Dear Jacquelyn,

I finally took the plunge and opened a Twitter account. Can you recommend Twitter etiquette for beginners?

Dear Reader,

Getting accustomed to Twitter can be difficult. It can appear to be a baffling and overwhelming social media platform.

As a new Twitter user, you would benefit greatly by learning the decorum of the Twitter community. It’s not as difficult as you may think. It’s a delicate balance of being social and genuine.

As you ease into the culture of Twitter, keep in mind that engagement is the name of the game. Whether you use Twitter for fun or business, you want to genuinely interact with people.

Be social, engage and have a sense of humor. Because you are able to post your thoughts instantly, always post thoughtfully. Keep in mind that every post is a reflection of who you are.

You’ll want to avoid complaining and stirring up unnecessary drama.

There is something about complaining and drama that always manages to rub people the wrong way. Carefully analyze each tweet and ask what message are you sending. Negativity will turn off your followers. What’s rude in real life is considered rude on Twitter, as well.

When deciding who to follow on Twitter, follow people who share your interests but also take some risks and follow someone outside your immediate circle.

Include people you can learn from and who share compelling meaningful tweets. Twitter can be a wonderful tool for developing relationships based on mutual and new interests.

Twitter’s speed is part of its appeal. Avoid misspellings and poorly-worded messages. You should make it easy for readers to understand what you’re trying to say.

Avoid using internet slang and voicing your opinion is all caps. In internet language, all caps implies yelling.

Twitter etiquette is all about showing respect, interest in others, and engaging in conversation.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol. She is on the board of the National Civility Foundation.

All Rights Reserved &Copy; 2019 Jacquelyn Youst