Thanks to Jeff Korhan for recently posting a link to an Inc.com article, 10 Things You Should Tweet, and to Jon Gelberg for writing the article. It’s one of the best summaries I’ve seen for how to use Twitter to promote your business online.
If you’re not sure what you should be writing in your business’s Twitter updates, check out the article now! Then please come back because I have a few other thoughts for you.
How’s your balance?
On a recent webinar about blog planning, I talked about the balance between networking and marketing when you’re using social media. Too much networking without any promotion, and people won’t know how or when to refer business to you. Too much marketing without any relationship building, and no one will want to go near you.
In another post on Inc.com Hollis Thomases lists 11 Things to Tweet When You Have Nothing to Say, and she puts posting your own content at the bottom as #11.
She mentions the 80/20 rule, which is that 80% of your social media messages should be about other people (I would include connection/conversation in that portion) or showcasing other people’s work, while 20% should be presenting your own content. Nichole Kelly from SME Digital makes the same recommendation in a recent interview.
Your Twitter stream is another website
Like it or not, the minute you set up a Twitter profile, you’ve got another piece of online real estate to look after. A quick glance at your profile page will show someone a lot about how you’re using Twitter, and your balance between networking and marketing.
I suggest you monitor your Twitter page (http://twitter.com/yourTwittername). Anytime you notice that you’re veering over the 80/20 line, make an effort to rebalance the scale.
You’ve only got 140 characters to make an impression on Twitter. Use them wisely and have fun!
P.S. Please connect with me on Twitter @lindadessau.
