Would you like a more reputable Twitter account? Perhaps you want a higher profile in whatever communities you are engaged with?

Luckily, a few simple steps will help you rise through the Twitter hierarchy in no time. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Spruce Up Your Twitter Profile

ste knight twitter

First, let's get the basics right. Which means making sure your profile page is appealing to visitors.

Ensure your name or business is stylized in the way you like to present it, and check that your bio is informative and includes links and tags to any appropriate accounts/sites.

Lastly, check that your profile pic and cover pics look good and are in a high enough resolution.

2. Respond to People Quickly on Twitter

If someone reaches out to you, either publicly or via a Direct Message (DM), then have the courtesy to respond to them. You need to appear polite, professional, and timely.

On a wider point, interacting with other users and thus growing by virtual word-of-mouth is one of the most tried and tested for enhancing your reputation rapidly.

3. Post Regularly on Twitter

When you're looking for new accounts to follow in your field and you stumble across people who only tweet once every few weeks or months, you are less likely to follow them.

Unless you are contributing regularly, it's unlikely that you will be able to create enough momentum to grow your Twitter reputation significantly.

4. Be Conscious About What You Tweet

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If you want your account to become known for a specific thing, then stick to that topic.

We understand that there has been some backlash against journalists and other large accounts speaking out about issues outside their typical sphere, but that's not what we're talking about.

Rather, try not to clutter up your feed with random, aimless tweets. Too many messages like "What a goal!" or "Lovely day in the park today." will start to dilute your feed and make your account less appealing to would-be followers.

5. Don't Tweet Anything Too Controversial

Although courting controversy might feel like a faster way to catapult your account in other user's consciousness, it is rarely a good approach to follow.

For every one controversial account that makes it "big," there are a million others that fail.

Being intentionally controversial is only going to make the people whose respect you want to earn come to despise you, and it is an easy way to have your Twitter posts reported and then potentially get banned from Twitter altogether.

6. Use the Twitter Lists Feature

You should already be using Twitter lists. Trying to parse information from your main feed is impossible; the content is too diverse and mixed up to be coherent. Lists let you organize accounts into categories for more focused conversation. Indeed, using lists is one of our top Twitter tips for beginners.

Having a focused list of users in whatever Twitter sector you want to target is important for growing your reputation. It means you can easily stay abreast of, and get involved with, the top conversations of the day.

You can also use Twitter lists for a bit of self-publicity. If you make the list public, anyone can follow it. With some effort, you might be able to get enough people to follow your list that other accounts in the field will reach out to you in a bid to get included.

7. Don't Rely on Too Much Automation

twitter ifttt

One common theme among many of the more reputable Twitter accounts is personalization.

It's unlikely that you will see a large account (other than big news sites etc.) using too many auto-posted messages. It's just not what most people are looking for on Twitter.

If you have a blog or website that you want to promote content from then at least take the time to write a thoughtful message to accompany the link on Twitter. Too many links and not enough personal input will quickly have people reaching for the Unfollow button.

8. Follow the Right People on Twitter

Of course, making sure that you follow the most influential people in your industry is also essential. When you are trying to build your own reputation, it is pointless to spend too much energy on other similarly low-rep accounts.

Taking this approach also helps you to use Twitter as a research tool. Depending on your field, it could be useful.

9. Use @ Mentions on Twitter

If you don't use @ mentions on Twitter, then who are you really talking to? For small accounts (sub-1000 followers), you might as well be shouting into thin air. Twitter is so transient that the chances of more than a small handful of accounts noticing your carefully crafted message are negligible.

Of course, it is possible to go too far the other way. You shouldn't constantly @ people merely in an attempt to get noticed. Doing so is a surefire way to make them block you.

10. Use Twitter Hashtags

Another key tool for getting your tweets noticed is to use hashtags.

Don't look at the trending tags of the day; they have millions of tweets published every minute, meaning your content will be buried.

Instead, look at the tags that people in your community are using for certain topics. Many hashtags are actively monitored and used, but only see a manageable number of messages sent every hour. They are perfect conversations to get involved with.

11. Use Visuals to Make Your Tweets Pop

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To help make your tweets stand out from the crowd, you should consider adding visual content. Other users are much more likely to engage with images and videos than with plain text messages.

The same rules apply; only use content that is appropriate and will help enhance the way other people view your account.

12. Leverage Your Network Outside of Twitter

Most people and businesses will already have an extensive network of contacts in the real world. When you're at conferences or events, ask to exchange Twitter handles with other people in the same way that you would swap phone numbers.

A follower that you have also met in person is much more likely to keep following you and to interact with your content.

For Twitter Success, Be Prepared to Put in the Hours

Growing your Twitter reputation is not going to happen overnight. The large accounts have spent years amassing followers and have posted thousands of tweets.

It is unrealistic to expect to post a few messages and suddenly have everyone desperate to start listening to you. However, if you fastidiously follow the tips in this article and stay consistent for the long term, you WILL succeed.