Using Twitter for Business

Businesses often don’t know what to do with a Twitter account once it’s set up. Twitter is a powerful platform, but only if used to its advantage. Twitter can be an extremely strong social platform for business if used appropriately. Here are 4 ways to do so.

Understand Twitter - Twitter isn’t LinkedIn or Facebook. And while Twitter is a great platform to post links to these sites and to a corporate website or blog, the platform is at its best when used as a search tool, a PR platform, and to build meaningful connections with followers. A meaningful strategy for growing your follower lists will give all your online efforts t hat extra push and will take your results to the next level.

Defined Twitter Goals - Without goals, users end up tweeting random thoughts instead of strategically using the platform to grow meaningful relationships with customers. For example, If you expect to launch a new product, launch a series of expertise blog posts, inforgraphics or videos that you can tweet, and start reaching out to influencers.  Use the platform as a form of customer service, making sure someone is always monitoring the tweets and is ready to respond.

Use Twitter as a Branding Platform - From the specific Tweets themselves and voice of those tweets, a company’s Twitter strategy needs to be well-branded and in line with the overall voice. Have one person be the voice of Twitter,  and make sure you are SEO optimizing the wording of your profile, including links to all of your other social media and appropriate websites. Use a profile and photos that align with your company’s visual brand. Inject some personality into tweets; respond to questions and comments (directed by using @ then the target account's name); and use visual aids by attaching pictures.

Measure Your Results - It is important to measure mentions, favorites and retweets directly on the platform, as well as any Google analytics that can tell you how many of your followers click on tweeted links and engaged more deeply on your blog or website. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments and be sure to speak directly to the needs of your customers. Monitor popular hashtags and use them in marketing tweets. Strategic use of hashtags can be  very effective.

Use Google Analytics to track sales from your online shop that result from tweets to ensure that everything tweeted is relevant, entertaining and informative – those are things that will make it viral content, worth sharing.