Twitter for Lawyers – Twitter Etiquette

Twitter use is constantly evolving.  But there are some unspoken Twitter Etiquette rules that you should consider following.  The reason is because you want to not only have followers, but you want to build relationships with these followers so they will engage with you.

1.  The Golden Rule.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  This does apply to Twitter.  If someone takes the time to respond to your tweet, thank them or agree with them or something.  Be courteous and reply.

2.  Retweet what other Twitterers are saying.  Retweet the great quotes or profound thoughts that resonate with you.  Retweet some of the funny stuff.  Retweet other people’s questions so they reach a wider audience.  Retweet good blog posts.

3.  Tweet about an excellent blog post or article you just read and include the link, whether you know if they’re on Twitter or not.  These type of tweets are helpful to others and it’s also good karma.

4.  Thank someone when they’ve retweeted (RT) your tweet.  If several people have retweeted something you posted, you can thank them in one post (remember always put the @ before their Twitter name) or single them out with one person thanked per posting.

5.  Don’t tweet the same message over and over again.  Similarly, don’t tweet 20 times in a 3 minute period. It clogs up people’s Twitter streams and they won’t appreciate it.  In fact, they’ll probably un-follow you.

For some additional Do’s and Don’ts, take a look at Steven Matthews’ 29 Lawyer Twitter Practices.