Last week, I prepared a presentation on "How to Generate Business in <140 Characters". While I plan to post it on the new multimedia section of my site when it launches, I figured there's no time like the present to put some of these resources out there.
As a business, can I use Twitter to secure a new client?
The answer to this is easy - Absolutely IF you use it wisely! We all know that the key to marketing a business is word of mouth. Regardless of how much money you spend on TV ads and pop-up events, a client who has interacted with you can build or ruin your business faster than you can imagine. And there's no better way to form relationships that ellicit good buzz than on Twitter.
So HOW do I use it for business?
- Brand yourself. If you haven't already done so, I would encourage you to check out my "30 Days of Branding" series on my blog for more details on how to hone in on your brand and ensure that you convey it using social media and other forums. Regardless of whether you are tweeting for one or one hundred, you will need a consistent brand that is recognized as being true. You can convey this on your Twitter account by editing the background image and making sure that your profile is clear and concise. Download a free template for your background image here.
- Be Personal. When you are tweeting for an organization, it’s very tempting to use the company name as your Twitter handle and the logo as your picture. This is probably fine to do if you are a well recognized company, but not a great idea for your average small business. It’s all about getting to know the people on Twitter and allowing them the opportunity to get to know you. Make sure that your Twitter handle includes your name so that people know how to refer to you. Your picture should be a professional picture of you and should welcome people to your page. Your tone should be approachable and friendly. The way your present yourself and interact with others on Twitter is key to your business success.
- Listen to what is being said about your organization.
A lot of companies monitor what is being said about them on Twitter. Because communication happens so quickly in this space, bad press can spread like wildfire. Do a few searches and try to find out what people are saying. If they aren’t saying anything good, feel free to address it and offer solutions. Silence means something too. If no one is talking about you or your organization, at least you know where to begin.
- Share your knowledge. Whether you have a blog or not, there are many ways to share what you know with the community on Twitter. The people who may be interested in having you work for them (whether now or down the road) need to know what your expertise is. Twitter is an easy, fast way to show them. Tweet your blogs, comments on articles, information you are learning, new things you are doing – anything that shows that you know what you’re talking about and you’re learning everything else. Try to keep this information to your brand. You want to make sure that when someone thinks of you, they think of one thing – what you’re good at. You don’t want to be remembered as the “guy who always talks about himself” or the “chick who you think does event planning”.
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Related posts:
My Twitter Tips
30 Days of Branding - Day Ten: What NOT To Do
Guest Blogger Paul Cook on "Connecting Virtually"
Tags: ROI, ROR, Social Media/Technology, Twitter
