When you work as a freelancer, you work alone.

That’s not always the case, all of the time. But it is true for most of us.

Yes, we can join lists and forums online. But forums are often dominated by a few people who post their thoughts and comments, while the majority of people simply lurk.

Forums don’t even come close to what can be achieved with Twitter.

With Twitter you can connect with and follow a far broader and deeper mix of people than you can through any forum.

You can follow a mix of fellow freelancers, thought leaders, prospective clients and more. In other words, you create your own group “membership”. You control who you listen to.

That level of control makes Twitter profoundly useful.

But you need a plan. You need to know what your intentions are with Twitter.

Do you plan on using it as a means to connect with prospective clients?

Do you want to use it to keep in touch with fellow freelancers?

Do you use it to find suppliers and possible venture partners?

Whatever your plan is, be clear about it and stick to it.

That way you’ll get what you need from Twitter and you won’t damage your own level of productivity by spending too much time with random, undirected Twittering.