How To Grow Your Business with Twitter (X)
Twitter is much different than it was when I signed up as one of the very first users back in the early aughts. Today’s Twitter feed is packed with content that’s crafted for a particular audience and features I couldn’t have imagined back then. There’s a handful of tips that can guide the way in terms of how to use Twitter to grow a business.
Twitter is intentional now. If you’re folding the platform into your business marketing, the days of the random tweet are over! Let’s talk about how to use Twitter to grow a business.
For your Twitter strategy to be effective, you need to create a plan for your tweets and even for your engagement. Where to begin? Right here!
MIX UP YOUR CONTENT—MINDFULLY
Let’s start with the obvious: What should you post about? Hootsuite says to go with the rule of thirds: one-third promotion, one-third personal stories and one-third informative insight from experts or other influencers in your niche.
By mixing it up, you give people interesting things to read but you also establish your business as multi-dimensional, interesting and generous.
NICHE DOWN YOUR HASHTAGS
Hashtag strategy is much different on Twitter than it is on other platforms: You only use two or three hashtags per tweet. That means you really need to get your hashtags dialed in. For each tweet, they should be niched down if possible, or should relate to something trending at the time of posting.
GET IN ON TWITTER CHATS
Get involved in Twitter chats! These are hosted, recurring chats accessed by using a particular hashtag. And they’re great for connecting with other people in your industry. If you need a place to hang out with (and learn from) successful folks in your area of expertise, this is where to hang out on Twitter.
ENGAGE, Y’ALL
Broken record time! On Twitter and every other social media platform, it’s important to engage with other people. That may sound obvious, but I can’t tell you how many folks post things but never comment on other peoples’ content or even check back on their own posts. Get social. Respond to comments. Re-tweet relevant posts. Engage with targeted hashtags. Like any other platform, you get what you give.
WRITE A STRONG BIO
Your Twitter biography lets people know in just a few words who you are, what you do, and even what your personality is like. It should reflect your brand and talk about who you are as a company. Short bios are deceptively tough to write, so spend some time on it. Get the 160 characters you’re allotted for your bio just right.
PIN DOWN YOUR TWITTER STRATEGY
When you’re thinking about Twitter, make sure you know exactly what space it fills in your overall marketing strategy. What are your goals? Are you using the platform to seek sponsorships? To promote products or events? To build community? Make sure you have these conversations early so your engagement on the platform is clear from the very beginning.
CURATE YOUR FEED
When you open to your timeline on Twitter, make sure it’s full of content that’s relevant to your marketing goals. Follow accounts that make sense for you. Then, create lists! Lists of accounts on Twitter will generate curated feeds based on the types of people and businesses you follow. This is an invaluable tool for ensuring that you stay up-to-date on the latest in your industry, especially if you follow a lot of folks.
TRACK YOUR ANALYTICS
Your analytics will help you determine the best times to post and give you insight into your followers’ interests, income and education. Look over your analytics regularly to see if you’re attracting the right people to your profile. This information will make it possible to tweak your approach so you can make sure you’re getting every bit of value you can out of the platform.
A NOTE
To do any social media platform right, you have to show up. You have to be social. But not every platform is for every type of business, or every type of business owner. Before you dive in completely, do some preliminary research to see if Twitter is the best fit for your company’s work and your personality.
If you’re a tech company, for example, there’s a good chance you’ll find a vibrant community that will help your business on Twitter. If you’re running a boutique, it’s likely that other platforms might be the ones that ring true (like Instagram).
Twitter isn’t for everyone. But those that love it really love it. If it makes sense for your business and you feel energized by the information you’re sharing and receiving, it’s probably a good fit!
