Here’s my take (Top 10) on how brands should “be”on Twitter:

To Be…on Twitter (pdf)

  1. Be a listener. Create a keyword query on search.twitter.com and
    save the RSS in a reader to track relevant mentions.
  2. Be connected. Consult competing handles’ “following” lists, as well
    as Twitter directories (TwitDir, WeFollow, Twello) to find interesting people
    to follow.
  3. Be savvy with Twitter semantics. Direct message when
    content is private or not adding value to the larger community. Use @reference
    when answering a question that may be interesting to others (Use @ within a
    tweet, or put a character before the @). Use #hashtags to thread topical
    conversations for people to easily track and participate.
  4. Be business-minded. Determine objectives for using Twitter.
    Some examples include those dealing with: crisis management, customer service, community building, product
    development, promotions and news outlet.
  5. Be brand-authentic. Authenticity plays into believability and
    transparency, which are key to social media relationships.
  6. Be engaged in two-way conversations. Timely and
    appropriate responses are important. If you ask, be prepared to listen and if they
    ask, be prepared to talk.
  7. Be interesting. Share insider news and stories (offer pics or video
    when possible). Link to compelling content and offer a perspective.
  8. Be brief. Know your number. Start with 140, then subtract the number of
    characters in your handle + 4. It makes it easy to re-tweet. Also Use link
    shortening services.
  9. Be abreast of your progress. Utilize free third-party tools to
    track metrics—clicks, @replies, re-tweets, follower count, sales, etc.
  10. Be [you fill in the blank]. Accept there is no secret recipe for
    achieving success on Twitter. Experiment and evolve with your community.

Note: This document was originally created for my agency, HL2, to share with the Social Media Club of Seattle.


Advertisement