Thinking back to one of my first Tweets, it was something along the lines of “trying to work out my Twitter strategy”.

And after a few months and over 100 posts later I think I’ve finally cracked it.

So for all you ‘Twirgins’ out there keen to take the plunge, here are a few pointers on how to find your feet, conduct yourself and increase your following:

• Personalise your account:

Make sure you have an image (avatar), a bio and a URL if possible, so that others can see you are a genuine Twitterer and not a ’spammer’. If you’re really keen you may also want to personalise your background too. You can do this at sites like TwitBacks and TwitterBackgrounds.

• Don’t follow too many people:

It may seem a reasonable ploy to follow as many people as possible. While you’ll feel like you’ve got all bases covered you’ll soon realise that the more people you follow the harder it is to wade through the treacle. So be selective.

• Follow Tweeps with Twitority:

Use websites such as Twellow, Twitter Search and Twitority to find influential and interesting people. And make sure you have a good blend of businesses and real people. While businesses, e.g. PRWeek, MediaGuardian and NewMediaAge will give you the latest news, they will rarely give you their take on something. People are so much more interesting…

• Get connected:

If you’re gonna Tweet then do it properly. Make sure you’ve got access to Twitter no matter where you are. Install Twitterific for iPhones, Twitterberry for BlackBerrys and TweetDeck for PC and laptops. You can now scratch that Twitch wherever you are. Oh, and you may also want to consider Twitpic, just incase you come across anything worthy of a picture, e.g. the Hudson Bay plane crash.

• Decide your voice:

Do you want to keep it professional or are you happy to reveal all? A good thing to remember is: “don’t Tweet anything you wouldn’t want your Mum to see”. Once you have made your decision then stick to it and make sure you are personal, approachable, authoritative, thoughtful and sometimes humorous.

• Tweet about topical things and name drop:

Any person or business worth their salt will have Twitter searches set up for topics relevant to them or their name. So chances are that if you mention a big-time-Twitterer or a Twitter-savvy business, they will see it and respond. You can also use #tags in a bid to increase your following. These flag the term to the Twitter community and should help you pick up a few more like-minded followers.

• Go the extra mile for your following:

While it’s good to give your insight on things and keep others up to date with your movements, avid Twitter users like useful Tweets – so shop around. If you find something that interests you on the web then Tweet it. Whether it’s a new Twitter application, breaking-news or a hilarious viral, people will be interested. Note: you may want to use TinyUrl to reduce the size of the link. This will give you the chance to add your own comment and will also enable people to Re-Tweet your post.

• Direct message:

While having a mass-following is good for the ego it will not guarantee that you are a well connected Twitterer. There’s an unwritten rule on Twitter that if someone replies or RTs one of your Tweets you should direct message them. This allows you to continue the conversation away from the other followers and it’s a great opportunity to build up a good dialogue and Twitter relationship.

• Monitter:

Keep your eyes and ears open. Use sites like Monitter, Twttrlist and even the search option within TweetDeck. This way you can keep up to date with Tweets you’re interested in and respond as soon as they happen.

• Ask and respond to questions:

If you’ve not heard of something or someone before then ask? Chances are that someone else has and they may just give you the information you’re looking for. But it is a two way process and you’ll be sure to make a friend if you help someone out. You may also want to consider surveying your audience which is another great way to keep them on their toes.

• Don’t stop:

It’s a fact that 60% of Twitter users give up after the first month. If you can stick at it long enough you will soon see the benefits. Whether it’s getting some information about a company or being considered for a Twitch, they are there. But if you are flagging behind or snowed under with work you can always consider automatic feeds from third parties with the same interests, e.g. Mashable. This will quench your following’s thirst in your absence but be warned: stay away for too long and they will leave you for someone more interesting than a parrot!

• Twitter marketing:

Just because you are on Twitter don’t just assume that people will find you. Go out there and tell them. You may want to consider adding your Twitter profile to your business card, email signature or website.

So, if anyone says that you don’t need a Twitter strategy just a sense of adventure, they’re not entirely true. Common sense suggests that you don’t jump into something new without a plan, so why do it with Twitter? One thing I’ve learnt though is be prepared to put in some serious Twitter hours…

I’ve just read an interesting article in Management Today called “Ten Top Tips: Blogging for Business”, which was taken from Antony Mayfield’s eBook, “How to Start Blogging: A Guide for Business Bloggers”.

And I find it fascinating that Twitter was not included. For me, Twitter is the perfect way to improve your blogging. It not only opens doors to a whole host of content you never knew about, but, if you use it like I do, it enables you to drop your thoughts down online while you are on the move.

Then, if you’re lucky, by the time you get around to writing the blog post, one of your followers might have offered their opinion on the Tweet or provided a link to further information so that you can write a more informed blog post.

But, if nobody took the bait it is by no means the end of the world. At least your Twiter following was made aware of your thoughts. You can then return to this topic once you have written your blog post and use Twitter as a medium to direct people to a more indepth conversation your blog.

So, if I may, Mr. Mayfield?

11. Use Twitter
Micro-blogging is a great way to jot your thoughts down on the move. It lets your Twitter following know what you are thinking and prepares them for a more indepth deabte once you have written your blog post.

Furthermore, you’ll find that the more your Tweet, the more you blog and vice-versa!!!