Twitter, the social networking and microblogging service, has more than 190 registered million users as of 2010. With so many people twitting more than 65 million tweets a day, Twitter has been a hallmark of many business marketing strategies. Twitter has allowed marketers to somewhat close the emotional gap between customer and business identities, which translates to improved customer retention and revenue perspectives.
Planning to Use Twitter as a Marketing Tool
With the onslaught of Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and Youtube - social media has been a relatively new aspect of Web 2.0 that any online and offline marketer can harness to build better, more intimate relationships with their customers.
Businesses will be able to increase customer intimacy by promoting services or products on Twitter. A Twitter account run by a large corporation is no different than an account created by a teenage girl. This transparency allows businesses to have a more intimate feel of their target niche through a common link - a Twitter account.
Research Twitter Users: Marketing Niche
To build a relationship with customers on Twitter, you will first have to create an account . Then use Twitter search to scope out users that are in your marketing niche. You can look up names of your competitors, what people are saying about your business, as well as potentially view pitfalls and examples of customer dissatisfaction from competitors. Businesses can than compile their research and facilitate relationship building by patching these pitfalls in their own business plan.
Tips on Building a Better Relationship with Customers on Twitter
Create a Twitter account with your company's name; it's an integral step. When consumer search for your company on search engines like Google, they will not be using the company's president's name as a search term.
Upload a picture or your company's trademark logo. People want to see you. Some customers in your target niche may not be familiar with your company's name, but may be familiar with the company's logo or trademark sign. Twitter does not have an official interface for uploading pictures. But TwitPic is a third party application that allows you to connect a picture to your account. You can also use TwitPic to tweet pictures to the Twitter customers that are following you. The candid, familiar tone will facilitate relationship building on Twitter.
Connect your Twitter account to your business website. Your website will have an area where customers can see corporate updates. A link will also allow the customer to follow you. Any site that accepts HTML or Javascript codes can have their Twitter account linked to their website.
Twitter Advertising Strategies
- Do not just post website links to your business commerce site. Add an explanation or a hook to reel in customers. Business and corporate identities are notorious for being dry and boring. Let your personality show and show the "human side" of business.
- Post comprehensive questions, allowing your company to build a better relationship with customers. Ask your Twitter followers as to what they want to see be improved. Twitter is a great platform for receiving customer feedback and opinions.
- Share the human side of your business. Take pictures of feature customers, employees of the month, and show how your business is the best of the best.
- Use Twitter Search and look up the name of your business. If you see someone tweeting about your business, respond. Tweeting and staying connected to your target market is a fantastic way to facilitate a sense of community.
Twitter can help you have a competitive edge against your competitors. However, Twitter cannot replace face to face customer service. Even though Twitter has a large number of registered users, do not use Twitter as the main focus of your marketing plan. Effective marketing will implement various strategies to attract and retain customers.
Kaiser Castro - Kaiser Castro has been a professional freelance writer for Trails.com, Livestrong.com, and eHow. By utilizing his degree in Business ...
Join the Conversation