subject: Google Before You Tweet [print this page] No matter what your purpose for using Twitter is, make sure that you do not appear ignorant online. Because of the speed by which information can easily spread online, it is very important to make sure that the bits of information you are tweeting are correct or that they do not make you appear like a fool. It is very easy to post a quick tweet online that can cause confusion, offend someone or cause you some kind of trouble. It's easy to get carried away online especially with the opportunity Twitter provides to out-scoop other news and information sources. But if you want to establish and maintain a good reputation online, you must be very careful with what you tweet. Think about your message before you hit that tweet button. Do not take Twitter lightly, there are many people who stay online and can quickly catch your message even if you decide to delete it immediately.
It is best to be safe with your messages and post information that are truthful or have value. When in doubt, always do your research online. It is so much easier to do research now with Google and the other search engines. So instead of tweeting right ahead, Google first. If you want to know something about a celebrity, try to Google first. If you have anything to say but not sure about the source or not sure about the veracity of the information, make sure you check first. Do not just tweet something you might regret tweeting.
Twitter can easily spread information online and you do not want to be the source of unverified information that spreads online. This is why you should Google before you Tweet. It is the equivalent of thinking before talking.
Make sure you post intelligent tweets. They can be humorous, just make sure that you really make a lot of sense. You need to provide value using your Twitter account so that when people check out your profile they know that you are someone worth following. Also thinking before you tweet will prevent you from being annoying online. More than the number of tweets you make or the speed by which you post information online, what matters is that your post quality messages. Posting good messages will help you establish a good reputation online which will be your social media currency. Your reputation can even be the currency with which you can earn the client's business even offline.
