Now that your small business Twitter account is up and running, it’s time to give it a little love. In other words–it’s time to grow your brand online and to connect with like-minded potential customers.
Small Business Twitter Account: Start Tweeting
Twitter Tips for Small Business
Before you even consider following anyone, you need to start tweeting. I know, I know. It’s so lonely you can hear the sound of crickets, but don’t worry–that’s going to change.
First, don’t just start jabbering about how wonderful your small Indiana business is and all the neat things that you carry. While I’m sure that’s true, it is not going to win you any followers.
Instead, share something funny that happened or your favorite motto or quote. Comment on how delicious your newest flavor of coffee smells or how you got your small business start. Whatever you say, don’t obviously promote yourself. At least not yet. Right now, it’s all about building relationships. Just like you wouldn’t blather on about yourself when meeting someone for the first time at a party, you shouldn’t do it on social media networks, like Twitter, either.
What’s the Story, Morning Glory
In these first few tweets, you are setting yourself up for attracting and gaining new followers. Comment about what is happening around you. Share images every single time. Use hashtags that deal with your business. These are ways that other people will find you.
Once you get a few tweets under your belt, at least ten, you’ll want to start reaching out to other folks. You might want to start with people in your own town or county.
Do a Twitter search to find people near you–and follow them.
What’s the Word, Hummingbird
Twitter Tips for Small Business
Don’t just follow someone and ignore them. What you want to do is to follow someone, speak (or tweet) directly to them, and then go back to your own thing–while remembering to engage with them every once in a while.
Use Twitter’s list function to group people into lists that will help you reach out to them in the best way possible. For example, maybe you have a list of people who are actual physical customers, the people that enter your shop or restaurant, and have interacted with you on Twitter. Maybe there’s a list of people that live in your city, town, or state.
Twitter isn’t just about you. It’s about engaging and chatting with others (and maybe using hashtags). Earn their trust, develop a relationship, and you may just earn yourself a life-long customer in the process.
Make sure that your profile is completely filled out. If you have a website, include the URL. Make your bio interesting. Include the location. Be sure to use a great image.
Establish Trust
While it will be slow going, rest assured that you are creating a positive online image for your brand. The people will follow–and when they do you’ll have a stronger network online and off.
Image Courtesy of Flickr, Dunechaser.
Image Courtesy of Flickr, Kaptain Kobold.
Just don’t forget to tell them that Little Indiana sent you.
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