How to Use Twitter Effectively

Internet marketing is no longer a huge mystery to most businesses. Almost everyone has an informational webpage at the very least. Unfortunately, throwing up a one-page site isn't enough anymore. Potential customers are looking for more of a personal connection. Social media is what makes that possible. Here are a few tips to get started on one of the most simple tools.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet access
• A blog or website
• Twitter account
• Other social media accounts
• A few minutes each day

1. If you haven't already set up a Twitter account, don't just yet. That will be step 2. First you need to have a plan of action. Twitter is like an instant messenger. It allows you to send short blurbs about yourself, your business or anything else you might like to share. People choose to follow you based on their preexisting relationship with you or the relevance of your tweets to their interests. As with any marketing tool, you need to have a clear idea of what type of message you want to communicate and whom your target audience will be. Are you tweeting to keep in touch with family and friends, to announce new specials or to provide links to resources your network can use? Your purpose may even be a combination of several of these.

2. Once you have determined the purpose behind your message, now it is time to open a Twitter account. Setup is a relatively simple process which takes less than 5 minutes. The most important choices you will make are your username and profile picture. Your username should easily identify you. It can be your name or something that represents your brand. Your username will act both as your login and it will become a permanent fixture as your unique Twitter url. Your profile picture should be of your logo or a closeup picture of you. This will appear next to every post you make. Keep your purpose in mind when choosing both of these important elements.

3. Search for people to follow. Like interests, profession and geographic location are all great ways to link to current and potential clients, professionals you may wish to network with and leading industry experts. Follow all those who seem to be of interest. Usually, when you follow someone, they return the favor by following you too. This is how you build your network. Make sure you also use Twitter's tool that allows you to import your contacts from your webmail accounts such as Yahoo or Gmail. Add the Twitter application to your Facebook account and use Twitter's gadget maker to add your updates to your website, blog, MySpace or other HTML-enabled profile.

4. Start posting updates to your status. Twitter asks the simple question "what are you doing?" How you answer this question is important to the success of your Twitter campaigning. Every status message should be in line with your identified purpose. Post 1 to 5 times each day to provide your customers, clients, family and friends with up-to-date information about you or your business happenings. Twitter is great for quick shout-outs when you are on vacation, special announcements of new products or sales and to provide links to great information you have uncovered and want to share. The more valuable tweets you put out, the more valuable your Twittering will be perceived by the Twitterverse.

5. Actively engage other Twitterers. You aren't following these people for no reason. Respond to the tweets of those you are following. Ask and answer questions, provide helpful tips and congratulate their successes. Quick responses that may be pertinent to your purpose can be responded in the standard @username format. However, use this structure sparingly. Longer conversations or those that have little to do with your purpose should be carried on using the Direct Messages tool.

6. Giveaway a free gift to all those who follow you. This is a great marketing approach that I got from another Twitterer. Every time someone new follows you, an email will generate notifying you. I message each person with a quick personal note and a link to a free downloadable .pdf file on my website. It adds a personal touch and kicks off the start of a great relationship.

7. Utilize Twitter application tools. There are many tools available on the web that can make using your new Twitter account even easier. Some of these tools can search through your followers' updates by topic and sort them for you, autorespond to new followers and post your updates on a predetermined schedule. Check out the many Twitter tools such as Twhirl and Tweetscan by doing a simple search of "Twitter tools".

Tips & Warnings

• Update your status regularly. Your followers want to hear from you but be careful you don't overdo it.
• Schedule time to tweet. Add it to your planner and limit your time tweeting so you don't get carried away. It can be addictive!!!
• Constantly look for new ways to make Twitter a more valuable part of your online networking.
• Sign up for your account today and add me as a friend!
• Don't SPAM Twitter. Sure your followers agreed to follow you but that doesn't mean they want to be inundated with a whole lot of commercial messages. Make your tweets valuable by providing useful information, not just sales pitches.

Resources

• Follow Me on Twitter
• Get Coached on Internet Marketing
• Action Plan Marketing

[eac913]

on 10/29/2009 Thanks for the great article on How to Use Twitter Effectively. 5*

[rnmassage]

on 10/4/2009 After thinking about it for a long time I am now a twitter user and now wonder what took me so long.It is a great marketing tool especially for our article sites and blogs thanks for the tips 5*'s

[jenng]

on 9/13/2009 Great article on How to Use Twitter Effectively 5*

[thereadyreader]

on 8/5/2009 Great information on how to effectively use Twitter!

[mweise]

on 7/1/2009 Fantastic ideas! I am a noob at this, so I can use all this information. Thanks!