Last time out I wrote a post titled Six Things Even the Best Bloggers Sometimes Forget To Do. Some of you appreciated the reminder, jokingly sighed in commiseration and even shared the post via Twitter. (Thank you again!) Which gave me an idea for this week’s post—Maybe you have Twitter followers, get mentions and know how to share and generate content, but isn’t there more to it than that? Behold, the ever-tongue-twisting Ten Things Even Top Tweeters Sometimes Forget to Do:
Follow. This one is easier said than done. I often see brands that are completely lopsided with a high Followers-to-Following ratio, or people who forget to follow users they interact with regularly. The latter happens to me—I find myself retweeting content from a favorite news source only to have an “oh, duh” moment when I realize I never followed them way back when. Take the time to personalize your stream. If you’re a Follow-phobe, remember—you can always Unfollow with a simple click.
Retweet. If you like a tweet, just do it. Manual or automatic, with a comment or without. It’s a simple gesture, but one that means the world to the person who originated the story or idea. You’re part of a community now, so give props where they’re due!
Thank. Similarly, it’s always a good practice to recognize those who tweet your content and amplify your words to a larger audience. Etiquette is important part of making good impressions and relationships—on social networking sites, and in life.
Converse. How does one have a conversation when relegated to 140 characters? Simple. They talk for a little bit, you talk for a little bit. Back and forth, nothing overpowering, just like a real conversation. I think the reason Twitter chats are successful is because the many people chiming in have a character cap. Chats are an exercise in manners and the economy of word—leaving little room to get derailed.
Organize. Two words: Twitter lists. Categorizing contacts, content or even a to-do list of sorts makes for an efficient Twitter experience. Mashable has some easy-to-follow instructions for Twitter lists.
Search. Running a Search, or clicking on Twitter’s own “#Discover” tab is an easy way to find people, trends and hashtags to follow. You’ll get the most out of Twitter if you can identify your niche and the influencers who matter to you.
Schedule. Unless the word “Twitter” is in your job title, or the last name “Kardashian” is on your birth certificate, there isn’t enough time to be on Twitter all day. Many social media dashboards will allow you to schedule tweets in advance. It’s not against the rules! If anything, it helps manage productivity.
Listen. Twitter is not just for broadcasting. Customers do not want to be marketed-to or advertised-at. They want content that enriches their lives, they want you to listen to their needs and they want to know that you can help solve problems. If you’re not listening, you’re not doing it right.
Leverage. Oftentimes, when we get caught up fashioning responses to detractors, we forget to properly recognize our satisfied customers. In doing so, we also miss an opportunity to turn our customers into advocates for our brand. If someone has appreciative words for your product or helpful insights for your company on Twitter, you can turn these experiences into testimonials, blog posts, shareable content and business ideas to share within the organization. Remember—it’s important you keep the praise in the tweeter’s own words, and attribute those good ideas.
Strategize. Why are you using Twitter? How does it fit in to your business plan? If you can’t answer these questions—with some idea of how your metrics can reinforce the answers to those questions—then maybe your brand needs to reevaluate its presence. There are plenty of free tools for measuring your Twitter impact, but unless you know what you’re measuring, they’re just numbers on a screen.
Want to hear more Twitter tips? Register for the free 30-minute webinar that Lisa Larranaga and I will be hosting, What Do I Do Now? How To Sustain a Successful Twitter Presence, at 2 p.m. Eastern this Thursday, June 27.
Tags: best practices, Twitter