Do you feel left out when people talk about Twitter? Are you anxious to start tweeting but afraid that asking questions will reveal your lack of knowledge? Is your Twitter account set up, but looking silent and dismal? Answer these 10 questions, and you’ll be well on your way to chirping up a storm!

1. What name will you choose as your Twitter handle, company name or personal name or both? Learn more at: http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/4495/Twitter-Handles-Dos-and-Don-ts-and-eBook.aspx

2. Where do I start? Sign up at www.Twitter.com

3. What graphic will you use as your Twitter background? What’s a background? Learn more at https://twitter.com/settings/design

4. What graphic will you use as your header? What’s a header? Learn more at https://support.twitter.com/articles/127871

5. What words, including keywords, will you place in your bio? (You have 160 characters to work with.)

6. What website do you want to link to from your business Twitter account? (Answer: your website’s home page or if you don’t have one, your LinkedIn account profile)

7. What photo will you use on your business Twitter account? (Answer: the same one you use on all other professional social networking sites)

8. What will your first tweet be?

9. Will your account be public or private? Will you protect your site or not. Learn more here:
https://twitter.com/settings/account

10. Who will you invite to connect to you on Twitter? Reading this in an email? Hit reply and let me know your handle. Reading this on my blog? List your Twitter account below and I’ll follow you. You can follow me at @mariamarsala

Bonus Tip
Social networking allows you to connect with your clients on a more personal level, too. It’s a way for you to connect without clients without them feeling like they’re being sold to. After you create your twitter account, you have an opportunity for your staff to call your AAA clients to learn what their Twitter handles are and then invite them to follow you. Other ways to notify clients that you’re ready for them to connect with you on Twitter are to mail them a postcard announcement, put an announcement notice on your blog, and create links from your website to your social networking sites.

Of course, don’t use Twitter or any other social networking platform if you aren’t sure how to do so in a compliant manner, consistent with
your firm’s social media policies. Always check with your Compliance Department before doing something new on any social media venue.

©2013 Maria Marsala guides independent financial advisors to reach their 5-year business and personal goals in 24 months. She is a business coach, speaker, and a former Wall Street Trader. Named one of the Top 30 International Coaching Gurus in 2011, Maria has been recognized as a thought leader whose ideas have been published in Financial Planning Magazine, RIA Biz, Advisor Max, Dow Jones, The Street, Entrepreneur Magazine, and numerous books, trade journals, and magazines. She has authored four business-building workbooks including, Attracting Clients You Love Working With: 6 Steps to a Profitable Client Base. Did you find this article thought provoking? Get more delivered directly to your inbox every two weeks by signing up at

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