5 Tips To Help You Make The Best Use of Twitter As A Marketing Tool

Originally Published on January 5, 2010

Once you realize the effect it can have, you must learn how to use Twitter properly. You may already have been using it to advertise your company, but it may not be working as well for you as it has for others. For example, a farmer might use it to try and get word out that his bananas are ripe and ready for picking, but it may not get the same response as a company launching it’s newest tech-related product. Let’s take a look at some ideas that will help you use your time more effectively on Twitter.

(P.S: Are you following us on Twitter?)

Know Your Niche

The most important part of using Twitter properly is to make sure that it is right for your company. Make sure you know the habits of your clients, both current and potential. Be like an actor getting ready for their next big role and step into your client’s shoes. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do your clients use Twitter?
• How often do they use Twitter, and for what purpose?
• Do they even use the Internet?
• If so, then what do they use on the Internet for business networking?
• If so, then what do they use on the Internet for personal interactions?

Once you know your client’s habits, you will be able to tell how you can fit into them. To keep things in scope of this article, we’ll talk specifically in terms of Twitter and whether or not it is something they may actually use.

Content Is King

Now that you have decided that using Twitter will be beneficial to your business, it is important to keep your “tweets” relevant. None of your clients wants to hear about your day, the girl from accounting, or how clients can never make up their minds. If you use Twitter for personal and business matters, it is important to use different accounts to keep them separate.

Make sure that what you post on the business account is information that your customers will find useful or interesting. Once you get that down, you’ll slowly start gathering followers interested in your content.

To keep the followers you have, the trick is to keep them reading. Change it up so things aren’t the same all the time. Engage followers in discussions as well to show you care and that the account has a personal non-robotic touch to it.

Be Consistent

We all lead busy lives, and it can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of social media. You can use a service like HootSuite to schedule your posts ahead of time. That way you can set up an entire day, or even a week, at a time and not be forced to update it every hour.

At the same time, keep your posts spaced out enough so that people who are following you won’t get tired of seeing your name at the top. Which leads to the next point:

Timing is Everything

The early bird doesn’t always get the worm in Twitter. Since you know your niche’s stereotypical schedule, you can figure out when their peak hours of using the application is. If your clients are within the EST timezone, you don’t need to be posting in the early AM or late PM. Make sure your posts target those hours of highest activity. As we know already, Twitter is a fast moving cog, and the majority of people who will find and follow you on Twitter will find you through Twitter’s main feed.

Be Resourceful

Cater to your client’s wants and needs, and, if possible, offer what they’re looking for as a reason for following you on Twitter. This could be handing our a resource of the week (either tangible or intangible), holding a contest, etc. The Phuse uses our Twitter feed for the betterment of others. Throughout the day, we post articles and resources that are relevant to others within our community, as well as company news and project launches. This shows our clients that we take an active part in our community to sustain it and improve it and well as ourselves.

Conclusion

Your clients are looking for you on Twitter. You just need to know where to be and what to say when they’re looking. Being listed on websites like [] and [] are very useful as well as you are further “categorized” in Twitter. If you use hashtags (“#” before a topic of the tweet – e.g. #design for a tweet related to design), those who are looking for people that post on #design frequently will find you easier. What are you doing on Twitter that you’ve found successful?

Here are some articles online I’ve found with some great How-To’s and more tips:

• 50+ Awesome Twitter Tips to Become a Pro