12 Great Networking tips

1. Custom Design Your Background
The visual impact will convince your followers that you are different.

2. Brand Your Profile
Use your own photo or use an image that is brandable. It should follow you on all your social network profile and blogs. This keeps it consistent and it allows twitter followers to trust you.

3. Reply to Direct Messages
If you get a personal direct message, you need to reply and acknowledge it. There are ton of spams on Twitter so you need to learn to distinguish spam from the real direct messages.

4. Include Your Twitter URL in Emails
Include your Twitter URL in your personal emails that you send out to your friends and colleagues. This increases the chance for you to attract new twitter followers.

5. Proactively Follow Other Users
You should proactively look to follow users within your niche. They will most likely follow you back.

6. Get Listed in Twitter Directories
Just like website directories, there are Twitter user directories like wefollow.com. You should list your Twitter account in the directory so others can find and follow you. Pick the category as close to your own niche.

7. Add a Website
If you don't have a website use your Facebook profile or any other profile?

8. Add a Bio
You must add a personal biography to make sure you convince others to follow you.

9. Follow Back
Twitter is a social media and you are here to engage and enjoy each others company. Follow back and gain insights into their world.

10. Tweet During Peak Times
Twitter tends to peak during the middle of the day or in the early afternoon. You should track it and see when it is good for you and try to tweet often during that time.

11. Work on Becoming an Authority
If you become an authoritative voice on a topic on Twitter, people will seek you out and they will follow you.

12. Be Interesting
You need to find a way to entertain your followers without annoying them. So tell them what you are doing but find a way to be interesting.