Twitter Rules to Abide and Question

In the previous article, Linda introduced Twitter to designers, including some tools to use and some basic rules that you might follow for Twitter success. In this article, she will take you into the realm of Twitter Rule Meisters, or people who insist that you follow their rules. She offers some alternatives that, outside of Twitter's official rules, actually bring total freedom to your Twitter use.

Links

·         WSJ's Twitter rules: too restrictive: Matthew Ingram takes a look at the rules that Wall Street Journal laid upon their journalists.

·         10 things Twitter users should not do: Some fairly decent guidelines, but I wouldn't consider them rules. But, for the record, I don't follow Jason Calcanis. You can, if you want.

·         Writing My Twitter Etiquette Article: 14 Ways to Use Twitter Politely: Actually, I found this list to contain some great guidelines. Most of them are common sense, and it wouldn't hurt to try a few of them. However, I have tweeted in an altered state, but it was fun at the time – one of those rare instances when five or more of your followers also are raising a glass to something. Take this with a grain of salt – I am a funny drunk. You may not be that entertaining after a few drinks.

·         Five Twitter "Rules of Engagement": Argh! The rules for the rabid marketing Twitterer! If someone needs to tell you to "be sincere," then that person is begging for you to become the person that he or she wants you to be. You can be insincere as much as you want. You just won't get very far, in my humble opinion. Granted, these 'rules' were written for companies that have come on board to Twitter. However, I'm not that concerned with company tweets – I really have no urge to follow General Motors on Twitter, for instance. But, I do have a huge interest in following Monsanto. Take a look at both accounts and their messages, and you may understand my reasoning. Some forms of sincerity are more interesting than others, in my opinion.