Twitter alone will not propel online sales or business reputation to new heights. It is, however, one of the more effective social media marketing tools. A focused, active Twitter profile also helps companies promote their brand and stay current with industry trends. Use these tips to get the most of time spent tweeting.
Use Twitter Tools and Apps to Stay Organized and Active
Popular Twitter tools like TweetDeck and HootSuite help companies schedule upcoming tweets, organize direct messages and mentions, follow conversations, and much more.
Take tweeting on the road with a mobile app such as Tweetie to respond to customer or fan tweets. This application gives iPhone users the ability to manage multiple accounts, access user profiles, and perform custom searches- all while out of the office.
Stay on top of all direct messages and mentions to build an image as a responsive, caring company with a good line of open communication.
Track Tweets and Develop Effective Twittering Strategy
A built-in HootSuite feature is the ability to track URL click-throughs. TweetBurner, another good tool to shorten URLs and track click-throughs, is supported by TweetDeck.
Monitor the click-through rates of tweets of different lengths, topics, and sent at various times of the day. Concentrate on tweeting effective messages at the right time to reduce the total amount of time spent managing a social media campaign and to deliver targeted information to followers.
Build Social Media Presence with Good Communication and Helpful Twitter Tools
Never forget the social aspect of Twitter. Simply loading up a tool like HootSuite to deliver regular tweets won't win over followers or customers. Take the time to respond to tweets and messages. Retweet messages relevant to the industry or niche.
Use widgets and feed tools when possible to post messages from one social media profile to another, ie.: from Twitter to Facebook, or vice versa. Be careful not to spam either profile with automatic posts; balance them out with personalized tweets.
Use a tool like Mr. Tweet to find other active users in a particular niche. It also gives statistics on Twitter usage to help online business users monitor the efficacy of a social media campaign, based on activities performed from the business profile.
Learn from Twitter Masters
Twitter lists are a great tool for organizing specific groups of users. Create a list for each niche, interest, or type of user for easy access to tweets from hand-picked groups. Follow industry leaders, top niche bloggers, magazines, and other authorities on any subject to see how they interact with followers.
How to Build a Professional Online Business Presence with Twitter
Keep the company Twitter profile limited to only a few trustworthy users. Once a message is out there, it is impossible to completely retract it.
Use personal tweets sparingly to build online relationships; other users want to know that the people they are communicating with are, in fact, real people. However, they don't want to know what was for lunch or who hooked up with who at the office party.
Tweet a new website launch, product releases, sales, and deals as part of the overall message. A steady stream of promotional messages will quickly drive followers away. Provide information, then complement it with products or services that answer some of the followers needs.
Use these tips to maximize the company's social media efforts. This type of online marketing is less expensive, but far more time consuming, than many other methods. Get organized and perfect a tweeting strategy to get the most out of Twitter.
See 5 Online Marketing Tips- Boost Business in 2010 for more internet advertising strategies to drive sales and attract new business.
Join the Conversation