• Go to http://twitter.com and find the sign up box.
• Enter your full name, phone number/email address, date of birth, and a password. Click “Sign up for Twitter.”
• You must verify your phone number with a code that will be sent via text message. Enter this verification code in the box provided.
• Select a username, which will be your unique identifier on Twitter (make sure it is professional).
• Click “Create my account.”

Below are some tips that will maximize the effectiveness of your Twitter profile!

Biography

Even if your biography is only 140 characters, it can make a difference! Explain who you are, what you do, and consider providing professional accomplishments while also giving a look at your personal side. If you have a website, provide the link to that page.

Profile Image

If building a personal brand, it may be best to utilize a professional headshot. Twitter recommends using an image that is 400x40 pixels in size.

Cover Photo

Consider using a cover photo that promotes what you do or visually represents your brand. Twitter recommends using a cover photo that is 1500x500 pixels.

Follow Your Twitter Analytics

Tracking your Twitter metrics can help you make more insightful decisions about what content to post and gain more followers.
You are able to track:

• Tweet impressions
• Top Tweet and Top Media Tweet
• Audience interests
• Profile visits
• Engagement rate
• Number of tweets linking to you
• Demographics

Use Hashtags

Create your own custom hashtag to build a conversation around a topic. If you run a webinar or Twitter chat, create a hashtag to promote the event. To get the hashtag to spread, encourage conversation and ask people to share stories around it.

Use these tips on how to not only engage your followers, but gain new ones!

Develop Creative Content

Use Twitter polls and ask questions:

• Audience can share their opinions, thoughts, and views
• Share the results with your audience and retweet the most interesting answers

Use visual content in your tweets:

• People are more likely to engage with Tweets that include visuals, such as GIFs, video, and images

Develop a themed content series:

• Develop a series that is linked together around a common theme

Popularity of Tweets

Popularity of tweets is influenced by:

• The popularity person or brand
• The categories of tweets, with health, technology, and sports being the most popular
• The language in the article (whether it is emotional or objective)
• The mention of celebrities, famous brands, or notable institutions

Retweeting:

• A tweet containing the phrase “Please Retweet” is more likely to be retweeted multiple times than one that does not
• The most retweetable words include “you,” “Twitter,” “please,” “retweet,” and “post”

How Many is Too Many?

Timing of tweets:

• Most retweets occur around 3 PM EST on Monday to Friday

Number of posts:

• No magic number, but post at least once per day
• Posting too much may cause some people to unfollow you