5 Lessons From the Playground for Twitter

I’ve spent so much time on Twitter in 2009 that I’m seeing the big-picture of Twitter characteristics, and I’ve started to notice some similarities to the big-lessons learned on the playground:

1. Share: Open, helpful, sharing people project a clear position of value and expertise
2. Reach Out: Engage in conversations that are being held out in the open; you’ll be amazed by how you can extend your reach against the target group of forward-thinkers, early adopters, tech & environment influencers who make up the smaller most-active group on Twitter.  Be sure to respond directly to a conversation including the @name of the Tweeter
3. Step Out of Your Box: Reward your peers, associates and mentors/heros for having engaging and stimulating Twitter-style conversations – participate out in the open; you’ll be amazed by the influencers you start to attract (following you)
4. The Telephone Game: Keep in touch with professional associates, competitors/collaborators and coworkers and clients throughout your day on your Blackberry or iPhone; adding connectedness to the value of your contact list
5. Regularly follow back: It’s true.  It is more polite to follow back the people who follow you, so it will help you keep a content and helpful following.  When you’ve progressed past the 2,000 follow limit (I’m still currently being limited by it), try to follow back your most interesting new followers daily or weekly (click on the number of followers on your profile)