Getting Started with Twitter
A Quick Guide to Getting Started With Twitter
So you’ve decided to use twitter for your business. Here’s a quick guide to get you started.
Step One: Declare Your Goals
Twitter is a place where users follow the Timeline of people and companies that they’re interested in. So first decide what you’d like to share with your customers.
Sharing changes to your site, posting upcoming events and letting people know about company changes are all great ways to start using Twitter. But if you’re already sharing that information in your email campaigns or on your Facebook page, then it might look a little spam-y to your followers.
Consider sending shorter, quirkier messages through twitter or inviting discussions about a topic. If your business is having a sale announce it via twitter but also take the time update the message should things change. For example you may be having a huge sale on outdoor furniture, but it’s raining outside, or there’s street construction blocking traffic. Let your followers know that the sale will still take place in your indoor showroom, and that additional parking can be found around the corner.
Twitter’s popularity is directly tied to it’s wide support of mobile technology, so these types of contact prove useful to users when they are delivered via text message, or through a twitter client.
Remember, twitter is faster than email, and is one step behind a phone call. Use this to your advantage.
Twitter As Customer Suport Mechanism
Performing searches for your business on various search engines is always a great idea, and doing it on twitter is not different. Find out what people are saying about your business and take a moment to talk to your customers directly.
If you’re in a service oriented business that has suffered from poor feedback, this might be an opportunity to steer your business into a positive light. Take time to discuss things with critics and invite them to give you a call or come in to see if the problem can be rectified.
While you may not always be able to solve the problem in question you do show your customers that you’re listening and willing to help.The goal is not to solve every problem or address every complaint it’s to strengthen people trust in your business as an entity that acknowledges their concerns.
On the other hand you might discover that people love your business and that they’re saying positive things that you never knew existed. By all means thank them!
Again, let them know that you’re listening.
Have Fun
Seriously, having fun with twitter isn’t just for your benefit. It’s for your users too! Being passionate about your business is what you do, and users love that. Adopt a positive tone and people will gravitate towards your feed, put out snark and negativity and people will go elsewhere.
Remember, twitter is where users follow people and companies that they’re interested in. Stay interesting to your users. It’s not easy, but it’s certainly worth it.