A couple weeks ago, I had been involved in a conversation on Google Buzz started by Liz King. We each weighed in on some of the features, pros and cons, of this new social tool. As the discussion progressed with a few contributors, the nature of Google Buzz led to many comparisons to Twitter, and our exchange soon landed on the esteemed feature that enables limitless characters in Buzz messages. As I often do, I decided to play devil’s advocate and claim that the 140 character limit instilled by Twitter, despite its toils, can actually be a wise practice, even outside the world of Twitter.
Add Brevity to your Marketing Strategy
Clichés suck, but ‘less is more’ is one truism for an incisive, bold marketing strategy. Some of the most successful taglines of the modern business generation have simple, powerful messages: “Just Do It” or “Think Different.” When publishing your content to meet character requirements, focus on messages that reflect your brand with succinct unison. As you practice, you’ll uncover new strategies that further enrich your brand and can be applied in both traditional and Social Media marketing.
Stand Above the Noise
Try and imagine your Twitter stream if the people you follow were not limited by characters. Despite filters, hashtags and lists, it becomes increasingly difficult to capture the messages important to us and ignore the ‘noise’, even within a micro-burst format. With that in mind, your 140 character strategy needs to be well thought to avoid being just another mumble in the wind.
- Use a bold, but creative message. Blog headlines or descriptors need to show your content is worth your audience’s time.
- Add a personal touch – “I thought this was interesting (tweet)”. Peak the interest of your reader and avoid being a news headline ticker.
- Use appropriate hashtags. There’s a hashtag for nearly every subject. Familiarize yourself with a hashtag directory that are relative to your messages.
- Don’t force 140 characters. In fact, 120 characters is a great strategy to again focus on bold messaging, but more importantly, gives re-tweeters space for their handle and add a short insight.
Boost your Vernacular
I won’t suggest Twitter should replace your English class, but you’ll often run up against a tweet that just doesn’t want to fit into your 140 character boundary. Instead of abbreviating your tweet with text message shorthand, force yourself to expand your writing style and vocabulary. Once again, you will often times find more efficient ways to present your message that will improve the way your brand is interpreted.
Refine your Offline Objectives
No matter your roll with your business, we’re all in marketing and we’re all in sales. Every time you step outside of your office, you are creating an opportunity to connect with someone about your business, intentionally or not. Are you prepared to accurately transfer your digital message in to a face-to-face format? Do you have an elevator speech for you or your company? Try fitting it into 140 characters. How quickly and streamlined can you explain to someone about you or your business? Using your Twitter condensation strategies, you will further strengthen your face-to-face messages.
The challenge of filtering your message through a variety of reductions will help you better understand the simple essentials that circulate your brand. Your audience will be apt to understanding and connecting with you and your message if you keep it free from clutter and unnecessary, distracting supplements.
Keep it simple. Keep it short. Keep it 140 characters…or less.
________________________
A creative director at Echelon Design & Tradeshow Insight, Eric provides marketing strategies through various social environments to the tradeshow and events industry. Coupling his passions for technology, design and social media, Eric positions his insights along side and in front of current trends for an optimal trade perspective.
Tradeshow Insight Blog
Echelon Designs
Related posts:
Tags: #eventprofs, events, Social Media/Technology, Twitter
