Twitter is a unique social media platform, and while it may take a
while to understand, once you know the benefits and how to access them,
Twitter can be a rewarding social media for business platform.
Twitter allows you to post up to 140 characters. It is all about fast
and concise information that flows in a continuous feed. The no-fuss
approach of this social media platform is highly effective, so don’t be
fooled by its simplicity.
1. Business Networking on Twitter
Twitter is all about interacting. Find people with similar interests
to you or complementary businesses to yours, and start the conversation.
You can easily send tweets to people all around the world, including
celebrities and CEOs. This is your chance to get involved, strike up
meaningful conversations, and then over time develop the relationships
over other social network platforms, or face to face.
2. Direct Message on Twitter
If you have something private to say, don’t forget that you can
direct message someone, rather than tweet to them publicly. This is
certainly a more personal approach, but remember that some people get a
lot of direct messages. If they don’t reply, they may not have seen it,
so try again, or use another communication method.
3. Search, Search, Search
The great thing about Twitter, is that everyone is on it. This means
you can find personalized information on niche subjects, or locate other
people who are interested in the same unique things that you are. Get
creative with Twitter search and look for recent tweets that are related
to you and your business.
4. Market Research
Market research ten years ago was a lot harder than it is today. The
real-time and accurate portrayal of feelings, ideas and opinions, via
social media, is valuable for all businesses. You can use Twitter’s
statistics and individual tweets to conduct your own market research
campaigns. There is a whole world out there, and the information about
the people in our world is found online, through social media sites,
like Twitter.
5. Keep in Touch
Twitter is not only about new people. Twitter can help you retain and
maintain contact with colleagues and clients that you have established
relationships with already. When you update your business contacts
database, ensure that you collect social media data. Start searching for
and adding people that you know on Twitter, and make an effort to tweet
to them occasionally.
6. Re-Tweet and Favorite
People love to feel loved. Show that you respect or appreciate
someone by favoring or re-tweeting their tweets. They will notice your
efforts and they will feel good about themselves. This is one strategy
to develop social marketing for business relationships over the Twitter
platform.
7. Link to Your Blog
If you have a blog, this is the perfect way to share it and increase
your traffic. Post a link to it via Twitter, and choose a title that is
interesting and engaging. You should be able to track the traffic from
Twitter to your blog, and you’ll soon find out how many of your
followers are interested in what you have to say.
8. Attract Targeted Followers
While you can easily ‘purchase’ Twitter followers, the real power
comes from developing a list of followers that is targeted to your
unique needs and interests. Start searching for people that fit your
business networking profile and add them on Twitter. Get the
conversation going, and then add more. You may need to delete some after
a while if there is no interest, but through this process you will gain
meaningful online connections.
9. Add Your Twitter Name, to Everything
Do you have a business card? Add Twitter to it. Does your e-mail have
a signature? Add your Twitter to it. Meeting a new client? Swap Twitter
details. Remember that online and offline relationships are merged, and
the more you publicize your social media for business profiles, the
more rewards they will bring to you.
10. Extend the Conversation
Relationships on Twitter don’t need to stay on Twitter. You may need
to develop a relationship for a while on Twitter first, but if you are
having some interesting conversations, seek the same person out on other
platforms. Remind them that you met them on Twitter and add them on
LinkedIn and Pinterest, or like their Facebook for business page. Social
media can be what you make of it, so explore the benefits and get the
conversation started.
By Matt Adams; co founder of http://socialselling.com.au/