We all know that quality is better than quantity, but let’s be honest. When it comes to your social media tribe, a community of thousands – or tens of thousands – is more impressive than a community of hundreds. Plus, that hefty number increases your visibility and creates more opportunities to showcase yourself as a thought leader and industry expert. Why is that important? People want to follow people who know what they’re talking about.
Okay, the message seems to be unanimous. When it comes to your Twitter Tribe, bigger is definitely better. The question is:
How do I grow my Twitter following?
We’re so glad you asked. By focusing on just a few key areas, your Twitter following can increase in leaps and bounds.
Tip #1: Your Twitter Profile: Making a Good First Impression.
They say you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Building a thorough and eye-catching profile is the first step to increasing your following. Your profile is the place where people get a sense of your personality and your company’s overall vision. There are three parts to your Twitter profile: photo, banner, and bio. Choose images that resonate with your brand and promote your company’s story. Twitter only allows 160 characters for your bio, so you need to be concise. Promote your brand with confidence, and don’t forget to showcase your personality.
Related post: How to Write an Effective Twitter Profile
Tip #2: Content Rules: Give Value. Offer Tips. Share Inspiration.
What are most people searching for on social media? Great Value. Good Tips. Sparks of Inspiration. Powerful content grabs people’s attention. Focus on providing value, and people will keep coming back for those daily gems of information and motivation. The more engaging your content, the faster you will become known as an expert in your field.
For example, if you own a large chain of successful shoeshine locations, you should post content that resonates with your brand and target audience. This could be anyone from potential customers to future business partners. Once you determine who fits that profile, you can begin creating content tailored to fit their needs and interests. Here are a few example tweets:
Don’t let dirty shoes get in the way of your success. Polished shoes could be the deal-sealer at your next job interview.
Take a walk in someone else’s shoes. A shoe-shining expert shares some of his greatest stories: (Link)
And remember, you can have a little fun here, too. While your content must always align with your brand, feel free to post or retweet some material that showcases your interests or personality, such as interesting facts, pics, or videos. In the words of Johnny Carson, “People will pay more to be entertained than educated.” So don’t be afraid to give yourself and your audience a break once in a while.
Tip #3: Post Often and Always.
What kind of tweeter are you? Do you post in spurts and then fall off the map for a day, a week, or (gasp!) a month??? Things move fast in the Twitter universe, so posting often and always is a good way to ensure that your words don’t get lost in the constant sea of tweets. When your visibility increases, so does your following. Don’t have time to sit on Twitter all day? No problem! Try using a scheduling system like Hootsuite to post your tweets throughout the day. This allows you to take care of your daily business without losing opportunities to engage with your audience.
If you are growing your business, and you’d rather not fret at all about finding the time to write and post every day, hire a service like Ghost Tweeting Twitter Essentials.
Tip #4: Follow the Followers of People Like You.
When searching for new followers, it makes sense to look for the followers of one of your competitors. Follow their followers, and many of then will follow you back. If they don’t, then feel free to unfollow them and move on to those who do want to connect with you.
Tip #5: Meaningful Engagement: The Key to a Successful Twitter Relationship.
This may be the last point on the list but it is by no means the least. You can have a killer profile, amazing content, and a ton of followers, but you can’t forget to ENGAGE! People don’t want a robot. They want to connect with a real person, not just a company, brand, or product.
Translation: Be a Good Neighbor.
What exactly does that mean? Like this, retweet that, and comment thoughtfully. Let your followers know you are listening and interested in what they have to say.
So, there you have it! From choosing the right words to having the right attitude, you can increase your Twitter followers in just a few simple steps. And remember to have fun. This is your chance to spotlight your personality and your brand.
Why not follow us right now @streambankmedia for more information on how to become a social media rock star?
