Customize your Twitter page for maximum promotion

Let’s face it. Saying “I’m on Twitter” is not just a trend in Internet marketing. It is a new way of exchanging business cards. By providing a link to your Twitter account, you are inviting visitors to view your daily activities, thoughts on current events, random musings and who you think they should follow on Fridays.

If you were to post your Twitter site on your Web site or business card (i.e. www.twitter.com/SpiderWriters), what image does your Twitter page give to your site visitors? Just as your company’s Web page should have an individual style that reflects your professionalism and goals, so should your Twitter page. Although Twitter gives 12 different pre-made templates for you to choose from and the option to change your design colors, you also have the opportunity to upload your own background image. This gives you the opportunity to correspond your Web page to your Twitter page, or add your company’s information to your Twitter page if that is the first glance of your company by your visitors.

To upload your own background image, simply sign in to Twitter, then click on Settings at the top. From here, click on Design, then scroll down beneath the pre-made templates and click on Change Background Image. A small box opens which allows you to find an image on your computer to upload. Keep in mind the image must be less than 800K and in .gif, .jpg or .png format. You also have the option to tile a smaller image to take up your entire Twitter background.

For tutorials on how to build your own custom background for Twitter, visit this tutorial for tips on how to start designing from scratch, or if hiring a designer is a better option. Twitbacks is also another easy background-building tool that allows you to enter your company’s contact information and logo.

Jessica Swink is a freelance writer specializing in articles about Social Media Optimization and SEO for travel Web sites.