Marketing Better on Twitter in 5 Easy Steps
March 27, 2019
Twitter hasn’t had nearly as much attention as Facebook, LinkedIn, or even Instagram for digital marketing. While it may not shine regularly, it’s still a strong social force on the internet, and companies should take advantage of that.
For businesses which just aren’t sure how to maximize the potential of Twitter for marketing purposes, here are 5 tips.
1. Represent Your Brand Everywhere: It’s not enough just to strike a pose and post a headshot or publish a logo on your background image. To be successful on Twitter, you should maximize your efforts by representing your business everywhere. From the handle name you choose to the headline you post; every detail makes a difference.
Remember that any content, even your Twitter name, counts toward keywords in a Google search. If somebody searches for “plumbers in Atlanta”, and your handle is @plumbersatlanta, there’s a good chance your Twitter page could surface as a search result.
Not only is this a great way to toss in a few extra search phrases, but it helps with brand awareness too. Remember, the first stage of the sales funnel is awareness, and that involves consumers stumbling upon your brand. Make sure your logo, name, headline, photo, and content stand out as something a potential client wants to see.
2. Time Your Tweets: There are plenty of articles out there jam-packed with marketing stats, and among them are the best times to Tweet, post to Facebook, publish on Instagram, and various other social media hot spots. The reason? Especially for small local businesses, there’s a time of day your followers are going to be most active. It could be due to the time zone, work schedule, or food breaks. Whatever the reason, posting during peak times increases your chance of customer engagement exponentially.
According to Hootsuite and AdEspresso, the best time to Tweet is between 11am and 1pm. Sounds like a lunch break situation. Research also suggests that Twitter users check their feeds first thing in the morning and before bed at night. It’s good to recognize these statistics and use them to the advantage of your brand.
If you’re working on increasing traffic, ROI, or customer engagement, schedule your posts for these times. Fortunately, modern technology has made it easier than ever to guarantee a Tweet is sent out during these times each day. With an automated social media app, you can schedule Tweets for everyday at 8am, noon, and 10pm, covering all your bases in one easy click of a button.
3. Call Out Those You Admire: Don’t become a brand that sits by the sidelines hoping to be noticed – reach out to consumers and businesses. Get the attention your brand deserves by Tweeting back to users who mention you, or to strike up a conversation with another authority in your industry. Are you a newcomer to the soft drink industry and you’ve always looked up to Pepsi? Reach out – you might be surprised to learn they have a humorous side and love to engage. Recently, the soft drink giant posted about a judgement in Hawaii which legally prevents a man from drinking Pepsi for 4-years. The company posted a creative meme, which has already begun spreading like wildfire. Milking this action for yourself will get you noticed within your local market, and maybe by Pepsi as well.
It’s not just giant brands in your niche who deserve your attention. Social media influencers, local followers, and anyone else who will engage and create customer interest is worth a Tweet.
4. Use Twitter Tools: Posting a photo with a hashtag just isn’t enough to cultivate readership anymore. Consumers are looking for more from the brands they follow online. This is why you should invest in some of the tools Twitter offers and partners with to promote engagement. One such feature is the Twitter poll. Use this to see which new flavor of snacks your customers want to see, what your next contest should offer up as a prize, or where your company should open a new store.
Polls don’t have to be all business, either. They can be silly and creative, asking consumers would they rather win a million dollars or marry their celebrity crush. These kinds of questions that get customers thinking will also get customers wondering about your brand, what you stand for, what you offer, and where they can learn more.
5. Research Hashtags and Don’t Overuse Them: One of the biggest mistakes’ businesses make on Twitter is overusing the hashtag. Yes, they’re there to helps consumers find your brand, create a buzz, and connect you to the party online, but too many can do just the opposite. Brands who invest in too many hashtags wind up looking forced, fake, and confused. Just as you wouldn’t apply 10 keywords to a single paragraph, don’t attach 10 hashtags to a 280 character Tweet.
Instead, look for hashtags that are trending locally and nationally and try to incorporate one or two per post. You can watch your Twitter metrics to determine which, if any, are improving engagement, traffic, and awareness. If they aren’t working, toss them and start over.
Twitter, like all social media, is a great marketing tool when used correctly. Take your time to learn the intricacies of the platform and leverage them into a winning campaign. When in doubt, remember the customer comes first, and do your best to post content your audience wants to see. Happy Tweeting!