As one of the big-five social media platforms, Twitter plays an integral part in connecting our twenty-first century world. You may be familiar with tweets and hashtags, but did you know you can target an audience as unique as your business? You can! And we’d like to show you how to use this huge networking tool to your advantage. Did you know Twitter has recently implemented features to enhance your business’s social and service interactions? They have! That’s why we’re sharing an overview of what Twitter is, how to use it, and highlighting some of these new features—so you’ll stand out in the social media crowd.
Haven’t created a Twitter account for your business yet? Why not? Using Twitter is a phenomenal way to establish and create your brand, grow a loyal base of fans and customers, and interact with leaders in your industry. You can also drive customers to your blog and website with tweets, inviting them to learn more about you and your company.
And did you know Twitter actually offers a page dedicated to creating business accounts, in addition to letting you in on some of the great tips and tricks of the Twitter trade? Think of it as a Twitter 101—where you learn about tweets, retweets (or RTs), TTs, hashtags, mentions, and all the other terminology and best practices for using the platform. It’s invaluable information, but we want to make it even easier for you to become Twitter savvy. Below are some quick tips to get your account up and running—and if it’s already is up and running, we’ve got more tips for how you can utilize Twitter’s tools for your business.
For New Users
- Create Your Twitter Account—It’s Free.
- Use a handle (@twitterusername) that clearly identifies your company.
- Use an easily recognizable profile picture, such as your logo.
- In creating your bio, make every word count—Twitter’s persona is live and fast, so make sure your bio reflects that personality.
- Use a header photo that reflects your company’s image.
- Pin a tweet (one that stays at the top of your feed) your customers won’t miss—one that highlights specials, services, promotions, etc.
- Follow and Be Followed
- Advertise your Twitter handle on all other platforms—and even in your brick-and-mortar store, if you have one.
- Jump into conversations related to your industry by searching hashtags and keywords.
- Follow the industry influencers and big names in your field.
- Ask for retweets and consider offering prizes, discounts, or coupons for your services or products.
For All Users
- Content
- As with any social media platform, be sure to create and share compelling content (in this case, it has to be in 140 characters or less).
- Consider using visuals such as GIFs, MEMEs, and emojis. (A word to the wise: Be tactful. It’s okay to be funny and casual, but remember, this is your business you’re showcasing; be sure to reflect professionalism.)
- Use relevant hashtags, share valuable retweets, and respond appropriately to those who interact with you.
- Get involved and be engaged in Twitter conversations. If you feel overwhelmed by the number of tweets in your feed, create Twitter lists on your profile or use social media tools to help you organize your account.
- Invite your employees to share your business’s tweets on their personal Twitter accounts.
- Use Twitter Analytics to measure engagement and ROI.
Now that you’ve got your account set up and are doing all the right things on Twitter, let’s take it a step further. The trends on any social media platform are constantly changing, as are the tools for using that platform. Twitter now offers some awesome tools for business, like Twitter advertising, direct messages, and customer feedback.
Advertising
Consider using your tweet as an ad for your company. Twitter clearly marks paid tweets, accounts, and trends as “promoted.” Your promoted tweet will show up in the feeds of users whose history and activity indicate they may be the ideal audience for your company. Read all about it on Twitter’s advertising page. This blog also shares some great tips on using Twitter ads.
Direct Messages and Deep Links
When you interact with your customers by replying to mentions or by starting conversations, you’re providing live, immediate customer service. But because customers sometimes want a more private session with you or with a representative of your company, Twitter provides a Direct Messages tool that gives you a deep link within a tweet, allowing users to send a direct, private message to your company. Think of it as the customer-service call center of the future—no longer do customers have to be placed on hold while listening to elevator music until the next representative is available.
Customer Feedback
Another awesome new tool Twitter provides is Customer Feedback, where customers can privately share their opinions about their experiences with your services and products. This feature allows your company to collect data from short surveys at the end of a direct-message conversation.
Convinced? We hope so. Twitter may be one of the most time-efficient social media tools out there. As you know, time is a precious commodity in this fast-paced world. Composing a tweet and sending it live, where customers can read it quickly and immediately, is a powerful way to get noticed and to promote your brand.
We’d love for you to take a little of that time and give us feedback on our post. Do you use Twitter? What are your best-kept secrets for using it for business? Leave your comments below.
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