Optimising Twitter For Business

The world seems to obsessed with Twitter.  Even television channels are focusing on Twitter to engage with their audience.  But is Twitter any use in the business world?  Moreover, is Twitter a useful communications tool for the time-poor business owner?

Put simply, the answer is YES!  When used correctly, Twitter can be a powerful vehicle to meet potential customers and to lead them to your website and products.  However, Twitter followers respond best to personalities rather than blatant plugs.  Merely tweeting a link to the product or service you provide will have little more effect than handing out a flyer on the high street!

Engagement is the key. Interact with your followers; ask them for their opinion!  In doing so, there are inherant risks however.  You might receive a negative or defamatory response which only serves to damage the credibility you seek to build.  Monitoring responses can be all important!

Similarly, don’t just tweet links pointing at your latest blog posts or recent offers.  Distribute links to useful sites and articles which will add value to your customer’s business.  Adding links to your competitors’ websites would obviously not be a good idea however!  Not only will this help to build your credibility – it will help you gain followers.  Growing your audience is crucial.

Finally, get into the habit of searching for mentions of your company online.  Respond to any comments or queries that aren’t addressed directed to you.  This will help you to build relationships with your key stakeholders as well as drive more traffic to your site.  It’s all about creating trust in you and your brand.

Importantly, Twitter is becoming used more and more as a customer service tool.  As a result, it’s important to monitor the conversation surrounding your brand – good or bad.  Either way, this is a great excuse to create some dialogue with the public.

Lastly, think about your ‘Twitter etiquette’.  Poor spelling and grammar as well as constantly ignoring @ tweets will damage your reputation.   Conversely, spotting mentions and thanking users will have the opposite effect.  Flattery and good manners will get you everywhere!

(Images courtesy of Vecteezy)