In today’s era of mobile Twitter clients and third-party apps like TweetDeck and HootSuite, not everyone spends their day reading Twitter on Twitter.com. However, many people do still use the Web version of Twitter, especially to check out the profiles of other Twitter users. If you follow another Twitter user, you can bet they will come back to your profile to determine if you are worth following back. Appearances make the first impression in almost every other aspect of life, and Twitter is no different. A Twitter background that highlights your interests, passions, or profession can help others get to know you and your dedication to not only your job or hobby, but Twitter as well.
Twitter users can either upload their own photo as a background for Twitter, or, as was the case in the MySpace era, dozens of Web sites exist where users can download and install a free image. The trick to choosing an image is one that reflects your interests, personality, and/or the opportunities you are looking for. This isn’t to say that a Web developer can’t use a cartoon as a background, but if you are using Twitter to look for a job or connect with other professionals, choosing a background of scantily clad models might not be in your best interest.
If you want to use your Twitter background to tell more about you, you can either have someone design a custom Twitter background (like I did), use your own Photoshop skills, or use a site like TwitBacks to create a customized free Twitter background. TwitBacks designs are good for those without a budget, but are branded with the TwitBacks logo and look slightly automated.
Keep in mind that if you’re taking the time to customize your Twitter background, be sure to also update your Twitter avatar. While it’s best to use a good headshot of yourself, at the very least be sure it is not the default egg, which indicates you are still new to Twitter (or don’t know what the heck you are doing).
Where are your favorite places to find and design a custom Twitter background? Let us know in the comments.
