1. Purpose – Why is your business on Twitter?
Twitter is a great way to drive traffic to your website, but if that is your only goal – you’re missing out! Twitter is an interactive community of real people. People who are ready and willing to have a conversation with you. Use it to your advantage! Learn about what your customer cares about most at the moment.
2. Establish a voice.
Since Twitter is so interactive, it’s personal. People want to know who it is they are conversing with on the other end. Use your company name as your Twitter handle, but in the profile section, list the actual people who will be responding to and posting tweets. Choose people who are trustworthy, knowledgeable, and good listeners to manage your company’s Twitter. (Hint: The intern is probably not the best person for this job.)
3. Follow the right people.
Follow people on Twitter who are influential, knowledgeable, and credible. (Remember, who you follow is open to the public.) Look for active users who post content at least a few times per week about your industry. Try developing a relationship with these people.
4. Learn about your competition.
Twitter is a great way to keep an eye on your competition. What are they tweeting about? Also, it’s a great way to gather information about your industry by searching industry keywords. Both of these things will tip you off as to what you should be doing to improve your own strategy.