Post date: Dec 21, 2010 2:44:46 PM
I admit it. I'm a Twitter gal and I absolutely love whatTwitter can do for small business owners. It producesmassive visibility, it's a top-notch lead generation tooland a powerful networking platform.Unfortunately, Twitter continues to mystify many smallbusiness owners who aren't quite sure what all the fuss isabout.The good news is that Twitter doesn't have many rules. It'sby in large all about using common sense, being polite andexercising good judgment.But, that being said, here are five ways to ensure that yourTwitter experience is a tragic disaster:1. Toot your own horn too much.Obviously, you are passionate about your small business and
want to let the world know about its strengths and virtues.
However, Twitter is not an advertising platform. It's a
social community. When you constantly shout sales pitch to
your followers, they're going to instantly unfollow you.
Instead, try to immerse yourself in the Twitter community
and join the conversation.
2. Use the default Twitter profile.
If you're using Twitter as a marketing tool for your small
business, then you need to avoid the default Twitter
profile. That cute, little default cloud background is
certainly not doing your small business any favors. Take a
few minutes and put together a customized Twitter profile
and brand your small business by utilizing all of that
valuable advertising space. (No excuses, you can even do
this for free at mytweetspace.com)
3. Tweet once a week.
Your followers have hundreds, if not thousands of Tweets
flowing through their Twitter stream on a daily basis. If
you think that your weekly Tweet is going to get noticed,
you need to reset your thinking. Twitter works best when
your followers see your Tweets flow through their stream
again and again. Repeated exposure is the only way to get
noticed on Twitter.
4. Don't interact with your followers.
There are all sorts of nifty Twitter automation tools that
can help manage your time on Twitter. And I'm a big believer
in sending out a few automated Tweets. But, if you want
Twitter to work, you actually need to personally log into
your account and send out Tweets. Answer questions, retweet
your followers, make conversation. Your followers want to
see a real person in front of your small business. They're
not looking for a bunch of automated, impersonal Tweets.
5. Give up too soon.
This is one of the most common problems of Twitter. In fact,
Twitter has one of the highest "drop-out" rates of any social
networking platform. And, it's a shame. Small business owners
everywhere, start on Twitter only to drop out a week later.
Twitter isn't an instant fix for your business. It's a
relationship tool and relationships take time to develop.
So, give Twitter the time that it deserves and it will
reward you.
Whether you're a Twitter newbie or a seasoned Twitter
professional put these five tips into play and make your
Twitter experience one that truly benefits and grows your
small business.
About the Author:
Jessica Swanson has helped thousands of small business
owners, all over the world, implement low-cost, high-impact
DIY marketing campaigns.
Known for her energy, passion and "get-it-done" attitude,
Jessica takes complicated marketing concepts, turns them
upside-down, and makes them incredibly simple and
outrageously straightforward. To download your FREE
Shoestring Marketing Kit, visit: