Maybe you read my recent post on Twitter is for Professionals?  Or, you’ve just decided it’s something you’d like to explore.  Here’s my advice on how to get started.

1. First, check out how some people use it.  Do you know of a researcher/author/speaker that you think is really smart?  Are they on Twitter?  If so, this is a great person to follow.  For example, you can go to http://twitter.com/sparkandco to see my twitter stream, or look at the information that I collect in a single day through my http://paper.li/sparkandco daily. You can also follow “lists” once you get on Twitter – this is a way for you or anyone else to group similar tweeters.  Say “recruiters” or “industry experts”. That’s where you follow a group of people.  Here’s an HR list that includes many of the top tweeps.
2. Next create a profile – try to keep your twitter “handle” on the shorter side, but something memorable.  Put in information about yourself that is both professional and personal in your bio.  One thing I’ve noticed about Twitter is that because you are reading bits of this person’s insight frequently, you get to know their personality.  I love when I get a new follower and it tells me they are: e-learning developer, kayaker, dad.  Upload an image – some of you might not want your photo as an image, but don’t keep the twitter default (an egg shape), it’s got no personality.
3. Start following some people – twitter actually gives you suggestions of similar people once you’ve followed one person.  Don’t worry about a long term relationship.  You can stop following people at any time, so if you find they just don’t give you enough information, or too much information, just drop ‘em.   Mix it up with some unique things – snowboarding, dog people, travel tweeters.  Follow people that fit your whole self, not just your professional self.
4. Find a professional interest to follow.  This might be HR, Recruiting, Learning, Technology.  Find a hashtag (#) that appeals to you.  Some of them are “topic channels” others are events, like conferences or weekly twitterchats.  Here is a list of hashtags to check out: #HR #leadership #hrtech #recruiting You get the picture, right?  Contribute at any time to hashtag, and it is a good way to cross-pollinate.
5. Tweet interesting stuff.  If you follow interesting people, you can retweet (RT) their great thoughts.  You can post meaningful quotes.  Your blog posts (even better, my blog posts!), news stories, observations, tools.

Hope to see you in the Twitterverse.

Holly MacDonald is an independent consultant with well over 15 years of experience in the learning & development field.  Holly is a bit of a techno-geek and can often be found playing online.  When she steps away from her computer, she spends time outside: hiking, kayaking, gardening and of course walking the dog.  She lives on Saltspring Island and is a leader in the live/work revolution.