Twitter is a fun tool! It’s a great way to meet people you never would have had the opportunity to meet otherwise. I’ve made friends and business contacts from my twitter accounts. However, to those people that say it’s a waste of time and twitter isn’t a place that generates business, I say — “Yes! Keep thinking that – because it allows me to be in the game while you sit on the sidelines.”
How and why is working for me?
Here are 3 easy things to get you started networking on Twitter:
1. Start interacting on your twitter account: There are no hard and fast rules on twitter and certain types of businesses / accounts are very appropriate for just feeding information. If you are in business development, sales or any type of networking. That’s not an approach I would suggest. Seek out your target market audience with twitter search tools. Is your business location based? … search for “tweets” and people on twitter in that target market. Are you selling socks? Maybe you want to meet people who are selling shoes. Get the point? Identify your market and seek them out on twitter. When you find them …. start talking / responding to them on twitter. How do you do this? Read their bio, look at the site their account links to and read their “tweets”. In other words, take an interest in them and send something to them related to their information to start conversations.
2. Using auto direct messages: I think it’s fine to use Auto Direct Messages – but HOW you use auto direct messages is what I would caution you about. I have been sent a lot of well written, funny, cute and inspiring Auto Direct Messages. (DM’s) Here is where the #fail comes in…. what do you do when someone actually RESPONDS to the DM you sent out. Probably a good idea to reply back, right??! I am hard pressed to find someone who actually responds back to my reply on an Auto DM. It’s disappointing… and gives me a sense of you being a fake account. Which makes me think of you as not sincere. Sorry … that’s the perception. So if you use Auto DM’s on twitter, USE AUTO DM’s on twitter … don’t get lazy – it’s like not returning a prospects phone call or email!
Here is an example of a #failed DM that I received. Keep in mind, nothing on my account said I live in Chicago nor do I mention anything Chicago on my twitter account: “Do you need help finding that perfect condo or house you always wanted in Chicago? CALL 312-000-0000 or CLICK (their website)” This is a waste of my time and theirs – what was the point? Basically, this person just walked up to me at a networking event, shouted at me and walked away. Keep your Auto DM’s open and about the person you are targeting. I think it’s fine to include a link as a “signature” – but not used in the manner I received in the above DM.
3. Complete your twitter account information: This is an easy one … fill out something on your bio. Be creative, be formal, be whatever you want — but NO SELLING in the twitter bio section. In the website link area – reference yourself with a website link. If you don’t have a company website – use your LinkedIn Profile, other professional website or blog. Something that we can use to let us learn more about you!
I hope this helps and if you are having trouble deciding where to start with new media marketing – contact me and I’d be happy to help!
