Are you using Twitter yet? More and more Internet marketers are using Twitter as a marketing/public relations tool, and I don't think we've even tapped the surface.
Here are some ways to use Twitter to help grow your business.
Build Your Network
- Decide whether you want to market yourself or your company. - Personalize your account by setting up your profile - Find friends to follow through your email contacts - Find other top Twitter users to follow in your niche - Follow thought-leaders and the people thought-leaders follow (you can always un-follow them) - Get involved in networks where very thoughtful conversations are happening - Get involved in conversations already happening
Engage With Your Community
- Jump into the conversation - remember that it's a discussion, not a broadcast tool - Follow people who follow you - Publish helpful content - give people a reason to follow you - Use Twitter for events - Take online relationships to an offline "Tweetup" - Don't "tweet" your intimate personal information. Be discreet
Track and Analyze
- Measure your Twitter account's influence - Measure your ongoing sales activity
Use Tools
- Set up your blog feed to automatically send posts to Twitter
Don't Spam or Abuse
- Be respectful and don't "over-tweet" - Don't use links that point to phishing sites, malware, or other harmful material - "Tweet" about other things than your business - Don't follow a large number of people in a short amount of time - the number of followers is small compared to number of people following - Don't "re-tweet" (poach other users' updates)
It's easy and free to set up your Twitter account. Use the tips above and you will get a lot out of Twitter and grow your business social network. Happy tweeting!
