To Tweet or Not To Tweet – Exploring Twitter for your Business

There’s no question that Twitter has cemented its place in today’s lexicon as well as in the daily lives of millions of consumers, but is it a beneficial online marketing tool for your business?  The answer unfortunately cannot be summed up in 140 characters or less!

The key to using Twitter as a successful tool for your business has less to do with the actual tweets you send out, but more about monitoring online sentiment and conversations already happening. If you’re looking for a “set it and forget it” option to engage with people on Twitter, save your time and energy because you’ll be disappointed with the outcome.  Your goal is not to talk to your customers, but to have conversations with them.  This means dedicating some time to understanding how it works, identifying who your potential customers may be, and what they are interested in talking about.

3 Tips to help you explore Twitter as an online marketing tool for you business.

1. Learn and Listen.
   1. Spend some time on Twitter just observing.  Tools like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck make it possible to follow conversations based on industry keywords, or competitor mentions.  As you begin to get a feel for who your potential customer may be on Twitter, you’ll also begin to get ideas for what you may want to say.  (tip: You can follow a competitor’s tweets by utilizing the ‘lists’ feature on Twitter. This lets you quickly see what they’re sending out, without officially or publically “following” them.)
2. Think before you speak.
   1. Once you’re familiar with the Twitterverse a bit more, don’t be afraid to start testing the waters!   Just remember, once you send a tweet there’s no getting it back… it’s out there for the world to see!  While your Brand or business should have “personality” on Twitter, steer clear of sharing personal agendas or opinions. Always keep in mind you’re representing a professional organization.
3. To hell with the sell.
   1. Don’t use Twitter if your only expectation is to sell something.  This Direct Response mentality will turn people off.  What if every time your cell phone rang, no one wanted to have a conversation with you, they just wanted to sell you something?  You’d probably stop answering your phone! Understand you’re trying to build a community of potential customers.  The fastest way to lose credibility for your Business with Twitter or any social media platform is to blast people with sales pitches.

No Online Marketing tool is as effective alone, as it is in conjunction with other online strategies, and not every online strategy is effective for every Business!  The idea is to develop a plan that is unique to your business and one that attracts new customers, leads, and revenue.