How Tweet It Is: Twitter Tips For Small Business Operators

How Tweet It Is: Twitter Tips For Small Business Operators

By: Multi-Unit Franchisee | 6,783 Reads | 42 Shares
%3Cp%3EThere+has+been+loads+of+media+attention+directed+toward+Twitter%2C+the+140-character+micro-blogging+service+that+allows+people+and+businesses+to+communicate+with+their+%22followers.%22+In+addition+to+being+embraced+as+the+next+big+thing+for+marketing+your+company%2C+a+number+of+small+business+owners+have+flocked+to+the+blogs+to+explain+how+Twitter+has+helped+them+build+customer+relationships+and+add+new+names+to+their+customer+management+database.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EIf+you%27ve+never+used+Twitter+before%2C+you+may+want+a+few+pointers+for+how+to+make+the+best+use+of+the+service.+Here+are+some+ideas%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3EWhat+are+your+needs%3F%3C%2Fb%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%0D%0AJust+as+there+is+no+one-size-fits-all+prescription+for+how+to+grow+your+business%2C+there+is+no+single+method+for+using+Twitter+that+will+fit+all+companies.+Make+sure+you+assess+your+particular+needs+before+you+start+sending+out+Tweets.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EFirst+of+all%2C+despite+what+some+die-hard+Twitter+fans+may+claim%2C+the+service+isn%27t+for+everyone.+If+you%27re+running+a+plumbing+business+in+a+small+town%2C+sending+out+messages+may+not+drive+much+additional+business+your+way.+But+if+you%27re+looking+to+expand+your+reach%2C+build+your+brand%2C+network+with+other+business+owners%2C+or+communicate+directly+with+customers%2C+give+it+a+try.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3ELink+to+quality+content%3C%2Fb%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%0D%0AThere+are+a+number+of+ways+you+can+gain+followers+on+Twitter%2C+which+will+ideally+result+in+some+new+contacts+for+your+customer+management+database.+One+of+the+best+ways+is+by+posting+links+to+quality+content.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EYou+can+link+to+press+releases%2C+your+own+blog+postings%2C+other+people%27s+blog+postings%2C+articles%2C+news+reports--the+key+is+to+make+sure+the+content+is+interesting.+Social+media+experts+suggest+it+can+be+more+effective+to+build+relationships+through+providing+useful+and+relevant+content+than+by+actively+promoting+your+company.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3EShow+some+personality%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%0D%0AThere+are+certain+forms+of+communication+in+which+it+can+be+beneficial+to+relax+a+bit+and+let+some+of+your+personality+show.+People+who+use+Twitter+accounts+are+used+to+reading+about+everything+from+a+user%27s+favorite+foods+to+the+funny+thing+that+happened+to+them+on+their+commute.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EJust+make+sure+that+when+you%27re+letting+your+guard+down%2C+you+don%27t+go+too+far.+Maintain+your+professionalism+and+refrain+from+making+inappropriate+jokes+or+over-sharing+about+your+personal+life.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3ESeek+out+existing+contacts%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%0D%0AWhen+deciding+who+to+follow%2C+first+look+for+contacts+you+already+have--then+search+through+their+contacts+to+find+additional+people+who+could+yield+business+leads+or+be+otherwise+helpful.+This+technique+can+help+you+find+a+community+conversing+about+topics+that+are+relevant+to+your+own+interests.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3EAdd+your+Twitter+address+to+all+communications%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%0D%0AYou+may+have+already+added+your+website+address+to+your+business+card%2C+stationary%2C+receipts%2C+and+other+business+communications--now+it%27s+time+to+include+your+Twitter+address+as+well.+Also+display+it+prominently+on+your+website%27s+home+page%2C+inviting+visitors+to+follow+you.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3ERun+a+Twitter+contest%3C%2Fb%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%0D%0AOrganizing+a+contest+is+a+tried-and-true+way+of+drumming+up+interest+in+your+products+or+services.+You+can+run+the+competition+through+Twitter%2C+asking+people+to+reply+to+a+message+or+follow+a+link+to+your+website+and+post+a+comment.+Or+you+can+request+they+re-tweet+%28re-post%29+a+promotional+message+from+you+to+qualify.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3EUse+Twitter+to+find+talent%3C%2Fb%3E%3Cbr+%2F%3E%0D%0ANeed+a+freelancer%2C+contract+worker%2C+consultant%2C+vendor%2C+or+collaborator%3F+Why+not+send+out+your+request+in+the+form+of+a+Tweet%3F+Many+users+find+Twitter+to+be+a+valuable+tool+for+finding+help+quickly%2C+without+the+hassle+of+posting+an+advertisement+or+sifting+through+resumes.+The+service+could+also+open+up+new+business+opportunities.+As+always%2C+make+sure+you+practice+due+diligence+before+agreeing+to+any+partnership.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3EPost+regularly%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%0D%0ABefore+you+start+a+Twitter+campaign%2C+make+sure+you+are+prepared+to+keep+it+up.+Businesses+that+remain+committed+to+sending+out+Tweets+stand+a+chance+of+building+a+loyal+following+and+spreading+the+word+about+their+brand.+Those+who+post+intermittently+are+missing+the+boat.+To+make+it+easier%2C+you+could+set+aside+20+minutes+each+day+for+posting%2C+responding+to+messages%2C+and+managing+your+account.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3ETrack+your+success%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cbr+%2F%3E%0D%0AYou+can+use+analytics+tools+to+keep+tabs+on+how+much+traffic+your+Twitter+profile+is+generating.+You+can+also+track+mentions+of+your+business%27+name+by+other+users+by+using+the+Twitter+Search+tool.+This+is+also+a+great+way+to+see+what+others+are+saying+about+your+competitors--and+your+industry+in+general.%3C%2Fp%3E
Published: July 11th, 2012

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