How To Get Started With Twitter

Twitter is a FREE promotional and networking opportunity for your business. If you want to engage new customers YOU need to be where they are. So if you haven’t already — set up a Twitter account.  But then what?!  What do you do once you’ve got your account, added your logo, and chosen your branded url?

We highly recommend that you add a short bio to your Twitter profile. You’ll need to keep it short but with enough information that people  know exactly what your service offerings are. List your official website address. If you don’t include a bio, there are people on Twitter who will not follow you back. Remember this is social media — people interact with people who have similar interests and who are interested in actively participating. This is your chance to show your brand personality and have a little fun while you’re at it!

Before you start tweeting, we’ve listed a few KEY points and KEY commands you’ll need to know:

• Since Twitter limits all of your tweets to only 140 characters you will need to be creative about typing messages. For some tweets you may want to leave a little room for others to add a word or two and retweet your message.
• Use the RT (retweet) function to re-share tweets by others with your own followers. The original person who tweeted will see the RT and they are likely to do the same for you.
• When you want to send a personal message to someone in private, go to their profile and click on the message button.
• @username plus your message directs your tweet to a specific person and displays on the @Mentions Tab in their profile. It singles out that the message was directed specifically to them. All of your other followers will still see the message on their wall as well. They may even decide to join the conversation.
• On Fridays Twitter has a tradition where users can give a “shout out” on behalf of their favourite twitter followers. How do you get involved? Create a list of @username’s for people you already know on Twitter. Preface the list with the #FollowFriday or #FF hashtag, and a short message recommending them to others.

• The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages and link common interests. You’ll see hashtags listed under Trends right on your profile. Clicking on a hashtagged word in any message shows you all other Tweets in that category.

Helpful Tools to Use With Twitter

• Twilert = a free web app that enables you to receive updates via Email on tweets containing your brand, name, product, or specific keywords specified by you.
• ManageFlitter.com = a free web app that cleans up and manages who you follow, who follows you back, which accounts are now inactive, and links google+ to your Twitter account.
• Buffer = an app for sharing interesting content with your followers but staggering the release of information throughout the day.
• Twable separates into lists: people you follow who DON’T follow you back; people you follow who ALSO follow you back; AND people who follow you, but who you DON’T follow back.
• Refollow = a web app that allows you to manage your followers, establish relationships, block users, sort by importance and much more.
• Tweetdeck = an app to view and manage your tweets in a personalized user-friendly dashboard. It allows you to arrange and schedule tweets and much more.
• TweetLevel = An app you can use to search and analyze hashtags or order topics by popularity, engagement, and trust.
• Schmap.it = is a tool that helps you share Places, Events and Photos on Twitter for FREE. In addition to posting it on your own profile, it also adds your event listing to regional event listing profiles.

This is by no means a complete list of all of the tools available for use with managing your Twitter account; but, it’s a great place to start. Have fun, and happy online networking!!

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Original Ginger is a Digital Agency located in the heart of historic Fort Langley, a hip and artistic suburb of Vancouver BC.