Twitter

How you come across to others on Twitter will have a big impact on your followers. Usually, the first thing someone will do when considering following you is to check out your profile, so make it as powerful as possible. It is made up of these elements: Picture Twitter handle Bio Web address Number of tweets, followers and following Your last tweets Each of these will impact on their decision on whether to follow or not to follow. 1. Picture A generic image of company logo is really quite impersonal. I know that big brands will want to use a logo, but for smaller companies why not use your photo, or as I do, your photo with your logo? It just adds to the personal connection. For larger companies that want to use their logo, a nice touch is for the tweeter to add their name or initials to their ...

This blog first appeared on our sister blog, Freelance Copywriter's Blog, but we felt it was so useful we wanted to share it with you here too. Despite the number of blog posts and articles you see about Twitter, I was flabbergasted to read a recent post on The Drum. Apparently 71% of companies are still ignoring consumer complaints on Twitter. Social media has opened up communications between consumer and business. Now, someone can complain through Twitter about poor service or product quality and within seconds potentially thousands of people will know about it. And yet, there appear to be an alarming number of companies who are not monitoring Twitter effectively. According to the article, in a survey by Maritz Research, only 29% of those who tweeted a company with a complaint received a reply. This shows a worrying trend - namely, businesses are still not ‘getting’ Twitter. The post goes on ...

One of the main barriers that prevents businesses using Twitter is not knowing what to say. There is still a common misconception out there that makes people think that tweeters only ever talk about what they had for lunch. OK, sometimes they do, but on the whole tweeters use the social media platform as a way of reaching out and engaging with other people. It can be a great source of information and sales leads. If you've set up your Twitter but are yet to tweet because you have no idea what to say, the following tips should help those creative juices start to flow. How to tweet effectively 1. Share The internet is full of great information (and some that's not so great), so when you read something that makes you smile, makes you mad, or gets you thinking, ...

It's a well known fact these days that employers use social media as a way of screening candidates. Your Facebook wall offers them a great insight into the type of person you really are, rather than the one you display in the interview. But that's not the only way social media can land you in a whole heap of trouble. Yes, we live in a free country and yes, we should be able to openly voice our concerns and opinions, but there are times when some people really need to learn when to keep quite (or at least vent their frustration in a quiet and private way). Once case in point is the council press officer that had to quit his job because of an ill-judged tweet. The main aspect of this story is that the tweet ...

To state the obvious, Twitter is a social networking platform - is it really possible to automate being social? Let's face it being social is about conversation, spontaneity and reacting to the comments of others. To be able to do that you need to be present - so why do so many people think that automating tweets is the way to go? The upside of automated tweeting Just to prove that I'm not totally against automated tweets, here are a few benefits of the practice: It saves you time Can give you a constant presence Keeps you in your followers' eye line Gives you the opportunity to send out timely offers to your followers It can help you plan your strategy to target potential customers But ( you knew there was going to be a 'but', didn't you) this isn't always constructive, especially if you send ...

Yes. OK, leaving it there would make this the shortest blog in history, so let's expand on that a bit. The belief that you can't sell through social media holds many businesses back. They are under the impression that it's full of people talking about what they had for lunch or what they're up to at the weekend. Granted, there are those that do that, but there's a lot more to social media than that. You see, social media is all about building relationships and that's another thing companies can't get their heads round. They tend to set up accounts, dabble for a week or two (usually sending a constant stream of sales messages out that turn people off faster than the fastest thing you can think of on roller skates), and then wonder why nothing has happened. Selling through ...

Once you've set up your Twitter account and you've followed all your family and friends, what do you do then? To help you find people to follow, Twitter has a handy #Discover button at the top of your Twitter home page:                 It gives you the options 'who to follow' and 'find friends', but happens when someone follows you? Should you follow them back automatically? The simple answer to that is no - it's important you take control of your Twitter stream by only following  those people you want to follow, so here are a few tips to help you. 1. Bye bye spam When you're first notified of a new follower, take a look at their Twitter profile and tweets. If they're sending out loads of promotional stuff, their more than likely a spammer and won't add any value to you. 2. What are they tweeting ...

Most businesses will agree that social media is a great marketing tool, but few have worked out a way of getting a return from their activities. In a post on Freelance Copywriter's Blog called The Money's in The Relationship,  I looked at how your return through social media should be measured by the value of the relationships you foster rather than in cash. Going one step further, socialmediaexaminer.com take a look at the 4 steps you need to take in order to sell with social media. The post tells use that to improve your ROI (return on investment) your marketing and campaigns must include these essential components: Attraction Retention Conversion Measurement To read more about how it’s done, follow the link and discover the 4 steps to selling with social media. What do you think? Are you convinced? Can you sell through social ...

We are turning into the 'social generation'. Phone calls and popping in for coffee have been substituted for Facebook status updates and tweets. You may think it's a great laugh to talk about your hangover, mammoth drinking session or posting those 'less than flattering' images of friends on Facebook, but... 91% of employers use social media to screen applicants (The Drum)       In the days before Facebook, if you said something  to someone, you'd get away with it (usually) as it would soon be forgotten. Your private life and social life were completely separate from work. So, unless you told them about the bender you'd been on that weekend, they were unlikely to find out. But social media has changed everything. Because your status updates are there for all to see, perspective employers love them as they ...

There's no getting away from the fact that social media and social networking are a great way to reach a global audience. But the thing you have to remember is that once you've put something out on the Internet, it's there forever. That's why it's essential you get a strategy in place before you start. Here are three tips to help you navigate the world of social media/networking safely. 1. Strategy There's that word again. The problem is, without a strategy, you'll just be chucking things 'out there' randomly without having any idea about what they'll do for your marketing efforts, reputation or readers. So, before you get going, make sure you: Know what the goal of your campaign is Who you're aiming your content at What that audience wants to know What you've got to do to get results 2. Your optimisation is missing The whole idea ...

After browsing through The Drum recently, I was absolutely astonished to come across this statistic: 71% of companies are still ignoring consumer complaints on Twitter I mean, come on, these are your customers. Just because they choose Twitter a their form of communication as opposed to a phone call, doesn't make their complain any less important. Plus, if it's out on Twitter, potentially thousands of people can also see their complaint. So doesn't make sense to do something about it rather than ignore it? According to the article, only 29% of those who tweeted a company with a complaint received a reply (Maritz Research) and the goes on to say: The American research looked at 1,298 consumers over the age of 18 who frequently tweet and have used the micro-blogging site to complain about a specific product, service, brand or company. 49% of respondents ...

When you think about testimonials, you probably immediately think of having to email clients to ask them very nicely if they wouldn't mind saying a few nice words about you and the service you provided them. But testimonials can come in all shapes and forms, especially with the explosion of social media. I was interested to read a recent post on one of my favourite blogs, SocialMediaExaminer.com, about making the most of your Twitter testimonials. Granted, with only 140 characters to play with, you're not going to get a detailed testimonial, but this is more about utilising any 'good press' you get to the max. For example, what would you usually do if you received tweets like these?           Obviously, you would send out a thank you tweet, but then what? Often, tweets like these are sent out quickly in a moment of enthusiasm for a ...

When using social media within your marketing strategy, should you automate it? That question usually divides opinion. There are those that think it's fine to automate and schedule a stream of updates so they always have a presence on Twitter. But there are those that believe that social medis should be social and an activity you take part in real time. As for me, I don't think it should be automated - well, at least not all of it. Understanding social media Social media is about being social, so if you don't really like people, it's not for you. To be effective you must listen, engage and chat. When the opportunity arises, you can offer help and advice or join in with a debate. But if you automate everything,  you can't do that. That's not to say you can't automate at all. As a ...

'I don't have time' or 'it's a complete waste of time' (which usually translates into 'I don't understand it') are 2 of the most common responses when people are asked why they're not using social media as part of their marketing strategy. But those that have taken the time to understand the mechanics of social media and the effects it can have on your business profile, realise that blogging, facebook interaction and Twitter can all boost business and credibility. Many people still think its a passing fad - nope, it's still here. Many people think the only way to market it through old fashioned cold calling and mail shots - nope, most people won't buy from a cold caller. So if you are one of the stalwarts who refuses to acknowledge the benefits of social media, let me ask you... How ...

For many people, when they start to dabble in Twitter, there's one question that springs to mind - how do you find people to follow? If you're just searching for friends and colleagues, you'll probably run out of people fairly quickly, so how do you find interesting tweeters? Well, I've been a tweeter since 2008 and it took me a while to find my feet. Plus, it also took me a while to realise that it was OK not to follow someone back if I didn't find their profile or tweets relevant or interesting to me. Ther are various tools out there you can use to find tweeters in your industry, and I have to say, a list of these would have been very useful when I started out. Which is why I was pleased to come across a post ...

  Some people take to social media like a duck to water, others find it slightly trickier to get to grip with how to use it and how to get the most from it. If you are not sure about how to use social media and fear falling foul of what is seen as the correct etiquette, this blog post is for you. By the time you read the last word, you’ll be ready and raring to go. Most people find the biggest hurdles in social media (whether that’s Twitter, Facebook or blogging) are: Not knowing what to say Not sure how to say what they want to say Not knowing how to interact with other people Don’t worry, all is about to become clear. Let’s get right back to basics. Your social media look Don’t worry, this isn’t a blogging version of How to ...

  Everyone uses social media these days – or at least it seems like it. As a copywriter I use it a lot. Whether it’s tweeting for help (usually IT related problems), offering advice, promoting my blog posts, or just general chit-chat, I love using it as a way of connecting with other people. Did you see that? I said I used it for connecting with people. The problem is, some social media users out there don’t connect, they spam. And that’s not something you want to do – especially if you want people to follow you or ‘like’ your Facebook page. ...

  Most people will either love social media or hate it – with the odd few thrown in who simply don’t ‘get it’. But the problem is for those who hate or don’t ‘get it’, social media is here to stay and it will continue to grow. We’ve already seen Google join the party with Google+ so your days of keeping it at arms length are numbered. It’s time to join in. Personally I love it. Working as a freelance copywriter it has helped me not only gain new clients but its also enabled me to meet great people, boost my online exposure and find people to ...

  Twitter – a world in 140 characters. It seems such a harmless tool and yet it can make or break a business. Social media hasn’t only given you a much louder voice, it has also provided your customers with a huge stage from which they can address the world in an instant. That’s great if they are shouting nice things about you but what happens when things go wrong? As soon as you hit send, your tweet is released into cyberspace to be potentially seen by millions. OK, you may not have that many followers but what happens if one of your followers retweets it to their followers ...

  In the good old days customers would communicate with you via letter, phone or in person. Today things are very different. Now they can send you a tweet, post a comment on your blog or leave you a message on Facebook. In the past if someone was unhappy with your service the ‘bad press’ was usually limited to a few of their friends and family (unless it was seriously bad service and the wrote to the Editor of your local paper). Now a single tweet or Facebook message could potentially be seen by millions. Now, more than ever, you must have procedures in place to deal with social media communications. ...

  Social media isn’t always an easy thing to get to grips with. It’s like any new thing – it takes a while to get the hang of it and a lot of practice. And understanding it is unlikely to happen over night; it will take time and patience. Let’s face it, communicating via a computer, iPad or smartphone to a bunch of people you’ve probably never met before isn’t the most natural thing in the world. If you were physically in a crowd you could stand out and be noticed by your looks, clothing or extravert personality. When chatting with online ‘friends’ standing out isn’t so easy but that’s what you ...

  Social media is everywhere, everyone seems to be using it but are you really getting the most out of it? Of course, that is assuming you’re using it – you are though, aren’t you? Using social media doesn’t mean simply setting up a Facebook page or Twitter account; anyone can do that. Using these social tools effectively will help you attract followers and, in turn, boost the visibility of your business along with sales. Yes, it really can do that. Using social media The amount of time you can give to social media is going to depend on: Your job ...

  Are you a serial blogger? You know, the type of person who churns out a post, forgets about it and then churns out the next. The content you produce for your blog is very valuable so you must make the most of it. Unlike other forms of communication, a blog post won’t disappear or be used as tomorrow’s chip wrapper. Once you’ve hit ‘publish’ it’s up to you to make the most of that content and keep it alive. If you want a long shelf life on everything you post, follow these 6 simple steps. 1.  Follow up The world is constantly changing so your original ...

  Whether you’ve fallen in love with social media or you’re still being a wall-flower not quite confident enough to dive in and give it a go, it really is a great way to market your business. As more companies begin to get their head round it they are starting to embrace Twitter, Facebook, Google Wave and all the other weird and wonderful platforms out there. Through trial and error they are beginning to work out which applications work best for them and their marketplace. As they begin to engage with people they gather follower and fans but for some, converting those into customers is still ...

Do you use Twitter for business yet? Twitter appears to be one of those things you either love or hate – or you just don’t ‘get’'. But if you are still sitting on the fence, undecided whether it’s right for you or not, this post is for you. Twitter isn’t complicated – it is probably one of the easiest tools to use, but you have to learn to use it well and effectively. Twitter basics First things first – before you even start to worry about what you should be Tweeting, you have to set your account up. Here are a few simple tips to get you started. If you want people to follow you make sure you upload a good avatar – whether it’s a photo of you, ...

Social media marketing is something that every business should be doing no matter what its size. It is a way to promote your business online to an unlimited market place. Social media isn't just about PR, it can also be used to montior your brand, what people are saying abou you and your customer service. If you don't do it, why don't you do it? Any of these sound familiar? My time is precious It may not be expensive in a monetary sense, but social media can be very time hungry. “I can’t afford to spend that amount of time playing with social media.” You're not alone. Many businesses feel that way but can you really call it playing when it can bring in business to your company? How many other activities offer: Unlimited PR opportunities Direct contact with your customers to gain insightful feedback A ...

Everyone’s using Twitter these days, aren’t they? Whether you love it or hate it, if you’re not already using it to help your business, you really should think about it. As a copywriter I have been using Twitter for a while now. It helps to promote my blogs and articles, I can talk about my views and opinions, it helps me to reach clients and pass on hints and tips. It is also an incredibly useful research tool – not only for customer feedback (and a great way to monitor what people are saying about you), but also for finding out information. Twitter and marketing Twitter will kill blogging – apparently - but I don’t see it myself. Twitter is a great micro-blogging tool. It compliments my own blog because it helps grow my readership. ...