At first glance, Twitter resembles a stock exchange trading floor: Everyone is shouting. When you come to understand the platform you realize people are listening, it’s just that you don’t notice them in all the noise.
If you are selling to other businesses, you need to be big on Twitter because this is the social media platform that dominates the B2B arena.
Companies that grow on Twitter have one overarching strategy – to serve their users. The tactics they use are varied, but the common thread is that success comes through service, rather than greed for sales.
Become an Authority
Oh yeah, just like that!
No, it’s not easy, but it is simple. The only way to be seen as an authority is to use your expertise to help others and to be seen doing so. The four tactics below will lead to you being seen as an authority in your niche.
Twitter Identity
Twitter has recently limited your ability to personalize your Twitter account page. However, you can still add your own header and photo by clicking on the ‘Edit Profile’ link on your homepage. For maximum credibility, your header should include your logo and a picture of your business in action.
People do business with people, so use your headshot as your profile photo, rather than your logo.
Tweet Frequently
Activity is essential to Twitter success. You need to tweet often, and your tweets must be seen as valuable and share-worthy.
Queue your tweets and use a Twitter automation tool like Narrow to post them at times most convenient for your followers.
Narrow’s research and analytics help you to focus on your target profile, rather than spraying your tweets at the entire Twitter universe. You can time your tweets for when your followers are active on the platform and get more engagement and retweets.
Follow Others
Nobody can succeed on Twitter alone. You need to make contact with others, including recognized experts in your area. Influencer marketing is one of the best ways to succeed on Twitter, and it is easier than you think to connect with top influencers in your niche.
BuzzSumo is free and is a great place to start your search for influencers to follow.
Once you sign up for a BuzzSumo account, you get a screen similar to the one above. You can search for content that has been shared many times, influencers, or what is trending now.
It’s what you do with the results that count.
Influencers are people, and usually people who want to help others, as long as they can do so without too much effort. Develop a relationship with one influencer at a time; follow that person, retweet, and comment on a few of their tweets without any self-promotion whatsoever. Do not ask for favors or help; those offers will come as long as you refrain from asking.
Twitter Chats
Twitter chats are excellent ways to demonstrate your thought leadership in your field. You choose a unique hashtag, and all posts in your chat have the same hashtag so that people can follow the discussion.
Twitter chats work best if you use an app such as TWChat.
The screenshot above is a popular Twitter chat that uses TWchat. Presenters’/mentors’ tweets are shown in the right column, and all tweets including attendees’ tweets are in the left column.
Export Twitter Contacts
Twitter contacts are good, but email contacts are better. You can use Twitter to grow your email list and then build your relationship using a series of automated messages through your email service provider.
Social media channels have the reach and may well be the only way to speak to some groups, but email beats them into the ground for interaction. This explains the necessity of exporting Twitter contacts to your email subscription list. Once a lead has agreed to receive your emails, your chances of converting that person into a customer are much higher.
The Short Version
Twitter works if you use the right tools. It is about much more than the sheer number of followers you have. Unfocused followers are not worth the electrons to show the number on your screen. Targeting is the only way to Twitter success, and tools like Narrow, BuzzSumo, and TWchat will help you grow your reputation with the people who conform to your target profile.
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