Twitter is often associated with
celebrities sending personal gossip or friends posting photos of parties. But
the social media micro-blogging site is also a powerful tool for business management.
We're assuming you all know about Twitter Cards! If not, where have you been? This is the latest tool which has been introduced, it allows you to attach rich photos, videos and media experience to Tweets which then drive traffic to your website. Right, we have given you the low down on that, so we're not going to going into further details.
Tweeting within a few strategic guidelines
is especially effective for increasing blog traffic. Here are 10 tips to get
you started.
Be a
Good Member of the Twitter Tribe

Social media is just that, social! Twitter
is not a billboard. The huge advantage of social media is that it is
interactive, and if you don’t take advantage of its unique properties, you’re
missing a huge opportunity to get readers to your blog.
It’s key to interact in at least 80 – 90%
of tweets to build credibility. Then when you do post news about a blog post in
the remaining 10 – 20%, new cyberspace friends will stop to take note.
Generate
Followers but Also Follow Back
Tweeters with large followings are taken
far more seriously than those with only a few followers. Potential customers
will be more willing to read your blog if you are perceived as gracious and
follow back anyone that follows you. It’s good manners.
Twitter puts a cap on the number of
accounts you can follow until the number of followers catches up. The easiest
method is to follow a group that is in your target market and within a few
days, un-follow everyone who is not following back through special software
such as JustUnfollow.com or Hootsuite. You have to be ruthless. Yes, Paul McCartney has three million
followers, but he only follows three accounts. There’s a good chance he won’t
follow you back.
Lists
to Stay Organized
Lists are a great way to read a specific
Twitter stream without wasting a follow on someone who will never follow you
back. Good lists might include Twitter Rockstars for those with large
followings and celebrities, BBC Stars, or groups specific to your blog’s topic.
For example, a blog by moms might have lists of homeschooling or discount kids
clothes accounts.
Build
Relationships Through Re-tweeting
A great way to build online relationships
is by re-tweeting other posts. But don’t just hit the RT button. More tweeple
will see the post if you add a short comment. Something simple like “Love
this!” can add meaning.
Create
a Dialogue
Experienced tweeters go beyond re-tweeting
to start a dialogue with someone new. After re-tweeting an interesting post,
ask the poster a question. You’ll be amazed how many people will respond and
actually start tweeting with you. Next, follow them and see if they follow
back.
Use
Hashtags
When used properly, hashtags can be a
powerful way to communicate with other tweeters interested in similar topics.
But use hashtags that have meaning to a larger group, like #MumBlogger or
#education or #indiefilm. Streams using those hashtags will also help you
identify potential candidates for lists.
Use
Photos
Twitter now has photo capability and
pictures increase the visual size of each Twitter post to stand out. Remember
the photo link does eat into the 140-character limit.
Twitter
Feed on Your Blog
Don’t forget to link your Twitter Feed on
the home page of your blog. The dual exposure increases response rates, and
Google now uses Twitter as part of the search engine algorithm.
Find
Guest Blogging Opportunities
The infamous guest blogging! Guest blogging with link backs to your URL
are a powerful way to increase page rank and drive more viewers to your blog.
Often the relationships we build on Twitter open doors to expanded
opportunities in other areas.
Tweet
Daily

Twitter requires daily activity to be
effective. Unlike a blog post that can be updated a few times per week, you
must at least participate in the Twitterverse on a daily level, if not twice
per day.
Because the tweets are short, you can do
this quickly. At a minimum, scan any mentions of you that come in and respond,
and then review your lists for anything that should be re-tweeted or discussed.
Once you have the foundation in place, it
will take just a few minutes per day to add social media to your business
management practices, driving more readers to your blog, and adding quality
potential customers along the way.
Thanks to Sarah Boisvert for this guest post. Sarah is a business writer with
special interests in marketing and sales.
She has also written about manufacturing and production management.
Seeing as we are on the topic of Twitter, don't forget to follow
Art Division!