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Melissa Hoyer

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Charlotte Dawson

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SOCIAL media can be tool used for good and for evil. Self-confessed Twitter-fan Melissa Hoyer explains how to stay on the right side.

Most Tweeters have been guilty of the odd Twitter faux pas. I take that back, I mean all of us. While many are still navigating the social media platform, some are still working out what works and what doesn’t work for them.

Do you want to be a player or an observer? Is it a 100% work and marketing tool? Is it a way to get your website or blog read? An avenue to get your good deeds out to the world? A way to promote your employer? Flog a product? Bag a dud holiday or restaurant? A way to share interesting links and info to like-minded people? A tool to vent your spleen or take part in live event commentary?

Whatever your choice, once you're up and running, simplify Twitter by likening it to one giant drinks party. Be interested and interesting. You can dip in and out of conversations. You can duck out to the loo. Go and get another round of drinks. Move onto someone else.

Even leave without saying goodbye. You need to be pleasant, but if you have a strong or opposing opinion on something (and hallelujah! for those) say it in the tone you would to that person’s face. So, if you’re legless and start throwing the vitriol and provocation round . . . step away from the tweet.

Sure, there are lots of books, websites and social media experts out there who have handed down 'official' guidelines, but after canvassing some fellow tweeters over the last few months, here are a few tips I've picked up. . .

*Follow and engage with the people who interest you - they're usually the ones who post appropriate links; keep you amused and realise there is more to life than 'me, me, me'. Also, don't feel obliged to follow someone because they beg you. Twitter isn't as a popularity contest. If the content you're providing is good, it will get noticed. Eventually.

*Don't stress if  a fellow tweeter doesn't respond straight away. Some, with many thousands/millions  of followers would need full time ghosts to answer every query, but if you are not one of those, it's best to try and respond. It is time-consuming to reply 'thanks’ to every reply you get, but try and do it. Don't expect an immediate response as there are other many, many other commitments to a tweeter’s day.

*Avoid interrupting a twitter conversation that you have absolutely no part in playing. Two people I follow were discussing the merits of something or other and I barged into the convo. I felt like I 'd cut into a very private chat. I could feel the atmos chill on my computer screen.

*There is not much space for big comedy in 140 digits, so it’s often best to leave jokes to those who do them well. Comedy/irony/cynicism often comes from the most unexpected places, so if you think yours works, go forth. Avoid emoticons when you can and they aren't too popular, according to many.

*The public Twitter stream is not a chat room. Do you really want to know the mechanics of where Tweeter 1 is meeting Tweeter 2 for dinner? I'm thrilled to be given a verdict on an actual meal, the venue or the party but the taxi pick-up time holds little interest. Use a DM for highly personal messages..

*The Retweet (RT) has become a bone of contention with many not thinking it necessary to retweet a whole lot of crap or vitriol aimed at them. Apart from not wanting lots of stream clogged up with viciousness (that wasn't aimed at you in the first place) don't give anonymous vipers the oxygen they crave by relaying their hideous message to your followers. We all want a civilised, informative, funny streams, NOT AN ALL CAPS STREAM TELLING  YOU HOW HIDEOUS YOU ARE . . .  

*The BLOCK key: learn how to use it. And don't forget to use the 'report to Twitter' key if you face a barrage of denigration.

*Spelling, junk, spam are mega peeves :  'there', 'they’re' and 'their’ are perfect examples of grammar fails; junk DM’s and feel-good auto quotes are also a pain; while the motives of people who use websites to ‘up’ their ‘followers’ quota with bought followers are becoming questionable.  Remember, it is quality and interactive quality, rather than quantity that really matters on the big T.

*Hashtags have also become a small bone of contention and for some it's 'to hash' or 'not to hash'. If the hash tag subject matter is of potential general appeal, then absolutely go for it. A current news story, political situ, a TV show (#qanda, #bbau, #xfactorau are perfect examples) always work. A band, a song, celeb, or a word that momentarily became part of our vernacular (remember #winning ?) is great too. But, if your hash tag is just an inane thought that wasn’t going to fit into the rest of your 140 digit tweet, then it's maybe time to rethink it. A hash tag like #iwasthinkingofgoingbutthoughtbetterofit  may not be understood by anyone else. But, if you think your sensationally amusing hashtag is pure #gold, then go for it. (Oh, and 2 hashtags is about the max for a tweet. Forget throwing 4 of them in the mix.)

*RT a link or a thought and always try to attribute the original author; most of us loathe getting foursquare location updates in their stream and we usually feel a tad uncomfy with numerous tweets talking about how crap/busy/fabulous life is . . . .

*RT-ing praise about yourself? I used to be completely anti-it . . . but as time has gone on, I've warmed to it. Ok, so no need to overdo the praising RT's, but if you want to show off how much someone loved something you did, wrote or said then Go. For. It. Spread the love. And if there is something pleasant you want to say to someone else, think about saying it on the public stream. If it is a thank-you, a positive comment or praise, there's no need to DM it. Shout it to the world!

Yep, we’ll all continue Twitter hiccuping (a lot) and we won’t all agree with all of the above, but that’s why we love Twitter. Send through some more peeving and pleasing moments so we can add to our list.

You can find me on Twitter @melissahoyer

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  • Ali Simms of Bathusrt Posted at 7:48 AM September 04, 2012

    To Charlotte Dawson ....l your beautiful and these twitter comments are a cowardly act from people who are more than likely jealous of your amazing sucess. Remember that your life is far more important than anything anyone writes ..... however as a child I was taught if you cant say anthing nice DONT SAY ANYTHING AT ALL. Perhaps my mother needs her foot up these people's backsides. I wish you well ..... not that you need it ... as remember you were doing well on your own before these comments. x

  • Nick of Tassie Posted at 5:29 PM September 03, 2012

    "*Avoid interrupting a twitter conversation that you have absolutely no part in playing." Um.. no. To this and every other 'tip' that implies twitter is private. There is a direct message feature. There are a million OTHER ways for people to have private conversations. Twitter is not one of them, it's public and if other people join in you have no reason to complain.. take your private conversations elsewhere.

  • Bob of Thurgoona Posted at 4:51 PM September 03, 2012

    As far as I am concerned Twitter is for TWITS !!!! Why bother with this kind of crap , it is not cool it just makes you look lik a Fool. I would never have taken Charlotte Dawson for a fool thats for sure .

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