If you work alone or from home, there’s no denying that Twitter is an invaluable tool, both professionally and personally. As part of a marketing strategy, Twitter can help spread the word about your business. And when you’re feeling disconnected, Twitter can make you feel a part of the world around you.

But in some circles, Twitter, Facebook and social media, in general, is considered a bad thing. “We’re all getting self-obsessed,” some complain. To them I say, Twitter can actually make you a better person.

Here’s some ‘Twitterquette’ to demonstrate how:

1. Be more open
   Contrary to popular belief, Twitter’s not all about what you had for lunch. But its 140-character limit and the ways in which you can tweet – from your desk or from your mobile phone – make Twitter an ideal platform to share a little more about yourself. Being transparent with your followers reminds you of who you want to be and what you want to stand for. That openness is good for your business and for your relationships with your friends and your family.
2. Share and share alike
   Twitter makes it easy to share links, music and video clips with your followers. Like newspaper cuttings in the post (“I saw this and thought of you”), you can send your findings to individuals directly, or share your knowledge, tips and advice with the world. How can you be more sharing outside of Twitter?
3. Take an interest in others
   Twitter expert Mark Shaw says that before you start your day on Twitter, reply to three tweets and retweet another. It helps feed the Twittersphere. Imagine if everyone talked about themselves and took no interest in others? Following this etiquette reminds us to take an interest in others, online and off.
4. Help spread the word
   By retweeting an update, you share someone else’s ideas, concerns and good news with your followers. If someone needs help and you don’t know the answer, maybe someone in your network does? How can you ‘retweet’ and help friends and contacts in real life?
5. Ask questions
   If you’ve a following on Twitter, one of the best ways to keep your followers engaged is to ask questions. Ever been to a dinner party and sat next to someone who just talked about themselves? Ask a few questions and you’ll get more out of Twitter – and more out of life!

What do you think? Does following Twitter etiquette make you a better person? Or is Twitter, Facebook and social media making us more self-obsessed and less in touch with the real world? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

San Sharma is community manager at Enterprise Nation, as well as the voice of @e_nation on Twitter.

Guest post by San Sharma

I live in London, where – at this time of year – the daily commute usually involves travelling at temperatures officially too high to transport cattle. Luckily for me, I work at home. So, while commuters cram into stuffed carriages, I’m keeping cool in my home office – one of the many benefits of working from home. But the downside, for some, is the feeling of isolation that comes with working alone. Here are some ways to overcome that.

1. Close the door
   Working and living in the same space can lead to cabin fever, which is why it’s important to make a distinction between your work space and your personal space. If possible, set aside dedicated space for your work – a study, a spare room, a garden shed, even! – somewhere you can close a door on at the end of the day.
2. Walk to work
   One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard about working from home is this: trick your brain into thinking it’s “going to work” by leaving your house in the morning, walking around the block and returning to your home office. It helps set up a routine, get into a mindset and kick-start a creative thinking cycle!
3. Always have an excuse to leave the house
   Another benefit of working from home is not having to shop at peak times. Do your grocery shopping when everyone else is at work and beat the checkout lines! But don’t do all your shopping at once. I used to do a weekly shop when I worked in an office, but now I pop out when I need something, as it gives me the excuse to get out of the house.
4. A homeworker’s best friend
   Keeping a pet is a great way to overcome isolation when you work from home. I talk things through with my cat, which doesn’t make me feel as crazy as talking to myself! Dog owners have the perfect excuse to get out the house and get a little exercise and are, statistically, more likely to make friends.
5. Use Twitter
   If you work from home and don’t already use Twitter, you really must! It’s great for camaraderie and for sharing ideas – two things you might not associate with working from home.

San Sharma is online community manager at Enterprise Nation, the homeworking website, as well as the voice of @e_nation on Twitter.

Related article: Working from home alone.

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