Welcome to Twitter Business Strategies
Posted on | July 13, 2009 | No Comments
Welcome to Twitter Business Strategies, your online support center for using Twitter as a highly effective business tool.
Did you arrive here as a result of purchasing the “All About Twitter: Set Up & Profit From Your Twitter Account,” you’re in the right place. Completing your registration here will give you immediate access to the audio and graphics files, plus get you started on your way to great success.
Twitter Getting Started Reminders
Posted on | September 13, 2009 | No Comments
Twitter “Getting Started” Reminders
Getting started on Twitter in a way that sets you up for future success is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself. Today, focus on tweaking the basics of your account set-up while you learn a bit more about how to use Twitter. Here are some things you can do to ensure that you’re on the right path.
TODAY, you’ll focus on PURPOSE AND VISION, and then on WHAT TO DO IN TWITTER to lay a strong foundation for your success.
First Things First: Purpose and Vision. Then, Strategy.
I’m not going to dwell too deeply on this, but I AM going to remind you that the essence of this training is based on the fact that Purpose, Vision and Strategy are the pillars of success – in business, on Twitter, and in life.
Here’s a brief exercise that puts your focus squarely on Purpose and Vision.
On a sheet of paper (or in a document on your computer, write:
1. Your BUSINESS PURPOSE.
If you’re in the dry cleaning business, it’s a very limited perspective to have as your purpose: “To clean people’s clothes.” Of course you do that! But in addition, what other benefits do you provide to your customers, and how do you wish them to perceive you? If your business purpose doesn’t extend beyond “doing what you do,” then perhaps you might consider introducing into your purpose a broader perspective, such as (in the case of a dry cleaner) “To help people save money and feel better about themselves by teaching them how to best care for their clothing, and providing them with a reasonable-cost, high-quality, environmentally friendly cleaning service that they can rely upon when they need it.”
2. Your BUSINESS VISION.
Beginning where you are today, what do you want to see changed for the better into the future. Pick six months from now. Since it’s the future, you can make it up, as you wish it to be. Perhaps you see your business becoming the #1 business of it’s kind in your community as rated by the people who live there, or you see your business growing a minimum of 20 percent in revenues and profits even though the economy is “down.” Perhaps you see yourself creating marketing alliances with other businesses in your community that compliment your services, or market to the same demographic as you do. Be as specific as possible. When it comes to dates, write “no later than…” When it comes to numbers, write “at minimum…” or “at maximum…” Give yourself the leeway to EXCEED what you can envision today.
3. Your “TWITTER PURPOSE.”
As I’ve emphasized time and again, EVERY “Twitter Purpose” needs to include “creating and enhancing relationships.” Beyond, that, however, you might have one or more purposes for using Twitter. Here are some examples: “To research trends in my field/niche.” To share my expertise and experience with a wider audience.” “To establish myself as a recognized authority in my area of interest/expertise.” “To generate new client/customer/patient prospects.” “To offer another avenue to better serve my existing customers/clients/patients.” “To draw new business to me from a wider geographical region.” “To observe others in my – and related – fields, including my competitors.” You get the idea. And, of course, you’re not restricted to just one of these, or ones that you make up on your own. Go for it! Just know WHY you’re using Twitter, so that you can devote a small amount of time to very focused tweeting, and not get stuck wasting a lot of time on Twitter, going nowhere.
4. YOUR “TWITTER VISION”
Like your Business Vision, your “Twitter Vision” is your imagination of how your business (in this case, since we’re focusing on helping you enhance your business success) is better at a defined time in the future. Again, for the purpose of this exercise, let’s have you imagine 6 months from now. Using “by no later than…” “at minimum…” and other non-restrictive clauses, write down what HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, looking backward from your projected timeframe. For example: “As a result of using Twitter to enhance my business success, by no later than six months from today, my business has increased by a minimum of 10% new or returning clients/customers/patients, while revenues and profits have increased a minimum of 20% as a result of increased purchase amounts and repeat buyers.” You can have some other results in mind. For example: “And as a result of my business growing in these tough times while others are dying, I was asked by my local Chamber of Commerce to hold a workshop for other businesses on how our business acheived that, and what they can do to keep their businesses afloat, and profitable.”
You get the idea.
Make sure to keep these Purpose and Vision statements close by, where you can refer to them and remind yourself of them often.
Alright, that covers PURPOSE and VISION.
Now it’s time to re-focus on implementing your TWITTER STRATEGY to help you fulfill your Purpose and attain – or exceed – your Vision.
TWITTER: WHAT TO DO TODAY
Log into your Twitter account.
1. Check or add your 160-character bio. Make sure you’ve got one or more relevant keywords in your bio.
2. Make sure your “location” is included an accurate – especially if your business is brick-and-mortar, or is designed to benefit customers, clients or patients in a specific geographic area.
3. Make sure you’ve included your Web site / blog URL.
4. Upload your photo, if you haven’t already. Use your best head shot (or one that makes you easily recognizable to others, especially if they meet you in public). Or if your account is a business account named for your business, you can use your business logo.
5. Upload your Twitter Background. Use Photoshop or another graphics creation software program to create your own, or visit http://www.TwitterBackgrounds.com to use one of their free templates, or hire them design a custom background for you.
“Listen”
Devote some time to learning more by “listening in” on the conversations that are happening in Twitter.
Use the “Search” field on your “Home” page to search on topics of interest to you. View the profiles of Twitter account holders whose Tweets catch your attention.
Post your first Tweets
Remember, the world is “listening” to what you Tweet. Even if you don’t have any followers, the content of your Tweets show up in the “Tweet stream.” Twitter creates a separate Web page for each of your Tweets, and your content can be searched.
What you post is one way that people who you don’t know and who don’t know you will find you on Twitter.
Create some Tweets that talk about something having to do with your area of expertise or service, but that don’t promote your business. Just add value to “the conversation.”
Tweet something fun or funny.
Tweet something informative and include a link to your Web site or blog where someone who reads your Tweet can find more information about that topic.
Tweet a question. Give reason for people to give you an answer.
Bonus: Read This
CLICK HERE to read another TwiTip article featuring “10 Easy Steps for Twitter Beginners.”
It takes just a minute to read.
Assistance: Get Answers
You certainly have more questions at this time than you have answers.
CLICK HERE to visit Twitter’s official “Support” section at http://help.twitter.com/
CLICK HERE to submit your question to the Twitter Business Strategies Student-exclusive Q&A section.
Next: Start Following and Get Followers