One book I
had to read for my Media Writing class was The
Tao of Twitter by Mark Schaefer. As
someone who has never used Twitter before, this book was extremely helpful. Schaefer includes many tips for beginners to
get the most out of Twitter. The book
begins with a personal story of Schaefer’s where he wrote an innocent tweet “Go
Steelers,” which led to a conversation with a friend that in turn led to
multiple business relationships networking opportunities for Schaefer and other
people in world of marketing.
Schaefer
goes on to explain that anyone can have similar experiences with Twitter by
making use of three elements. The first
is to make targeted connections. Surround
yourself with people with similar interests.
The second is to provide meaningful content. By doing these two things together audiences will
certainly find you. The third tip is to
provide authentic helpfulness. Don’t try
to sell anything to anybody, human interaction will lead to connections,
awareness, and trust.
Later
chapters focus on how to get the most out of Twitter to achieve all three of
the elements. Some are simple dealing
with the language of Twitter like re-tweet, “@” signs, and “#” signs. Another section advises Twitter users on when
to Tweet and how often each day. Other
sections cover more advanced concepts such as activity streaming, audience
maintenance, and creating brand pages.
Schaefer warns people that Twitter creates a searchable record of your
statements. Like all social media programs,
Schaefer advises to be careful what you post.
The Tao of Twitter is a good book for people who want
to learn more about the benefits Twitter can provide. The book is a quick read at only 156 pages
with font that is easy on the eyes. I
would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to expand their online
presence through Twitter.
