Twitter retweets are really quite fascinating once you start studying them. I find them interesting because the science behind them is not always what you’d expect. As you learn more about retweets, you’ll find several twists and turns that don’t seem obvious. I’ve written about this before in an article entitled The Surprising Discovery About Twitter Retweets.

I’m grateful that I didn’t join Facebook until after I had been on Twitter every day for over a year. I didn’t have the perception in my mind about Facebook when I learned how to use Twitter, and I really think that made it easier for me. For example, if one of your friends on Facebook updated their status yesterday, you will probably see it when you log in today, right? On Twitter it’s very different.

Recently, and not long after President Obama joked at the White House Correspondents Dinner that he was “not the strapping young Muslim socialist (he) used to be,” Ohio Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH9) tweeted that

“Barack Obama is the worst socialist ever. Dow Touches 15000 on Jobs Data http://t.co/sGa4Es4kAG via @WSJ” (@RepMarcyKaptur)

Eight seconds later, Kaptur deleted her tweet.

But, thanks to the Sunlight Foundation’s Politwoops website, the deleted tweet was preserved.

But this is not a post about Politwoops catching politicians deleting tweets, per se, but rather, this post is about the sad timidity in Congress when it comes to bridging partisan divides. While Members seem to have no trouble hurling insults at each other on the chamber floor, they seem a bit more timid on Twitter, especially when it comes to using irony and sarcasm. Kaptur’s joke was reasonably funny and it pointed out the truthful irony that the alleged “socialist president” is presiding over the richest stock market ever and a resurging jobs market. And that is a bad record for a socialist.

A little levity can go a long way. Rep. Jared Polis has been keeping an active Twitter account, tweeting on topics ranging from education to immigration reform. But the Colorado Congressman is also getting attention for his less-serious tweets, including one post linking to a YouTube clip of a little monkey eating a noodle. Polis acknowledged that the monkey post received the most engagement of all of his tweets that day:

Today I tweeted re #edreform #marijuana poetry,anarchy,Walmart, @MichelleRhee & more, but the MOST retweeted was video of a tiny monkey :)

Ever been told your website is all flash and no cash? If so, you’re probably sitting on a high-octane brochure website that has little else to offer. Somewhere down the line you forgot to create a coherent site structure or any form of rational organization; site visitors don’t know where to start. What about interoperability and interactivity? Come on, the experience is bad enough on PCs; mobile users don’t stand a chance. Social share buttons? Those are for companies that have content to share. Forget about on-site analytics; you’re not even sure anyone is visiting your site.

If some or all of this is hitting a little too close to mark, you probably need to revamp your website ASAP. Here are five problems you’re gonna have to fix if you really want to increase website conversion.

Lame Layout - If your site’s layout more closely resembles that of a Rorschach image, it may be time for a website redesign. Begin by sitting down and thinking about what it is you actually want users to see and do while on your site. Think user experience, taking a cue from your own likes and dislikes when navigating websites. After all, in today’s digital age, your site is more than just an online storefront; it is the lynchpin of your brand’s online presence. Make sure your its look, feel, and functionality properly reflect your business goals and values. Once you figure all this out, consider implementing a responsive web design (RWD), which provides a seamless user experience over devices of varying size and screen resolution.

Messy Messaging - Like words and music, the integration of messaging and design are critical elements of a well-functioning website.