They don’t get it. Others don’t either, unless they use Twitter often.

Twitter isn’t just about letting others know what you’re doing through your tweets. The truth is that unless you’re a major celebrity, not everyone cares where you’re going or where you’ve been.

There are a few ways that you can use Twitter to help you grow your business including:

Drawing traffic to your blog. When you update your blog (which you should do several times a week), tweet your latest blog headline and a (shortened) link. The better the headline, the faster your followers will flock to your site.

Sharing articles that may interest your followers. Tweet about articles, blog posts or even photos that will help your followers. I scan about 150 articles a day to find the right ones to share with my followers. If my followers like my tweets, they’ll retweet them, which introduces me to their followers.

Establishing you as the go-to expert. When a writer, reporter or producer is looking for an expert, they may use TweetDeck, HootSuite,  Seesmic, or Twitter Search to find the right person to interview. The same goes for prospective clients looking for a product or service. Twitter is a viable search engine for up-to-the-minute events. While the tweets you find may not be from major news outlets, the links they provide may come from sources you recognize.  This Open Forum article, “Search Marketing, Twitter-Style” gives a good description of how well Twitter works as a search engine.

Growing your online presence. If you’re serious about growing your business, you have to have a Web presence.  Do an Internet search of your name and your company name and if you don’t find yourself, you need to ramp up your online efforts.  Twitter is a good way to do that.

Making new business contacts. I’ve been fortunate to meet some incredible business owners through Twitter including @daveyank, @RightGirl (she’s hilarious) and @TachelleDaniels. We’ve worked on projects together, provided guest posts or interviews for one another’s sites, and found ways to help each other out.

Twitter can help you grow your business if you take advantage of all it has to offer. As for letting others know that you’re on your way to buy frozen yogurt, you may want to open a personal account for that.

Part of the reason is that I’m from a family of five kids which makes me want my own space, my own supplies and as much privacy as possible. This site is called Working Naked, after all.

The other part is that too much of a good thing can be bad. You may adore your spouse but if you spend every day and night with him or her, you may drain the fun out of your business and your relationship.

If you’re still willing to work with your spouse, there are a few ways to keep the peace so no one considers hiring a hit man by closing time.

• Buy duplicate supplies. No one likes to reach for a stapler and realize it’s on someone else’s desk or in another room. Get creative and buy two sets of office supplies in different colors.

• Use separate equipment. There’s nothing wrong with cutting costs, but sharing a computer to save money will cost you in the long run. Whether you use a desktop and your spouse uses a laptop, each of you should have your own equipment. If neither one of you needs to print often, share a printer.

• Leave the room when you need to take a call. Unless you can talk quietly and not bother your spouse while he or she is in the office, leave the room. Anyway, it’s good to get away from your desk throughout the day.

• Use separate desks. Whether you install a long counter with two workspaces or use two desks, keep them away from each other.

• Stay in your own territory. If you and your spouse have different working styles, a neat freak spouse doesn’t want to find stacks of paper on his or her desk. Keep your piles to yourself. If you’re the pack rat spouse and like to work with papers piled everywhere, your picky spouse may drive you nuts when he or she tries to straighten the piles or convince you to toss everything.

• Compromise on the temperature. You may like the office to be as cold as a meat locker, but not everyone likes to wear three sweaters, a hat and gloves to work. Consider using a fan for your side of the room and keep the thermostat at a reasonable temperature.

I’m a firm believer in everyone working together, but not always in the same space.

Guest post by Steve Anderson

Working from home was a dream long before it became a reality, and that’s because I needed plenty of time to convince myself that leaving the corporate office was not some crazy dream.

In hindsight, I’m sure I wasted too much time agonizing over the potential drawbacks. “I’m with a successful business, making great connections, challenging myself professionally. How do I leave this?”

It was good to ask those questions, but I needed to also ask myself another obvious question: “How much would I have to be offered to leave it all?” Could I leave for the same salary? Could I work from home for 10 percent less? or 20? or 30 percent?

Ask yourself that question, but before you answer it, answer this question: “How much money am I actually earning?”

“Easy,” you answer. “It’s right there on the paycheck, right?”

Is it? Have you ever calculated how much “real income” you pocket after all the payroll taxes, benefit deductions, and work-related expenses? I made the calculation (which shows that you don’t have to be a CPA) and it made my decision to move home infinitely easier.

In a nutshell, here’s how I did it:
I took my salary per week, then pulled the weekly deductions (dental, health, retirement, federal and state taxes). Then, I made columns for my expenses each week: fuel for my commute, eating out for lunch, dry cleaning … and anything else I wouldn’t have spent if I worked from home (like $400 on each of three new suits … shirts, ties, shoes, not included).

That gave me my “net.” Ouch. It was a huge eye opener to see how much I really pocketed at the end of a week. But I wasn’t done.

I then took that “net” and divided it by the real hours I was working each week in the office. I say “real hours,” because if you’re working 40 or 50 or 60 hours every week, you should know how much you’re earning for each of those hours – even if you arrive at a number that’s surprising and perhaps disappointing.

I’d suggest you go even further and calculate the total time you’re out of your home each day. (If you leave at 8:00 and get home at 6:00, that’s 10 hours a day or 50 hours per week.) Now, divide your “net” by that number … and feel free to wince.

Only when you’ve made your calculation should you compare your current salary to the income you’d make working from home. By looking deeply at the math, you may very well find that you could take a $5,000 or $10,000 cut at home, and still earn more per hour AND end up with the same net yearly income you’d make in a corporate office.

Naturally, results are certainly going to vary. Be sure to include self-employment tax and expenses such as health insurance and a retirement fund. (Insurance through your spouse is a huge cost saver.)

But when it’s all said and done, you might find that’s easier to go home than you ever imagined.

Steve Anderson is the Word Guy at pounce.com, a full-service boutique specializing in creative and strategic planning for print and Web marketing.

• Delegate. My friend has a hard time letting go of tasks to the point of micromanaging. When she does delegate, she ends up doing most of the tasks herself or redoing whatever it is she has asked someone to do. Delegating works well if you clearly explain what you want someone to do and then follow up near the deadline date. When someone knows that you’re going to follow up, they’re more likely to do as you ask.

• Focus on the big picture instead of obsessing over small, insignificant tasks. Her retail business is so busy that she rarely finds time to post the next week’s schedule until the weekend. Her employees don’t know what hours they’re supposed to work the following week until late Saturday.  She’s finally agreed to create the schedule a week in advance.

• Listen to the experts. My friend acquired her company from a longtime friend of hers who wanted to retire. Although he doesn’t come to the store anymore, he’s always available to give her advice, share shortcuts and even train her staff. She refuses his help because she wants to prove to herself that she can run the business on her own. When she realizes that her stubbornness is costing her time and money, she’ll accept help when it’s offered and listen to someone with experience.

• Train everyone to cover all positions. She hasn’t taken the time to teach all of her employees how to use the cash register, how to price items or even how to close up shop at the end of the day. That means that every day she has to either open or close her store and can’t take days off. (Her husband already calls her business “the other man.”) When she finally trains each employee to cover any position, she’ll be able to take some time off to recharge.

Take a close look at the way you work. Are you busy or effective?

• Research your competition honestly. Never mislead competitors by pretending to be a client. Instead, set up a Google alert with your competitor’s name in quotes. Each time they’re in the news, you’ll receive an e-mail alert. Check out their Web site to learn more about their products, services and business philosophy.

• Introduce yourself to your competitors. Savvy business people know that there’s enough business for everyone. If a competitor is up to his or her eyeballs in clients, they may send a few clients your way. Or if you’re in different cities, you may be able to partner on different projects.

• Offer to pay for a competitor’s time. If a competitor is willing to offer you advice, be willing to pay for it. While they may not accept your offer, you’re making it clear to them that their time is valuable.

• Talk to people who are using a competitor’s products or services and find out what’s missing. Maybe your competitor is missing something that you could add to enhance your product or service. Consumers will always have a different view of your industry than you.

Take the time to research ways to grow your business, yet make it different from a competitor’s business. No one likes a copycat.

Costa Rican home office

In another blog post, I mentioned that my home office radar is always on. My recent trip to Costa Rica was no exception. While my sons and I were waiting to go rappelling, I noticed the owner’s home office. I qualify this as a home office because the owner lives in apartments attached to his home office and the reception area.

Reception area

The woman who works in the office told me that the owner spent several months finding the right (renewable) trees to cut down to use as dividers. Even the bookcases are made of wood found in the rain forest.

You decide…is this home office cool or what?

Do you know how your business looks to the outside world? As your client base grows and your business gets busier, you may start to ignore the basics. Take time to look at your business from an outsider’s point of view.

• Analyze your Web site. Does it reflect the tone and style of your business today?  Your product photos and blog should be up-to-date. You don’t need to blog every day but a few times a week is ideal. If you want honest feedback about your site, ask for it. Six months ago I sent a short survey to friends, acquaintances and clients to get their input and insight. Their feedback helped me make a few changes to improve my site.

• Read a few of your outgoing messages. If you were supposed to attach a document, did you? Are there typos? Spell check will catch misspelled words but it can’t tell you automatically whether you’re using the right version of a word.

• Listen to your voice mail message. Can you hear your kids or spouse in the background? Make sure that your voice is clear and easy to understand.  Don’t forget to ask the caller to leave a detailed message that includes their phone number and the best time to return their call.

• Check to make sure the contact information on your business card is current. Business cards are cheap. Instead of crossing out an old phone number, order new cards. Also, make sure that your card is easy to read. A business card I saw last week had a light background, which made the white type hard to read.

Sometimes the image you have of your business can be a bit distorted. Make sure that what others see is a true reflection.

Desk #1
Topsy-turvy and turbulent
The top of your desk is piled high with magazines, unopened mail and bills. If someone wants you to see something, they leave it on your chair. Eventually you’ll feel it when you sit down.
Your desk screams: You’re a creative person but you seem a bit scattered, unreliable and easily distracted.
Desk makeover: The goal isn’t to be a perfectionist or a neat freak. Instead, create some order. Use desktop file holders for the files you’re working on now, put stacking bins on the floor to hold materials for certain projects, hang bulletin boards and wall pockets to help you get and stay organized. Get in the habit of clearing out your office every few weeks.

Desk #2
Slick and sparse
Your desk screams: Only the bare essentials, thank you. Your computer, printer and handheld are on your desk while everything else is tucked away.
Desk makeover: Add a picture of your family, pet, or friends to the wall or add colorful artwork. A plant wouldn’t hurt either…just remember to water it.

Desk #3
Stacked and stodgy
Your desk screams: You have trouble making decisions, especially when it has to do with papers. Magazines you want to read are stacked neatly in one corner, while in another corner are papers you need to file and supplies that need a home.
Desk makeover: Add a bookcase near your desk to hold magazines stored in magazine holders or get rid of magazines altogether and subscribe to the online versions. Make decisions about paper by using the P-A-P-E-R system: Put papers in a file, Act on them, Place them in a stacking bin, Enter any action you need to take on your To Do list and toss (or file) the papers, or Recycle them. Keep extra supplies in your bookcase, stored in colorful baskets or containers.

Do you know what your desk is saying about you?

My first rappel down a waterfall...scary, but amazing!

A few weeks ago I spent a week in Costa Rica where I saw incredible plants and wildlife, and took part in more extreme sports (at least they were to me) than I ever have in my entire life. First I sailed across a zip line through the rainforest, then I jet skied across the ocean (note: choppy ocean) and then I went canyoning (in this case, rappelling down four waterfalls and one rock wall) in the rainforest.

Thinking back to my trip made me realize how running a home-based business is like rappelling down a waterfall.

• You’re out of your comfort zone. Just as it’s unnatural to hang onto a rope, push yourself away from the wall and plunge many feet below, starting a new business is unnatural. The way I felt rappelling down the first waterfall seemed as overwhelming as starting my first home-based business. Now that I’m on my third business, starting a new business feels more comfortable.

• You have to trust the experts. I had to trust that our guides at the top of the waterfall had attached the rope to me before they gave me a thumbs up to jump. When you’re running a home-based business, you have to trust that your CPA, attorney, marketing person, Webmaster and anyone else you hire to help you run your business, knows what they’re doing.

• You need to take risks. As I looked over the first waterfall, I questioned whether the risk of jumping off the wall backwards was worth the benefit. (Also, I kept asking myself what in the hell I was doing!) When you’re running your own business, you may think the same thing. If you don’t go out on a limb and start the business you’ve always dreamed of owning, you’ll never know whether or not you could have succeeded. Risks aren’t always worth the benefit but then again, many times they are.

• It’s important to take time to look around you and celebrate your successes. During the first descent, all I could think about was not slamming into the wall. By the last rappel, I looked around and noticed how cool the rocks and water gushing over the side looked. When my feet touched the ground, I was proud of myself for mastering (or at least trying to master) all five rappels. When you own your own business, it’s easy to focus on what’s not working and forgetting to celebrate your successes. They’re there. You just have to look for them.

We ran out of time before we could take on another extreme sport. But there’s always next time.