Imagine that you’re at a business conference. The delegates are all exchanging information amont themselves – tips, contacts, advice, even sales leads – but you don’t have a voice to join in. You’re not part of the many conversations happening at that moment. The result? You’re missing out on opportunities to develop your business, your network and your brand recognition.
Potentially, this is what happens when you don’t link up your business with Twitter. You lose your voice; you lose a valuable connection with customers, associates and new business. There are literally hundreds of millions of tweets submitted each day, and you could be harnessing your Twitter audience to help your business, whether you’re looking for lead generation, or perhaps simply want to grow, diversify or develop your brand. Twitter can help to strengthen networks and business relationships, and provides an instant connection with customers and potential clients.
It’s a fast, fun and free platform for advertising, PR and brand recognition. To harness Twitter’s power and reach, all you have to do is find your audience, and find your voice.
So if you’re new to Twitter, here’s five simple tips to get you started:
- Tweet Regularly
The key to Twitter is engagement and information sharing, but there’s simply no point in using Twitter unless you’re going to engage your audience on a regular basis. Keep it consistent – tweet daily if possible, and try to stay on topic to develop your niche, or your specialism, but allow yourself to stray once in a while. It’s important though that you don’t flood your follower’s accounts with inane ramblings or a constant stream of sales patter – Twitter is, after all, about keeping it focused and succinct. As always, moderation is the key. - Build Trust for Better Branding and Loyalty
Social media is a chance for your company or organisation to connect with your audience, creating a much more “human” voice that encourages honesty, integrity and loyalty… and even a sense of humour! Demonstrate how real people power your brand, with a real passion for your product or service. For instance, if you’re an SME, why not offer a ‘behind-the-scenes’ sneak-peak of life in the office or at an event? Why not let people know about the charitable organisations you support, or how you’re helping your local community? You can also link to useful tips or tools on your website or blog, to demonstrate your expertise in the industry. Remember, your brand’s values are reflected and sometimes even influenced by your tweeting habits. But above all, you should ensure that your followers see you as the definitive and trustworthy voice in your field, and that you value more than just turning a profit. - Have a Piece of the Pie
Twitter trends (that ever-changing list of hashtags) are a great way to dip your toe in the 300-million-plus-tweets-a-day pool once in a while, and get heard on the worldwide stage. Occasionally joining in with a trending Twitter topic might temporarily boost your follower numbers and organically expand your network… but to make your new fans stick around, it’s best to opt for Twitter trends that have at least some tenuous link to your industry or organisation… And whatever you do, keep it clean! - Know Your Audience
In order to gain followers and increase your reach, you need to know your audience. And then find them. Search hashtags (#) that relate to your business or organisation, check out who your followers are following, and keep an eye on numbers. Which tweets result in more followers? Did an event or advertisement encourage new followers? Are they coming directly from your website, Facebook page or LinkedIn profile, or is your Twitter network growing organically? Together, your industry and followers will help to determine your Twitter voice, so it’s important that you get to know your target demographic, what makes them tick, how they function, and what they need from you. After that, the possibilities are endless… - Encourage Interaction
Twitter should never be regarded as a means for endless product placement. Think of it as a two-way conversation, minimum. Encouraging interaction on Twitter can be done in a number of ways – asking your followers questions, sharing infographics or interesting (topical and pertinent) stories… even starting a campaign through Twitter can expand your network. Don’t be afraid to have an opinion, but encourage discussion. Retweets are a fantastic way to receive new followers, and build your audience. Interaction can also be as simple as @ replies. Customers and followers like to feel heard, valued and part of something, so engage them.
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