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In 2012, a KitchenAid employee posted a disrespectful tweet about the president’s family from the iconic cookware brand’s official Twitter account during the first of three presidential debates. Retribution was swift in the form of complaints and criticism from KitchenAid’s community of more than 25,000 Twitter followers. To her credit, KitchenAid’s brand manager quickly followed up with an apology for the offensive tweet: “Deepest apologies for an irresponsible tweet that is in no way a representation of the brand’s opinion,” the company said in a follow-up tweet, after which it posted the following message on its Facebook page: “Hello, everyone. My name is Cynthia Soledad, and I am the head of the KitchenAid brand. I would like to personally apologize to President Barack Obama, his family and everyone on Twitter for the offensive tweet sent earlier. It was carelessly sent in error by a member of our Twitter team who, needless to say, won’t be tweeting for us anymore. That said, I take full responsibility for my team. Thank you for hearing me out.”

The episode illustrates perfectly what you shouldn’t do (offend your audience) and what you should do: Act swiftly and sincerely to correct mistakes when you make them.

“When you put something offensive out there on social media, you can’t take it back,” says Amber Pankonin, MS, RD, CSP, LMNT, of Lincoln, Neb., an active social media user and founder of StirList, a website that allows users to search for, create and share recipe “playlists.” “But you can admit to it, apologize and respond.”

Common Social Media Missteps

There are as many ways to abuse social media as there are to use it. Along with political rants, social media faux pas include:

• Spreading incorrect or outdated information
• Using offensive language
• Making defamatory statements about individuals or organizations
• Being argumentative
• Badmouthing a client or employer
• Complaining excessively
• Failing to cite information sources
• Using incorrect spelling, punctuation or grammar
• Bragging excessively
• Selling or promoting instead of informing and engaging
• Ignoring comments from friends and followers, and
• Being perpetually negative.

The 5 A’s of Atonement

1. Admit. When you make a social media misstep, admit it, advises Sue Reninger, managing partner at RMD Advertising, a Columbus, Ohio-based firm that specializes in social media strategy for food industry clients. “If you [make a mistake and] say nothing, people are going to draw the conclusion that you’re hiding, that you’re uneducated or that you simply don’t care, all three of which can be damaging to your personal brand.” The sooner you admit the error, the better. “In the social space, [people] expect an immediate response,” Reninger adds.
2. Acknowledge. It’s important to acknowledge that mistakes can impact others and to empathize with those who may have been affected. For example, KitchenAid’s brand manager directed her apology not only to the general public, but specifically to the Obama family. 
3. Apologize. “I’m sorry,” goes a long way, according to Reninger. “If you’ve made a mistake, apologize for misspeaking and apologize for how it must have offended someone. Be short, be very human and be very direct.”
   Adele Cerhs, president of Epic PR Group, an Alexandria, Va.-based public relations firm that specializes in crisis communications, recommends no-caveat apologies: I’m sorry not I’m sorry, but … “You’re simply acknowledging them by saying, ‘I’m sorry you had a negative experience. I’d love to discuss this with you offline,’” says Cerhs. “You’re closing the loop on a customer service issue, and you have to do it publicly.” 
4. Act. Correcting mistakes is just as important as apologizing for them. “If you make a mistake, that mistake is living and breathing on social networks for a really long time — especially if you don’t address it correctly” says Cerhs. Corrective action could range from eliminating an offensive post to promising to double-check science before making recommendations. 
5. Accept and move on. The final and most important step, according to Pankonin, is moving on. “You have to forgive yourself,” she says. “Start producing valuable content again in order to rebuild trust. We’ve seen it plenty of times with celebrities: They goof up, they apologize, people forgive them and we all move on.”

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Everyone has family, friends and interests outside of their careers. It’s important! But once you reach a certain level in your professional life — a high position in either your place of employment or through your volunteerism — expectations are raised for demonstrated leadership. In short, you have become more exposed.

Protect yourself and your reputation (and the privacy of your friends and family) by keeping your personal life separate from your professional social media activity. That doesn’t mean you can’t post a message of support to your local sports team or retweet (RT) a great photo, but you shouldn’t post messages about religion, politics, other sensitive issues or personal details from your professional account. Think of it as prevention: “If I do this, will thathappen?” Maybe. “Do I want to risk my reputation or my organization’s reputation over it?” No.

2. Post a Professional Photo to Your Professional Profiles

Do not use a candid snapshot that crops out someone with their arm around your shoulders, and never use a photo where tobacco and alcohol are visible.

3. Use Your Full Name and Credentials in Your Professional Profile

Your first and last name identifies you as an individual, and your credentials identify you the food and nutrition expert. Don’t be cute, HotFoodie65.

4. Disclose Your Leadership Position

This is important if you ever plan to share messaging about your organization or profession from your professional social media profiles. (Not disclosing your position could even be a potential liability.) For example, leaders of the Healthy Nutrition Academy would use the following:

Twitter examples (limited About Me space):
i. @eatrightPRO Board of Directors
ii. @eatrightPRO House of Delegates
iii. @SCAN DPG chair

Facebook/LinkedIn examples (more About Me space):
iv. Board member for the Healthy Nutrition Academy
v. Member of the House of Delegates for the Healthy Nutrition Academy
vi. 2015-16 Chair of the Sports, Cardiovascular and Nutrition DPG

5. Disclaim Your Messaging in Your Professional Profile

Be sure you are qualified to represent your organization. For example, only the president, president-elect, past-president or a media spokesperson of the Healthy Nutrition Academy may publicly represent the Academy. Note: Your place of employment may appreciate or require this as well.

Twitter examples (limited About Me space):
i. Tweets are my own.
ii. Opinions are my own.

Facebook/LinkedIn examples (more About Me space):
iii. Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of the Academy.

6. Don’t Be “Too Social on Social”

If you are at a business meeting or attending an invitation-only professional event, you shouldn’t post photos of wine toasts or dinners, or messaging that could be perceived as either inappropriate or an irresponsible use of organizational member dues. “Did I spend the day in meetings?” Yes. “Do I deserve a nice meal and some downtime?” Yes. “Do I really need to tweet about it or share photos of said downtime?” No, especially if your followers may feel they are footing the bill. Think of the unintended consequences before posting.

7. But Feel Free to Be a Little Social on Social

When you’re at a state annual meeting, FNCE® reception, Public Policy Workshop social outing or other social event in which you are engaging with the general membership, it’s perfectly fine to take a picture or post messages about the social event. It’s even OK if you have a glass of wine in hand as long as you don’t look like you’ve had too many and the reception is a social event that is part of a larger professional conference for which members can register and attend.

8. Be Aware Before You Share

Always think hard before you post a message on social media. “How could this wording be misinterpreted? What ramifications might come from this message or photo?” In addition, be sensitive to perceptions of endorsement. Avoid tweeting or posting about specific products or brands from your professional profile. Yes, you have a disclaimer, “Opinions are your own,” which is a legal safeguard, but the only true safeguard is: When in doubt, just don’t do it.

9. Choose Your Channels Wisely

No one has time to engage effectively across all social media channels, all the time. Decide where your organization will focus its resources. The three main channels for Academy members are:

• LinkedIn, for professional networking only. It is arguably the lowest-maintenance social channel in terms of time commitment, but it’s still smart to check once a week to ensure you don’t miss any connection requests or messages.
• Facebook, historically for social engagement but now being used (by some) professionally. FB talks a big game about privacy controls; however, its privacy rules change regularly, and it is difficult if not impossible to prevent certain kinds of sharing in your feed. It is strongly advised that you do not try to manage personal and professional “friends” and activities from the same account.
• Twitter, the highest maintenance channel in terms of response expectations. It moves fast, and you have to move fast with it — especially as leaders who will frequently be pursued by members (or potentially targeted by critics).

10. Stay Positive!

Engaging in social media can be a productive way to support messages and foster community. It’s also a playground for negative naysayers and individuals who may think they are social savvy, but actually are not. You usually can spot them through passive-aggressive (or just plain old aggressive) messages, and their social engagement is much like a bull in a china shop. Many hang their “expertise” on the number of followers they have rather than qualitative engagement metrics. The trick to dealing with a bully, harsh critic or a “friendly time bomb” is to be polite and avoid them otherwise.

By its nature, social media is an opportunity to crowdsource and share ideas, but it can be a slippery slope to ranting or negativity. Your organization’s members will look to you, as leaders, for cues on how to engage, so set a good example by keeping your posts positive and enthusiastic!

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The Do’s: What You Should Do on Google+

1. When you like a post or a comment someone made, +1 it.
Hitting the +1 on someone's comment is a good way of saying, "I Agree,” "Got It,” or "Good Job.” It’s OK to +1 your own stuff, too.

2. After you have +1'ed something, add a comment to further engagement.
This is how the conversation with others gets started. You may find a friend, and then you can add them to your circles.

3. Share other people's posts.
When you share someone's post you are telling them that they posted good stuff and we all like to know that others like our work.

Think of how what you are about to share impacted you and make a short comment to personalize it while you share it (be aware that your comment will be removed if someone else shares your “share” of the content). I like to +1 the post I'm about to share and I make a comment thanking the original poster.

When I see someone's post that was shared by another person, I like to thank them when I “re-share” it. Only the original post is moved along and the person that helped me find it is removed from the thread. I usually say in my added info up top: h/t: +person's name (h/t = hat tip), or //via +person's name.

4. When someone shares your stuff, thank them.
When you find that your post has been shared by someone (you'll get an alert), it's a good idea to thank them for sharing it. +1 their share of it and make a comment on the re-share (i.e. "thanks for sharing").

If someone shares your posts frequently, you might want to add them to a “shares my stuff” circle. You might consider asking these circle members (privately) if they mind getting a notification alert when you have something important to share in the future.

5. Post to “public” (when you can).
Circles are a way to group people. Sending posts to people that are in your circle is fine when the conversation is limited to just them, but if you send your posts to the “public,” more people will see the content and you may gain new friends and followers. 

If you post to the “public,” the people in your circles will still see the posts. When you post “public” others can join in the conversation, and it’s easier for others to re-share.

6. +Mention people by name in your posts.
This alerts people when they are mentioned. People generally like to know that they are mentioned. It is done by simply typing a “+” just before you type their name.

7. Bold and italicize with care.
You bold text by adding the * character just before and after the words. You make text italic by doing the same with the _ character. Bolding and italicizing are most effective when used judiciously.

8. Edit your post when needed — quickly.
You are given the possibility of making edits to your posts (or comments) after you have posted them: Use this feature to clean up typos! If someone shares your post right away, they may be sharing the un-edited version, so try to clean up quickly.

9. Add hashtags to your posts.
Adding a hashtag will help people find more of your stuff if you use hashtags consistently. Someone can simply click a hashtag and get similar posts listed. Make a hashtag by typing the “#” symbol followed immediately by a word or words (no spaces allowed). Learn more about #hashtags here at http://goo.gl/DAiID.

10. When you refer to another Google+ post, use a URL shortener.
Google+ postings have long URLs, so try utilizing a URL shortener like goo.gl to make your link references less obtrusive.

11. When you enter a hangout or hangouts on air, mute your mic and open the chat window.
The mute function is found in the upper right of your hangout window and the chat function is found in the upper left. Muting is polite if your environment is noisy. The chat window is a great place to enter the conversation without interrupting.

12. When you send out a post, use a picture.
If your post contains a picture or video, you’ll be more likely to get other people’s attention.

The Don'ts: What to Avoid on Google+

1. Don't SPAM people.
You'll get blocked (or removed) by them and others won't like you either.

2. Don't alert or notify people about all your postings.
When you send a notification for each of your posts, people will get tired of your activity. Save the notifications for your most important posts. You notify or alert people when you + their name (mentions) or when you hover over the “non-public” circle name you are sending to and then check the box that says “notify about this post.”

3. When joining a hangout or HOA, don't just yell “hello!”
Hangouts are conversations; it is not very polite to barge into someone's conversation when it’s already underway. Choose your timing carefully.

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LinkedIn is a 21st-century White Pages that lists not only members’ names, but also their jobs, education and skills. Essentially, your LinkedIn profile is a virtual resume that you can share with colleagues and contacts. Using it, you can:

• Find new job opportunities
• Discover new clients and customers
• Market your products and services
• Establish yourself as a thought leader
• Solicit information, opinions and advice
• Recruit employees and vendors
• Conduct background checks on companies and individuals
• Research potential employers, employees, partners and competitors
• Get free publicity from bloggers and journalists

Using LinkedIn

The more time you spend on LinkedIn, the more valuable it will be. Getting started, however, takes only four steps and a few minutes:

1. Create your LinkedIn profile.

Using LinkedIn is free and starts with creating a profile. To do so, visit LinkedIn.com and click “Join Today.” Upon opening an account, you’ll be guided through a series of steps to create your LinkedIn profile. Because it will improve your visibility and maximize your opportunities, the goal is to have a profile that is 100 percent complete. By LinkedIn’s standards, that means your profile should include:

• A photo: LinkedIn is all business, so choose a professional photo.
• Past jobs: List your current position and past jobs you’ve held — 100 percent complete profiles have at least two — along with descriptions of your roles. Doing so allows you to highlight your past experience and connect to former colleagues.
• Your skills: LinkedIn will suggest skills you might have based on your job and experience; complete profiles include five or more skills.
• A summary: Write a summary about yourself — a cover letter, of sorts — describing who you are and what you have to offer. Think of it as the LinkedIn equivalent of an elevator pitch.
• Your industry and location: Filling out your industry and postal code will put your profile in relevant search results for recruiters, journalists and others seeking someone of your expertise and experience.
• Your education: Listing your degrees and alma maters will help you build your network.
• Recommendations: Complete LinkedIn profiles include at least three recommendations. Once you build your network, you can solicit recommendations from former employers, peers and clients.

2. Develop your network.

LinkedIn profiles aren’t public. To see them, you must be connected to users, either directly or indirectly through a mutual contact. To create these key connections, you can import contacts from your email account, search for people you know or view a list of potential colleagues and classmates that LinkedIn generates using your profile. When you find someone you want to link to, click “Connect” to send a request.

3. Leverage your links.

Successful LinkedIn users actively use the networks they create by:

• Posting and answering questions using LinkedIn Answers, which allows you to query your connections — or the entire LinkedIn community — for advice about professional conundrums;
• Joining LinkedIn Groups to make new connections and contribute to professional discussions;
• Exchanging recommendations with colleagues, clients and contacts;
• Using the “Who’s Viewed Your Profile?” feature to meet new people;
• Searching for partners, employees, vendors and service providers based on connections’ recommendations;
• Using the “Jobs” function to search for or advertise open positions;
• Performing a “People Search” or sending an “InMail” (LinkedIn’s internal message system) to get introductions to people you want to know; and
• Using the “Advanced Search” feature to locate individuals with a certain job title, skill set, background or location.

 Spending a few minutes to create a profile, build a network and contribute to the community will keep the door to new opportunities always ajar.

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Pop-up ads usually open in a new window, generally using JavaScript, a popular programming language. While pop-ups can be helpful in some cases (e.g. online shopping) they can be a nuisance and sometimes can even harm your computer if they contain malware or spyware. Fortunately, your browser provides a free way to block most pop-ups.

Note: When adding web addresses to a pop-up ban exemption list, make sure to copy and paste the addresses to avoid any misspellings that may allow pop-ups from rogue addresses.  

Internet Explorer
Click on “Tools” at the top right of the browser’s page. In the drop-down list that appears, click “Internet Options” (found at the bottom of the list).  Click on the “Privacy” tab. Under the “Pop-Up Blocker” heading, select “Turn on Pop-up Blocker.” If you want to allow pop-ups from a specific site or sites, click on “Settings” and add the site’s URL. Click “Close” and then “OK” to close the Internet Options window.

Chrome
Chrome automatically prevents pop-ups but if you want to enable certain pop-ups, here’s how. Click the Chrome menu, an icon on the top far right displaying three horizontal lines. Select “Settings.” Click “Show Advanced Settings” located at the bottom of the page. In the “Privacy” section, click the “Content Settings” button. Scroll down to the “Pop-Ups” section and click “Manage Exceptions.” Add the web address(es), click OK and then OK again to close the “Content Settings” window and save your changes.

Firefox
Click on the “Tools” option and then “Options.” Under the “Content” heading, check the box for “Block Pop-up Windows.” To allow pop-ups from certain sites, click “Exceptions” and add the URL. Click “Close” and then “OK.”

Safari
Go to the top right of the page and click on the icon resembling a spoke. On the drop-down menu, select “Block Pop-Up Windows.”  If you want to allow pop-ups for a certain site, unclick “Block Pop-Up Windows” when you go to that site. Safari doesn’t provide the option to automatically allow pop-ups for selected sites.

Step 2: Run an Anti-Virus Program

Make sure you have anti-virus software installed on your computer. Check that it’s up to date and regularly run a full site scan.

Step 3: When in Doubt, Don’t Click

You might have software, such as adware or spyware, on your computer that is opening pop-up windows. Don’t click on a link or download a program unless you know it’s legitimate. For example, adware and spyware can be downloaded along with free music share programs that will use your Internet logs and surfing information to generate pop-up ads. This spyware tracks the websites you visit and then builds a user profile that generates pop-up ads that appear to be coming from a site that actually isn’t supporting the ad. You can download Spybot Search & Destroy, a free antispyware utility that targets adware, malicious code and other threats.

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Here are nine tips for managing your online presence to ensure a positive, professional and consistent message:

1. Google Yourself
Want to know the simplest way to get started? Do what your patients do: Open a browser window, go to Google.com and search for your full name. Next, search your full name again using other search engines such as Yahoo! and Bing, checking the images tab and using the “incognito window” feature. Once you have a baseline understanding of your online image, review and update the most important items first. For example, you may need to update your LinkedIn profile with your latest job, or tweak your Facebook privacy settings. Then mark your calendar to repeat your searches in two months – for certain sites, it can take roughly four to eight weeks for your new information to appear (or disappear) in search engine results.

2. Keep Track of Your Online Accounts
Create a spreadsheet listing all your online accounts. This list should include Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, and any other social networking or blogging sites on which you may participate. Also include your employer’s website, as you may find your name here too! Don’t forget to update this list as you sign up for new accounts! You’ll have a quick and easy reminder of where to make changes in the future.

3. Make Professional Accounts Extra Searchable and Private Accounts Extra Private
Don’t want your family vacation photos on display for everyone? Good thinking. On your spreadsheet, note which accounts enhance your professional image in the eyes of clients and colleagues, and which should only be open to a private network, such as friends and family. Log in to each searchable account and configure your privacy settings accordingly.

4. Identify Your Unique Message
Follow a simple branding exercise to create a consistent message to use across all your professional accounts.

1. Write three or four short descriptors of yourself (i.e. registered dietitian, sport enthusiast and vegetable lover).
2. Use these descriptors to write a short (about 150 characters) description of yourself (i.e., “I’m a registered dietitian and sports enthusiast with a passion for incorporating vegetables into every meal.”).
3. Write a 150-word bio about yourself; include your descriptors, current position, education and other credentials, plus some fun facts.
4. Update your professional accounts with one or more pieces of your message document, so searchers see a similar story about you with every link they click.

5. Share Your Bio with Friends, Colleagues and Your Employer
Take time to send your descriptors and bios to five to 10 close friends. Ask: “Does this describe me? What other words or phrases might you add? Are there any areas I should highlight more or less?” You also should reach out to your employer to get their social media policy and to review your bios. Scared of the feedback? Don’t be! Receiving constructive feedback from friends and colleagues is much better than making a negative impression to potential clients.

6. Create a Professional Email Address
Having an email address designated solely for professional purposes helps you track your online accounts and enhances your professional image when communicating. Free email addresses are readily available. Make sure to update your current professional accounts with this new address.

7. Update Searchable Sites with a Consistent, Professional Picture
Uploading the same one or two pictures to all your professional, searchable accounts is a great way to create subtle brand consistency. Next time you dress up for a work event, take a few minutes to find a well-lit place with a neutral background. Have a friend or colleague take a dozen pictures of you from the shoulders up. Pick the picture that represents you best (i.e., friendly, smiling, with your shoulders covered). Then, upload it to as many sites as necessary.

8. Take the Time to Do the Bare Minimum
Don’t feel the need to be active on all sites. Just make sure the first three to five links that come up when you search for yourself are ones that represent you best. Choose the sites that are most commonly accessed by your clients, and deactivate any accounts that you don’t have time to support. Services like About.me and LinkedIn are very searchable options that don’t require a ton of maintenance. Remember, too, that you control the amount of information you want to upload. Often your current employer, education and a succinct description of why you like being an RD is enough.

9. Check on Your Brand Once a Quarter
Once you have taken the necessary steps to get your online image where you want it, set aside time once a quarter to maintain your image. Go back to your original branding exercise and see if anything has changed. Then update each site with any new info. You also can use this time to set up an account on a new service you may want to try.

Regardless of the amount of time you want to spend online, taking a few minutes to start this process can significantly improve your professional image. Remember, you likely wouldn't try a new restaurant or buy a new camera without reading some type of review. Potential clients probably feel the same about seeing a dietitian.

What are you waiting for? Google yourself today!

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Underutilized, however, it could result in missed opportunities. If you’ve taken the first step toward creating a profile, you may be wondering, “Now what?” To make sure LinkedIn is helping and not hurting your career, follow these best practices for optimizing your profile, your network and your presence.

Paint a Picture

Your LinkedIn profile is one of your best opportunities for introducing yourself to the professional community and is often the first impression you’ll leave on a potential client or employer. It’s up to you to make sure you’re portrayed in a professional light, from the photo you select down to the experience and skills you include.

Start with a photo you’re proud of. While a corporate headshot isn’t required, photos should be more professional than personal. Avoid photos that include pets, goofy expressions, inappropriate clothing or loud backgrounds. By default, your most recent job title is your LinkedIn headline. Consider changing it into a personal branding statement that reflects who you are and what you have to offer. A good profile also has a compelling summary statement — a brief cover letter, of sorts — describing who you are and what you have to offer. Think of it as the LinkedIn equivalent of an elevator pitch.

It’s important your profile reads like a resume, not a memoir. Just like a good resume, your work experience is best presented in bulleted form so recruiters, prospects and other contacts can quickly search, scan and scroll their way through it. The LinkedIn feature “endorsements” allows your connections to endorse you for the skills you’ve listed in your profile.

Therefore, be sure to include a comprehensive list of skills for which you want to be known. The more complete your profile, the better.

Get Noticed

Equally important as having a complete profile is making it easily available to those who want to view it. With that in mind, you should increase your profile’s visibility by making it public, which maximizes your exposure by allowing it to appear in search engine results. You also can make your LinkedIn profile easier to find and share by claiming your vanity URL. For the best results, choose your name (or a variation of it) as a stronger alternative to the web address LinkedIn automatically assigns for your page.

Utilizing keywords is another way to make sure your profile gets in front of the eyes you want to see it. Pepper your summary and job descriptions with keywords you want to be associated with. If you specialize in celiac disease, for instance, make sure your profile includes terms like “wheat,” “gluten-free” and “food allergies” so your profile will show up when people search LinkedIn for those terms.

Connect with Purpose

LinkedIn is all about networking, but you shouldn’t invite just anyone to connect. While you may be able to get away with tastefully adding people you’d like to network with online, LinkedIn recommends only adding people you actually know, and will ask you to indicate your relationship with that person when sending an invitation. To link up with second-degree connections, you can use the “Get Introduced” feature, which requests an introduction from the connection you have in common.

In addition, although LinkedIn provides a template message for inviting a contact to connect, you’ll get better results if you customize your request with a personalized message that politely explains who you are and why you want to connect (e.g., to stay in touch after meeting them at a conference). Joining LinkedIn Groups — for people who work in the same profession, who went to the same school and who have the same interests — allows you to chat with members, exchange resources and view their profiles, even if you’re not connected to them. For example, the Academy has its own group, which members are encouraged to join.

Have a Presence

It’s not enough to just create a profile. Spend some time each week working on your online presence by building a network and contributing to the community, which will keep the door to new opportunities always ajar. Don’t be afraid to share links to work you’ve published or articles explaining industry trends on your feed or in groups. Exchanging recommendations with colleagues, clients and contacts is another way to provide value as a LinkedIn connection.

With the right network, you’ll be able to search for partners, employees, vendors and service providers based on connections’ recommendations. You can even advertise a job opening — or look for a new job for yourself — with the robust “Jobs” function that allows users to drill down on openings based on job type, industry, salary and location, and see who in their network is connected to the company or job poster.

Ultimately, participation and reciprocation are the keys to successfully using LinkedIn: Those who are most active get the most out of it. Likewise, those who give their contacts recommendations, advice and introductions are most likely to receive the same in return.

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Create an Account

Go online to www.twitter.com and sign up for free. Start by filling in your name, email address and select a password before hitting the “Sign up for Twitter” button. You’ll be prompted to accept or change the automatically generated username , and then accept terms and conditions. A confirmation email will be sent to your inbox and then you’re ready to get started.

Twitter will guide you through a short, optional process to find people to follow and you’ll be prompted to upload a profile photo and a short description of yourself and why you’re online. (Note that unless you choose to make your account private in the settings menu, your profile and tweets are public and anyone can follow you.) If using Twitter for professional networking, be sure your profile picture and description are professional and use industry keywords (e.g. “registered dietitian nutritionist” and “health professional”) in your profile. This will help potential followers find you.

Build a Following

The next step is to find people you want to connect with and follow them. Twitter will automatically make some suggestions, but you also can search for people or brands you know (follow us at @). The tweets of people or organizations you follow will show up in your news feed in real time. You also should ask others to follow you. Send your Twitter username (or, “handle”) to friends, family and colleagues.

Learn the Lingo

Twitter users employ a slew of abbreviations to communicate effectively and maximize the 140-character-per-tweet limit. Here are some basic Twitter terms to know:

• RT: A re-tweet is used when someone directly copies and re-publishes another person’s post for his or her own followers. It’s like quoting someone.
• MT: A modified tweet is like a re-tweet, but MT means something was changed and the tweet is different than the original.
• DM: A direct message is a private inbox conversation that no one else can see but you and another user.
• @: Type the @ symbol directly in front of a Twitter user’s handle to engage them in conversation. The user is notified when someone mentions him or her by using the @ symbol.
• #: A hashtag is a clickable hyperlink that begins with the pound sign (#) and then some letters or word(s) that group together Tweets about that topic (e.g. #RDN will show all tweets using that hashtag pertaining to registered dietitians nutritionists). Use hashtags to grow your following by creating or joining meaningful conversations you find via relevant hashtags. You can search for pre-existing ones, or you can create your own. Just be sure you don’t include any special characters in the hashtag, as this will break the hyperlink.

Know When to Choose a Direct Message Versus a Public Reply

If a discussion with another Twitter user is sensitive or contains private details, do not reply publicly. Instead, use the direct message option to continue the conversation privately.

Re-Tweet Deserving Content

If you come across engaging content, pass it along to your followers. Ideally, your Twitter feed should be a mixture of your own original content and relevant content that others post.

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