Twitter is what some call a “social media” or “social networking. According to Wikipedia Social_media Social media is an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio. This interaction, and the manner in which information is presented, depends on the varied perspectives and “building” of shared meaning, as people share their stories, and understandings.

Social media or social networking (one example of social media) has a number of characteristics that make it fundamentally different from traditional media such as newspapers, television, books, and radio. Primarily, social media depends on interactions between people as the discussion and integration of words builds shared-meaning, using technology as a conduit.

“Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send “updates” (or “tweets”; text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) to the Twitter website, via short message service (SMS), instant messaging, or a third-party application such as Twitterrific or twhirl.”

For me, twitter and other social media or social networking is communication between you and those you are following and following you.

Problogger recently did a post called What are the unspoken rules of social network where he provided the image below. The image illustrates examples of the kinds of communication which takes place inside twitter every minute of every day.

Twitter allows you to create your own community. You decide who you want to “follow” and other people on twitter (tweeters) decide if they want to follow you back or not. Because of the way twitter works, unless a person is following you, they will not notice what you are doing. Only those following you will notice if you are promoting your own blog or someone else’s posts. Only your followers will see what you are saying on twitter. Only your followers will see you in your twitter community.

Twitter is self-policing. If you put a lot of rubbish out there, people will just not follow you. So it’s important to put stuff out that people want. In that case, it does not matter whether or not it is self-promoting. For example, Jason Calcanis, one of the most followed Twitterers has a lot of self-promoting posts to Twitter.

Since it is self-policing and all I have to do or anyone else has to do to stop getting annoying tweets (messages) is un-follow. Once you start using twitter, you will discover very quickly those who are annoying and those who are providing good information.

Twitter can also be used as a RSS reader.

I am following approximately 360 people on twitter. I use twitter as a network and community. I try to follow those with similar interest as I have. I also try to follow those who I perceive as “thought leaders” and “opinion shapers” in my niche and area of interest. A lot of those I do follow post on twitter when they post a new blog post to their blog. Usually I have twitter always there, open and telling me when there is a new tweet. And I usually will check out new blog post by a lot of those I am following. What this means is that I am actually following more links from twitter than I am from some of my RSS feeds. Most if not all of the links I get in twitter are relevant to me and the network of twitters I am following and the line of discussion taking place.

Using twitter to promote your own blog post?

Why not? I doubt if there are too many bloggers who can refrain from using twitter to promote his or her own blog post. And why not. At the same time, those who are using twitter as a social media or social network will broadcast other bloggers good content when we find something unique or worth sharing with our twitter network. Twitter is self-policing. If you don’t like the practice don’t follow those on twitter who do this. Just as those who don’t feel this is proper will not follow you.

I do this and plan to continue to do it and my followers keep increasing daily. In my opinion, those who are using twitter correctly will continue to promote their own blog post. Hence, my twitter RSS feeder. And they will continue to promote others’ post too, which just adds to the great content in my twitter RSS feeder.

The way I try to use twitter and a lot of those I follow, is as a micro-blogging platform. Using twitter to post links to our blog post, links to fellow tweeter’s post and short, 140 character post is how I define it as a micro-blogging platform. It is a communication tool where we can engage our followers and encourage them to become involved in a conversation. Using twitter along side our blogs can enhance the communication and conversation we are having or striving to have on the topics we are interested in.

While twitter is what some would call a “decentralized social network”, with no central or core location and no set of formal rules to twitter by, there are unwritten rules we should use.

Other key rules of engagement you should strive to follow.

Add something to the conversation. Don’t tweet just for the thrill of posting something.

Giving is better than receiving. Don’t start out expecting to receive right away. Be willing to give before you receive.

Network with the “thought leaders” and “opinion shapers” within your niche or industry. In twitter terms, follow them and watch what they are doing and reading.

Don’t be afraid to join in on a conversation. If you have something to add, say it.

Don’t over do it on tweeting on a particular topic. If you have a lot to say, do a blog post and use twitter to pint to the post.

Do share with your followers what you are reading and include a link to the article or blog post.

Do use tinyURL or is.gd when you post a link

Do continue a conversation with someone “off twitter” by email or other communication methods.

Don’t post about what you had for lunch or the fact your toddler pooped in the potty.

Don’t feel like you have to follow everyone who follows you and don’t follow everyone, you only have so much time. (I generally don’t follow someone unless they provide a link to their own blog. And I don’t follow someone that has a large number of those they are following compared to the number of followers.)

Do use the block feature in twitter. That is your right as a tweeter.

Twitter is just a tool…nothing more, nothing less.

Don’t rely on twitter as your only marketing and/or communication tool. It should be just one tool in your marketing arsenal. Like any tool, it will break sometimes. If you rely on it as your only or main marketing tool, you will be lost. It should be a part of your marketing program and not the main ammunition to get your business exposure.

If you would like to discuss using twitter further, drop me an email at grant@g2webmedia.com.