How to… Twitter for the Newbie
One of the things we love to do at Flywheel is educate people on how to use social media platforms effectively. We do it because there are many good ways to use it and many bad ways. While we love to work for our clients to grow their social media, we also love to work with our clients to educate and empower them to do it on their own. Many of our clients simply can’t do it. We get that, and we are happy to do it for you.
Twitter has been a social platform since 2006, but we don’t assume everyone knows how to use it. That’s why we make teaching a priority. It seems people either love Twitter or hate it, but isn’t that true of all platforms? I would not put Twitter in my top social platforms, but I do see the value in it. Twitter can be a valuable tool for businesses.
What is a Twitter profile?
A Twitter profile is the information you provide about your brand or business that you wish to share publicly. It will also include all the tweets you have written once you begin posting.
A Twitter profile includes 6 items:
Twitter handle. Your Twitter handle is your @name — your identifier on Twitter. You have up to 15 characters to help others find your business easily. Don’t stray from your brand on the handle.
Twitter display name. Your display name appears above your Twitter handle on your profile and can be up to 50 characters. This will be your business name.
Twitter profile photo. Your profile photo will be displayed with every Tweet, and as a result provides excellent brand recognition. Use your logo or other identifiable brand image that is easily connected to your business.
Twitter bio. In 160 characters, describe your business, the address, and other important details about how you operate.
Twitter header image. A header image can change regularly and is used to display sale messages, special events or other time sensitive branding.
Pinned tweet. A pinned tweet is the first tweet people see when they visit your profile. It can be changed as often as you like. It should be informational, relevant and catchy.
Once your Twitter profile is set, it’s time to begin posting content. Posting on Twitter is similar to posting on other platforms. The main difference on Twitter is that it is viewed as more conversational and anyone can join in the discussion.
People will directly speak to or call out another person using their handle (@name) either positively or negatively. Not every call out demands a response, but every tweet should be reviewed and replied to when applicable. Individuals also use this method of communication to connect with brands and get their attention.
How should I use Twitter for my business?
We’re glad you asked. We have a list of posts to do and a list we hope you don’t. Let’s get started.
· Do post early in the day and post often throughout the day. Start by posting 5-20 posts per day with relevant hashtags. The hashtags will help people find your business and read your tweets. This part is called discovery – when new people find your content. Eventually you will slow down to a lower number of tweets per day. Don’t over post. If you’re saying something, get to the point. Deliver the message. Then be done.
· Do encourage engagement with your posts. Ask questions. You can post a survey. Relevant hashtags will enable people to find your posts, questions and surveys. Make sure to reply when people comment or retweet in order to avoid ignoring followers.
· Do use data to drive your content. What’s happening in your business? Your industry? Share information that the world needs to know and understand.
· Do stick to your business branding when tweeting. Don’t stray from the brand, and don’t copy other brands just because you like their content. Be original.
· Don’t over post promotional messages. Work to share information that is beneficial so that your business is viewed as a valuable resource. Avoid being seen as too “salesy.”
Where do I start?
Once your profile is set, work to create a pinned Tweet introducing your business and brand to the world. This should be strategy number one. Pretend that no one knows you and they need the introduction. After your pinned tweet, move on to the type of content you intend to share on Twitter. Here are four ideas to get you started:
1. Ask a question that’s relevant to your business. What service do you provide to the public? Turn that into a question. Here’s an example I would use as a social media strategist:
a. “What’s your biggest frustration with social media marketing for your business?”
2. Share industry news. Is something big going on in your industry? Share it with the world and provide an explanation of why it’s relevant. I’m convinced that we are society that is information saturated without an explanation on why the information matters.
3. Business/brand news. Introducing a new product? Making changes to improve a product? Upcoming event? Share it on Twitter.
4. Jokes, GIFs, or memes. Not everything has to be business all the time. Sometimes we can laugh about things that are frustrating in business or life.
Twitter is a great platform for having conversations with complete strangers, sometimes being misunderstood, and sometimes providing the explanation that helps us all understand one another better. Someone out in the big, wide world needs to know about the product or service you offer. Using social media is the best way to grow your business organically.
At Flywheel Marketing, we work with clients to create a strategy to grow their business online. We assess your needs and create a unique plan to meet your goals. We would love to partner with you as you grow your brand.
