Everybody Do the Twitter
40 Ways to Tweet Your Biz to the Top By Scott Plesha, Marketing Communications Manager Let's face it: Twitter is no longer the cute little bird of secrets it once was. It's everywhere. It's everyone. In 140 characters or less, the world's people are communicating, connecting, and sharing information at light speed—and beyond. This micro-blogging phenomenon has exploded from just 5,000 tweets per day in 2007 to more than 50,000,000 per day today, and the rise continues.
What's the big deal, and what does it mean for your Coach business?
We'll get to that, but we'll start with a little background for the rookies. First and foremost, "tweets" are blurbs of up to 140 characters (including spaces) that reach all of your Twitter contacts instantly if and when they log in. Some of us tweet about what we ate for lunch and why we hate how our hair frizzes when it's humid. Some of us share links to the things we love—new tunes, cool reads, or hot products (like Shakeology®). Some of us ask questions. Some of us answer them. Some of us share insights, ideas, and quotations. Some of us provide comic relief.
To be quite honest, it's a little bit of self-indulgence and a lot of trial and error.
Ultimately, though, those who've mastered Twitter to really grow their Coach business do a little of everything. They mix it up and keep things real. The main idea is to NEVER spam and to ALWAYS create value with your posts. Every time you update your tweets, your goal should be to bring in new followers (fans), provide value for other Tweeters (prospects and customers), and finally, make more quality connections (leads). The better your posts, the more likely it is your followers will share them with their followers and so on . . . until you've reached 10,000 people in 10 minutes.
To help get you to that point, here are 40 of Twitter's deepest secrets, applications, and tools.
The Starting Block
Even if you're a Twitter pro, it doesn't hurt to get refreshed on the basics.
Ingrain yourself in the Twitter community to build a strong and relevant coalition of followers.
The more trustworthy you are, the more your followers will engage in your comments and recommended links.
If you shoot for Saturn, you'll hit the top of Mount Everest. Here are some Twitter-marketing basics.
Tweet, tweet.
What's the big deal, and what does it mean for your Coach business?
We'll get to that, but we'll start with a little background for the rookies. First and foremost, "tweets" are blurbs of up to 140 characters (including spaces) that reach all of your Twitter contacts instantly if and when they log in. Some of us tweet about what we ate for lunch and why we hate how our hair frizzes when it's humid. Some of us share links to the things we love—new tunes, cool reads, or hot products (like Shakeology®). Some of us ask questions. Some of us answer them. Some of us share insights, ideas, and quotations. Some of us provide comic relief.
To be quite honest, it's a little bit of self-indulgence and a lot of trial and error.
Ultimately, though, those who've mastered Twitter to really grow their Coach business do a little of everything. They mix it up and keep things real. The main idea is to NEVER spam and to ALWAYS create value with your posts. Every time you update your tweets, your goal should be to bring in new followers (fans), provide value for other Tweeters (prospects and customers), and finally, make more quality connections (leads). The better your posts, the more likely it is your followers will share them with their followers and so on . . . until you've reached 10,000 people in 10 minutes.
To help get you to that point, here are 40 of Twitter's deepest secrets, applications, and tools.
The Starting Block
Even if you're a Twitter pro, it doesn't hurt to get refreshed on the basics.
- Read Twitter101 to get familiar with the setup, the lingo, and the best practices.
- Create an account, tie it to your most accessible email address, upload a memorable/professional photo, and create a catchy bio. Remember, this is your business, and you want to treat it like a business.
- Include your real name somewhere in your profile. (It doesn't have to be in your username, but your followers need to know who you are so they can find you on the net in other places!)
- Download the FREE TweetDeck application to best organize your social media feeds and keep an eye on developing conversations. What's missed is lost.
- Bounce around Twitter before you submit your first post. Search for friends and begin following others. Get a feel for the community and how it works. What are people talking about? How are they communicating?
- When sharing links, make sure to shorten and track them with bit.ly. It's free and you can track how many people click on it, share it, and post it on their pages. Since you only get 140 characters, a shortened link is king!
Ingrain yourself in the Twitter community to build a strong and relevant coalition of followers.
- http://search.twitter.com/ is your best friend. Here, you can search by a keyword like "Beachbody" or "Shakeology" to find anyone who is talking about your business, industry, products, or customers. The Twitter motto is this: Follow and get followed.
- Read about certain topics and jump in by following a "#hashtag." #hashtags are trendy topics organized by those who use the "#" sign in front of the word when posting. When you add value to a topic, people will begin to find you and follow you.
- Find relevant people to follow with MrTweet. This is a personal networking assistant tool that suggests people to follow based on whom you're already following.
- Tune in to trending conversations and hashtag topics on Twitscoop. You'll run into conversations AND people who matter to you and your business.
- Follow your entire Team (Upline and Downline) to stay in the loop, offer help, or plug them in to the information they need.
- Join relevant topic groups on Twibes or WeFollow.
- Follow experts, companies, and competitors in your industry.
The more trustworthy you are, the more your followers will engage in your comments and recommended links.
- Follow similar business owners. How are they doing it? What do you like/dislike about their posts?
- Help others by answering their questions. To respond to someone you're following, simply put an "@" symbol in front of their username and include it in your post (ex: "@scottplesha Beachbody workouts are the best in the country.").
- Share health and fitness tips, business tips, and Shakeology recipes—etc.
- Use Twitpic to share photos of your fitness progress, or one of your Coach's or customer's.
- Share original thoughts on a relevant topic or fitness discussion.
- Link your followers to articles and other online content they would likely enjoy.
- Link your followers to your own content.
- Report news related to the health and fitness industry—how can you help?
- Ask questions.
- Answer questions.
- Stagger your tweets throughout the day and change the content frequently. (Nobody wants to hear the same thing all day from the same person or have products jammed down their throat.)
- Be friendly and personable, as if you're talking to a friend (your friend wouldn't say "BUY MY SHAKEOLOGY NOW!").
- Recommend other Twitter users to your followers and cite why (ex: follow @username, they're ridiculously hilarious!).
- Incorporate humor where you can. Have fun, be real, get creative—this isn't suit material.
- Share stories, insights, quotations, and motivational tips.
- NEVER USE ALL CAPS—IT'S TOTALLY ANNOYING.
- Switch up your types of tweets (RT, replies, tips, insight, news, updates, comedy, etc.).
- Don't over tweet. Every few hours should do the trick.
If you shoot for Saturn, you'll hit the top of Mount Everest. Here are some Twitter-marketing basics.
- Brand your Twitter page. You can use tools like www.clickablenow.com and www.twittercustomizer.com.
- Tie your blog (if you have one) to Twitter with TwitterFeed. Every time you update your blog, it'll automatically alert your Twitter followers. If you're not running a blog, start one and update it often!
- Bring in experts, Top Coaches, etc., to talk about the business and the products—via Webinar, blog, or another medium. Your quality followers will dig it and tune in.
- Run a Twitter contest with Beachbody® products. Your followers will market for you if the prize is worthy. Here's a snapshot on how to run one: http://printsbyeugene.com/2009/11/16/five-ways-to-run-effective-twitter-contest/.
- Respond positively to tweets that mention your name or your brand when you can.
- Make sure your Twitter ID is on your business cards, email signatures, newsletters, Web sites, etc. This is true for all your social media.
- VERY occasionally link to your Coach Web site by announcing discounts, new offers, etc.
- Link your followers to any Webinars, presentations, or videos that showcase the products or Opportunity. (The more subtle and in between high-value posts, the more effective these will be.)
- KEY TIP: Link to your more "salesy" content wisely and sparingly to avoid looking too promotional. As you get better at this, you'll see huge spikes in sales when you do use these.
Tweet, tweet.
