Over the past few years, the popularity of Twitter has soared. In fact, back in February, Twitter announced that it was just a few thousand people away from reaching the 500,000,000-user mark, meaning a whopping half-billion people are using the unique social media tool. With numbers this high, it’s no wonder so many people taut the use of Twitter in the marketing sphere; look at how many people you could potentially reach!
Keep in mind, though, all those users can also make it harder to get noticed. To truly make waves in the Twittersphere, you need to have an effective strategy in place. Try these tips on for size:
Provide quality
The content you post on your Twitter feed should always, always, always be of quality to your followers. Your Tweets should be interesting, relatable to your business or industry and something that your followers will want to share with your friends. Remember, the more they share your Tweets, the more exposure your brand gets!
Keep it conversational
It’s important to keep in mind that Twitter is a social media site. Though you are using Twitter as a marketing tool, don’t forget that social aspect of it. You can’t just push marketing jargon at your followers and expect them to respond positively; you need to engage, engage, engage. Ask your followers questions, bring up new ideas, and start discussions. Most importantly, respond to them when they address you. It shows you care about your customers, and it helps break down those customer-company walls, instilling in them a sense of brand loyalty and attachment to your company. No longer are you just a business, you’re their friend.
Cross-promote
Twitter is a great way to promote your other web content quickly and easily. Post links to your blog articles or Facebook photos, Tweet your email sign-up link, or refer followers to your website for exclusive content. Just don’t forget – provide quality when you post these links, don’t just push your user to another one of your channels for the heck of it. Give them exclusive content, fun photos, or something in return for their loyalty.
Be consistent
A truly effective Twitter campaign requires constant attention. In truth, you should be posting regular, fresh content on a daily basis. If you don’t, your followers will either 1) start to forget about you or 2) decide to stop following you – neither of which is good. When you post regular content, it increases your opportunities for engaging your followers, being re-Tweeted, and earning new followers. You should also log in at least once a day to respond to replies and messages; this will keep your existing fans happy and coming back for more.
Measure your results
The best way to see if your Twitter is effectively marketing your company is to measure the results. On a weekly or monthly basis, create a report comparing your stats: how many clicks did you get? How many followers have you gained? How many re-Tweets were there? If you’re not seeing the results you want, make subtle changes to your strategy. For the first few months, it may take a little trial and error to figure out what your customer base likes and responds to best.
Please share this post with others who are interested in using Twitter effectively and looking to understand how it can be used as a marketing tool without being overly promotional. You can use the bookmarking share tools below or comment in the box below.
Post on Twitter as an Effective Marketing Tool Provided By: Eric Stauffer, an internet marketing specialist and small business supporter. His company reviews firms like Capital Processing Network and Alpine Payment Systems, and helps small businesses find reputable firms to work with.
