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40 Ways Business Owners Can Use Twitter To Build Their Business

Posted on 23. Jan, 2010 by Mickey O'Brien in Business Tips

This week on Facebook I asked “Who should I follow on Twitter” and surprisingly only a few people responded, one in which is an amazing photographer that you may want to follow twitter.com/@steffoush By asking for who should I follow I was opening up opportunities for businesses to connect with me and my large network. I have many biz owners say “What can Twitter do for me?” so I’m laying it all out right here…

Building Trust & Rapport
1. Express your opinion and expertise
2. Share your interesting links/posts
3. Strengthen relationships with client, competitors and jv partners
4. Tweet often to keep your brand on top of your customer’s mind
5. Share quality content that addresses your clients needs, frustrations, fears & dreams
6. Promote friends and colleagues
7. Promote upcoming events

Market Yourself & Your Business
1. Talk about what your company believes in, and is committed to
2. Give special offers to customers who find you via social media
3. Talk about what you’re doing, who you are, and what you do
4. Direct people to your blog/website
5. Find & Give referrals
6. Have contests and give away prizes
7. Promote your latest blog posts, free reports and newsletters
8. Tweet when you see or do something cool or funny

Listen To What’s Being Said
1. See what others are saying about you (use TweetDeck.com)
2. Listen to what’s being said about your industry
3. Conduct Twitter polls to quiz consumer opinion
4. Learn about what’s working/not working & next for your competitors
5. Find your competitors clients (Read: Sun Tsu’s Art of War, i.e. do not neglect the use of intelligence.)
6. Identify Twitter trends or hot topics related to your industry
7. Ask people for their opinions. Listen to them and respond back.

Expand Your Network
1. Build relationships instead of selling
2. Use Twellow, We Follow to find clients & people with common interests
3. Meet POI’s (People Of Influence) and talk to them
4. Connect your Twitter account to your website, Facebook, LinkedIn and other medias you use.
5. Give and receive testimonials on Follow Friday and connect with new people
6. Use services like bit.ly to see how people are interacting with your content

Build Your Offline Network
1. Hold/Attend meetups/tweetups and meet your online network offline
2. Use TweetDeck to track when potential customers mention a competitor…and then reach out to them
3. Find new employees
4. Ask Twitter followers to leave testimonials on your site
5. Tweet about products and services on Twitter before offering to general public
6. Create special events around holidays for your Twitter followers

Meet People, Celebrate Life & Have Fun
1. Share content that you enjoy
2. Get inspired and motivated by others
3. Learn new things and talk about it
4. Build new friendships, not just professional relationships
5. Be part of a community (your industry or personal)
6. Find new ideas for your business or just for fun

Bonus: Tools I Like That Make It Fun & Easy

1. Use www.ping.fm to post to facebook, twitter, plaxo and more at one time
2. Use hootsuite.com to schedule posts so you don't always have to be online

3. Use Hashtages on Twitter to follow conversations (#mortgages to talk about mortgages)
4. Use the Re-Tweet feature if you see something
5. Use #followfriday on Friday's to recommend others to follow someone

What are your Twitter tips or advise?

Ps: You can connect with me on Twiter at twitter.com/mickeyobrien

Posted by Mickey O'Brien on 01/29/2010 11:35 PM

Comments (76)

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76 Comments on 40 Ways Business Owners Can Use Twitter To Build Their Business

JAN

2010

Hi Mickey, thanks for the Twitter advice, I'll have to check it out.

Have not used TweetDeck yet and have heard enough about it to consider utilizing it. Thanks for the great tips Mickey. Have a great 2010..

Thanks for the kind comments. Check out my blog weekly to learn how to grow your business, it's www.mickeyobrien.com To Your Success!!

I have thought a lot about joining Twitter. Just like Facebook, Myspace, Linkedin, and so many other social media websites, it has exploded in popularity. It is another way to develop a presence and network on the web. I just need to learn how to productively manage my time using the internet so that it isn't just another thing to "try" to keep up with! Entrepreneurship is currently a part time activity as I rely on a job for my income but my goal for 2010 is to change that for good! Thank you for your tips on how I can use Twitter to build my business!

Hi Mickey -- If I did 5% of what you list on Twitter, I would be beyond happy.

Hi Mickey,

Any ideas on what kinds of contests and giveaways real estate agents can do on Twitter?

I heard a cupcake company went around town and would tweet where they are to give away free cupcakes.

Who has any ideas we can use? It doesn't have to be real estate related. It's just to keep up top of mind on Twitter.

I have resisted Twitter because, to be honest, it seems kind of random and spastic. But you make we want to reconsider.

Mickey thanks for posting this! My last 3 blogs have had to do with Social marketing, and specifically I asked for advice from veteran twitterers. I posted my first tweet on Monday I believe.

Its like pulling teeth to get more foundational information about Twitter. We know who to aim for (consumers in our target market) but not necessarily how and you just thoroughly answered it. THANKS!

I will reblog for those who were hoping to get more information. Congrats on the feature!

your list is amazing! i have work to do.

Mickey, I saw this on Andi's re-blog and it is a great post. Thanks for sharing this great information.

Mickey--This is an excellent list, and, as usual, I am running to catch up. I do not tweet enough. I do blog posts everyday and they make it on Twitter.

A lot to do for 2010.

Elliott

Thanks Mickey, I have a twitter account but veery rarely use it. These suggestions are much appreciated!

I've been working on trying to use Twitter more often, but have struggled with a plan and thought on what I should post. Your list gives a great idea burner for the future. Thanks!

JAN

2010

Hi Mickey ~ Getting serious about Twitter's definitely on my to-do list. This is very helpful advice and well laid out. Congratulations on the well deserved feature.

Liz

This is a very nice post and well written. That said I have yet to really get into twitter. I dont really care for it and as long as I dont, I really cant see it being a source of business for me.

Interesting ideas -- thanks for sharing them -- all the best.

Hello Mickey - Thanks for the great list. I need to take your list and get to work!

I will start using some of your suggestions. thank you.

Mickey - Great ideas. Thank you for sharing. I employ some of these. Def. need to use them all though as you mentioned.

You make it sound very tempting to discover but I find it hard to keep up even here on AR trying to learn from all the wisdom written daily.

Thanks for all the tips. I am bookmarking this post so I can find it again. I am on twitter but don't use it as often as I should. I am trying to be more consistent.

Twitter is one of those things that has the potential to be so confusing and super powerful at the same time. Just show up and be consistent ant it will work. What a great post. Thanks for sharing.

Many thanks for this complete list! This is bookmarked!

Thanks for the tips - and so many really good ones!

Thank you for the great tips Mickey! I am also trying to be more consistent with Twitter :)

I have bookmarked this post so I can get started on using Twitter. Thanks for the tips, I needed them.

Great ideas. Thanks, Mickey. I've printed it and stuck it on the wall in front of me. It will make me tweet another time.

I unfortunately am a "twitter quitter". I plan to return after I refine my follower/following list. I have too many solicitation requests taking over my account.

Great post and wise advice to follow. Twitter can be a useful tool if used right. Like any other tool you should not use your business Twitter account to tell people jokes. Keep it strictly business

The most important thing about being successful using twitter is to actually engage in conversation with your followers and the people you follow. Posting articles once in awhile or showing a house you just listed is great but most people just stop following people that do not interact with them. You can not do twitter just half way it needs to be a part of your life or you should not bother since you will soon be talking to no one.

Thanks for the post. I have started the Tweets.

thanks for all your twitter advice. I have not had much to say on twitter, but now, I may do a little better:)

I "use" and keep hearing about how great the social media is but I am still not a believer. I am taking a course on this soon so maybe I will be convinced. All the hoopla about Twitter could only work, from what I can see, only if you would have a huge number of people following you on it. Why would they follow you to begin with unless you are a celebrity or something? Articles about how unsafe Facebook can be keep popping up. Who has time to do all of this? I would rather use the time to list and sell real estate.

Great information Mickey. I am following you on twitter now.

Awesome Twitter and business advice - Thanks!

~ Diana ~

Mickey, thanks for the list of advice! I'm still trying to make sense of the twitter phenomenon.

I keep reading these posts - someday I'll make this leap. Seems to be second nature to the people I know who use it successfully.

Good information today. THanks for getting it out to us today on AR

Patricia/Seacoast NH

Good information today. THanks for getting it out to us today on AR

Patricia/Seacoast NH

Mickey, Great tips on how to effectively use Twitter. I love them. Wish I had thought of them all.

Follow this link to more easily build your list of followers: I am a partner with them and make a little bit when you sign up. http://bit.ly/156ib7

I used the free version to double my list. Then the paid version to increase my list dramatically in the past few weeks. Use it a few times per week. My followers continue to great daily.

Hope it helps.

Mickey: Thanks for this. These are great points. I'm just starting to get my feet wet with Twitter. So far I like the medium. Thanks again!

I don't tweet yet, but maybe later this year after I read more about it. So much to do, but I'd still rather find time to be belly-to-belly with clients! I hear people love to tweet but I'm a little afraid of it yet because of some of the bad publicity about facebook and twitter like the twitter quitter mentioned above. Great list and great post. It's a Good Life!

great info in this post -- I love twitter -- I always use it to find local companies and contractors..

@coastalREO

@EllisJason

I guess Twitter growth is slowing down, it only went up only 600% last year. For me I think Twitter will be more important to me than Facebook. Businesses here are now using it to broadcast specials like two for one entress, and it is working. The key for us is to harness the local power of Twitter. I don't necessarily care about someone subscirbing to me in Wales. that is nice. What I want is using it to give value to locals to show my expertise about local events, news, and knowledge.

Having Tweedeck and FB on at work makes me really ADD! Yes I can keep up with trends but I get so distracted sometimes.

Mickey, Great post.

I started using social media but found it was taking too much time then I learned about www.ping.fm

This site allows you to post to myspace, facebook, twitter, plaxo and about 20 other sites at the same time.

I also use hootsuite, this allows me to schedule posts so I can stay infront of people even when I am out performing inspections.

Both of these are free on-line services.

I use ubertwitter on my blackberry and I love it.

Check them out and feel free to follow me on twitter, I promise not to post about sitting on my back patio. :-)

@scottwarga

Also check out @socialcpr he is the guy that told me about the programs I mentioned above.

Mickey,

What an incredible wealth of information! I had to quit twitter, as all I got for followers were porn ladies...... awful! Now I have reinstated, and hope that I can do some business on it. I love Scott's suggestions, too......

Mickey,

Thanks I have a twitter account and have been looking for ways to make it work. Thank you!

We have an account with Twitter, but we really haven't gone any further than that. You have certainly give us several reasons to reconsider that.

I have been looking for something like this, I really appreciate you breaking down the process like you did. My goal will be to start at the top of the list and try each one, not certain of the results. I do understand that social media is here to stay.

Thanks again for your information.

Thanks for the follow on Stef, my daughter is a photojournalism major and it's great to see good photographers!

Cindy in Indy

Great info!

Great article. You look like a fan of Twitter lists! @pattyknaggsalot

I am just starting to understand Twitter and how to use it. There is some potential there, but I need to get facebook down first.

Good Job!! I have been using Twitter for most of the year, but recently ramped it up, and linked all my social networks, and am now managing them with HootSuite and Tweetdeck. It's been great fun AND I am starting to see some good interaction. I have not had business from it yet, but have had the opportunity to refer business, and know that my turn is just around the corner! Thanks again!

From the desk of David Dee,

Mickey, good points about working with Twitter. Networking helps to get the word out.

There are a lot of ideas here. I am still trying to get my Twitter plan together. I've heard of Hootsuite, and it sounds like a great potential way to handle Twitter.

Great post Mickey - I will be using your list immediately to guide my efforts.

Steve

FEB

2010

Mickey - Excellent suggestions for ways to use Twitter to increase business. Thanks for sharing.

Great Post Mickey! And the folks @ TBWS think so too....enough to give you a mention on this mornings show......impressive. I have bee dabbling with Twitter myself but need to stop testing the waters and jump in! Thank you for the tips!

To Your Success!

Hi Mickey, I am just starting to understand social media and it takes a little investment of time. Did I say little? Yeesh, lots of time.

Thanks for the in-depth list. I haven't been using my Twitter account because I just don't seem to know what to say -- which is really hard to believe for the people that know me :-) aka Chatty Patty

I guess I wasn't logged in -- Sorry! Lets try this again.

Thanks for the in-depth list. I haven't been using my Twitter account because I just don't seem to know what to say -- which is really hard to believe for the people that know me :-)

aka Chatty Patty

Great list. Now all I need is the time to go on and interact.

Thanks for the tips. Guess I need to do more than create an account. I will get working on it.

Hey Mickey,

Great stuff! Although I've been tweeting for a little while I did find some gold nuggets in your post.
Btw. I use SocialOomph.com to schedule my tweets. It used to be called TweetLater :)

Wonderful information! Thanks so much for the post!

Hello Mickey,

Thank you for your terrific post! It's filled with lots of great tips and information. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I appreciate it! I've been on Twitter for a few months now and have a lot to learn. Thank you!

Rita

FEB

2010

This is great tool I use for agents I work with... http://www.tweetlister.com

TWEETLISTER TURNS YOUR LISTINGS INTO TWEETS!

FEB

2010

Thanks Mickey, I even bought Twitter for Dummies and will add it to my to do list.

FEB

2010

I just haven't found twitter to be responsive. The life of most Twitter users is about 90 days.

I get much better response from LinkedIn and Facebook.

FEB

2010

Great post. I'm a huge twitter fan and use my accounts to drive traffic to my blog posts. I've received over 1200 unique visitors in a day from tweeting about my blog posts.

Thanks for the info Mickey. I've been using Twitter, but not a much and as consistent as I should. Do you have recommendations for "small talk for twitter"? You know, something to get the ball rolling? I try to send a direct message to each follower but often times get nothing in return. It's personal, not automated. Thanks

FEB

2010

That was great!

FEB

2010

I was wondering how to post to facebook and twitter at the same time! Thanks for the info!

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Mickey O'Brien

Fair Oaks, CA

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Certified Business Coach

Address: PO Box 125, Fair Oaks, CA, 95628

Office Phone: (916) 534-8358

Cell Phone: (916) 224-5626

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