Do you judge businesses by their avatar?-Click here http://bit.ly/lSWRyR for full article

Do you judge businesses by their avatar?-Click here http://bit.ly/lSWRyR for full article

For small businesses, keeping a Twitter feed can be hard enough on its own. However, many business owners have probably not thought about the avatar on their Twitter feeds. It may seem small, but often the avatar is the first place users look when checking out a Twitter feed. In addition, the background of a Twitter feed can set the tone for a users feeling toward any content on the feed.

So what can small businesses do to improve their "book covers"? It's all about consistency in theme. Brands like @SnackAndMunch and @KnotBeltCo had specific goals and themes in mind when they designed their Twitter page and avatar. Everything matches up to the overall feel for the company and the brand itself. A company that is new to Twitter would be wise to observe what these veterans are doing to promote their brand, not only with the content from the feed, but the avatar and background that surrounds the feed.

When designing an avatar and background, be sure to stick with proven design principles. Don't try to throw as much stuff as you can on the page. Things will begin to look too busy and become unappealing to the eye. "Do more with less" is a mantra that good designers often follow. Small businesses certainly want to catch the eye of their followers, but they don't want to put their follower's eyes out with neon colors and seizure-inducing animations.

Another good idea is to have several people outside of your business critique any design that you come up with before it is posted online. It's crucial to get an unbiased eye on a design before millions of unbiased eyes will view it once it is posted to Twitter. Don't be afraid to get feedback from a few people, they will save a lot of embarrassment later.

In the Web 2.0 age we live in, it is crucial to many businesses to have an online presence. This often includes Twitter. Twitter pages and feeds are excellent ways to connect with customers and potential customers. However, many customers are put off by ugly avatars and backgrounds on company Twitter feeds. Don't let your business succumb to such a fate. Come up with a smart, simple theme that works for your business and you will have customers "turning the pages" of your business's book.