Create your Twitter profile
Now that you have signed up for a Twitter account, it’s time to get ready for your debut. Many people’s first instinct is to immediately look for other people to follow, but that’s a mistake. Why? Because on Twitter…
First impressions are crucial!
When you follow someone, they will usually get an email telling them so, and many times, they will click the link in that email that goes to your profile and make a split-second decision about whether or not you’re interesting enough to follow.
That’s it: your one chance.
If your profile isn’t up to snuff, it’s unlikely they’ll ever return to it (unless they see someone else mention you). So you don’t want to waste this opportunity by showing off an empty profile.
What to put in your profile
To update your profile, log into Twitter and go to the “Settings” link:
You only have so much room in your bio section. It contains (limited) space for:
- Your name
- Your URL
- Your one-line bio
- Your location
Let’s go through them one at at time.
Your name
Just like when you chose your Twitter username, you might need to give this a little thought.
If you’ve settled on a personal account, it’s easy: just use your name (preferably your full name, because this makes it easier for people to find and recognize you).
If you’re promoting your blog’s brand, I still recommend using your name, but possibly also adding your blog name. For instance, for my DesignEnabler account, I’m using “Sarah, DesignEnabler” rather than “Sarah Lewis” or “DesignEnabler”. I’m doing that because people relate better to a person than to a brand.
Feel free to play with this one—there’s no penalty for changing it later.
Your URL
This is the easiest of the bunch because it’s just your blog’s address. The only thing to watch out for here is that you include the full address, meaning the http:// part as well as the domain name.
If you’re unsure, the easiest way to do this is to load your blog, select the address from the address bar, copy it, and paste it in the Twitter settings. Then just save and test it by clicking on it from your profile. If it goes to your blog, you got it right! (But testing is always a good idea—even experienced folks mess this up sometimes!)
Your one-line bio
Arguably the hardest one to get right (but don’t stress about it, because you can always change it!). You get 160 characters to make a compelling case for yourself.
Since you’ve already figured out who your Ideal Reader is, you’re definitely ahead of the average new Twitterer. You just need to decide (based on what you know about them) whether you want to make it funny, factual, or some combination.
You definitely want this section to communicate something about what a would-be follower can expect from you. If you tend to be humorous, use a little humor to give them a sense of what you’re like. You can also make this a “just the facts” overview that tells where you’re coming from and what you are interested in.
Above all, don’t be afraid to try something and then change it later if it’s not working for you!
Your location
You can make this a humorous abstraction if you like, or help people find you by keeping it simple and predictable. I’ve found that local people are more likely to follow me if I put in my actual city, state, and country, so that’s what I tend to do.
Your photo
You definitely want to have a memorable picture, since it’s used on many parts of the Twitter site, often without your name.
Just like the question of names and usernames, you’ll need to decide whether you want a personal photo or a logo for your image. The same questions apply, so hopefully it will be an easy decision.
One popular trend is to use an avatar created by an avatar-making service. If that fits with your brand, you can customize it to make it look like you (or anyone else, if another image better suits your brand!).
In any case, the most important thing with your image is that it’s recognizable (even at small sizes) and that you don’t change it all the time, so that people can get used to it and identify it with you.
Your design
In addition to your profile details and photo, you also have the option to use a profile background design of your choice. This is a good move, as it keeps you from looking just like everyone else.
You can use one of Twitter’s themes (in the “Design” section of the main “Settings” link), you can have a custom background created, you can use a free background, or you can create your own.
If you’re not immediately going to see a payoff from your Twittering, I’d recommend one of the last two options; they’re free, and you can always get a custom background created later.
What next?
Once you’ve lovingly crafted your Twitter profile, the next step is to post some updates. There will be lessons appearing in your tasklist on the topic, but if you’re eager to get started, you can browse through the “Twitter” section of this site’s “Learn More” area.
The main thing to remember is that your tweets should add value for your Ideal Reader. Do that, and you’ll find success on Twitter.