3.01 – Customising Your Twitter Profile Page
Twitter has evolved over the past few years to highlight users and their interests. Visitors to your Twitter homepage now find an eye-catching header image that draws the attention to your avatar and bio. This setup is especially helpful for users who want to find people to follow who have common interests. The Twitter page now allows users to add personality and passion to their profiles.
Despite a striking header image, you don’t have to spend all your time at Twitter.com itself. Tools and applications, or apps, enhance your experience and take your page from ho-hum to something that’s intriguing, personal, and unique – and the best part is that you don’t have to be on Twitter to use them.
In this chapter, we discuss the tools that can help make your Twitter experience even better, and we also suggest ways to take your Twitter profile page to a whole new level.
Customising Your Twitter Profile Page
Don’t overlook customising your Twitter profile page. Otherwise, it’s just a page with no personality, giving others no reason to follow you. You see, unless potential followers know you, they don’t have much to go on. They’ll want to click your profile page and know immediately whether you’re worthy of a follow.
On your website, you take the time to create an About page that’s representative of you and your brand. Your Twitter profile page, shown in Figure 3-1, should be no different.
— Twitter profile example —
The following elements make up your Twitter profile page:
» Header photo: A large background image that best represents you or your brand
» Avatar: A photo or logo that you feel best represents your brand
» Bio: A few lines telling who you are and what you do
» URL: A link to your blog or website
» Tenure: How long you’ve been on Twitter
» Followers/Following: How many people you follow and are following you
» Tweet count: How many tweets you’ve published (top left, above your header photo)
» Location: Where you’re based
As we mention in Chapter 2, following more people than you have followers is a sign of someone who uses auto-follow software, which is usually an indication that you’re spammy or heavy into sales. People tend to stay away from those who don’t organically grow their followers.
Your most recent tweets are also listed on your profile page. The number of recent tweets is important because it shows potential followers that your account is still active.
The following sections explain how to add a header photo and avatar to your Twitter profile page.
Creating a header photo
Generic Twitter pages are boring. By creating a custom header photo (see Figure 3-2), you’re offering a better opportunity for potential followers, customers, and members of your community to find out more about you. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? You’re also proving you’re a real human being and not some spammy bot. People who make up accounts for the purpose of pushy selling or spamming don’t take the time to create a custom header image because they know they’ll probably be banned soon. Your background not only represents you as a brand, but it also tells folks you’re legit.
— Twitter header example —
Use the space in your Twitter header image to define your brand and entice people into wanting to learn more about you.
Before you create your header image, take a look around. Visit other people and brands to see how they’re customising their Twitter pages and get some ideas. If you’re technically challenged and not sure that you can create the right type of header image, hire someone to put together something representative of you or your brand. If you’re representing a personal brand – for example, if you’re a freelancer – your photo should say something about you and your interests or expertise. One of the authors, Michelle, sells her nature photography, so she’s chosen to display one of her photos as opposed to just a logo. If you’re placing a header photo on a brand page, the image should be representative of your brand and customers.
Deciding what to include in your header
Consider putting these elements into your background image:
» Your brand’s logo: Your logo doesn’t have to be front and centre, but incorporating it helps with brand recognition.
» An image representative of your brand: For example, if you work for a beer company, consider a frosty mug of one of your premium beers as a header image.
» Your fans and community: Showing how people who are passionate about the brand are using the brand is a great sales tactic.
You may see brands that have text in their header image. If you’re not willing to keep that updated, you may want to stay away from that tactic. There’s nothing worse than seeing a header image advertising an event that happened six months ago, for example.
Uploading a header image
After you create a header image, you’re ready to upload to your Twitter page:
- Click the Profile link in the menu bar on the left side of your home page.
You see your profile page.
- Click the Edit Profile button, located below the position where your cover shot should be.
You see a camera icon over your profile and cover photo areas as well as places where you can edit your bio, location, the URL you may (or may not have) added, and birthday.
None of this information is required but we recommend you at least enter your name, bio, location, and URL in addition to uploading a cover photo.
- Click the cover photo camera icon and select the option to upload a new photo or remove an existing photo.
A dialog box appears where you can navigate to the photo on your computer.
- Select the photo that you want to use and click Save.
You now have a custom Twitter header that shares information about you and your brand, and (you hope) reflects the message you’re trying to share.
Creating a custom Twitter avatar
Your Twitter avatar is the small image next to your @name that your followers see every time you tweet. If yours is a personal brand, you may want to use an image showing your likeness. If you’re managing a professional brand, consider using a logo for your avatar.
Uploading an avatar is simple. Just follow these steps:
- Click the Profile link in the menu bar on the left side of your home page.
You see your profile page.
- Click the Edit Profile button, located below the position where your cover shot should be.
You see a camera icon over your profile as well as places where you can edit your bio, location, the URL you may (or may not have) added, and birthday.
- Click the camera icon over the avatar area.
A dialog box appears where you can navigate to the photo on your computer.
- Select the photo that you want to use and click Save.
Congratulations, you now have a custom Twitter avatar!
While you were given the option to remove an existing header photo when on the Edit Profile screen, you don’t have that option for your avatar because Twitter always wants there to “be a face to the name.”
Make sure your avatar remains familiar to your community. If you change your avatar more than people change shoes, your brand isn’t going to be very recognisable on Twitter.
