Twitter, like Instagram, can also be used to build your brand and create more leads, whether this is through posting ideas, articles or news updates. There are over 280 million active Twitter users, so using this platform for business is simply a matter of finding your target audience.
When using Twitter, it is recommended to focus your Tweets on one idea that you are passionate about. This will enable you and your business to attract more meaningful followers who are interested in your brand. As a user, Twitter offers so much freedom to voice yourself in any way – your Tweets can be casual and humorous or factual and urgent, or even interactive and friendly. In this way, Twitter can even be used as a customer service tool regarding customer’s Tweets in response to your products or services.
Twitter features trending topics, also known as TT’s, which enable you to find current trending hash-tags and topics around the world. Businesses can use this to target specific audiences or groups, and can also try to create a trending topic to publicize the profile. Re-Tweeting, or RT, is also an addition to this platform, so you can find Tweets and profiles relevant to your business and Re-Tweet them with a comment. Re-Tweeting customers, for example, is a great way to acknowledge them personally, and can help in creating brand loyalty and awareness.
Twitter usernames should be simple and straightforward, reflecting you or your business. Twitter profile pictures suggestions include company logos or a professional staff photo. In your Twitter profile bio, you want to use keywords that reflect you and your business for search purposes and to target your audience.
When Tweeting, using hash-tags will be effective in creating leads and showing up in searches. Hash-tags shouldn’t be over-used, however, and a limit of 2 per tweet is advised – otherwise, hash-tags get very repetitive, distracting and annoying to look at. Hash-tags should also be short and easy-to-read comments that are relevant to your Tweet and business. Be sure to follow users who are relevant to the business and who will follow back (Twitter makes it very easy to un-follow as it shows who follows you back). Sometimes, clicking favourite on another user’s Tweets may also gain you followers, but it is also a great approach to getting recognized.
Content businesses should Tweet about include blog posts, industry research, insights, facts, statistics, news headlines and business updates. As a business, you want to establish yourself as an opinion leader in your industry, and by regularly posting about relevant information to a targeted audience, you are showing a knowledge and understanding in your area of expertise. Re-Tweeting is also a great way to share content, as well as to acknowledge and engage the people you are Re-Tweeting.
Unlike Instagram, Twitter should be updated constantly and from different angles. For example, if you are in the US, you should at least be Tweet-ing the same Tweet to account for the 4 time zones across America. If you are a multinational brand, you want to be accounting for International time zones too. Twitter is so constant that Tweets are lost in the news feed in a matter of minutes. The Buffer app can be used as a tool to schedule Tweets, and it even offers data on how successful the reach of each Tweet has been.
Communicating with followers and potential customers is also effective through Twitter. Direct Tweets can be sent to specific users and direct messages can also be used privately.