Twitter offers an excellent platform for social networking, increasing follower count and even making some money. But, if there’s one thing about this social site, it’s that you must be witty with your words. With a 160 character max for the bio, choosing your text wisely is critical in building an image for your brand.

Now, before you start thinking that your Twitter bio is hardly a factor in your follower count, think again. In the marketing world, you have just a few seconds to grab the attention of a prospective client, and the same is true with your bio. You want people to know who you are, why they should follow you and what types of people you’re looking to attract.

Let’s discuss the do’s and don’ts of Twitter bios. It’s all in the details.

Twitter Bio Don’ts

  • Don’t leave it blank. Your photo and Tweets shouldn’t replace a quality bio.

  • Don’t write something that has nothing to do with your company. Be original. Think: How would you describe your business in a few words or sentences?

  • Don’t use irrelevant keywords or buzzwords. This will make it look like you’re a.) a spammer or b.) trying too hard.

  • Don’t overstuff with #hashtags. This looks like spammy behavior, especially when using generic hashtags.

  • Don’t offer up a challenge. Comments like, “Follow me if you dare,” is a waste of good space when describing your business.

  • Don’t type like a child. This means pasting some caps and some lower case letters LiKe tHiS, or swapping out numbers for words.

Now that we have all the don’ts out of the way, let’s have some fun with what you should be doing!

Twitter Bio Do’s

  • Do be clever and unique. If you had two seconds to look over a Twitter bio, what would make you want to follow? Show readers that your page is worth following.

  • Do include a relevant link. This link should direct back to your website or landing page and be specific to your business.

  • Do include a custom #hashtag or keyword. This will define your business and help with local marketing.

  • Do use adjectives. Don’t just say that you are a window washing company or bagel shop. Use adjectives to distinguish your business: an experienced window washing company or old-fashioned bagel shop.

  • Do show your personality. Let your company’s temperament shine through. Are you funny? A go-getter? Out to change the world?

It can be hard to squeeze in what you want to say in 160 characters, but remember that every word counts. Use short phrases and symbols to help get your point across.