Seriously - how frustrating is it when a website says "Follow us!", or "tweet us!", but then won't respond to your mentions, your replies or your messages and only tweets about their sales?
Businesses - don't just use twitter as a free billboard to shamelessly self-promote. Utilize it to engage your customers - both current and potential. How you respond to people (or if you respond at all) will make or break your social media success. So, below are the southpaw tips to not sucking at Twitter (not listed in order of importance)
1) Follow relevant organizations, people and groups. Don't be that guy who has 6578 followers but only follows 3. How will you know that the trends are or what people are saying? Search for people, interests, trends, take twitter's people suggestions, and follow those recommended by others in your feed.
2) Have a relevant profile pic and for eff sakes - fill out your description! I don't follow anyone with no profile description because, well, I have no idea who they are, where they are from or what their tweets will be about, or if said tweets will benefit or interest me. A good, comprehensive description (a clever, witty one is even better) and a legit profile pic instantly add credibility and let followers find you.
3) Don't be a kool-aid pusher. Don't just promote your company's benefits, sales, services, products blah, blah, blah.... Discuss trends in your industry, spout useful tips and tricks of the trade, retweet good info that people might like, engage in #FollowFriday to promote interesting tweeters (and get promoted in return...). Helping others only ensures your own success...
4) Switch it up. Do you post nothing but links? Nothing but pictures? Nothing but retweets? STOP IT! To truly engage your audience, keep them on their toes. Don't be the tweep who only ever posts a link to his blog or a picture of his office. Mix up the type of tweets you post.
5) Respond. Respond. Respond. If you ignore customers, they will, in turn, ignore you. Watch for all mentions, messages and public comments. Ya, I know, everyone is busy but if you utilize twitter like the business tool it is - it is working for you, so dedicate resources to it.
6) Participate. Twitter is laden with relevant chats (small business chat, ag chat etc.) that are there to connect people to others in a relevant field or interest group. Find chats. Join in - don't just creep. Ok, you can creep the first time, but after that - get in there!
7) Diversify your tweeps. If you are running a company account - let a few people have access. It will keep the tweets fresh and not force one person to come up with all the content alone. BUT - do not give access to the janitor and his dog. Too many people can lead to duplicates, messages being missed, replies being skipped and people getting ignored. Everyone assumes someone else will do it. So, let a few people in, get them on a reply and posting system and let them loose!
Essentially - use your head. Be logical and promote the same customer service and information as you would at the store front. Even if you don't have a store. You know what I mean.
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