Twitter can be a fantastic asset for your business and it’s one of the best inexpensive marketing tools out there. There are some pervasive myths out there that may be leading your business astray. Here are
eight Twitter myths your business should never believe…
1. Twitter is just for socializing, not for business.
There are over 5 million small business accounts alone on Twitter, and plenty more “big fish,” too. People are increasingly looking to Twitter for reliable information directly from companies.
2. Customers from Twitter don’t covert.
Nope. The trick is Tweeting to the right people at the right time. Posting lunch specials to your target audience at 11:00am can actually lead to sales!
3. Twitter is a promotional tool.
Twitter works best when it’s used as a content-sharing tool, and contrary to popular belief, your company’s marketing materials aren’t content! Think about what your customers actually want to absorb.
4. You need to Tweet a bunch to get noticed.
In fact, there’s a happy medium. Tweeting too much (think: 10+ times a day) will get you ignored or unfollowed, and not enough will leave people thinking you’re inactive. Aim for 2-5 Tweets per day.
5. Twitter for business should be very professional.
The great thing about Twitter is that it’s casual and conversational! Your company’s tone on the site should be a little more laid back, humorous, and approachable than on the company website.
6. Businesses should just follow everyone.
No way! It’s important to cultivate a group of followers/people to follow based on who you think can influence potential customers, be receptive to what you have to say, and also who will buy.
7. Twitter is totally free.
Not exactly. Paying for promoted Tweets may be a smart way to gain new followers and at the very least, maintaining a Twitter account costs the time someone’s spending to do so.
8. Businesses should be hands-off on Twitter.
One of the most effective things businesses can do on Twitter is offer customer service! The more time you spend replying to comments and searching trending topics, the more customers will look for you on the site.
Twitter is a terrific tool if your business uses it right. Ignore the myths and build a social strategy one follower at a time!
Ryan Currie is a product manager at BizShark.com, with 5 years experience in online marketing and product development. In addition to web related businesses, he also enjoys the latest news and information on emerging technologies and open source projects.