By now you probably realize how powerful Twitter can be for marketing. In order for Twitter to be truly effective, you will need to have a lot of followers. Here’s how:

1. Create a great Twitter bio. One of the key factors in whether or not people decide to follow you is the quality of the information in your bio. If you have a relevant website, be sure to include the URL. You only have 160 characters, as opposed to the 140 allowed in tweets, so use them well.

2. If you’re new to Twitter, create about 10 or so interesting tweets before looking for followers. You have to give people a reason to want to follow you.

3. Links to interesting websites, articles and videos make great tweets. Because the URLs will be too long for Twitter, you’ll need to create a short version. You can do this at tinyurl.com. Copy the long link and paste it into the appropriate window there and it will generate a short link that is suitable for Twitter.

4. Tweet inspiring or humorous quotes. You can find a lot of great quotes that your Twitter followers will enjoy at BrainyQuotes.com

5. Search YouTube for videos that relate to your topic or area of expertise, then tweet about them.

6. Make sure you re-tweet other people’s tweets. Many of them will do the same for you, which exposes you to their followers, some of whom may decide to follow you.

7. Join the conversation. Reply to other people’s tweets, give them a compliment or thank them for sharing. These people may also decide to send you @ messages, which will also make their followers aware of you.

8. When people re-tweet you, be sure to thank them. It shows good manners and it increases the chances that they will do it again.

9. On Fridays, participate in Follow Friday. Recommend some of the people you respect and admire to your followers. Many of them will do the same for you, which can help build your following.

10. Read Twitters’ rules of service so you understand the rules about following and un-following people. Break these rules and you could get suspended.

11. Limit your marketing tweets. Try to keep a ratio of about one marketing tweet for every 10 regular ones.

Hope these quick tips help! Follow me on twitter (or join if you haven’t) on the right side of your screen and see how easy it can be.