10 or So Twitter Best Practices that Aren't Obvious or Idiotic

Beginning blog posts with a number is the hot thing right now; I suppose I can do that.
Here are ten guidelines I follow on Twitter, generally based on my pet peeves. Useful for any person, candidate, org or business.

Send an @ message when you follow someone new.
Given the amount of spam on Twitter, this is necessary before I follow you back or even look at your profile. Start a conversation if it's important for you to be followed back.

Make every tweet stand alone.
Even if it's an @ reply to one particular person, you should never just tweet "yes" or "great". This is a public forum; add context or your profile won't be very interesting if someone looks at it.

Mind the Ratio

If you're following ten times as many people as you're followed by, no one will be impressed.

Don't be a link-bot
Tweets littered with @ mentions and URLs are messy. I don't care what you're reading; if it's good, review it and then post a link. Twitter is not your feed syndication service. If you MUST uber-link, make your link color black.

Practice the Golden Rule
Seriously, I'm not here to listen to you whine and complain. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't tweet at all. Don't try to scare me while I'm trying to enjoy myself.

Avoid the past tense and "verbing"
Present tense, active voice writing is the best way to catch and keep attentions. Starting your headline with a verb may seem an eye-popping way to save characters, but it's not. It builds preconceptions for the rest of your message.

Don't market to me
I am not here to buy your thing. If I already bought it, don't sell me more of it. Be real - people can smell a salesman a mile away. When done correctly, you will generate goodwill and sales.

Don't misuse #followfriday
This is stupid. If you follow someone, you are endorsing them. Want to do them a favor, Retweet them; this is a better endorsement to your other friends and provides context.

Don't be a fanboy
Yes, it is cool that your favorite musician, movie star and journalist all let you into their daily lives by tweeting. You do not need to validate them by responding to their every update with gushing praise, advice, and retweets. They're already famous, you are not.

Ignore this list
It's Twitter, use it however you want. These are just guidelines I myself  follow because of the particular way I have come to use this service.

Retweet?

If I'm Killed in a Terrorist Attack, Please ...

Don't avenge me. Stop the cycle of violence that means an eye for an eye until the world is blind. Don't kill in my name.

Don't hate. There is no such thing as an evil group of people. Only education, communication, and understanding will break down the walls separating us. Don't pass sweeping judgments just because it's easier.

Don't be afraid. You are safe. The terrorist's strongest weapons are irrational fear and hysteria. Live a normal life. Don't give up your freedoms or your principles for the illusion of security.

Don't mourn for me. Know that I lived a good life. I was lucky enough to be born in one of the richest places in the most plentiful time in history. I was never hungry. Don't think about what might have been, think of what was and what could be.

Do remember me.

ReTweet?