5 Tips for Running a Successful Business Twitter Account

Leveraging Twitter for Business: A Guide to Effective Marketing

Twitter has firmly established itself as a powerful platform for marketing initiatives. Most significant companies, regardless of their industry, maintain an active presence on the platform.

Its importance now rivals that of a company website, becoming a fundamental component of a modern business strategy.

However, optimal utilization requires careful consideration. Even minor missteps on Twitter can quickly damage relationships with customers.

Essential Twitter Dos and Don'ts for Businesses

The following outlines fundamental guidelines for businesses utilizing Twitter. Success hinges on achieving a suitable equilibrium and consistently maintaining a professional demeanor.

• Do engage with your audience. Respond to mentions and direct messages promptly.
• Do share valuable content. Provide information that is relevant and interesting to your followers.
• Do use relevant hashtags. This increases the visibility of your tweets.
• Do maintain a consistent brand voice. Ensure all tweets align with your overall brand identity.
• Don't engage in arguments. Avoid public disputes with customers or competitors.
• Don't post excessively promotional content. Focus on providing value, not just selling.
• Don't ignore negative feedback. Address complaints and concerns constructively.
• Don't use automated responses for everything. Personalized interactions are more effective.

Finding the correct approach to Twitter marketing is crucial. A thoughtful strategy, combined with consistent professional conduct, will yield the best results.

Establishing Your Twitter Presence

While seemingly simple, a crucial initial step involves ensuring your Twitter profile is fully populated. This includes adding a professional profile picture, a concise biography, a fitting background image, and a link directing users to your website before actively promoting your account.

Upon creating your Twitter account, avoid the practice of mass-following numerous users in an attempt to rapidly gain followers. Genuine engagement with quality content will naturally attract an audience. A disproportionately high following-to-follower ratio can often be perceived as indicative of spamming or a desperate pursuit of popularity.

The Importance of Profile Completion

A complete profile builds credibility and provides context for potential followers. It allows users to quickly understand your brand and what you offer.

• Profile Picture: Use a clear, recognizable image.
• Biography: Keep it concise and informative.
• Background Image: Reflect your brand's aesthetic.
• Website Link: Drive traffic to your online presence.

Focus on consistently sharing valuable and engaging content. This approach fosters organic growth and establishes you as a trusted voice within your niche.

Remember, quality over quantity is paramount when building a strong Twitter following. Prioritizing authentic engagement will yield more sustainable results than aggressive following tactics.

Maintaining Authenticity on Twitter

Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive posts. Distribute your tweets thoughtfully, mirroring the pacing you'd employ with blog content, to sustain engagement and prevent follower fatigue.

If you utilize a service like Twitterfeed to automatically share blog posts, ensure it's configured for real-time updates instead of bulk posting. A series of consecutive tweets is often overlooked.

The Pitfalls of Automation

Twitter users generally respond negatively to automated interactions. Refrain from sending automatic Direct Messages to new followers.

An unsolicited thank you message for a follow is often perceived as impersonal and unnecessary. Genuine connection is valued over automated responses.

Authenticity is key to building a strong presence on the platform.

Maintaining Transparency with Your Audience

Leverage Twitter as a proactive communication channel to inform your customer base about scheduled website maintenance. This is particularly crucial for platforms that rely on community engagement.

Avoid a reactive approach; don't allow users to inquire about disruptions before you've already communicated the situation.

The Benefits of Proactive Updates

• Reduced Frustration: Keeping customers informed minimizes confusion and annoyance.
• Enhanced Trust: Transparency builds credibility and strengthens relationships.
• Managed Expectations: Advance notice allows users to plan around downtime.

Regularly sharing maintenance schedules demonstrates a commitment to service quality and user experience.

Consider utilizing Twitter's features, such as pinned tweets, to ensure important announcements remain visible.

Recognizing Your Audience on Twitter

Responding to positive feedback about your business or services, such as retweeting favorable mentions, is a practice often valued by customers. Equally important is promptly addressing all tweets directed at your official account.

However, maintain a balanced content strategy. Avoid overwhelming your timeline with solely retweets; diversify your posts to keep your feed engaging.

Managing Customer Interactions

Establishing a presence on Twitter inevitably means your company will encounter customer service matters publicly. Ensure sufficient resources are available to effectively manage any questions or concerns raised through the platform.

When addressing sensitive issues or detailed complaints, it’s generally best practice to transition the conversation to a private channel, like direct messaging, email, or a dedicated online chat system.

Engage Your Audience on Twitter

Cultivate a personal and approachable presence. Avoid the impression of automated activity; a genuine voice fosters greater engagement with your followers.

Resist the temptation to solely repurpose blog content on Twitter. Individuals interested in your blog posts can subscribe directly to your feed.

Sharing Valuable Content

Disseminate noteworthy news and updates relevant to your industry. Demonstrating a broader interest beyond your own organization encourages follows, as users receive information not readily available elsewhere.

Twitter provides a distinct platform for connecting with your customer base, so maximize its interactive potential.

Respecting User Autonomy

If your service integrates with Twitter, refrain from mandating automatic follows or unsolicited promotional tweets during the authentication process. Such practices quickly lead to unfollows and discourage service adoption.

Empower users with a choice; allow them to follow your account or share information about your service voluntarily if they desire.

Do you possess any additional insights or strategies for establishing a successful Twitter business account? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Image credit: Rosaura Ochoa