Editor’s note: This post was originally posted at Pink Ink Studios Dec 31, 2009.

So you’ve heard about social media — i.e. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, FourSquare, YouTube, Vimeo, MySpace, e-newsletters, SEO, blogs and so on. But do you know how to make them work for your business?

We’re starting a new feature here at Pink Ink Studios, called “Social Media and Your Photography Business.” Every month or so, we’ll tackle a form of social media and give you tips on how to use that social media to boost your brand and eventually, your business. If you have questions, we urge you to post them here in our forums and we’ll talk with our panel of experts to get you the answers.

Twitter has been all over the news lately. You probably have an account, but do you know how to make it work for you?

Linking your blog’s RSS feed to your Twitter account

Yes, using a service like Twitterfeed or Hootsuite or a WordPress Plugin to automatically update your Twitter account when you post a new blog is a good idea. But if it’s the only Twittering you’re doing, then you’re not making Twitter work for you.

Businesses who have found the most success via Twitter have done so because they’re engaging with their Twitter followers… and not just broadcasting at them. If your Twitter feed is full of only RSS feed auto-posts, you should definitely consider upping your game. We’ll talk more about engaging vs. broadcasting later on.

Create a custom Twitter background

Of course, we’d love it if you used one of the Twitter backgrounds available here at Pink Ink Studios (note: we’re adding them to the store soon!), but you can easily create one yourself in Photoshop, Illustrator or by using a web-based service like Twitbacks.com. If you’re going to create your own, create your 72dpi file at 1280×1024 pixels. This is the size that will be optimized for most browsers and monitors.

Your twitter background can be funky, but try not to make it overwhelming. When possible, design it to flow with the rest of your branding – your Web site, your style, your blog, your promotional materials.

Here are some Twitter backgrounds we love!

@dogarteest

@amykarp

@mcpactions

@lollipopsmiles

Use a photo-sharing service

Chances are when you’re in a session, your cell phone is near by. Pull it out of your pocket, purse or camera bag and take a quick photo of your set-up, your client, your gear and post it to Twitter via Twitpic, TweetPhoto or YFrog. The pics don’t have to be pretty – they can be raw, fuzzy, funny or off-centered. That’s the beauty of social media. No one expects perfection.

Pink Ink’s Holly McCaig is FABULOUS when it comes to sharing photos via Twitter. She is currently moving into her new studio space and has been taking photos throughout the process!Click here to check it out!

Engaging vs. Broadcasting

Zoey Darling of Twitip.com nails it in this post on the 7 deadly sins of Twitter:

“Things get pretty boring pretty fast if all you do is update your status, post links, post pictures and promote your blog. In order for people to care about any of that, you need to engage with them. This involves replying when something sparks your interest, or you think you can be of help; re-tweeting where you can add value; and getting involved in the discussion.”

This does not mean you have to respond to every person who sends you an @ message. You should contribute to the discussion as well. Let’s say you find a blog post about what to wear to a photo session… share it on twitter! If another photographer posts a tweet about a new technique or product they’ve found and you like their tweet, retweet it!

“Sometimes it’s effective to also maintain a presence simply by reading, listening, and sharing relevant and timely information without yet having to directly respond to each and every tweet – perhaps replying to only the critical or influential individuals that may need immediate information or direction to steer strategic activity.”

- Brian Solis

If you find articles, blog posts or other resources helpful, chances are your followers will too! So, post those links for others to share! And, of course, we’d love some Twitter love here at Pink Ink Studios!

I am not of the mindset that the more followers you have, the better you are at Twitter. For me, it’s all about the quality of the tweets. Find people in your community and start following them. Go to Tweetups (meetups for Twitter people) and don’t be afraid to meet someone from Twitter for coffee. Heck, I met Holly and most of the Pink Ink Studios crew on Twitter. I wouldn’t be designing here if it weren’t for Twitter! I have met some of my best friends because of Twitter, and I’ve gotten a lot of business because of it. Put yourself out there. You might be surprised what happens when you do.

Amy Kant is a designer at Pink Ink Studios, a web designer and a social media enthusiast. Follow her on Twitter: @amykant or visit her Web site www.amykant.com.