intro to twitter
DESCRIPTION
Introduction to Twitter presentation by Cory Williamson. Used for weekly presentation at Checkerboard Strategic Web Development.TRANSCRIPT
TwitterologyThe “tweet” way to grow your business
Cory WilliamsonProject Producer
Checkerboard Strategic Web Development
twitter.com/corywilliamson
Topics
• Your Social Media Plan• What is Twitter?• The Basics• Marketing Through Twitter• Mastering Twitter
Social Media Plan
• Secure your brand• Set Goals• Know who you are
– Marketing is storytelling.
• Know who you are talking to– Where are your customers talking?
• Create rules of engagement– What are you going to do when someone
disagrees with you?
• Engage carefully– Listen before you speak.
What is Twitter?
• A micro blogging platform• 140 Character Max
• Largest demographic: 35-49 yrs• 3,000,000 Tweets per day• 1382% growth in February, 2009• Expected 18 Million Users by 2010
Why is Twitter Relevant?
• Word of Mouth is not a new concept• Traditional advertising isn’t working• Internet makes messages shorter,
quicker• Twitter is word of mouth on steroids
How is Twitter Used?
As a Social Network
• Connect with friends, family and colleagues
• Discuss topics with experts• Use web apps and cell phones to
stay in touch• Protect your updates to keep
conversations private
As a News Source
• Journalism 2.0• World’s fastest news source• Trending Topics• Cases where news hits Twitter before
CNN• World’s largest news organizations
are on Twitter
As a Search Engine
• Twitter Search and 3rd party apps• Find any topic or article with links• Ask questions, respond to tweets• Google Search is full of advertising
and non-specific results
Twitter is full of experts in every topic.
Drive Traffic
• Drive devoted followers to blog or website
• Should not be your focus for using Twitter
• It takes time to grow dedicated followers
• Brand Loyalists provide feedback and user generated content
• Engage in discussion around your topics
Customer Service
• Most popular for businesses• Cut down on customer service emails
and phone calls• Monitor specific keywords• Respond quickly• Transparency on Twitter will result in
happier customers
Find your Twitter Voice
• Send blog updates• Ask questions about products• Offer promotions exclusively on
Twitter• Monitor “brand keywords”• Product releases• Highlight most loyal followers
Find the right combination of the 5 uses.
Twitter Basics
Lingo
• Follow• Tweet• @Replies• Retweet (RT)• Direct Messages (DM)• Hashtags (#)
Following
• Must be following to receive updates• Follow/Unfollow button• More followers ≠ more success
Tweeting
• Tweet, Tweeting, Tweeted– Post, Update, Message
• Each Tweet is indexed in the Twitter Search
@Replies (mentions)
• Respond to a tweet• Shows up on followers homepage• Syntax: @username
– i.e. “@corywilliamson ________”
• The username becomes a link
Retweet
• Interesting tweets get “retweeted”• Your followers share your tweet with
their followers– Perpetuates content for further reach
• Syntax: RT @username– i.e. “RT @corywilliamson _______”
Direct Message (DM)
• Not indexed in search• Use DM sparingly, as the nature of
Twitter is social• Can only DM your followers• Syntax: “D username”
– i.e. “D corywilliamson _________”
Hashtags (#)
• Twitter’s way to categorize search• Created by users• Used for product launches
#FordFiesta or events #SMBMSP
Setting Up an Account
• Personal or Corporate Profile?• Choose a username that fits your
goals• Fill out your profile completely• Choose an appropriate profile picture• Utilize the background image for
added content
Marketing Through Twitter
Introduction to APIs
• Programming language for software communication
• Allows for more features not offered on Twitter.com
• Automate Responses• Monitor Keywords• Most people will not use the APIs
Building Effective Followers
• Use your other resources• Ask questions to initiate interactions• Share relevant links• Respond to discussion• Keep offers exclusive to followers
and ask for RTs• Its not a numbers game
Twitter Spam Accounts
• Spam accounts are growing rapidly on Twitter
• Links can be dangerous• What to look for:
• Accounts with shared profile pic• Repeated Tweets• Inappropriate usernames
• If a profile doesn’t seem like they fit your target market, don’t follow
Big Myth about Social Media
• Quick messages mean instant results– “Get it now!”
– “Get tons of ______ !”
– “Gain 1000’s of followers”
– “Make money overnight with no effort!”
– “Get 900 followers in ______ (time frame)!”
• Marketing principles still apply. Social media is a tool, not a magic potion
Measure Success
• Use your social media plan• Twitter Grader/Twinfluence• What were your goals? Customer
Service? Brand Awareness?• Neilson, Radian6
Promoting Your Profile
• Email Signature• Website• Radio/TV/News Placements• Use a recognized Twitter Icon• Twitter.com/corywilliamson or
@corywilliamson are recognizable
Mastering Twitter
Twitter Integration
• Twitter Apps• Twitter Widgets• Mobile Twitter• Twitter stream is an RSS Feed
3rd Party Applications
Taking it Offline
• Tweet-up’s• Product Demonstration Parties• Product Launches and Specials• Special Events• Ask followers to help promote the
event
“Mention Twitter for a free gift”
Case Study
• @DunkinDonuts, @CNN, @comcastcares, @UnitedAirlines, @Maggianos, @Zappos
• Intriguing and Relevant Tweets• Ask Questions• Hold contests, coupon offers, conduct
polls• Carry conversations and promos over
to Facebook, Blog, and other resources
@Maggianos
• Exclusive Twitter Promo– $100 gift card for followers
• Gained 2000 new followers– Costs of tweeting far less than $100 reward
@DunkinDonuts
• Several tweets per day• Very personal, authentic• Product launches, customer feedback• Exclusive Twitter promotion
– Doesn’t necessarily relate to DunkinDonuts
Tips and Tricks
• Stick to your social media plan• Build trust before you start selling• Optimize landing page• Monetize traffic with offers or
discounts– “Next 100 people to buy ___ gets 10%
off”
Keys to Twitter Success
• Don’t Sound like a robot• Vary your content and tweet times• Be authentic and believable• It takes time to listen and engage• Stick with it!
– Even if you think no one is listening
• Other resources:
http://www.mashable.comhttp://www.twitter.com/twitter101“Twitter Power” by Joel Comm
Thank You!
Connect With Me!
On Twitter :: @corywilliamsonOn LinkedIn ::
linkedin.com/in/corywilliamsonOn Facebook ::
facebook.com/corywilliamson