There are two ways to approach Twitter from an Internet marketing standpoint. You can either try to figure out how to really get involved and to parlay that into improved business or you can try to find the shortcuts and secrets that will dump a pile of cash in your lap overnight.

Here’s the scoop. The people trying for a quick score aren’t making money.

The only way to really use Twitter to your advantage is to use it the “right” way. You need to be a real user an a legitimate member of your (and others’) social networks. You need to contribute and you need to interact. If you’re there looking for a quick buck, everyone will smell you coming from a mile away and they’ll lock down their wallets before you get near.

Let’s say it again to make it clear: Real users make more money with Twitter.

That’s ugly news for the get-rich-quick crowd, but it’s great news for marketers with enough perspective and understanding to recognize a good thing when it’s staring them in the eyes.

Have you figured out how you can really use Twitter? Do you understand how that usage can lead to real business improvements? If you still have questions, you need to learn more about Twitter. Otherwise, you’re wasting your time. Look for the resources available on this page.

Twitter marketing is gaining in popularity. That makes sense. Twitter is huge, growing and provides a fantastic way of getting in touch with a lot of people quickly and easily.

Not everyone is doing it the right way, however. In fact, some people seem to be bending over backwards to make sure they don’t make a dime via Twitter. Here are three of their “methods” that anyone who’s interesting in turning a buck should ignore.

The automatic “thanks for following” message with an affiliate link strategy is a complete disaster. Those automatic direct messages are one of the most hated aspects of Twitter and only a handful of users will even bother to click on them.

The people who think that following a billion people is the best way to go because it can get them a ton of reciprocal followers just don’t get it. The magic of Twitter is its ability to help you find a targeted audience. The scattershot approach doesn’t pay off worth a hoot.

Pounding your followers with your links every ten minutes like clockwork? I bet you’re not too happy with your sales, are you? You have to understand the mindset of Twitter users and why that technique can’t get the best results.

Those are just three of the ways people are wasting time and not making money. There are others. If you don’t know what works and what fails, you need to learn more about Twitter.