I help a lot of people dip their toes into the world of Twitter as a marketing and relationship building tool.  There are lots of important things to know about the tool, but I think many people miss the first critical step to developing their social media strategy.

What is that step?  Determining why and how you should use Twitter.  In a nutshell, what is your purpose? A seemingly simple step that is more important than many give credit for.  There are many ways to use Twitter. Defining your personal purpose on Twitter helps you know how to use it, who to follow and what kind of information to share.  Once you understand your position and role, you can post relevant, helpful information for achieving your goals.

Here are a few sample purposes to consider:

• Build a company brand.
• Support a personal reputation.
• Broadcast content.
• Connect with your industry or audience.
• Listen to your customers.
• Keep in touch with your referral sources.
• Display current thinking.
• Generate leads.
• Monitor the competition.
• Listening to the industry you are selling to.
• Contribute to your community.
• Keep up with friends, colleagues, co-workers and other people who have touched your life.

Have I missed any?  I am sure I have, because the possibilities are endless.

Happy Tweeting!