How Twitter Can Help Your Business

Facebook isn’t the only heavyweight in the social media arena: microblogging site Twitter, with over 50 million daily users, can have a significant impact on your business too.

Twitter’s platform is an easy, fast, and direct way of reaching out to your customers (and vice-versa) helping you grow your business. So–how can you get the little blue bird working for you? Simple – get involved.

Just tweeting promotions and blatantly selling your business is the easiest way to get ignored.

As a business on a social networking site, you’ve got to be social. People are less likely to follow shameless self-promoters; much like a real relationship, you’ve got to have something to offer them on a personal level.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s your starters for 10!

Search the trending topics for discussions.

If the discussion is relevant to your business, join in and offer your opinion. And if you can’t find somewhere to jump in, start your own! Try asking your followers for their opinions and stories–it’s a great way to gauge customer interests and get ideas for your business.

Develop a ‘Twitter persona’.

Screen names and anonymity are generally a thing of the past–your customers are looking to engage with real people. Sometimes, just stating who’s tweeting for your business in your profile can do a lot to start building relationships. Feel free to open up and show your followers who’s behind the computer screen.

Have a little fun, be transparent, just remember to remain professional. Pay attention to your ‘Twitter voice;’ keep your messaging knowledgeable, consistent and friendly. Finally, don’t just tweet for the sake of tweeting. Make sure you are offering value–and think before you tweet!

Follow the right people.

Like in any real-life network there will be the movers and shakers, or ‘power Tweeters,’ who have a lot of sway in their communities. Follow them, tweet at them; spark conversation and show that your business is worth talking about.

Getting a mention or retweet from one of these influential users can drive a lot of people to check your brand out, giving you access to their network.

This can prove invaluable in more ways than one: you can use your profile to get feedback on new products, share special promotions, or even as a way of advertising your next job opening.