater your chances that Twitter can work for you.