Many brands are struggling to find success on Twitter. They're treating it like a PR tool with little to no engagement or assuming that creating a presence is all it takes. If you haven't been able to crack the code, these guiding principles are for you. Learn how to create a smart strategy and find success form Angela Connor, author of "18 Rules of Community Engagement" and AngelaConnor.com.
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Growing Your Twitter Audience - A Guide for Brands
1. Guiding Principles for Brands
GrowingYour
Twitter Network
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This presentation is brought to you by: ANGELA CONNOR
@communitygirl
Angela
onnor
.com
2. Angela
onnor
.com
Perhaps you’re using it solely as a PR
tool with little engagement, or operating
without a strategy or plan. Maybe your
followers all wrong or you’ve never
identified your target audience.
It’s not too late to get it right. Here, I
offer my guiding principles based on
experience working directly with brands.
SOYOU’RE AT A STANDSTILL ON TWITTER…
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SOYOU WANT A JOB IN SOCIAL MEDIA?
Angela
onnor
.com
Engage, but avoid excessive promotion. Brands that use
Twitter as a self-promotional PR channel are often criticized and see
little engagement. The rule-of-thumb is a 70-30 mix in favor of
sharing helpful content and showcasing the work of others over
broadcasting company announcements and news releases.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR TWITTER SUCCESS
Angela
onnor
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Quality over quantity. Strategic growth requires brands to
focus on their target audience. A high number of followers outside of
your target doesn’t move the needle when it counts. Follow the right
users so they will follow back in return.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR TWITTER SUCCESS
Angela
onnor
.com
Be consistent and provide value. A consistent flow of
valuable content and active engagement over time grows a Twitter
account. A brand’s Twitter feed is a record of how it engages and
quickly answers, “What’s in it for me?” Sporadic posts and limited
engagement are a poor first impression.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR TWITTER SUCCESS
Angela
onnor
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Don’t define it as a sales channel first. Twitter can drive
sales, and it does for many brands. But trust must be established first.
Twitter may not always show a direct connection to sales, but referral
traffic to websites and landing pages is an indicator. Sales efforts are
often folded into campaigns and promotions rooted in user
engagement.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR TWITTER SUCCESS
Angela
onnor
.com
Treat followers with respect. Demonstrate to new and
existing followers that you value the connection by re-tweeting their
content and following back when appropriate. Start conversations and
communicate often.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR TWITTER SUCCESS
Angela
onnor
.com
Be patient. Let growth happen. The longer your history of
actively tweeting valuable content, the faster your following will
grow. Patience is a Twitter virtue. Third-party tools that promise
thousands of followers are a waste of time. Brands must prove they
are worth following with the content in their Twitter feed.
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#1
#2
#3
Engage, but avoid excessive promotion.
Quality over quantity.
Be consistent and provide value.
RECAP
Principles 1-3
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#4
#5
#6
Don’t define it as a sales channel first.
Treat followers with respect.
Be patient. Let growth happen.
Principles 4-6
RECAP
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PARTING THOUGHTS
Remember to align your Twitter strategy with your overall
business goals. If you are operating without any goals, it’s
never to late to go back and start anew. If interns are running
the show, put them in a more supportive role and hand over the
reins to someone who knows your industry and business.
Remember, you only get out of Twitter, what you’re willing to
put in.
Angela
onnor
.com
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GET IN TOUCH
Angela
onnor
.com
Angela Connor - AngelaConnor.com
@communitygirl
LinkedIn.com/angelaconnor
Email: angelaconnor@outlook.com
Blog: AngelaConnor.com
Book: “18 Rules of Community Engagement: A Guide for
Building Relationships and Connecting With Customers
Online” (Happy About, 2009)
Voice: 919-374-0627