It's no secret that Twitter is a medium that most small businesses and nonprofits should at least dip their toe in.
If you're a consultant, maybe you're using Twitter for your clients, but do you use it for yourself? If you don't, now's the time to start.
Constant Contact recently blogged about a new report from Optify that shows that, for B2B small businesses, Twitter is the most effective social network when it comes to generating new leads. Twitter accounted for 82% of all social media-originated leads.
Sounds to me like it's about time you take a look at this lead generating site! There are plenty of ways to begin to grow your presence and your client base.
1. Follow like-minded people
This is especially important if you are just getting started on Twitter. A great way to figure out how you should position yourself, is by looking at what other people in your industry are doing. This will help you get an idea of how often to tweet and what to tweet about.
2. Use Twitter lists to your advantage
Many forget Twitter lists even exist, but they're an important tool you should take advantage of. A Twitter list allows you to organize Twitter users into groups so you see only the tweets of the people you put on the list. Here are some examples of lists you could build:
- Other like-minded tweeters: Adding people like this to your list will help you understand what they're doing and why they're doing it.
- Prospective Customers: A.K.A your "Prospect" list, though you may not want to call it that if you have not made this list private. This list not only lets you keep an eye on the small businesses in your area, but it also gives you an entire list to interact with. To gain business, you must first build relationships. This is a great way to do just that.
- Current Customers: This list reminds you to interact with your current customers. If you interact with them and keep them engaged, you may just see your retention rate begin to grow.
- Specialists in your field: If you're a social media consultant, try following social media managers, specialist, and experts. You may find some great tips from them to share with your audience or have the chance to build relationships with them. If you can stay "top of mind" with them, they may just refer your services when they know someone in need.
3. Use your marketer brain
All the marketing knowledge you've gained over the years will transfer nicely to social media. Here are a couple simple tips:
- Talk with your audience, not at your audience.
- Keep your content related to your field and your audience even when you're not talking about your brand.
- Stay consistent with your brand.
- Use the general rule for content: 80% information, 20% promotion.
- It's not about sending a message, it's about getting responses.
- Be yourself!
4. Participate in Twitter Chats
Twitter chats allow you to do a couple of great things for your business:
- Gain new followers: Twitter Chats give you a podium to stand on to communicate in another relevant way with your existing clients. They also allow you to tell your prospective clients who you are, what you'll do for them, and why you're the expert.
- Share your insight with others: A Twitter Chat gives you the opportunity to inform those following the chat about your knowledge. This is a great place for you to come loaded with your tips and suggestions about the specific topic.
- Get new tips you can use for future content: The chat also allows you to gain knowledge from others. This is not only an education opportunity for you, but also an opportunity to use tips, learn more on the subject, and create original content for all of your marketing efforts.
- Ask questions: By asking questions, you have the ability to learn what your new followers are already knowledgeable about, as well as what types of information they are looking to learn more about. This is a great way to begin to engage with your new followers and create content around the information they are searching for.
What are you waiting for?
Each social channel has its own use, flare, and advantages, but who can argue with 82% of all social media-originated lead generation coming from Twitter?
So go ahead, dip your toe in...or maybe your entire foot and get those leads you would never have the ability to get in front of otherwise!
Has Twitter been a good lead generation tool for you? I want to hear about it in the comments below!
This article originally appeared on Constant Contact Blogs and has been republished with permission.
(Twitter tool / shutterstock)