Thanks for the comment, Debra. I'm sure the article and great comments are helping people who are considering becoming a home-based worker.

Thanks for the great comment, Ken. You point out one of the great advantages of a home office, the lower overhead costs. With the electronic communication tools we have today, other teams can achieve the cohesiveness you have found.

With the tough economic times, I know many people who are laid off are considering starting a freelance career or a home-based business. I believe that the more those of us who are home-based talk about the pros and cons we find in our own experiences, the more information others have to evaluate this as an option, and the better prepared they can be to face the challenges.

Thanks again for sharing your experience.

Hi Deena, I was out on Twitter over the weekend and the name search feature was missing. They have been streamlining features to keep it running, so I don't know if this is a temporary or permanent change.

I'm really happy to see new comments being posted to this article. Thanks to everyone for sharing.

Dennis: Measuring ROI on social media is a tricky thing because it doesn't drive sales or anything else we usually quantify. The effects are softer, things like increased traffic, number of customer/client conversations, increased community size... all valuable things. When you set out to measure the effect of your efforts, remember to focus on personal relationships with people.

Carol: I think being able to rub elbows with the Guy Kawaskis of the world is so valuable. I've gotten much smarter because of my Twitter interactions. Like I mentioned to Dennis, ROI is hard to measure. How do I track how I'm getting smarter because of what I learn from people through Twitter? Seriously.

Larisa: You have that fact correct. Boomers do not take to the new media, and are the only group that uses a cellphone for calls more than texting! In fact, I wrote about the social media generation gap in my blog article Online Transparency. My clients in that age group are willing to embrace social media, but are hesitant at the same time and weigh the risks with each step.

Boomers were socialized into a workplace where personal transparency (being honest about what you think, feel, and do) was discouraged and could cause problems. I think the Boomers could teach the Millennials (today's youngest adults) a few things about propriety in some situations, as some of them "let it all hang out" more than perhaps they should.

Depending on which chart you read, I may be considered a Boomer, but I consider myself a Gen X because my attitudes fit more with that group. For example, among my friends who use technology in their work, only two are on Twitter. The rest get glazed over eyes when I talk about how much I enjoy it and how it keeps my business connections fresh and vital.

Again, I appreciate all of the comments, questions, and links you guys provide.

Gregg: I use Twitter in my breaks, when I come up for air from my work. It takes a while to get into your stride with Twitter, but once you do, it takes off.

Marlaina: I think Monica answered you nicely. I didn't write this article to sell anyone of Twitter. It's a tool that works for me, but it won't work for everyone. Only you can decide that for yourself. I want to help you get through the learning curve so you can start using it faster and better.

Monica: Thanks for answering Marlaina. I agree with everything you said.

If you like this article, it came from my new blog. I post updates on Twitter when I publish new articles. Follow me on Twitter.

Angie: I'm Kinchie on Twitter.

Lucilla: The Mars Phoenix project is one of the most interesting brand case studies on Twitter. Thanks for mentioning it.

Gregg: I don't think you are doing anything wrong. I don't do all of those things you mentioned, I have a small social media arsenal and a time limit each day/week. I run a business first, and use social media in slivers of time during the day. Does that help?

Follow me on Twitter (I'm Kinchie).

Debra, I think you are talking about the Twitter badges that appear on some blogs or websites. That is something some people can do without hiring someone technical, but it depends on how much you understand about your site or blog, and the software you use.

I use WordPress for my blog. There are many ways to integrate Twitter, but they depend on whether your blog is hosted by Wordpress (yourblog.wordpress.com) or if you host it somewhere else (www.yourblog.com). Check out widgets (Wordpress hosted) or plug-ins (someone else hosts it) for Wordpress.

Also, Twitter provides some badges you can use. They provide some code that you have to insert into the correct location in your blog or website. If this is more than you want to take on, it is something that won't take a technical person much time, and is a one time action that will continually update your Twitter stream.

Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate when people add links to additional resources in their comments. Sharing information is the best way for everyone to learn even more.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to post, and for the kind feedback. I wrote the article I wish I could have read when I was starting out and making all of the new user mistakes.

Jana asked about emailing potential followers. If you already have connections with people, leverage those by adding your Twitter account info in your communication. Add it to your email signature, add it to your blog, add it everywhere you communicate. Let people ask you about Twitter, or let them see it and decide to follow you on their own. For my business, I'm not asking people to follow me, but I'm making it easy for them to see that I'm on Twitter.

Monica mentioned new opportunities that came to her through Twitter. That is the power of Twitter. I've landed two clients through Twitter and am submitting a proposal to a third company all because of my Twitter activity. I can't promise anyone else the same results, but you have me and Monica as proof that it does happen.

Nancy mentioned international followers. I keep odd hours (up and working usually by 4 am) and my local/US Twitter community is very quiet. I've sought out people to follow in the UK. Not only have I found some quite interesting people, but some are becoming friends as we continue to connect through email and our blogs.

Please check my company blog for more articles, and feel free to follow me on Twitter.

Thanks for all of your comments. I love seeing so much community sharing in comments.

For those of you looking for more advanced assistance, there are many smart people writing about Twitter use, and Twitter as part of a larger social media strategy. For starters: Guy Kawasaki Chris Brogan * TwiTip

There are a lot of conflicting opinions out there about Twitter, so sift through everyone. The truth is all relative, and depends on your personal business goals. What works for a big hitter like Guy Kawaski or Chris Brogan might not be right for your business. But read Guy and Chris and make your own decisions.

Kimberly pointed out that Twitter can be time waster, just like too much surfing and other Internet-based activities. Set a goal and give yourself a time limit (by day or per week) and experiment.

Robert pointed out the benefit of in-depth conversations. I agree! Twitter can make introductions and maintain existing connections, but a virtual Twitter relationship isn't much. Move to email, phone, and face-to-face from Twitter.

Tia asks a very smart question. How do you know if Twitter is right for your business? At this point, you can only evaluate your potential client base and make an educated guess. But I would still recommend that you give it a whirl. You don't know where connections will lead. I've met about a dozen interesting people on Twitter who are helping my business, a few in ways I could not have imagined.

Please check my company blog for more articles, and feel free to follow me on Twitter.

Twitter, and all of social media, is great for building organic traffic, as Gabriella pointed out.

People hold a lot of differing opinions about Twitter and its use. I've focused on just the basics because your specific business goals do impact your Twitter use and strategies.

I'm glad you found the guide helpful. It came from two posts on my company blog. I'm always posting new information based on my business writing experience. I'd love to have you join me there.