How to Use Twitter for

Business Marketing

Common Questions People Ask When Starting on TwitterQ. How do I see what other people are posting? A. Not everyone on Twitter will see every tweet. Each person has a

“stream” of tweets from people they are following as well as their own tweets.

Q. What kinds of things are posted on Twitter?B. Anything and everything is posted on Twitter. The idea is to learn how

to filter through and find the nuggets of information / links that make sense for your business.

Q. Why should I be using Twitter for business?A. It’s easy to understand why it might not seem appealing. You are limited

to 140 characters or less, there are over 60 million users and there are thousands of tweets per minute. It seems overwhelming, confusing and noisy. Here are some compelling reasons to use Twitter for Business.

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

1. Create Brand Awareness2. Direct Traffic3. Hire People4. Research5. Get Breaking News6. Network, Partner and Build Relationships7. Keep in Touch with Customers8. Event Updates9. Find Prospects

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

Twitter is a powerful tool for business marketing that can be used in the following ways

1. Build relationships with transparency and trust– Be honest, be yourself, be helpful

2. Drive potential customers to take action– Drive them to your website and blog for more information, to opt-in to your

mailing list or make a purchase– Drive them to registration for a live event– Give them a discount coupon to use in your store or for your services

3. Market your brand and your business– Outline the value your service can bring them

4. Share your expertise (ask/answer questions)– Demonstrate your value by giving your followers free advice, tips, strategies,

techniques that will lead them to follow you

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

5. Learn from experts in your field and expose yourself to new ideas– Be open-minded and open-hearted

6. Connect with others and watch experts with real-time chatter thread– Be in the know with the latest and greatest by virtually attending

conferences and following conversation threads

7. Learn best practices in social media marketing– Watch, listen and learn

8. Stay current with the latest news and industry trends – Follow experts in your field and be the first to deliver the news to your

community– Learn about breaking news by observing the top trends column on Twitter

9. Improve your search engine rankings– Develop and use keywords in tweets, knowing that each tweet is a new and

fresh micro-blog post

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

TWITTER BASICS1. Tweeting / Micro-bloggingTwitter allows 140 characters. Best

practice is to use no more than 120 characters, making it easy for followers to re-tweet your posts.

Only people that are following you can see your tweets.

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

TWITTER BASICS2. Re-tweets / RTsThe more you are re-tweeted, the

more people will see your @name and links. This increases followers, visibility and sends people to your website.

Ask for re-tweets sparingly, but when it’s important do ask. There is a 40% increase in RTs when asked for. The standard way to ask is “Pls RT.”

Using Twitter for Business MarketingTWITTER BASICS

3. Direct Messages (DM)Direct messages are private messages that you can send only to people who you

follow and are following you back, and that only you and they can see.

How to send a direct message:Enter “D” in the post window, followed by a space and a Twitter username. You do not need to add the @ symbol, Twitter will insert it. Example:D @venajensen What time can you meet to do the training?

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

TWITTER BASICS4. @RepliesSelect Reply next to a post to

answer a question or comment on a post.

An alternate method for replying is just to place @ before a person’s username

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

TWITTER BASICS5. #HashtagsHashtags (#) are used to categorize tweets

into trending topics. It isan easy and organized way to follow conversation. (examples ofhashtags include #quote, #todo, #followfriday). You can enter ahashtag you know or a keyword into the search box and you’ll get a stream of people talking about that hashtag or keyword. This is a good tool for finding new people to follow.

Create a hashtag simply by prefixing a keyword with a hash (number) symbol #hashtag

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

6. ListsTwitter Lists offer a way to organize

your followers into easily accessible groups. The lists are designed to allow you to group real time tweets from a specified list of users. You can create a list that groups people for any reason (industry leaders, for example), and then you can get a snapshot of the things those users are tweeting by viewing that list’s page. This page includes a complete tweet stream for everyone on that list.

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

7. FavoritesThis feature allows you to select a small

star icon next to a tweet, indicating that you like the tweet or want to save it to be able to look it up later. It also lets the poster know you liked it. Since your followers can see your Favorites, it is a way for your followers to learn more about your business , preferences, opinions, etc.

For more Twitter basics and terms, see handout “Twitter Terminology.”

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

8. Time ManagementUse your time on Twitter strategically to maximize the benefit from your time

investment.See link “The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Time to Tweet” to identify patterns

that can increase the chance that your brand will be seen by the widest audience possible.

One of the biggest complaints I get from clients is ―”I don’t have time to do all of this.” Well, you’re right! You can’t spend all day, every day on Twitter. What I suggest to my clients is the 3x15 formula. Very simply, 3 times per day at 15 minutes each.

I’ve put together a handy-dandy “Twitter Success Plan and Checklist” to help you manage your time on Twitter. See handout “Twitter Success Plan and Checklist.”

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

FINAL THOUGHTSTwitter is just one tool in your marketing strategy. Make Twitter work for you, not the

other way around. With practice and persistence, Twitter will become a valuable tool in your overall

marketing strategy. Consistently using the strategies and tools presented here will help you created a branded social media presence for your company, product or service and allow you to attract new clients, customers and partners.

Remember, even though Twitter is such a simple concept, it is one of the most powerful connection and conversation tools available to business owners. Do not underestimate the power of words and the speed with which information and inspiration spreads these days.

Be mindful of your message. Bring value to your community, and you will be successful in creating a powerful brand PRESENCE, extending your REACH, increasing your VISIBILITY, growing your IMPACT while establishing your CREDIBILITY and EXPERTISE.

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

FINAL THOUGHTS

Make Twitter work for you, not the other way around.

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

 With practice and persistence, Twitter will become a valuable tool in your overall marketing strategy.

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

 Remember, even though Twitter is such a simple concept, it is one of the most powerful connection and conversation tools available to business owners.

Using Twitter for Business Marketing

 Bring value to your community, and you will be successful in creating a powerful brand PRESENCE, extending your REACH, increasing your VISIBILITY, growing your IMPACT while establishing your CREDIBILITY and EXPERTISE.