We get this question a lot. Below are a few tips to get those new to the game started. For a more detailed discussion, send us a tweet and we’ll set a time to chat.
What is Twitter?
Well first and foremost Twitter is an information network. According to their website:
“Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting. Simply find the accounts you find most compelling and follow the conversations.”
What it means
The very fact that you’re sharing messages filled with ideas and information means you’re going to need an audience or you’ll experience nothing more than a great big echo. Developing a strategy for what type of content you’ll be tweeting and what demographic your following will be made up of is one of the first stages you’ll undertake, the next will be growing your following to a level that satisfies your business needs.
The basics
I’m not going to spend much time here, as most of you should already be familiar with the fact that it takes a professional brand or image to entice people to follow and interact with you. Branding your profile, creating a compelling message and including a link to your website should be your first step toward growing your followers, also don’t forget to ask somewhere prominently on your blog or website.
Housekeeping
While it would be nice if everyone on Twitter was a legitimate or even appropriate user, this usually isn’t the case. Don’t follow back every single person who follows you out of courtesy, instead take a moment to check out their profile and tweets to see if they even fit with your idea of someone you’d like to follow and listen to.
Take the time to send a personal message to those followers you value, and introduce yourself. You never know when an intro might turn into collaboration, or perhaps even a client.
Un-following users who are either no longer active, or perhaps have un-followed you as soon as they saw you reciprocate a follow (It happens) is a good way to keep your ratio of followers/following in check and will facilitate faster growth.
Use #hashtags
If you send out a tweet discussing marketing and use the #marketing hashtag you have an opportunity to get your message in front of a whole new audience that already share an interest in your chosen topic, if you’re profile and tweets are compelling you’ll experience added growth that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Participate in Twitter chats
Joining in and discussing topics that relate to your market will provide an introduction to both community members (peers), and also potential clients looking for information related to your industry. Don’t be surprised to see your follower count jump after each session as those members who found your contributions to be stimulating and noteworthy follow you looking for even more of a connection.
For a great list of social media market chats check out Ann Smarty’s list of 15 essentials!
Our Founder is also a big fan of #SWChat which tends to focus more on enterprise topics.
Make a growth plan
While you might one day achieve the magic number you’re looking for with Twitter, why leave things to chance? If it’s important to the growth of your business implement a growth strategy and devote a portion of each day towards things like:
- Growth tracking (create a tracking sheet)
- Participating in Twitter chats
- Responding to messages
- Following people within your industry
- Helping others
- Scheduling future tweets (Don’t forget not all your followers will be from your time zone)
- Etc.
Use Twitter power tools
Don’t be afraid to use tools to accomplish your goals, often you can leverage existing platforms to make your social profile that much more powerful. I’ll list a few below to get you started but as we’re in an ever changing, and ever growing industry there are new tools and platforms arriving on scene all the time.
This is just a quick list of ten, but there are literally hundreds available. Take the time to find the ones that fit best with your business and start taking advantage of them, and utilizing them both to manage your account, and to grow your Twitter followers.
Gaining Twitter followers takes time, energy and commitment but with a plan in place, and some applied effort there is no limit to your growth potential but the one you place upon yourself.
