If you’re a fan of social media, in particular Twitter, then you need no convincing of it’s influence.  A source for breaking news, advice, inspiration, and trends – 140 characters can be quite powerful.  If you have followed this blog from it’s inception, then you know I’m not just on Twitter, I’m a Twitter fanatic.  So as the year draws to a close, please indulge me while I reminisce.  I give you some of my favorite tweets from 2010:

Practice Tips – Marketing – Networking – Client Relations

• 25 quick tips for a healthier bottom line (via @ABAesq)
• Do you answer your company phone with “hello?” Add some greeting to your greeting! (via @Callruby Ruby Receptionists)
• Expand Your Social Networks to Create Meaningful Connections and Build Business (via @MassLOMAP)
• Get ready for tax filing season with our tips for reporting employee and contractor wages (RT @BusinessDotGov)
• Great post by @VickiVoisin on the Paralegal Mentor: Are you Thinking HOORAY! or OH NO! ?? (Effective billing practices for paralegals.)  (via @NALStweet)
• Jurors’ comprehension of jury instructions: 50%. New issue of OJRU. (RT @KKComCon)
• Law firms use You Tube to show off services, specialties (via samtaracollier Samantha Collier)
• New at My Law License: Do You Want More Clients, Or More Referrals? >Good guidance for new attys (RT @btannebaum via @DavidSug)
• New Federal Rule on Experts Takes Effect Dec. 1 (RT @DaphneDrescher RT @HaleyOdom)
• Oregon Court of Appeals: Biking while drunk counts in ‘Three Strikes’ law (RT @KTVZ)
• Understanding Lawyers: The Personality Traits of Successful Practitioners (via @steigerlaw)

Technology and Social Media

• 5 Essential iPad Apps for Students – The Mac Lawyer (RT @goclio @themaclawyer)
• 5 Tools Maximize Your ”Twitter Lists” Usage (RT @TweetSmarter)
• Alabama State Bar Ethics Opinion Permits Use of Cloud Computing For Client Data (RT @LawSpy)
• Attorneys: if you wish to use Dropbox, set it up with TrueCrypt – how to’s: http://ow.ly/3huft and http://ow.ly/3hu9W (via @LegalTypist; via @victormedina)
• Clean your Twitter DM inbox quickly & easily using InboxCleaner (RT @TweetSmarter)
• Examining a PDF’s Document Security (via @ltrc RT @rodneydowell: RT @ernieattorney)
• Firms Turning to Open Source Alternatives for Web Site Design & Management (RT @nerinopetro via @rodneydowell)
• Handling negative comments online {Video} (important advice 4 social media users) (RT @AdvertisingLaw: RT @ginidietrich)
• How to Achieve Email Nirvana (RT @rocketmatter)
• Little Johnny got your iPhone? He may be downloading expensive apps from iTunes, (via @jeffrichardson)
• Me and Dropbox, sitting in a tree. S-Y-N-C-I-N-G. (via @HomeAccountancy) (Dropbox, “the easiest way to store, sync, and, share files online.”)
• Mobile security threats are said to be on the rise for 2011. Are you doing all you can to guard your #iPhone data? (RT @PCTools)
• NEW Ohio opinion: Judges and lawyers can be social media ‘friends,’ says high court (by @deanofsearch (via @nikiblack)
• PCWorld’s “100 Best Products of 2010” (RT @iomega)
• Practical Paralegalism: Do You Know Where Your Mobile Devices Are? (via @ExpertParalegal)
• Protect yourself from cyber scams (via @DocketzMA)
• Read my review of @CredenzaSoft‘s practice management product in this month’s ABA GP/Solo mag (via @jaredcorreia)
• RocketMatter News: Dropbox Integration, Upcoming CLE Webinars, Holiday Gift Ideas http://bit.ly/epb1ly (RT @rocketmatter via @jaredcorreia)
• Secure Passwords – You are the weakest link! (Make them 12 characters long now) (absolutely!) (RT @jimcalloway)
• Social Media for Law Firms: New Facebook Profiles – What You Need to Know (RT @samtaracollier)
• Who’s the Boss—You or the Beep? – Attorney at Work via @DanPinnington)

A note from the author:

Truth be told, so much (good!) content comes and goes (so quickly) on Twitter, that putting together such a list is harder than it looks.  All of these great tips were culled from tweets in the last 30 days.  I mention this not only in the spirit of full disclosure, but also to drive home a point:  Twitter has a lot to offer.  It isn’t a passing fancy, it’s for real.  So if you haven’t jumped on board yet, add this to your list of New Year’s resolutions.

Copyright 2010 Beverly Michaelis