Twitter Marketing Tactics

I'm sure you've heard of Twitter and Tweets. It's possible that you're part of this Web 2.0 user community, but if not, here is a brief description of Twitter.

According to Wikipedia, Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers.


If you're like a lot of people, you're probably wondering "Why would I want to document, in short Tweets, what I'm doing every minute of the day?" Well, we are not here to answer that question, but you should know that as of this year, it is estimated that Twitter has over 4.5 million subscribers. That's why we care.

Sign up for a free Twitter account, and you now have potential access to those subscribers.

Listed below are some tips and tactics for marketing your website or business via Twitter:

1. Network with noteworthy business associates, competitors, and peers. You
don't have to simply befriend every person you can that requests you or vice
versa on Twitter. Instead, choose your networking buddies carefully. Look for
fellow executives or business owners who work within your particular niche.
Then, follow their progress, look for advice, and of course, throw in some of
your own two cents as well. By befriending people who are in the same line of
work as you, you'll get an insider's look at how their successes compare to
yours.

2. Update your audience fairly regularly, but don't over load them. A lot of people
are most likely interested in what you have to say, otherwise they probably
wouldn't have added you to begin with. This means you should be updating
them on a fairly regular basis so they can keep up with what's happening in
your world or your business' world. On the other hand, you don't want to
overload people so much that the feel of your Twitter site feels "spammy" and
they turn away. Try to maintain the balance between good updating and
overwhelming people with insignificant updates.

3. Keep an eye on what people are saying. Don't forget that Twitter, like any
other virtual conversation, is a two-way street. Pay attention to what other
members are saying, and see if they're Twittering about you. If they are, you
might want to use that as an opportunity to either thank them for a nice
compliment, or to make good if they are posting a complaint. Remember that
you're never 100% safe from someone who might try to talk negatively about
you, your website, or anything else on Twitter. Be sure to use this to your
advantage in a diplomatic way.

4. Don’t be boring. Do not talk about what you had for breakfast or the weather.
Keep your posts fresh, fun, and interesting.

5. Use links. Never mention a resource without linking if at all possible, this way
people trust your opinions because they're backed up with real links.


These are just a few ideas to help you with your Twitter marketing conversations. If you'd like to see more Twitter Tactics and Marketing Tactics for 6 other popular Social Media Sites, please visit 350 Social Media Tactics.



If you have 5 minutes and want a chuckle, watch this video that spoofs Twitter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN2HAroA12w