Ask the Expert!
Consider this your advice column, covering all things social media marketing. Got a question for the Expert? Drop a comment at the end of the post, send us a tweet, or stop by our Facebook page and leave a comment!
Dear Expert;
I’ve heard a lot of social media people talking about how Twitter can help small businesses. I’ve also heard others talk about stagnate accounts, and problems with Twitter as a tool. Is Twitter really a good idea? Can you tell me what types of tweets are most effective?
Signed,
Tweeting in Uncertainty
Dear Tweeting in Uncertainty;
Yes, Twitter can be great for helping a small business grow, and hopefully, after reading this answer, you’ll be able to create a thriving account.
The one thing you should understand right off the bat is that there isn’t really ONE type of tweet that works better than others. In fact, except in very, very, very rare examples (e.g. @ShitMyDadSays), sending out only one type of tweet is a good way to turn off potential followers. Like a well-cooked meal, your tweets should be a mix of multiple flavors and styles that complement each other.
Whether you are a B2B, or a B2C, start by sending out a mix of industry-related tweets (events, news, etc), along with self-promotional, and conversational. If your Twitter page is under your name, don’t be afraid to send out some personal tweets too. Then watch and see what sparks your followers’ interest, play with the balance of tweets a bit, and figure out what works best for you. Just remember, the whole goal is to generate conversation, and from conversation, prospects, and from prospects, new sales.
Signed,
The Expert
Dear Expert;
Recently I started up a blog that seems to be gaining some traction. In order to encourage more growth, I set up a few social media profiles on different sites. My question is this – how do I manage all this content?
Signed,
Drowning in Words
- CC Image “Untitled” by *_Abhi_* on flickr.
Dear Drowning in Words;
A post here, an update there, and before you know it, the day is over and your computer desktop is littered with files. The bad news is that with the onset of real-time updates, the need for constant fresh content may start to become a major priority (and headache!) for businesses and professionals alike. The good news is that there are some simple strategies and tools out there to make all of this a little bit easier.
First of all, try repurposing your content. Once you write a blog post, tweet about it with a link, or post a portion of it on your Facebook page. Secondly, come up with a content strategy. Plan out ahead of time, as much as you can, some of your tweets, blog posts and updates, then schedule whatever possible with a tool like Hootsuite, or ping.fm. Third, show up for the conversations that take place around your content!
Signed,
The Expert.
June 4, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Ask the Expert, what a great idea.