How Twitter can Help Your Small Business

Increase your business social marketing reach with Twitter

There are various social marketing tools readily available, each with their own specific perks and benefits. Amongst them is the incredibly popular Twitter network, which is a favorite for businesses of all sizes. For the small business owner, social networks can be an economical and powerful marketing tool, as long as you are able to utilize them effectively. 

Those that follow, share, mention, and re-tweet constantly act as a third-party reference, providing testimonials for your reliability and expertise in your field, functioning as a direct source for word of mouth marketing. 

Perhaps the most beneficial characteristic for businesses is that Twitter is an open network in which anyone can meet anybody else, making it easy to widen your network and make new contacts. But, just because you use Twitter does not necessarily mean that you are using it effectively. There are certain techniques and practices that one must apply to their Twitter experience. 

Using Twitter as a resource

Twitter isn’t just about speaking out; it’s about listening as well. Consider what others are saying- particularly focusing in on your field of expertise. Are there other experts out there that you could network with or follow in order to expand your network? One important thing to remember is that social accounts, especially Twitter, are not there for competition. They are there for networking purposes, specifically so that you can intertwine and discuss with a broader audience. 

Additionally, there is the “favorites” category on your Twitter feed. With all the various feeds and constant updated tweets, old tweets can quickly be forgotten and inevitably disappear into the past. Now consider that the “favorites” actually saves these and accumulates them for future reference whenever. But, it can be utilized in a more influential method. When you get recommendations, positive feedback, or are otherwise held in regard during a discussion, collect them in your “favorites” feed for others to see your third-party references. People like to see what type of feedback their fellow readers are leaving for their future prospects or partners. 

Keep an eye on your @mentions. When others talk about you, it’s important to respond. It helps improve visibility and develop an image of attentiveness that your audience will see.

Being able to research and cover FAQ’s is something that isn’t always done, but should be. It’s a great opportunity to start conversation and express your expertise in your particular business field. You can use Twitter itself as a research source for popular or trending questions and answer them (the use of hashtags and mentions are quite invaluable here to target specific audiences). 

Above all else, you must be able to speak clearly and use your words effectively. Being able to get your audience’s attention is one thing, holding onto it is another. In today’s fast and furious online marketing world, the average attention span is often no more than seven to ten seconds. When constructing your tweets, you must be sure to remain short, concise, clear, and most of all- to deliver to your audience that which interests them; not just what interests you. 

Locally yours

Twitter provides certain apps and tools available for your use, but it is how you use them that will determine how successful your endeavor is.

Utilize hashtags to promote your event, business expertise, and target a specific field. Remember that hashtags will use up some of your character count, so it’s best to limit your tweet’s content to no more than two hashtags at a time. This is ideal for promoting local events, particularly if your local audience has a specific hashtag (city/region/event center/business). 

Mentioning others to improve visibility is another great move. Now, consider that this is a great way to locally boost your awareness. Take for instance the “Follow Fridays” in which it has become popular to recommend specific accounts, followers, and fellow associates. 

Take the time to regularly mention at least one individual a day. This is a great way to initiate conversation, appreciate a new follower, or add personalization to a tweet (such as an answer to a question or responding to a familiar topic). 

When addressing an article, blog, or even a book, be sure that you mention the author (the Twitter account) as well as the article. This helps to improve visibility for you and is more likely to gain a positive response and future feedback (improving your network).

Twitter can be a powerful marketing tool for your small business, as long as you understand how to effectively utilize all of its benefits. You don’t have to tweet more in order to gain visibility. It’s all about how you tweet that will decide how your audience appreciates what you have to say today.