Using Twitter for Business - beginner basics

by Startacus Admin

The beginner basics of using twitter for your business

I shall start this article with an analogy - Twitter is a little like an online equivalent to speed networking. You have only a few words to get your point across and it’s what you say in such a limited way that can help build your relationships. Confused? All will become clear as I reveal my “Twitter Business Basics for Beginners.”

What is Twitter?
Twitter is like an online diary and chat room that everyone can see. It’s a place where you can comment, suggest and share the articles, opinions and ideas that matter to you. Each update or post that you add to twitter is referred to as a tweet and there are literally millions of tweets sent every day. The main difference between you and your diary and Twitter, is that each tweet only allows you up to 140 characters to make your point, so being succinct is key!

Speed Networking?
Firstly, imagine that Twitter is like a large speed networking arena, and you are right in the middle of it. However as opposed to your local networking event where perhaps 25 people turn up, this is a ‘room’ where at any one time millions of people are tweeting away and hoping to connect with others. Whereas in a real life networking event, participants are likely to be arranged by specialism or business sector, Twitter is a room where all sorts of participants are together, engaging in every type of chat imaginable - from football, to celebrities, from entrepreneurship to spaceships, from the Higgs boson to the size of their bottoms - the subjects range from the deadly and serious to the funny and fantastic.

So how does anyone hear?
The problem with Twitter when you join and start tweeting is that it can seem so vast, so big a place, that you find that however good a message, however clever your few short sentences are, the chances of your tweet being found and shared with others is pretty slim. However, that is the same as life really - you cannot expect to become everyone’s best friend or contact without making some effort first. This is where you need to start involving yourself in relevant conversation, following the main players that are relevant to your business sector or industry, and making sure that whatever you say or share is a positive representation or yourself and your business. It’s much like a real business networking event - if you talk a good talk, other people will want to listen.

How do you find the people that you want to follow?
It’s fine to simply say “follow the people that matter”, but how can you do this? Well, one of the easiest ways is to do a Twitter search for subjects that interest you - simply search using a hashtag (#) and then the relevant subject. If for example, you would like to find people with an interest in vintage clothing, a simple search of #vintage or #vintageclothing may bring you back some of the main players that have been talking and tweeting about this subject. You can search via tweets and also people.

This is where the Twitter bio or profile description is important. If you want to find and be found for the things that matter to you, then make sure that your Twitter bio highlights all the keywords that are important to you. If you love dogs, but don’t mention this in your profile blurb, don’t be surprised if not many other dog lovers find you.

Also, again much like a networking event, don’t just highlight the people in the ‘room’ that are relevant to you, make sure that you then start engaging with others too - start interacting, chatting and sharing any thoughts and links that might interest them and are interesting to you too. The more you interact and engage, the more chance that these people and others will follow you back and your Twitter experience will be more fulfilling and rewarding - both for you and your business.

Another little thing, while we are on the subject, here is our shameless plug for the Startacus Twitter account! Why not check out what we are saying, tweet us to say hi and follow us too!

Also if you like this article, take a look at our Linkedin for Business, Pinterest for Business andGoogle+ the basics articles if you need more social media help!! 

Or, take a look at some of these recent posts;

The Startacus Guide to social media competitions

Social media: A tool which no business could do without

Social Media Tips for SME's

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Published on: 7th January 2013