Calling All Twitter Users
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At the end of May, Twitter launched the “Small Business Guide to Twitter,” a free online resource. It’s interactive, fun and useful for both the advanced user and complete novice. Doesn’t matter if you are a master Tweeter or don’t even know what a tweet is (“Isn’t that the sound a bird makes??” some might blindly ask), this guide is for you.
“The guide is built to let users choose their own path based on their level of experience,” explains Matt Southern in a Search Engine Journal article.
The guide starts out by having you answer the question of how you use Twitter. Sample answers include, “I don’t get Twitter” and “I know Twitter basics but want to take it to the next level.” It’s kind of like a game, because the actions you can take vary on what answer selections you make. Just click on what you want to learn more about, from driving sales to learning the basics and setting up a profile. Many of the steps later lead to more information on Twitter’s partnerships or recommended services and downloads, but overall this is a great, pretty-much cost-free resource all users should take advantage of.
It’s Not Just For Messaging
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Educating small business owners is beneficial for both businesses and Twitter. If small businesses do well, Twitter does too. Twitter has come a long way from a once simple app that was just about messaging and conversations. There’s so much more to do on the social network now, especially for business owners.
“A small business now has the option to utilize detailed analytics, specific advertising strategies and content calendars to support their business strategy,” says Lauren Dugan in a Mediabistro article.
Small Businesses Need Twitter
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A Social Media Examiner article by Eric Sornoso gives examples of nine small businesses using Twitter marketing tactics to “to cater to their audiences, find prospects and expand brand recognition.”
“Twitter offers businesses of all sizes multiple opportunities to find and convert prospects, but it takes more effort than pushing out scheduled tweets about your products. It’s worth it to invest the time and resources to develop your presence on Twitter,” Sornoso says. “When you do, you’ll see more growth and loyalty from customers, as well as more sharing, engagement and leads.”
But why is Twitter doing all this and providing this guide? According to Southern, The social network says it wants to help small businesses make better use of Twitter and put them on the right path toward successfully using the network to engage customers and increase sales. Many of these companies may have been using the wrong social media strategy or might not have the means or budget.
“Today’s small businesses have it tough when competing with bigger firms. Whether it’s retail or services or something in between, a small business must have a solid marketing strategy in place to help build a relationship with their customer,” says Dugan.
Ways Businesses Use Twitter
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Here’s some of the top tips Sornoso shares for using Twitter for your small business effectively. One of the best ways to use the social network is to make your brand stand out against those big companies. For example, a smaller boutique hotel needs to stand out against the Waldorf Astorias of the world, but how can they do this without breaking the bank? Roger Smith Hotel in New York got its brand in front of a larger audience by inviting journalists and key industry and social media influencers to follow their account. They then gave out incentives like discounts to customers that reserved a room via Twitter while engaging in more conversation and trivia. Sornoso says, “provide the right mix of business and fun” to keep your followers interested.
Here’s another easy way to use Twitter to your advantage. Engage directly with your followers and connect with people who need what your business offers. Sornoso gives the example of dentist Dr. Sinkin who uses Twitter’s search function to find people that are talking about dentistry and then tweets them.
And here’s something very important to remember about putting your business on Twitter. You have to stick with it. You won’t see immediate results, and it’s easy to get discouraged, but social media needs to be a part of your business plan long-term. As Sornoso states, “it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.” Take Coffee Groundz for example. The Houston-based coffee shop was one of the first businesses on Twitter, and although the shop didn’t see great results right away, they now have almost 15,000 followers and are respected in the Twitter world for their steady stream of tweets and customer interaction.
Try the guide yourself, and let us know what you think by commenting here or interacting with us on Twitter or other social media! Do you use Twitter for your business?