Booksquare University

Last week, the Twittersphere was talking about a recent Nielsen study of Twitter’s retention rate: approximately 40% of the people who join Twitter stick around and make full use of it*. Forty percent, by the way, isn’t such a bad number, but it’s keeping with anecdotal items we’ve heard and the experience we have with our own followers.

Many people join Twitter based on the hype, yet aren’t sure what to do next. The determined stick it out and learn through trial and error. Most people, however, find some basic guidance in the world of Twitter to be very welcome.

That’s one reason we’re launching Tweet Camp, the first of a series of social media trainings from Booksquare University (doors open in June!). Twitter, like most social networks, is deceptively simple. It seems like it’s a no-brainer, yet leaping into what seems like an endless stream of consciousness requires a bit more preparation, some planning, some thought (hey, the same thing goes for Facebook, as well…when we launch our Facebook class, you’ll learn how easy it is to do it all wrong!).

If you’ve already joined Twitter and find yourself daunted or even slightly confused, let us offer a small piece of advice: just sit back and listen. If you’ve started out following a large number of people or just a few, take your time and read the Twitterstream. Get a sense of how conversation flows. What tweets sound like in your mind. The various conventions used to adhere to the 140 character limit.

Though the chatter on Twitter is constant and entertaining, the most beneficial aspects of the service come from the listening. So take your time and just watch the stream flow by, just listen to what’s being said. And then, when you’re ready, wade in and start talking!

* – It should be noted that the Nielsen measurements being cited only factor usage of the main Twitter website. They do not count the plethora of third party applications, including mobile applications, being used by the Twitterati. Given the reach and ubiquity (and full functionality) of these apps, it’s likely the true retention rate is much higher.