Set up a Twitter account... Now what?

[Ambrosia7177]

Okay, so I broke down and just signed up fo a business Twitter account to be used almost entirely to try and rech out to strangers to request interviews for articles/podcasts/etc.

I have added a company logo and basic details, and I did a cursory review of the settings on Twitter.

Now what?

Any experienced Twitter users out there that can share so Do's and Don'ts with a newbie?

I guess I am asking bith from a privacy and security standpoint, and also just how to prepare my setup so that when I do reach out to someone, or someone randomly finds me, that things look professional and nothing sets off any red flags or causes me great embarrassment because I made some stupid error?!

One thing I keep repeating in my head is, "Make sure you are on your absolute best behavior in all that you do and say, because the world is watching and you cannot delete what is on social media!"

Thanks.

 

[MacNut]

You can't just start a twitter and expect to have millions of followers. Or be able to grow your bunsess just from being on social media. You need content and customers who can give good recommendations. This is how social networking works. You need contacts who will spread your message.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

You can't just start a twitter and expect to have millions of followers. Or be able to grow your bunsess just from being on social media.

Did you see above WHY I created a Twitter account?

You need content and customers who can give good recommendations.

Is there some place to put content in my Twitter account, or do you mean outside of Twitter?

This is how social networking works. You need contacts who will spread your message.

I understand that much, but my OP was asking more about making sure I had things squared away so I don't have any snafus, although I am interested in learning more about how people build followings...

 

[MacNut]

Do you have a website where people can see what you are offering.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Do you have a website where people can see what you are offering.

Okay, I think you missed my objective...

Part of my startup is playing journalist, and I have found out the hard way that no one seems to respond to emails anymore. So I broke down and created a Twitter account as this seems to be a better way to reach a lot of people to request interviews.

So this isn't about people following me...

I am wrapping up coding my website, and if the world doesn't implode, I hope to have it online later this summer.

 

[MacNut]

People are not going to talk to someone claiming to be a journalist without credentials and a backing organization.

 

[D.T.]

So this isn't about people following me...

Well, with Twitter, it's exactly that. The more you're followed, the more "direct" communication you have, the more likely they are to reTweet and spread your name/site/message.

So I guess my suggestion would be to start Tweeting, engage in topics where you think people might be interested in hearing what you have to say, try to create interest.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

People are not going to talk to someone claiming to be a journalist without credentials and a backing organization.

We all have to start somewhere...
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Well, with Twitter, it's exactly that. The more you're followed, the more "direct" communication you have, the more likely they are to reTweet and spread your name/site/message.

So I guess my suggestion would be to start Tweeting, engage in topics where you think people might be interested in hearing what you have to say, try to create interest.

Okay, that is good advice, but again, in my OP I was asking more from a technical standpoint.

Maybe it is because my Twitter account seems to "simple"?

I added my company name/logo and a short bio of like 100 characters. And ironically I didn't add my website yet, since it is just a one-page slash page, and I figured that would work against me.

I thought there might be a place to add additonal informtion, but maybe I am getting confused with Facebook or MySpace or something like that? :-/

And I went into my Profile and tried to tweak settings to make things secure.

So from that standpoint, is there anything else I need to do, or is that good enough to start talking to people?

 

[kazmac]

Start following journalists and build up content.

My semi-pro film journalism career was due to my writing for other sites, fanzines etc. For my last gig writing content for Shaw Brothers Studios in Hong Kong, I landed that gig due to existing content on a blog and another fan site. The U.S. publicist loved a piece I wrote on another fan site, along with my enthusiasm for SB and approached me through Twitter.

Note: I was “paid” in SB posters.

So I agree with previous posters, content and credentials are necessary to move forward.

Good luck.