Bob Baker's The Buzz Factor

OK. So you are totally onboard with this whole Twitter and social media thing. You realize that your tweets (and status updates on other sites like Facebook and MySpace) should not be 100% promotional in nature.

You know you need to strike a balance between marketing and revealing the real you -- so much so that you are now fully committed to "keeping it real."

Your life is now an open book, right?

Hold on! Before you go spouting every random thought that pops into that creative brain of yours, consider the following five types of pointless tweets.

My advice: Don't post an update if it falls into one of these dangerous categories:

1) The Jealous Tweet

Just because you're peeved that a less-deserving band got the headlining slot you worked so hard for, that doesn't mean you have to vent about it in public. Cutting down others won't endear you to fans or industry people. Allow yourself to stew about it, then let it go and move on.

2) The Angry Tweet

We all get pissed off from time to time. And in those moments of heightened emotion, we want to let off stream. But think about how those tweets will be perceived by your followers. If your fans look to you to brighten their day, the angry update won't do them (or you) any favors.

3) The Revenge Tweet

Someone slams you on Twitter or Facebook. Or a well-known blogger gives your new album a bad review. You know they're wrong, and you feel like getting even. Open a text file on your computer and start writing. Really give them a piece of your mind. But don't post it. Spare yourself the bad karma.

4) The TMI Tweet

Only you can decide where the line is between being "authentic" and communicating "too much information." It's fine to say you enjoyed a "romantic evening" with your significant other. But you might think twice about revealing the most intimate details of the blissful event. Same thing goes for illnesses and bodily functions.

5) The Inebriated Tweet

This should go without saying. But if you are in any state of altered consciousness, avoid tweeting. Period. You wouldn't want that brilliant line of poetry to be introduced to the world as "Asa man thunketh, soi shal he bewdqk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

This post was inspired by this ASCAP Expo video clip.

-Bob

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