It seems like everyone takes twitter to seriously...it's about making connections~then building relationships and getting to know new people. Why such caution is advocated I'm just not seeing it.

I use tweetdeck or hootsuite to selectively filter those I'm building rapport with, but I love the twitstream of all the followers since I pick up new friends from it everyday. I autofollow and truly welcome conversation from all.

Businesses should always autofollow~ anyone that's interested in them~THEY should be interested in. Again, using the search feature in an outside app to bring to their attention anything with their names or brands mentioned.

That's just my opinion~ but it's way to fun NOT to follow; live dangerously!! ...#followfriday is a great way of meeting and following new people.

Because of the limits of Twitter; the twit2000 ceiling and I think a 10% ratio after that; I end up unfollowing most that don't follow me w/ a few celebrity/newsblog exceptions.

Tweetcha later,
@wendyhuffman

Nice overview of Twitter and social networking tools - I will be referencing this piece a lot in the months to come (and yes I have already Tweeted it!). I found it interesting to hear the perspectives from Stowe and Jeremiah. Those are two key people to know about in this realm. There is a lot that can be learned from following the patterns of social networking and how discovery/collaboration happen especially when microblogging makes its way into the secure enterprise...

I strive to put a link or something of obvious value in just about every tweet. And when posting links, I try to identify for whom they would be interesting, and give an accurate description of why one would bother visiting the link (which can be a challenge when you only have 140 characters). I try to share links and other contents because that's what I'm interested in seeing from other people -- I'm not particularly interested in where some guy I don't know is going for dinner.

Just my two cents.

@zbgoodwin

Good rules here. I would have to add to the last one though, and emphasize that the hard sell is a bad way to win friends in Twitter.

A few people have compared it to someone meeting you at a party and immediately starting to sell you something. Can they really expect you'll think, "Hey I want to be friends with this person!" More than likely, you'll look to move on as quickly as possible.

If you're there to sell, do it sensitively and after you've built genuine relationships. Come to think of it, that rule applies outside Twitter as well as it does in.

Another point of etiquette is to make sure you participate in the two-way-street aspect of Twitter. Some Twitter users, mostly magazines in my experience, have hundreds or thousands of followers but they don't follow anyone. They pump out links to their own articles. That means they are using the platform in the Web 1.0 model of delivering content and ignoring what consumers of the content think and feel. They are talking but not listening. Web 2.0 is all about listening to your followers (or customers, readers, users, etc.) and not only allowing them to contribute but encouraging them to contribute for the gain it provides you and everyone. It also establishes good will and makes it more likely that your Tweets will be shared. As a rule, I don't follow anyone who doesn't follow anyone.

@furnitude

I find a general good rule of thumb is not to say anything you wouldn't say to a friendly stranger at a bus stop.

If you have personal opinions/matters to discuss, use the direct messaging feature.

I'm still a relative newbie on Twitter but I'd echo @zbgoodwin on this key point: When you Tweet a URL, add a short description. It's just not useful to Tweet "reading http://etc." And when you learn something by following someone, give them credit with a retweet or @ reply. I keep seeing stuff I've tweeted showing up without attribution in others' tweets. Sure, it's possible people are posting without having seen the earlier tweets, but every day? Not whining. Just saying.

Twitter is an excellent medium to meet people. I have found numerous useful articles and by following up and going to someone's website, a publisher for my forthcoming book on direct marketing. I tend to unsubscribe from people who only post messages trying to sell me something. I like people who mix a bit of personal stuff with lots of articles and tips to share.

I have to say that I disagree with following power Twitter users. I am on Twitter to learn from top soc net and business folks and these are the guys and gals who know how to use Twitter as knowledge share and to build connections, and therefore are prolific in all the right ways.

I don't follow, and have dropped, noisy, voyeuristic Twitterers who cut the front of the line with their high volume and low value.

This is highly relevant and a great post. Frequency, volume, and relevancy are the key. Just like email and phone, using Twitter can have a spam affect. As marketing and sales start to latch on helping them self moderate will make the difference in maintaining good customer relationships.