To Tweet or Not To Tweet ….. that is the question!For many of you reading this you might feel overwhelmed when it comes to understanding Twitter and how it can help you to build your online business success.
Twitter for Your Business
Answer the following questions
:
- Are you building or growing an online business?
- Looking to brand awareness for your business, product or service?
- Selling other peoples products as an Affiliate Marketer?
- Want another way to expose your online business to potential clients?
- Been trying to generate more traffic to your site?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, well then, you should know that Twitter will be a huge benefit to you and your business.
Understanding Twitter and how you use it will give you confidence to include Twitter in your social media networking strategies.
So how do you get on Twitter, set up an account and start tweeting about your business?
Here is my quick 1 – 2 – 3 Get Started Now Tips:
- Setting Up Your Twitter Account
When you post something on Twitter it is called a “tweet”. Tweets are limited to only 140 characters. This keeps the communications short and to the point. Unlike other social media sites where you can almost write a novel to send to your clients or potential clients. In today’s hurry up society, short messages are generally more desirable.
An important area to spend time on is your profile. Twitter keeps your profile ‘bio’ limited to only 160 characters (including spaces). Keeping your bio short, direct, interesting and eye catching is key.
The location field in your profile might be really important to your business, products or services so be sure to enter the city and state or country.
Your profile picture should represent you or your company. So a business photo of you or the founder of the company, the company logo or symbol is the first visual impression your visitors will see.
- Finding Your Twitter Friends and Clients
Just like most other social media sites, you are able to add your email lists to Twitter. Then send an invite to your friends and current clients letting them know you are now on Twitter and you would appreciate them following you.
Another way to find potential clients or business partners is to use the Twitter search box. Enter keywords that describe your client’s needs, products or services within your industry. Then scroll through the list of tweets looking for people asking for help or discussing things about your industry. By clicking on their name you will go to their profile page. You can decide if it is someone that you would like to get to know or start communicating with.
When you do find a potential client or another business professional within your industry, you can go ahead and follow them. Then send them an @ (at message) complimenting them on their profile or offering an answer to their question. And always ask for a follow back. They will see your message and if they reply, this is the time to answer back and build a relationship.
- Tweeting Your Messages
Now that you have followers – send them updates, messages and other information to keep them engaged with you and your company. Of course, never spam or send so many updates and messages that your clients will start ‘unfollowing’ you. Remember that social networking is an opportunity for you to build relationships and not to pester or plead for business.
Your messages can include links to your website, blog, videos and any other social media sites. It is a great way to quickly let your followers know you added a new video, offering a new product or you just posted a great article. And to keep your followers engaged, include an action statement requesting that your followers leave a comment, share their ideas and suggestions.
You are right if you are thinking that fully understanding Twitter and how it works takes time and effort. It has taken me many months to build up followers and building relationships that are producing results. Nothing happens over night, but I enjoy, and hope you will too, the process of getting to know others and how working together builds a stronger business.
Twitter is a social media site that continues to help online business stay engaged with current clients, collaborates with potential partners and grows new client contacts. Your social networking strategies should include setting up a Twitter account, along with plans to engage with your Twitter followers on a regular basis. Your efforts will be rewarded with yet another way to increase the potential for profits through the awareness Twitter will bring.
Do you have a Twitter account or will you get your account started today? Please leave me your comments and if you wish to ask questions or discuss how Twitter can work for you, let me know.
TWITTER BASICS – Step by Step Video to set up your Twitter account
Hi Lynn, this was great. I’d love to know the stats on how many people who create an account are still using it 3 months later. I’ve heard the numbers are low because people don’t understand how to use twitter effectively. With your tutorials that may change.
Golda
I hope that the stats wouldn’t be too low, but I think I know what you mean. If you don’t understand someting it tends to get put on the back burner. I have had several ‘ah ha’ moments with Twitter. And there have been many people finding me because of Twitter – so I do hope I can add a lot more information to help everyone see how Twitter can be a winner! Thanks Golda for taking the time, I appreciate your feedback.
Lynn, thanks for helping me understand Twitter a little more. Appreciated your advice about following up with your followers to ensure you stay connected was most valuable. I will continue to tweet and learn as I go!
You know it is a learn as you go with most of the social media sites. And it depends on what your business needs are. Glad that you found the info helpful and I look forward to your tweets!