Laurence Knopf of Search Engine Rescue has spoken to Sign Link about the dangers of uploading content that could be damaging to a firm, and perhaps almost as bad is content that is boring. He said companies need to be careful of how they use social networking and to embrace the media to the heart of their company.

To highlight the perils of Twitter a Cheshire-based graphic design firm have caused a certain amount of humour by issuing a guide to Twidiots and Twankers.

The social design outfit and website builder Red Website Design have offered a handy guide which will no doubt ring a few bells with those trying to establish a presence on Twitter.

They list seven types of people who tweet and at the same time get up on everyone’s nerves. They are:
Twool: Someone who uses Twitter as a personal pressure relief valve to sound off about every little annoyance in life. The Twool will then sometimes get into raging arguments with people who disa-gree with them.

Twit: The user who finds everything just so amazing! They usually forget that Twitter is on the web, and so they waste everybody’s time and share stuff anyone can find on the web.

Twerp: He or she doesn’t understand that everything is public on Twitter. This category includes the basic (Mums chatting with their college kids about the really mundane or embarrassing) to the less-basic (celebrities having “@” conversations instead of using direct messages and then saying something stupid.

Twanker: Someone who goes out of their way to be obnoxious because any attention is better than no attention. They will sometimes send provocative “@” tweets to celebrities just to provoke a re-sponse.

Twarcissist: This Tweep loves themselves and talks all the time and always about themselves and the things they are doing. This area includes companies and brands, but also people who just plain can’t get beyond talking about themselves. Over the years it has included well-known CMOs and politicians all the way down to Twitter newbies just finding their way.

Twidiot: He or she never knows what is or is not appropriate to say on Twitter. This includes those who use very foul language all the way to those sharing their illegal activities as they are doing them! They may also be described as a “Twat” in British English.

Twalker: This creepy Tweep is a stalker – that person who is on Twitter only because of the slim promise of interactions with the famous, the desirable or the influential. Sends numerous “@” mes-sages to these people and does not get a response – ever.

The essential rule seems to be to make your Tweets relevant but not corporate, lively but not OTT, fun but not insulting, eye-catching but not so left-field nobody understands them.