Twitter — the “microblogging” website that lets users post tiny messages to each other — sounded frivolous at first. Why should I care about the mundane details of everyone else’s lives? Especially when I’m a large company? A recent article in Business Week found that quite a few companies do care, in fact. Listening in on their customers’ “tweets” helps them provide better customer service, for example.

Some tips for using Twitter and other microblogging services:

• Go for crisp details. The 140-character limit will help you practice writing concisely!
• Keep it light. Halting, formal language works better in long legal documents.
• Look at other successful users for cues on how often to post. Posting too much is a bit piggish, but frequency also helps you create your online identity.