The four Cs
Credibility. Always try to include a link to an authoritative source (trade publication, newspaper, blog) to validate your tweet. Don’t preach or tweet like a know-it-all. Your opinion alone is OK—but not all of the time.
Consistency. If you’re going to use Twitter professionally, tweet often and responsibly. Don’t just tweet for the sake of tweeting—be sure you have something relevant to say (check the Rs below).
Correctness. Accuracy applies to social media and, like it or not, you will be judged by your words. Be sure to spell them correctly and use them appropriately.
Creativity. Don’t just tweet the same thing everyone else is tweeting. Approach your subject from a different angle or perspective. Apply your unique knowledge and experience to your tweets. Be dynamic and original.
The five Rs
Relevancy. Tie into trends, breaking news, and popular culture. Use hashtags and include relevant people into your tweets using their Twitter handles.
Reactivity. Be reactive, but in an appropriate way. Do not tweet angry, snarky, politically incorrect, or emotional messages that may be offensive (see below).
Responsibility. Yes, you’re an adult, and you are judged by your words, even those posted on social media. Don’t ever attack anyone, and keep your language clean and appropriate. Think before you tweet: Would you want your mother or little sister or brother reading your tweets? Your tweets will be judged by prospective or current employers—don’t ask how—but they do view your social media posts and images, so be sure to demonstrate that you’re able to communicate responsibly and accurately.
Respect. If you want to be treated with respect, then you’ll need to be respectful, even when communicating through social media. Give praise, recognize someone’s accomplishments, and don’t attack—even when you disagree or don’t like someone or something.
Reliability. As you begin to amass a Twitter following, you’ll notice that your tweeps will look forward to what you have to say so they can favorite, retweet, or comment. Be sure to stay current and consistent with your tweets and up-to-date with breaking news and current trends.
[Editor’s note: This information originally was presented by the author in a webinar sponsored by the University of Delaware.]
Anne G. Barretta is an adjunct professor at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J., and at Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah, N.J. For more than 15 years, she has taught upper-level undergraduate communications courses such as Writing for Public Relations and Media Ethics and Law, increasingly incorporating social media strategy into her curricula.
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