Twitter may seem like a passing trend to many business owners and managers, especially those who aren’t really into the whole social networking thing. But if you hope to reach a young market who themselves use Twitter on a regular basis, you may need to rethink your approach to this social media icon.
The problem that many people have with Twitter often stems from knowing how to use the site. Not the technology, specifically, that’s pretty simply. But what do you tweet to use Twitter successfully? Here are five tips to help you make the most of your Twitter experience.
Take part in trends. When the Casey Anthony verdict came out, it was the talk of Twitter. While you may not think your business could in any way tie in with such a news event, you might be surprised. Insurance companies, rappers, marketing experts and others used the trending topic to draw attention to their businesses by taking part in the conversation. Look for ways that you can also be involved in the trends, if only by sharing your thoughts on the subject.
Use popular hash tags. When you’re talking about trends, or anything else that may involve several related tweets, make use of the hash tag feature (adding a pound or number sign — # — and a search word to your tweet, to get your tweet listed in popular searches. For instance, adding #biz will ensure your comments show up whenever someone searches for that term, which is more often used than #business because of the space constraints.
Interact more than you promote. While the goal in using Twitter is to attract website visitors and build your company’s brand, spending all your time promoting your business will often have the opposite effect. Keep in mind that Twitter is a social network, that means people want to interact, not read commercials. An occasional promotion is alright, if done well, but make more tweets in response to others, sharing tips and quotes, offering helpful information, and more rather than simply posting ads or online promotions.
Host a contest. People love to win things, and hosting a contest on Twitter is a great way to introduce some fun and interaction into your tweets. You can offer an entry for every person who RT’s (retweets) your business and then draw a winner at the end of the day or week. Keep the timing on a Twitter contest much shorter than a traditional contest to keep interest high. And encourage your followers to share the contest with others as well.
Do some good. Non-profits, churches, and individuals often make use of Twitter to garner donations and support for various charities and causes. You can get involved and help your community by promoting a tweetathon, fundraiser, or other means of helping those less fortunate. Don’t make the mistake of promoting yourself at the same time, but let your good deeds speak for themselves. It can help your business and help you feel better as well.
There are many ways to use Twitter to build your business presence online. Just remember that it’s about interaction and networking more than advertising or self-promotion. If you don’t have time to do it yourself, outsource the task of tweeting for your business. You can hire someone to write your tweets for you and even to post them for about $1 a piece, and it will be worth every penny you spend in brand recognition online.