So your company is just starting to get noticed on Twitter and other social media platforms! That’s awesome. It’s a great avenue to reach the toughest demographic of consumers. Maybe you haven’t noticed yet but it’s kind of hard to develop a real reputation on Twitter, especially if you aren’t a big brand. Getting the status of a social influencer doesn’t happen overnight, so now is the perfect time to start. Think of it like planting a seed that will eventually bloom into a beautiful, social flower. All of the steps that I’m going to suggest today are really easy to do and will help you get the results you’re looking for over the course of a few months. So let’s dive into a few tips that will help grow your Twitter following as a business.
Interact
It’s not called social media just because it sounds cool. This might be a bit of a no-brainer, but it’s absolutely staggering to see the number of businesses that simply post advertisements about themselves and their products. While it can be a great way to give people information about sales and other things that pertain to your business, no one wants to just get spammed with things they have no interest in. Showing that there is a real person behind a Twitter account can go a long way to growing your social media presence.
Share, Don’t Spam
As mentioned before, a little bit of sharing is completely fine. Keep in mind that the things you share should be relevant to your company. It doesn’t have to just be advertisements and coupon offers. Go through and find some stories or articles that you find interesting and share them. Chances are your followers will, too. Don’t forget to interact with people who ask your company questions based on what you share. That’s going to be the main thing that sets you apart from a spambot.
Be Helpful
One thing you’ll notice is that some people use Twitter and other social media platforms as a way of voicing their problems with your company. If someone posts a complaint, the most important thing you can do is respond to him or her. One of the main reasons people use social media to complain to companies is because it’s a very public medium. Other people will be able to see their complaints as well as your response to them. Some of the best things that you can do when it comes to dealing with complaints are:
- Respond right away or quickly after the complaint
- Try to stay away from generic “we appreciate your feedback…” lines
- Be polite and respectful
Remember that these are people who have tried your business, and helping them fix their problem is not only a way to help ensure that they will return to you, but is also a great way to help develop a reputation as a reliable and helpful company. That’s something that money can’t buy.
Related Class: Twitter PR and Crisis Management
Giveaways
Everyone loves free stuff! Having a giveaway is a great way to gain a large number of followers quickly. The biggest thing that you have to keep in mind is that your giveaway should be something that pertains to your business and is fair. A poorly designed giveaway will do much more harm than good. Make sure that the rules to your contest are easy to find and read in order to reduce the chance of something going wrong with the winner.
Know Your Hashtags
Hashtags are a way to get your posts noticed by people who are looking for specific keywords. They are an amazing tool when used properly. Some people have gone so far as to say that every tweet without a hashtag is a waste. I don’t really subscribe to that school belief; I think that there can be a healthy balance between tweets with and without hashtags. Some things to keep in mind when using hashtags:
- Don’t overdo it! Keep it to one, maybe two hashtags per post
- Make sure that the hashtags you’re using are relevant to what your post is about
- Try to use hashtags that are getting a fair amount of use and attention
There you have it. Keep these tips in mind as you continue to grow your business and spread out across more social media platforms. Remember that nothing is going to happen overnight and that the best time to start is now, and you’ll be in a great place! Patience is a virtue that pays.