Are you getting started with twitter for business or want to get more followers and increase engagement on Twitter?
Regardless of where you are at, here’s a massive list of 200+ Twitter tips that will make you a more effective Twitter user, and that you wish you knew years ago. The article shares some of the latest Twitter tips and tricks, strategies and best practices.

In addition, you can look like a Twitter pro, too! Each tip has a [Tweet This] link so you can quickly tweet out that tip. Better still, schedule the tweets for the year ahead and you’ll look like a marketing rockstar.

Alternatively consider using this as a guide to building a better Twitter presence. At the end of the post you’ll find a bonus cheat-sheet and checklist to help you grow your Twitter following to 1000+ followers fast. For now let’s get started with the tips.

Actionable Tip: Just take 1 thing from the list to do per day and you will come out with better results in a few months. These are the very tips that I have used to increase my followers regularly by 100% in just 30 days and retweets by 50% in 14 days.

How do I optimize my Twitter profile?

Answer this question: “Why are you using Twitter?” Tweet This
Grab your name, brand or passion, depending on what’s available and what suits your purpose. Tweet this
Google disregards usernames which include a bunch of numbers, so keep your username professional. Tweet this
Make use of new profile dimensions. Header photo = 1500 x 500 px | profile pic = 400 x 400 px. Tweet this
Use a close-up photo of you as your avatar, making you easily recognizable. Tweet this
When filling out your bio, be witty but not at the expense of clarity. Tweet this
Show off your uniqueness and skills without over-hashtagging. Tweet this
Include your website URL, but avoid shortened links as they make people suspicious. Tweet this
Do not automate messages or anything else. Tweet this
You will be judged on your ability to write, so take time to master the perfect tweet. Tweet this
Use keywords in your profile, but make it fun and searchable. Tweet this
Focus on your passion to help you stand out from the noise. Tweet this
Decide on your keywords. Tweet this
Research and identify your #hashtags. Tweet this
Check how secure your password is with http://howsecureismypassword.net. Tweet this
Use a password application like lastpass.com to help you remember complex passwords. Tweet this
How long has it been since you lasted updated your profile picture? Update it if necessary. Tweet this
Does the URL you link to still work, and is the personal description still accurate? https://Twitter.com/settings/profile. Tweet this
Take time to analyse who you are following, and unfollow any irrelevant or inactive accounts: https://Twitter.com/following. Tweet this
The official Twitter app for iOS or Android works well while on the go. Tweet this
Get a bit.ly account for better link stats and tracking.
Register your own domain name to build your own shortener with: http://www.unifiedsocial.com/awesm/. Tweet this
Monitor stats for any bit.ly URL, even other people’s, by adding a + to the end of the URL. Tweet this
Where do you announce your Twitter handle? Do an audit and measure what works best. Tweet this
Set up an out of office reply in Twitter when you are away or on vacation: http://www.labnol.org/internet/Twitter-auto-reply/27911/. Tweet this

What do I tweet?

Answer the question, “What has your attention?” Tweet this
Have more than one person tweet for your business. Tweet this
Promoting a blog post? Then ask a question or explain what’s coming next – don’t just provide a link. Tweet this
Ask questions and solicit opinions. Tweet this
Follow interesting people, and those that they follow, to get ideas for content. Tweet this
Tweet about other people’s stuff. Tweet this
Tweet about your stuff, but make it useful. Provide advice, pictures, videos etc. Tweet this
Share the human side of your company, and content that relates to human issues. Tweet this
Don’t blow your own trumpet too much. If you do, balance it out by promoting others a lot, too. Tweet this
Stick to your purpose for being on Twitter. Tweet this
Focus on your passion for the business or industry you are in. Tweet this
Spend more time talking about others than you do about yourself. Tweet this
Share hacks, tips and advice. Tweet this
To be an industry thought leader, add commentary to the links you tweet. Tweet this
Use quotes or micro-motivational speeches, like @PamMktgNut and @kimgarst. Tweet this
Poll your audience and post the results. Tweet this
Share productivity tips. Tweet this
Start a hashtag chat. Tweet this
Share infographics and podcasts as alternative media. Tweet this
Share cool industry statistics. Tweet this
Share Twitter and/or social media related news and tips. Tweet this
Highlight great followers: don’t wait for Follow Friday. Tweet this
Tweet about a favourite TV show or movie, and show your fun side. Tweet this
Tweet a photo and Vine series on life at your office. Tweet this
Tweets with photos get a 35% boost in RTs: https://blog.Twitter.com/2014/what-fuels-a-tweets-engagement @Twitter Tweet this
Tweets with videos get a 28 % increase in RTs: https://blog.Twitter.com/2014/what-fuels-a-tweets-engagement @Twitter Tweet this
Tweets with quotes, numbers and hashtags get a 19%, 17%, and 16% increase in retweets respectively: https://blog.Twitter.com/2014/what-fuels-a-tweets-engagement @Twitter Tweet this
Photos are more effective for verified users in government and politics, with a 62% higher RT rate: https://blog.Twitter.com/2014/what-fuels-a-tweets-engagement @Twitter Tweet this
Tweets with videos saw a 35% increase in RTs for verified users in the music industry: https://blog.Twitter.com/2014/what-fuels-a-tweets-engagement @Twitter Tweet this
Photos generated a 27% increase RTs in the news industry: https://blog.Twitter.com/2014/what-fuels-a-tweets-engagement @Twitter Tweet this
In the sports industry, photos result in a 50% increase in RTs: https://blog.Twitter.com/2014/what-fuels-a-tweets-engagement @Twitter Tweet this
Tweets with quotes saw a 53% bump in RTs in the TV industry: https://blog.Twitter.com/2014/what-fuels-a-tweets-engagement @Twitter Tweet this

How To Write Retweetable Tweets

Build a strong presence on Twitter. Tweet this
Direct your tweets at Twitter users who are already thought leaders and experts in your industry. Tweet this
People don’t want to retweet what everyone else is saying, so use rarer words. Tweet this [Source]
Retweet others, and give credit where it’s due. Tweet this
The 3 most commonly found words in retweets are “you”, “Twitter” and “please”. Tweet this [Source]
When retweeting, try to keep as much of the original tweet intact as possible. Tweet this
Use retweet etiquette – RT @username: Original Tweet (via @username). Tweet this
Keep your tweet to under 100 characters so others can retweet and add @mention. Tweet this
Every tweet should include a @mention, a hashtag and a link to increase the chances of being retweeted. Tweet this [Source]
Use tools to tweet at the right time, and to increase retweets. Tweet this
Smaller Twitter followings yield more retweets on average. Tweet this
Tweets with readability levels greater than grade 6 are more likely to be retweeted. Tweet this [Source]
Include 1 to 3 hashtags to increase the likelihood of being retweeted by 55%. Tweet this [Source]
Include quotation marks to increase the likelihood of being retweeted by 30%. Tweet this [Source]
Images uploaded to pic.Twitter.com are twice as likely to be retweeted. Tweet this
Adding Twitpic images increases the likelihood of being retweeted by 60%. Tweet this
40% of tweets containing Instagram images are not likely to be retweeted. Tweet this
50% of tweets containing Facebook images are not likely to be retweeted. Tweet this
A call to action in your tweet can increase the chance of being retweeted. Tweet this
Adding “please help” or “please retweet” increases your chances of being retweeted by 100%. Tweet this
“Please RT” and “please” are popular CTAs. Manners matter more than character count. Tweet this
Make sure you message is clear to your audience, even when characters are limited. Tweet this
Include “retweet” or “spread” to improve your chance of being retweeted. Tweet this
Don’t use the word “visit” as it sounds like a promotion. Tweet this
Quit using self-references, as only 1.5% of retweets contain them. Tweet this
80% of people say they retweet news. Instructional and entertainment items are also popular. Tweet this
Twitter mentions in tweets are 200% more likely to be retweeted. Tweet this
Use exclamation marks when tweeting. Tweet this
Tweeting in uppercase can result in a 550% increase in retweets, but use with care. Tweet this
Avoid publishing tweets in batches. Use the Buffer app to stagger your tweets. Tweet this
Ask for retweets. People don’t know what you want them to do unless you ask. Tweet this
Share a few times a day. Tweet this
Spell out the word “retweet”. Tweet this
44% of all tweets are retweets. Tweet this [Source]
Most Retweets are noun heavy. Tweet this [Source]
Retweets have less emotional content than tweets. Tweet this [Source]
Men and women retweet differently, with women retweeting more content types. Tweet this [Source]
Nearly 80% of retweeted content is about news, and more than 50% of retweeted content is entertainment-related. Tweet this [Source]
The likelihood of a tweet being retweeted increases dramatically each time it is retweeted. Tweet this [Source]

How To Add More Personality To Your Tweets

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how much more of your personality can you get across with a tweeted picture? Tweet this
Tweet pictures of yourself working, or going about your daily routine. Tweet this
Connecting with people is often as simple as using their name. Tweet this
Use their name. Saying “Thank you, Ann” is much more personal than just saying “Thank you”. Tweet this
Tweet as though you were speaking to your audience, rather than typing to them. Tweet this
Your tweet language adds character and can build a distinctive voice. Tweet this
Your personality is the reason people follow you, so let it shine through your tweets. Tweet this

How to increase your tweet engagement

Share your Twitter content with your audience by re-posting your tweets on Facebook and LinkedIn when appropriate. Tweet this
Ask your tweeps for help when you need it. Tweet this
Tweets with links get 86% higher retweet rates, and tweets with hashtags get twice as much engagement. Tweet this [Source]
Check to see where you stand on social media, using tools like Klout, Kred or Wefollow. Tweet this
Find existing hashtags with lots of traffic by using Twitter Search. Tweet this
Make a hashtag for every event or presentation you do. Tweet this [Source]
Put your hashtag at the bottom of every slide in your PowerPoint. Tweet this
Connect one-on-one with direct messages. Tweet this
When you see something worth sharing in your Twitter stream, retweet it. Tweet this
Create dynamic experiences for your audience by adding images, Vine and videos. Tweet this
Send the same tweet 4 times to cover different time zones, with a different angle each time. Tweet this
Use statistics to show significance: 90% of sales come from 10% of your list. Tweet this
Use the Buffer tool to schedule your tweets, and test tweeting at different times and on different days. Tweet this
Use Tweriod to tweet when others – especially your followers – are listening. Tweet this
Spend time crafting and testing headlines to find what resonates with your audience. Tweet this
Keep tweets to 100 characters or fewer to leave room for links and hashtags. Tweet this
Use Twitter lists to curate relevant content. Tweet this
Create and tweet original content that establishes yourself as a thought leader. Tweet this
Define your brand, and you will know what keywords to use. Tweet this
Use the “2 ears and 1 mouth” rule to listen and research before your tweet. Tweet this
Use Buffer or HootSuite to schedule tweets when you can’t post in real-time. Tweet this
Engage individuals by sharing something insightful about their blog post. Tweet this
Thank people for retweets. Tweet this
Add those who retweet your content to a private list for tweeters and retweeters. Tweet this
Use your lists for great content, and retweet them or jump into a conversation. Tweet this
Your feed will receive more attention if you make it a resource for your followers. Tweet this
Be helpful: provide information and solutions that keep them reading. Tweet this
If you mess up admit it. Be honest, transparent and real. Tweet this
Build your business’s trustworthiness and credibility. Tweet this
Be creative to highlight a point. Use cartoons like @smartArg. Tweet this
Ask people to share their Vine experience of your product or service. Tweet this
Show appreciation to others for their tweets by using the favourite button as a “like”. Tweet this
If somebody asks a question on Twitter, answer them. Tweet this
Find your local community using http://nearbytweets.com/ or http://trendsmap.com/ Tweet this
Pay attention the hashtags that your local community use before you join in conversations. Tweet this
Offer local deals once you have established yourself as a conscientious local tweeter. Tweet this
Using the words “retweet” and “reply” in tweets boosts retweet 43x! and reply rates 8x. Tweet this
Followers have a 12.17x higher retweet rate and 14.64x higher reply rate than non-followers. Tweet this
Learn to A/B test your tweets, and test for the best blog post headlines. Tweet this
Drive business sales with Twitter, using strategies like “flock to unlock” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkXO43gzpUA Tweet this
Find ways to meet your tweeps face to face. Think meet-ups, conferences, tweetups etc. Tweet this
Twitter is all about conversations with interesting people. Make sure you @people. Tweet this
Find people who contribute good content, then be interesting yourself: provide good content and add to the conversation. Tweet this

How To Leverage Visual Content on Twitter

Business is all about people, so use images of customers or colleagues in your profile. Tweet this
If you are a brand, don’t be afraid to put a human face to it. Tell people who your Twitter team is. Tweet this
Share images directly to Twitter. Tweet this
Use words on your images to make an impression at first glance. Tweet this
Tweet a video or Vine. Tweet this
Bright colors in images grab the attention of users in a Twitter stream. Tweet this
Horizontal images are best for tweets. Tweet this
Tag people and or businesses in images. Tweet this
Share selfies. Tweet this
Use Twitter cards to share images in your tweets. Tweet this
Live-tweet using images or videos at events, with a dash of pizazz. Tweet this

Twitter Management Tips: How To Keep On Top Of It All

Make Twitter a part of your life, not your life a part of Twitter. Tweet this
Don’t let interns manage your Twitter account. Tweet this
People value consistency, so find balance in your tweets. Tweet this
Find balance in the number of tweets you send out on a daily basis. Tweet this
Craft your tweets, @replies and promotional tweets with the same style as your personality or brand. Tweet this
You don’t have to read every tweet. Tweet this
Reply to as many @tweets directed to you as you can, but don’t feel guilty about those you don’t get to. Tweet this
There is no one perfect Twitter client: use what works for you. Tweet this
Use HootSuite or TweetDeck to listen to conversations about you and your brand. Tweet this
Commenting on others’ tweets and retweeting what users have posted is a great way to build community. Tweet this
Use HootSuite and TweetDeck to manage multiple accounts and searches. Tweet this
Connect Facebook to Twitter, not the other way around. Tweet this
Stick to your favorite topics; this helps define your brand. Tweet this
Use keyboard shortcuts with the desktop interface http://tinyurl.com/nuz5uue. Tweet this
Turn geotagging off when you don’t want people to know where you are, or where you have tweeted from. Tweet this
Search for particular topics then use a #hashtag to bring you accurate results. Tweet this
Use Google Analytics to determine traffic to your site. Tweet this
Fess up when you make a mistake. People understand human error. Tweet this

Avoid Common Mistakes on Twitter

Don’t buy followers, earn them. Tweet this
SHOUT SPARINGLY. Tweet this
Avoid abbreviations where possible; your audience may not understand them. Tweet this
Read posts twice before posting. Remember: you will be judged on your writing ability. Tweet this
Avoid tasteless comments and humour. Be respectful. Tweet this
Google facts before posting them. Tweet this
When you don’t know: ask. Tweet this

Twitter Tips: How to Optimize Your Twitter Stream

Use a link shortener like bit.ly to shorten your links. Tweet this
If you want retweets, leave enough spare characters. Tweet this
Always credit the source when retweeting. Tweet this
If you want to retweet something but it’s too long, mark it as MT so people know the tweet has been edited. Tweet this
Level of engagement is measured in click-throughs and retweets. Tweet this
The number of retweets you receive can be very low, so remember to play the long game. Tweet this
Twitter block is for preventing junk and spam. Don’t be afraid to block people for the right reasons. Tweet this
Regularly monitor and remove any dubious or redundant applications authorised in your profile. Tweet this
To increase clicks, structure your tweets like this: TWEET – LINK #HASHTAG – AFTERTHOUGHT. Tweet this
Asking followers to retweet gets a 4x higher retweet rate. Tweet this
For every 100 people you follow, 30 will follow you back. Tweet this [Source]
Best days to tweet are Saturday and Sunday. Tweet this [Source]

Twitter Tips: How To Get More Followers

Answer this: “why should someone follow you?” Tweet this
Use tools like TweetAdder or Crowdfire app to target who you’d like to follow. Tweet this
Engage, engage, engage… and repeat. Tweet this
Share more links than you do @replies. Tweet this
Want to know how not to get someone to follow you? Ask them. Tweet this
Publish your Twitter ID in other media, such as your email signature. Tweet this
Tweet about subjects you wish to discuss, and behave in the manner in which you wish to be noticed. Tweet this
Don’t just pimp your stuff. Your fans might love it, but others will tune out. Tweet this
Listen in to conversations with Topsy. Tweet this
Become an authority in your niche. Everyone is an expert at something; if you’re not – read more. Tweet this
Remember you choose how you react to others and how you behave towards them. Tweet this
Strive to acquire 100 true fans, and the rest will take of itself. Tweet this
Use search features to watch for conversations about a problem you or your business can solve. Tweet this
Find people in your region who are interested in your industry, and follow them. Tweet this
Share links to cool events in your community, like @wholefoods. Tweet this
Follow conversations, and add your 2 cents from time to time. Tweet this
Be helpful, like @jetblue giving out travel tips. Tweet this
Reward your followers when they participate by retweeting them, or displaying their tweets on your site or blog. Tweet this
Encourage visits to your website by providing something of value for free in exchange for email addresses. Tweet this
Connect with your LinkedIn account to keep track of your professional connections and their tweets. Tweet this
Talk about non-business stuff too, like @aaronstout and @jimstorer. Tweet this
Follow those that Twitter recommends to you. Tweet this
Explore Twitter ads as a way of increasing your followers, engagement or leads. Tweet this

What Are The Dos and Don’ts of Twitter Etiquette?

Avoid text speak, edit word usage, and ensure proper sentences are used. Tweet this
Cultivate relationships with your audience. Being an active tweeter means more people take notice of you. Tweet this
Monitor what other people say in their retweets. It’s quality and not quantity that counts. Tweet this
Just be you – don’t be somebody you are not. Tweet this
It goes without saying, but trolling, bulling, spamming and stalking are not acceptable behaviors. Tweet this
Learn the language: Twitter glossary. Tweet this
Keep tweets to 100-120 characters so people can add their own commentary. Tweet this
Don’t over use hashtags: 2-3 at most per post. Tweet this

Optimizing Your Blog for Twitter

Embed tweets in a blog post, and allow visitors to interact as they would on Twitter. Tweet this
Include a follow button so that people can find you on Twitter. Tweet this
Add a #hashtag button when creating or covering an event to help get your content out there. Tweet this
Use clicktotweet to encourage sharing of tweetable parts of your blog. Tweet this
Make your blog images easily shareable on Twitter. Tweet this
Ensure your blog post helps people in some way. Tweet this
Consider the uniqueness of your post content so that it stands out from others of a similar nature. Tweet this
Point readers to other posts you have published. Tweet this
News stories have higher bounce rates than more in-depth posts. Tweet this
Lists-based posts are still winners, and are more likely to be shared. Tweet this
Check your blog post grammar and spelling. Tweet this
Use the 12 emotional trigger points in your post content bit.ly/1bkapRd. Tweet this
Keep headlines to 65 characters to allow for appending of peoples comments. Tweet this
Use adjectives in headlines: they’re persuasive and add a distinct tone of voice. Tweet this
Use question-based headlines to kick off a debate. Tweet this
Consider what search queries people are using before deciding on which headline to use. Tweet this

How To Turn Twitter Followers Into Customers

It’s better to have 100 “real” followers than 1000 random followers who aren’t engaged with you. Tweet this
Spend time researching your followers; it’ll give you a clearer picture of your ideal client. Tweet this
Send them a personalized message that includes a personalized low commitment call to action. Tweet this
Stay connected by giving. Tweet this
Consistency, frequency and concern shows your loyalty to your fans and followers. Tweet this
30% of followers are more likely to recommend you. Tweet this [Source]
73% of followers want updates on future products. Tweet this [Source]
Followers are 72% more likely to buy from you. Tweet this [Source]
61% of followers want to offer ideas and feedback, so engage them. Tweet this [Source]
Increase the chance of purchases by 349% with special promotional deals for followers. Tweet this [Source]
34% of followers say they interacted after seeing an ad with the twitter handle advertised. Tweet this [Source]
Invite them to something fun and personalized like a #hashchat. Tweet this
Promote your fans. Tweet this
Let your customers and followers share their opinions with testimonials. Tweet this

Download a checklist and cheat-sheet of how to get 1000+ followers on Twitter fast.

200+ Tested Twitter Tips for Increased Shares