Don’t…

1. Twit your to-do list
There may be times when you need to micro-log your daily activities. Like when a group of friends are trying to keep track of each other on a weekend night on the town. But most people don’t care or need to know if you are now folding your laundry.

2. Get too personal
This is where Twitter is more like a blog than IM. It’s not a good place to have intimate cybersex.

3. Leave out context
Read Dave Winer a little while and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Dave can get away with it as an A-list technology pundit. But you and me? We should still try to communicate something that’s complete and makes sense.

4. Twit if you need more than 140 characters
That’s what your blog is for. If you need to split your Tweet into multiple posts, you run the risk of leaving out context and confusing the reader. Just blog it.

5. Make it a distraction
Twitter isn’t totally frivolous. It’s a great networking tool, both professionally and personally. It’s part journal, part time tracker. It’s bound to be used for SEO and marketing. But like email, manage it wisely.

6. Use too many features and addons
Pimp it, hack it, mash it up, just don’t go to far. If you listen to music like I do, it probably doesn’t make sense to auto-post every 3 minutes my latest iTunes track. And it doesn’t make sense to make each Tweet a separate blog post. Keep your addons useful to your followers.

7. Force it
If Twitter’s not for you, that’s fine. Sometimes I wish I had never started using email. But if you decide to make Twitter a consistent practice, don’t feel forced to post. Your followers will give you a nudge if they miss you.
8. Expect followers to read everything
On the hierarchy of communication priority, Twitter is probably pretty low. Don’t expect to break up with your girlfriend via Twitter. Text messaging is best for that.

9. Twit and drive
I know you’ll ignore this one but I wanted to add it just so that I can assume no responsibility to any vehicular mishaps that may occur as a result.

10. Twit at your brother’s engagement party during dinner under the table with your Blackberry
Seems obvious, right? Yeah, well not to me.