Having an updated Twitter account can be a great tool, if used properly! Here are some tips and tricks that can help you make the most of your Tweets. Read on for some basic Twitter advice. Happy Tweeting!

10 Twitter Tips

1. Make links short and sweet

Since Twitter is often used to share links with your followers, PCmag.com suggests shortening your URL's in order to save space. Considering you only have 140 characters to express yourself, you need all the extra space you can get! Check out tinyurl.com and bit.ly to condense longer links!

2. Use hashtags

According to Mashable, using hashtags make your tweets more searchable and easily connects you to other who are discussing the same topics!

3.  Get retweeted

Getting others to retweet your messages can expand your Twitter network. Sometimes getting that ever-illusive RT can be as simple as posting some interesting information. According to Guy Kawasaki, some great ways to get retweeted are to talk about twitter, break news, or explain how to do something.

4. Don't tweet in the heat of the moment

Try to refrain from writing something you may reget. Readwriteweb.com says that Twitter is saving your tweets! Who knows where they could end up!

5. Create an account for your business

It's a great way to reach new people and customers, get feedback, and inform more people about what you do! For ideas on what to tweet, check out Chris Brogan's suggestions on how to use Twitter as a tool for a business.

6. Reply

Talk back to the people who talk to you. Unless you're overwhelmed by 200 tweets per day, try to respond to people who ask you appropriate or relevant questions. Thank the people who give you a RT. It's simple etiquette, and a nice way to engage with the people who are interested in what you're tweeting!

7. Fill out your profile

This tip may seem like an obvious one, but it's definitely an important one. According to examiner.com, your avatar and bio are the first places on your Twitter profile where people look to learn more about you. Think of it as an opportunity to brand yourself. It can define your Twitter page!

8. Tweet from your mobile device

There are a ton of cool apps that can make your tweets more interesting. If you tweet from your phone you can include pictures and video from on the go. See some of the most popular downloadable apps here and here.

9. Tweet on a Friday

#FollowFriday is a great time to get more followers, and to support your friends with a #ff shout out. Another bonus of tweeting on a Friday is a higher possibility of a RT. According to recent studies, the best time to get retweeted is at 4 PM on a Friday.

10. Put a limit on personal tweets

Take it from me. I've noticed that when more I tweet about my daily activities, fewer people were interested in reading them. Unless you're a celebrity, and people are genuinely intrigued by where you're eating lunch, or what you did at the gym that day, most of your followers aren't that interested in your normal acitivies. If you want more people to follow you, stop talking about yourself so much!