Not sure what to tweet for your business? Watch this video. You have started a Twitter account…..now what? The next step is to start tweeting! No one wants to follow an account that has nothing to say or adds no value to them. In this video, I will tell you what are some starting topics and inspiration for what to tweet for your business.
[Speakeasy Vlog] - Should Your Business Have a Twitter Account?
Today's #InspireHappyHour video begins this week's discussion on Twitter for business. This first post will discuss whether or not your business should have a Twitter account. Some of the top brands in the world have utilized Twitter in unique ways from telling customers about their products to using it as a customer service platform.
Which Social Media Platforms are Best for Your Business?
Be where your customers are in social media
The biggest question I am asked from business owners is...."What social media platforms should I use for my business?" It is a great question and one that is not easily answered as not all social media platforms are created equally. As I am unable to speak to specifics, I will give a few guidelines for various platforms to assist in your social media efforts.
Just as this quote states, the key to picking a social media platform is choosing the ones that the majority of your customers are on. Some companies have the resources to be on all social media platforms, but for most businesses social media is time-consuming which is why you must pick the platforms that will give you the best reach and engagement with your customer base.
Now for social media platform overviews:
For the time being Facebook is still one of the most widely used social media platforms for businesses today. One of the things I like about Facebook is the customization control you have on Pages and this allows you to direct people to the areas of your page using 3rd applications. Since such a large majority of the population is on Facebook it is likely that your customers are on this platform. Of all the social media platforms, Facebook is the one that has the best and most strategic advertising options as well. This means if you want to invest in advertising on social media, this is the platform that will allow you to target more narrowly than the competing social platforms. So as a general rule, I normally recommend the majority of businesses to have a business page.
Twitter in my opinion is a platform that has a lot of functionality to create conversation with customers and it is far easier to gain a following on Twitter more quickly than other platforms (granted there are strategies to do this). The problem with Twitter is that this platform can feel hit or miss if you are not using it properly and do not understand how to use it...such as the use of hashtags. As a general rule I always encourage brick and mortar businesses for have a Twitter account since it is far easier for a customer to tweet at you at your location than searching for your other social media platforms. Also if you are planning on hosting events I recommend Twitter as it can be used for easily tracking conversations using hashtags.
LinkedIn is the best platform for B2B businesses. This platform features your professional self and is great to connect with other businesses. Do not expect to be pushing much B2C business, but for those of you wanting to get your foot in the door and network, it is the platform for you. The key to LinkedIn is being consistent and sharing content that is valuable and not continually self-promoting. People want to grow professionally on LinkedIn and if you add to their growth through sharing knowledge they are more likely to do business with you.
If you have a website that is very media and photo heavy, Pinterest may be for you. The main goal of Pinterest is to be a source of website traffic, which is done through "pinning" images from your website. But be careful, promoting too much of your own content and not engaging on other content on Pinterest is social etiquette faux pas. For general industries that are popular on Pinterest, simply take a look at the large search categories, such as Weddings and Food & Drink.
Nor for a platform that is even more photo friendly...we have Instagram. This platform has gained a lot of exposure lately and will continue to see growth in the years to come. This platform is becoming popular because it seems to be a quieter space as compared to platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Businesses that will see success on Instagram are those that produce quality photos. Typically businesses that are B2C tend to have better success on this platform. If you are unsure if you should engage on Instagram, think through the eyes of your customers and whether they would likely engage in photos of your business and its culture.
Vine
Vine is a relatively new platform and many brands are getting on the Vine bandwagon. In my opinion Vine is great if you have creative video concepts. If you struggle with creating lots of creative content Vine might not be for your business. This platform is a large form of entertainment so if you are going to engage, be entertaining as those are the videos that will be more likely to spread.
YouTube
Now YouTube may not seem like a social platform, but it is. Honestly I wish that most businesses were on YouTube as it is a HUGE driver of SEO for your website and online traffic. YouTube is owned by Google and if done properly will get your better results than blogging alone. Most businesses think that in order to see success as a brand on YouTube that you must have professional videos, which as we all know can be extremely costly. In reality the key to YouTube is adding value to people and that is more important than spending tons of money with professional videographers. I always recommend having a few professional videos for your website, but simply using your computer camera is enough to get your point across on a daily basis.
If you would like help figuring out which social media platforms you should invest your time and energy on, email or contact me today.
If this post struck a chord with you and you are ready to increase your exposure online, then look no further. I am here to help you be able to get back to what you do best and I can handle the rest.
Click the “Contact Us Now” button to get started. If you would like a sample of the ideas we could generate to help your business, click here for a free digital marketing report, custom-made for your company. Even if you are not in Tulsa, I also do have consulting available for you to purchase to get one-on-one help from me to kick-start your next project, company, idea…the skies the limit. Click here for more info on those services.
Started a Twitter Account? Now Let's Maximize Your Tweets.
Starting a Twitter Account for Business is Half the Battle
If you have read my earlier post and you are here, you have decided to start a Twitter account for your business. Signing up the just the start. Anyone can follow the steps to start an account, but it is another story be able to make your tweets work for you right away. But, using Twitter effectively can be taught and learned over time.
The following infographic from Fuse Work Studio gives some great insights on how to maximize your tweets for your business and efficiently use your time and money.
A Twitter infographic by Fusework Studios
Essentially Twitter is not a conversation...
Instead, it creates a way for your business to reach customers in a new way and increase brand awareness.
Look for my upcoming post which will show you what you should be posting as a company and how I leverage Twitter for my business and clients. Feel free to leave a comment with your input on how you want to use Twitter to grow your business.
The Marketing Dame,
If you have read this article and need help setting up your new Twitter Business Account feel free to send me an e-mail at Kersten at Speakeasy Market Strategies dot come. I do also have social media management programs available for those that need Twitter, but would like someone to manage it for them.
Should You Have a Business Twitter Account?
What is Twitter and Why You Should Use it for Business
Many businesses today have heard of Twitter, but have no idea what it is, but they have been told by peers that they need one. So let's first take a look at what Twitter is:
What is Twitter
How can Twitter Help Your Business Grow?
This unique social media platform can help your business by allowing you to:
- Promote your brand.
- See what people are saying about your brand online.
- Generate buzz online.
- Interact with your fans and customers.
- Generate sales leads.
- Become an expert in your company's industry.
Quick Twitter Facts
To convince you of the impact of Twitter in the digital marketing world, here are a few stats to convince you to begin a business Twitter account.
- There are 200 million active users on Twitter.
- An average of 400 million tweets are sent everyday.
- It is growing at over 1.123 million accounts per day, meaning more than 13 new accounts per second.
- 51% of active Twitter users follow companies, brands, or products on social networks.
- 65% of the Fortune 100 use Twitter to communicate with customers and stakeholders.
- More than half of Twitter users are under the age of 45.
Twitter According to Chris Brogan
Just like every other social media platform, Twitter can be extremely time-consuming. It is one of the core social media platforms and having a well-managed and active account can significantly improve a brand's online presence. As a business, you must evaluate if you can devote time and a budget to your social strategy. There are many examples of companies successfully using Twitter around the globe and even in smaller cities like Tulsa. Look for examples of Twitter success stories later this week, which will prove that no matter how small the business, you can make a splash online with Twitter.
For those of you with questions about Twitter for business, feel free to leave a comment below with your question and I will promptly respond.
If you have read this article and need help setting up your new Twitter Business Account feel free to send me an e-mail at Kersten at Speakeasy Market Strategies dot come. I do also have social media management programs available for those that need Twitter, but would like someone to manage it for them.
(Source: Many of the stats come straight from @Hubspot and @Twitter)