T-rep (noun): Your reputation on Twitter. It’s who you are, what you post, who you follow, etc. It’s just like your real-life reputation but it’s in print and, oh yeah, it’s on the Internet. You should probably take it seriously.
[Note: You should read this post. Out of all of my TMHTT posts, it's undoubtedly the most important.]
When it comes to Twitter, your T-rep can make or break you; consequently, self-”twee”flection is a must for even the most seasoned of Tweeps. It’s what separates us from the pack, and, wow, is it an impressive pack!
Stay interesting, remain legitimate by asking yourself these questions:
- Who do I want to be on Twitter?
- What’s my agenda?
- Is this a personal page, business page, or both? What will that look like?
- Am I happy with my Twitter handle?
- Does my description actually describe me, or is it BS? If it’s BS, am I ok with that?
- Would I follow me? Would I read me?
- If my mom found my Twitter page, how would I feel? Boss? Spouse?
- Should I align myself with a particular group/s?
- Am I using hashtags effectively? Lists?
- Am I reaching out and returning the favor?
- Are any Tweeps offended by what I’m saying? Do I care?
- Which tweets elicit an emotional response (excitement, anger, etc.)?
- What makes me different? Valuable?
While the above questions DO matter, the best way to keep your T-rep intact is to be real. Just like real-world relationships, your relationships on Twitter are based on trust. Lose that trust, lose your community.
Top 3 Call_Me_TwitterMonster Don’ts:
1) Don’t try to be what you think Twitter wants you to be. I see a lot of people who try overly hard to impressive on Twitter. While you deserve recognition for your accomplishments, make sure that your reading on the OMG-I’m-So-Fabulous meter remains low. Twitter craves salt of the Earth people, so forget presenting yourself as some kind of sage. Your follower number doesn’t make you special (seriously, people autofollow all of the time), what you tweet does.
2) Don’t present yourself as a perfect person. Haven’t you heard, perfection is boring! We’re human, we’re falible and we have ideas that don’t always pan out. No one likes a Negative Nancy, but it’s totally ok to occasionally admit your shortcomings on Twitter. If it’s happening in your life, good or bad, it’s relevant information. My Tweeps loved when I confessed that I hurt my coccyx after I tripped on a suitcase in the middle of my floor; as I tweeted, that’s what I get for not putting away my clothes earlier! It’s stupid, it’s life, and it’s what we all do. Remember that failure is relatable.
3) Don’t lie about your connections to other people or products. If you’re married to the author whose books you’ve been touting the merits of, just say so! None of us are going to blame you! In fact, people might become even more generous with the RTs, etc. You should especially follow this rule if you are going to tweet about a product or business that you are directly associated with. Everyone knows that I work for Ballpoint; I’m proud of it and people get it. See “Sell Me, Tweet Me, Panhandle Me?” for more on this subject.
Take the combined advice of two great thinkers, myself and Gandhi, and be the change you wish to see on your Twitter page. 
