10 Ideas For Using Twitter As A Results-Driven Marketing Tool

Listen to this post if you like!


I’m a big fan of Twitter and I believe Social Media Marketing is essential if you’re trying to build your business online.

You can’t turn a blind eye, ignore the fact, sweep it under the rug, or crawl into a hole of denial.  Take a look at television ads these days. Social media venues are here to stay!

The last time I checked, Twitter is growing in popularity by 40% a month! If you’re struggling or confused about out how to utilize Twitter as an effective, results-driven marketing tool, let me share some strategies that will help you to get the most out of Twitter.

Keep these guidelines handy for using Twitter to brand yourself and market your business:

  • Provide value and share biz tips and tools
  • Create anticipation
  • Drive conversation
  • Showcase your Biz
  • Announce important events and product launches
  • Build community
  • Be helpful and answer questions
  • Brag a bit! You deserve it. And show a little personality!
  • Experiment with giveaways, discounts, and contests
  • Post surveys

In keeping with proper and acceptable etiquette, make sure that less than 10% of your Tweets involve any kind of selling or promoting. So what should you be Tweeting about?

Re-Tweet information from your followers that you find useful, funny, or relevant.

Share Twitpics – the most opened links on Twitter!

Communicate newsworthy items and events and be sure to ask your followers to Re-Tweet messages for you.

Speak in your authentic voice and show why your biz and you are pretty cool!

Send out welcome Tweets to new followers (no selling, please) and become the go-to person in your niche by providing helpful tips and resources and answering questions from your target market.

Promote what you want to promote, but keep relationship building your highest priority.

Not quite sure how to “brag” the right way on Twitter?

The biggest challenge is getting over the “fear” of bragging. My friend and colleague, Cathy Goodwin, can help. Just get her mp3 recording and 25-page workbook by going to: BRAGGING 101 (This is my affiliate link and I give it my highest recommendation) Tiny investment – Big results!

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  • Hi Melanie,

    Thanks for a very concise guide for how to use Twitter. There are at least 4 or 5 ways that I’m not using it as well as I could — so this is my reminder to get back in the groove and really relate with my followers. Like so many other social media, it’s pretty easy to just be passive — and that isn’t the point!

    Nancy

    • You’re absolutely correct, Nancy!

      Being “passive” on social media venues won’t cut the mustard. 🙂 So many people just throw a few messages out there and sit back and wait for the money to roll in. You and I know it doesn’t work that way. It’s really important to join in conversations at least once in a while, ask and answer some questions, and focus, focus, focus, on building a community around your niche.

      It was great to see you here today!
      Melanie

      So glad my post provided a reminder to get back in your “groove”!

  • Great post, Melanie. I like the audio as well as the tips. I’m just learning about Twitter and find this all very helpful.

    • Janet! So sweet of you to stop by.

      It’s funny. I really didn’t think adding the audios to my blog posts would even get anyone’s attention. Just wanted to do something different and fun for a change. But, so far, I’m getting very positive feedback. Thank you! 🙂

      Since you’re just starting to get familiar with Twitter, promise me you won’t get dismayed. There’s definitely a leaning curve and for a while you’ll feel like all your efforts are for nothing. Happens to everyone and it’s totally normal. Just be CONSISTENT with your learning and follow good social media net-iquette and you’ll start seeing results.

      Melanie

  • Melanie,

    Great ideas about using Twitter. I don’t use it this effectively. So, I will definitely take up your suggestions.

    I like Creating anticipation bit.

    Amar

    • Amar! Glad you paid me a visit today.

      Don’t worry. A great many people don’t use Twitter and other social media sites effectively. My best advice to you is to just stick with ONE social media site until you’ve mastered it and you’re seeing results. Then start to add some of the others to your marketing strategies, like LinkedIn, for example. If you’re consistent, you’ll find out that Twitter is easy to use, it’s fast since it’s a micro-blogging platform (140 characters or less for your messages), and it’s very popular so you should have no problem connecting with others in your niche!

      Let’s Write On!
      Melanie

  • Excellent twitter tips. I had great success with Twitpics, I really should use it more. A lot of people when they first get on Twitter, really aren’t sure exactly the best way to use it. They normally just start saying what they are doing, then they might do the occassional re-tweet or share an article, but I think if people see these tips when they sign up and start tweeting, they could really become an advanced tweeter quickly. Thanks Melanie 🙂

    • Hey Fiona!

      Thanks for taking a stroll on over to my blog today. I agree with you. It seems that there’s somewhat of a big learning curve when people start using Twitter and, sadly, some folks just don’t “get” it. They pitch and pounce and prod with promotions and then they don’t understand why it’s not working.

      If used correctly, social media marketing can really be a wonderful way to showcase your biz and build your community of happy fans and followers!

      Hugs,
      Melanie

  • Hi Melanie,

    That is such great advice! I especially like the tip about keeping any selling down to less than 10% – that’s a great “rule of thumb” to always keep in mind.

    • Thanks, Deb!

      A lot of times you’ll hear the “80/20′ rule being applied to a social media marketing strategy and sometimes the “70/30” rule BUT …

      I have found that keeping the promos under 10% works BEST!

      Can’t wait to head over and read your post – looks like it’s about Twitter – my favorite SM site! 🙂

      Hugs,
      Melanie

  • Thanks for the tips! I like the way you read your blogs! Makes it nice as I can multi-task while listening! All the best, Danna

    • You’re welcome, Danna ~

      Glad you’re able to “multi-task” while listening to my posts! 🙂

      I decided to start adding the audios as an option for a couple of reasons. First, I just thought it might be fun to try something new. And also since I’ve been a teacher for many years, I’m aware that everyone has a different learning style and preference. Some people are “hands-on” learners, some are “visual”, and some learn by “listening”.

      Thanks for stopping by,
      Melanie

  • Melanie-
    Very helpful to know the current rules of the game of Twitter, as things have changed over time since Twitter appeared on the social marketing scene.
    Can you tell us more about Twit Pics that you like so much? Also, how did you add the audio? GREAT feature!

    Thanks!

    • I’m so happy that you stopped by today, Donna!

      So many folks have asked me about how to add an audio to your blog, so I think the best idea is to do an instructional blog post about it! 🙂 Be on the lookout and I’ll get it up on my blog a.s.a.p. It’s really not difficult at all.

      I wasn’t even aware of Twit Pics until my mentor did a webinar called “Twitter Your Way To The Top” about six weeks or so ago. Jessica stays on top of ALL the latest stats on the ‘BIG 3″ (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn). It was during the webinar that I learned that Twit Pic links get clicked MORE than any other links on Twitter. I guess people really love to look at photos!

      Melanie