How to Create a Bigger Twitter Following

While some Twitter users may think, "If you tweet it, they will come," unless you're someone in the news, a celebrity or a household name, this is seldom the case. Twitter followers, like other readers, viewers and audiences, want to be held captive, informed and/or entertained. They want to be engaged. Keeping community at heart is key, if you aim to win the hearts of your online community.

• 1

  Tweet valuable content that's interesting and not all about you. Mention other news and/or members relevant to your content and reasons for using the site. Place the @ sign in front of the user names of others to link them actively in your tweet.

• 2

  Add your account to Twitter directories, such as WeFollow and TwitR. Categorize your listing so that others who may be interested can find you.

• 3

  Promote your Twitter address on other websites, forums, blogs and social networking sites, such as Facebook, MySpace, Google and Yahoo! Add your Twitter URL to your email and message board signatures, or embed a self-updating TwitStamp or TwitSig image.

• 4

  Add your Twitter address to all forms of advertising, including business cards, print ads, giveaway novelties, yellow page listings, flyers, etc. Mention that you're on Twitter to clients, customers, friends and colleagues.

• 5

  Ask your followers to retweet some of your messages by adding "Please RT" or "RT" at the end. Follow and reply to those who do. Retweet messages of other members whose tweets you find relevant and interesting.

• 6

  Understand how to use the Twitter service and take full advantage of its features. Read the site-provided "Twitter Basics," tips, user support and instructions, for the most effective use.