I am often asked what are the business benefits of using Twitter / X? It can increase your search engine ranking, as Google indexes Tweets. It can bring visitors to your website. It can produce sales enquiries for you (I have achieved all three of these, with up to 21% of my monthly website traffic via Twitter).
Twitter is a ‘micro blogging’ website. If you are technically inclined, Twitter’s core technology is a device agnostic message routing system with rudimentary social networking features.
The idea is to answer the question ‘What are you doing?’ in 140 characters or less. Messages can be sent via mobile texting, instant message or the web. Notice that the messages are not delivered by email. They appear online / on your phone etc. Once you have registered, people can choose to ‘Follow’ you, which simply means that they will receive your messages.
How does this help my marketing?
1. It is another way of ‘getting the word out’ about your enterprise.
2. Followers can get to know you and what you do.
3. You can alert your Followers about new articles, blog postings, events etc.
4. As networkers know, relationships lead to paying customers.
Your Twitter profile allows you to put a line or two of information about yourself. You can let people know where in the world you are based and include a link to your website, if they want to find out more. (YOu can put three links in, if you wish)
There are numerous applications available, which help you to get more out of Twitter / social networking, including Hootsuite: www.hootsuite.com
Twitter tips
1. Positioning. If you are using Twitter as part of your customer attraction strategy, think about your ‘Twitter Positioning’. In other words, what do you stand for and how do you want to be seen by other Tweeters?
2. Who do you want to connect with? What are they interested in? What are they searching for?
3. Be a Giver. People will follow you if you have something to give them. For example, helpful, useful and interesting tips and ideas.
4. People first, business second. Twitter is first and foremost a social network, so be sociable.
5. Reveal something about yourself. You are a unique and interesting human being. We want to know more about you.
6. Be Helpful. Recommend other Tweeters. ReTweet interesting stuff. Answer questions. Connect people to each other.
7. Engage with people, by joining in and becoming part of the conversation.
8. React now! Twitter works in ‘real time’. It is a continual flow of conversations, feedback, ideas and chit chat. Become part of the flow and react quickly to what’s going on in the Twitterverse.
9. Your website. Upload helpful, useful and interesting material to your website. From time to time, Tweet about this content and point your Twitter followers towards your site. Ask them to ReTweet (RT) these messages.
10. Commitment. Use Twitter regularly, i.e. every day.
