Social networking has grown in popularity as an online marketing tool for businesses. One of the newest tools to become available is Twitter, an interactive social media platform where individuals and business owners can exchange ideas.
There are always two ways (at least) to look at everything. Using social media marketing tools certainly fit into this category and so here are some helpful tips on how to use Twitter the right way as a part of your marketing strategy if you are so inclined as well as a great video with comments from Seth Godin.
I first saw the video below included in a comment on Jim Edwards site and it is just too good not to include it here again. A constant reminder is that business, good business, is built on relationships, not the latest craze so use it wisely.
With any new tool, there is a learning curve to master in order to generate success.
Here are the primary methods utilized by business owners on Twitter to increase traffic and revenue:
1. Generation of New Contacts- It is simple and easy to add contacts on the Twitter platform. And the more contacts you have, the more opportunities you have to generate business. You can add contacts organically by searching for individuals, adding those who follow you and by uploading your current email contacts. You can also quickly add contacts to your Twitter account by using friend adder software programs.
2. Ask Questions- One of the best ways to build credibility on Twitter is to ask questions for your Twitterverse to answer. For example, you may ask, “Does anyone know of a great virtual assistant company? Or, what project management tools do you recommend?” Allow your contacts to answer, and use this initiation as an opportunity to continue a conversation.
3. Search- You can use the Twitter search function to search the database for given keywords. For example, if you are searching for a virtual assistant, you can type that phrase into the search engine and read any notations or responses that contained that keyword phrase. Searching by keywords is a great way to locate valuable resources as well as solid industry contacts.
4. Promote Your Business- Send notes to your Twitter contacts when you have a promotion, product discount or when you are launching new products and services. Twitter is a great way to build your business’s brand.
5. Post Links- If you manage a blog or regularly post articles to your business’s website, be sure to post the links within your Twitter log. Your friends will appreciate valuable information provided to them.