I recently helped a new Twitter user write her bio.
It’s only a few words; however, the process gave rise to challenging questions.
For example, do people read a Twitter bio or do they just scan for keywords like: “mom,” “blogger,” “CEO,” “marketing,” “content,” etc.
If they read the bio, will the same process we use to write adwords copy apply, with the most important ideas first followed by a call to action?
And how do you teach style and attitude? Twitter bios can be short and punchy as well as polished and professional.
While it’s hard to make a generalization, I’m in favor of a keyword-rich, compelling bio with at least one useful link that reveals personality.

Here are 21 things to consider when enhancing your twitter bio.
If you’re happy with yours, this can serve as a checklist.

1. Add a quote.
2. Add a question people should ask you.
3. Add something you are looking for.
4. Add something you can offer.
5. Add your mantra.
6. Add an article that rocks your world.
7. Add a sentence that describes who you are.
8. Add a sentence that describes what you want to do on Twitter.
9. Add descriptive tags, see StumbleUpon for ideas
10. Add a link to people’s replies to you. @Pistachio does this
11. Add your Linkedin account
12. Add your Delicious account
13. Add a link to FriendFeed
14. Add a link to your favorite Flickr photos
15. Add a link to your playlist (blip.fm, last.fm, etc.)
16. Add a link to a YouTube video of you, or that you enjoy watching
17. Add a link another blog, or website you are a part of
18. Cut your bio to 50% its current length
19. Put the most important terms first
20. Decide on your emphasis. If your bio was only one word (and not your name), which word would it be and why?
21.  If you’ve written in a complete sentence, try writing in short, punchy phrases. If you’ve written in short punchy phrases, try writing in complete sentences. Use what works.

BTW, here is my Twitter profile:

Name: Zach Braiker
Location: Cambridge, MA
Web: http://www.quiverandquill.com
Bio: “to understand one life you must swallow the world.” I run refine+focus: a marketing agency working w/ brands, media and VCs. http://tinyurl.com/63mrn

For related resources see:

Twitter Best Practices So Far, by David Lee King

How to Write a Short Bio on Yourself, by Pete Kistler

William K. Zinzser, author of On Writing Well, offers helpful advice: “My four principles are: Clarity, Simplicity, Brevity and Humanity. If you keep those four principles in mind, there’s almost nothing you can’t do.”

What does the phrase “social media community” actually mean?

There are thousands of communities on many different platforms within social media, yet the single phrase persists.

Being apart of the social media community means several things to me:

Listening. To what your customers are saying about you and to see if your brand promise matches the brand experience.
Responding. There’s what you say and where you are saying it: whether it’s in a social media press release, your corporate blog, your Facebook page or bloggers’ comments.
Showing up. Attending events,  being visible in search with a social media footprint and paying attention.
Giving back. As Guy Kawasaki mentions, an important part of the social media community is helping others who cannot help you.

I recently asked my community on Twitter whether using Twitter is synonymous to being apart of the social media community. Here’s what they offered:

Robert Scoble wrote: “Do you say you are part of the telephone community cause you use a phone? So, why do that with social media? I’m just a human, not a SM’er.”

He raises an interesting point—just because someone uses a technology does not necessarily make them a part of a community. However, if the telephone were used only by 1/3 of 1% of the US population (like Twitter) and those who used it shared similar political and social ideas, and they often met up and celebrated the way they were using the telephone, I would call them a part of a community. Would you?

(The meaning of follow, by dhammza on Flickr)

When people follow you on Twitter how do you decide whether to follow them back?

Here are criteria I use:

• Your last three tweets made me laugh or think.
• I already know you, and/or read your blog.
• The link in your bio points somewhere interesting – not to a place I have to login to see
• I like your wallpaper, photo or your icon.
• You have sent me an @ reply with something interesting
• Following / follower ratio (no spammers thank you)
• Your bio is appealing
• Because I suddenly feel like it and will decide later if there’s a fit

I asked a few friends on Twitter the same question:

@bmanley:  For me, if they seem “techy” and don’t look “spamy”, I’ll follow.
@msjen:  I read their tweets if I don’t know them. If they are a good writer, funny & not shilling a product or service then I follow
@thehotiron:  I usually go ahead and follow, then see what I am following!
@JayNeely: @quiverandquill 1) Do I know them? 2) Do their tweets show we share interests? 3) Are they over-following? 4) Are they tweeting too much?
@BryanPerson: Check out that person’s profile/tweets and look for points in common: living area, tweet topics, profession, industry, etc.

How do you decide?

Aaron Strout recently left Mzinga in an interesting way. He wrote this blog post that explained why he was leaving and reflected on his time with the company. It caught my attention, so I contacted Aaron to learn more about his background and business philosophy. The result was our robust conversation on social media marketing—how it works and why. Start by listening to minute 8:24 – 10 where Aaron discusses the criteria for social media marketing and suggests how to tie it into your business goals.

Social media creates both collaboration and exclusivity.

Collaboration with tools like tags, wikis, forums and comments.

And exclusivity with limited invites to new services and the attention we pay to those with great stats, and friends & followers.

Does collaboration and exclusivity apply differently to businesses online than to people?

I recently came across OGILVY’s profile on Twitter which prompted this question.

Ogilvy is one of the world’s most influential advertising and communication agencies, positioning themselves as 360 degree brand stewards.
I am surprised that more than 500 people follow them on Twitter, and they are following no one in return.

I am sure there are pros and cons to this.

On the pro side, they have a good amount of followers and the fact that they follow none of them may make them come across as exclusive (a core brand characteristic?).
They also don’t need to concern themselves with offending someone they don’t follow since they follow no one.

On the con side, their exclusive positioning may prevent them from meaningful collaborative opportunities—and may make people on Twitter perceive them negatively.

So, Ogilvy UK—what was your thought behind not following anyone?

I would ask you directly, but since you’re not following me, I can’t DM you.

If the subject of online exclusivity interests you, check out: A Small World &  RUE LA LA.