When you launch a business, you invest in a branding package – the logo, website, cards, marketing materials, create a sales strategy and a marketing plan. In addition, it’s really smart and important to join some local and national professional organizations and blend your online and in person worlds.
Your personal and business brand represents who you are, what you do and whom you serve. Your branding is everything you do to get yourself out there. So are you taking Twitter seriously as an integral part of your social media mix?
Reports Marketing Charts:
“Twitter is an important social media business tool. Not only do 84% of respondents say their company’s use of Twitter will increase, 46% say it will do so by a significant margin.”
Social Media Examiner, reports 88% of marketers believe their social media efforts have generated more exposure for their businesses, and Twitter is leading this charge:
“140 characters and 2.7 seconds” to get attention have forced us all to be really focused on a clear, concise, succinct message.”
Twitter is about attracting the right followers. Followers who have a commonality, mutuality and are active with each other. Smaller more homogeneous, engaged tribes are more effective with Twitter.
The amazing thing about Twitter is it has become the go to, immediate, real time source of news, information and announcements for just about anything you can image from storms, deaths, politics and disasters that most of the major media sources get their information from.
Considering how many social networking and marketing choices have emerged and died off the past five years, Twitter is still serious, strong, vibrant and relevant.
The Pew Report on Marketing Charts reports:
- The percentage using the site on a typical day doubled according to the May 2012 report.
- African-Americans, youth over-index in usage.
- Youth show most rapid growth demonstrated by 18-24 year-olds.
- Smartphone users are more likely to tweet.
So, how do we convert the “I just don’t get Twitter” and “I don’t have time for it” folks into to users and believers?
Here are 8 great ways to use Twitter to build brand, reach and engagement:
1) Link to great information that aligns you with the industry you represent.
2) Promote your blog posts, video, podcasts, email marketing.
3) Meet key people in your industry and connect them to others in your tribe.
4) Promote key people in your networks.
5) Retweet information that shows your support of others and that gets you noticed.
6) Use Twitter #Hashtags to niche specific target topics, people, industries and conversations.
7) Use Twitter to show your fun side and personality.
8) Use Twitter to create immediacy and urgency.
Check out 100 ways to use Twitter for job search and 16 creative ways to use Twitter for business. If you are already using Twitter and need a boost, consider a Twitter facelift or learn from others with 137 Twitter tips for small business (PDF) and 7 terrific twitter tips to use today.
Nike has it right when they say “Just do it” and Harley Davidson too, when it says, “Screw it, let’s ride.”
Twitter Photo via Shutterstock
suzanne Delzio
Thanks Deborah for a solid message backed up by stats and action steps. Dan Shure on SEO Moz did a nice video, “10 Painless Tactics to Earn Attention on Twitter,” too. I just did a blog post about it.
Deborah Shane
Suzanne, thanks for stopping by and for the additional resources!
J.T. Advertising Management
This is a nicely composed article Deborah. What I would add to this for anyone who is considering using the twitter mouthpiece for business is that people should consider their objectives and create a twitter content strategy. All too often a business here’s of the next big thing, starts using it without any forethought and when nothing comes of it allow it to fizzle and die. If a company has objectives and strategy they will gain much more benefit than without
Deborah Shane
JT, strategy and messaging are so important as well as consistency!
You are so correct: objectives + strategy = benefit!
The key is to deliver value and be a real person. Too many corporate accounts are still broadcast-only.
Deborah Shane
Robert, being “real” even comes across Twitter, doesn’t it!?
Nick Stamoulis
I have to agree with Robert on that. Many corporate accounts simply broadcast their own personal content. In addition to sharing content from other sites, corporate social profiles can be utilized as a listening tool. Pay attention to what your followers are saying, you might be missing out on some great customer feedback.
Deborah Shane
Nick, I always wonder when the ratio of followers v following is so lopsided with corporate accounts. They are NOT listening and I don’t continue to follow them. Case in point Spirit Air: 37K followers, 0 following? Ugh..Thanks for your comment.
Stephen Cree
I agree with both Robert and Nick. Businesses are missing a trick if they don’t use Twitter as an active feed for customer service and as a community outreach tool which in turn will be much more productive than firing out link after link to their articles and press releases…
Deborah Shane
Stephen, I would say using Twitter for customer service is the most underused and served strategy for Twitter.Case in point: When I Tweeted out a cable problem, in one minute a CS rep popped up in my stream and in 5 minutes they got me the info I was seeking!
Hi Deborah. Some great tips. Certainly the “I don’t have time for twitter” element is still strong in the business world but once those doubters see the the real benefits…it’s changing.
Deborah Shane
Steve, it is indeed changing,and I can only hope that the doubters will seek others insights in their industry who are using it and having great success and results! Tweet On!
deborah shane
Matt, thanks for including this on your Blog!Appreciate it!