Have you hopped on the social media bandwagon yet ? It’s 2010 and here we are, immersed in social networking. People are practically addicted to checking their Twitter streams, updating Facebook, and the like. So what are you waiting for?
Social media and Twitter in particular is a must-do, especially as a marketer looking to bring traffic to your site. The truth of the matter is millions of users are online everyday telling us what they’re up to. As a marketer it’s almost your responsibility to get active.
Here’s one way to think about it: social media is basically one big conversation that is going 24/7/365. Twitter is the best example of this because EVERYTHING is updated in real time. Just imagine it as a huge networking event – who has the most success in these situations? The people who get active.
To use Twitter, and all social media, to effectively get more traffic to your site, you just need to do one simple thing: be able to listen and communicate with manners in mind. Oh wait, that’s two things….but I digress. 
Listen
Most people who use Twitter start out by making a fundamental mistake – they forget they are participating in a global conversation and only participate online in a self serving format. That’s so wrong! While you might find some and I only mean a small amount, of success with this method, you’ll be better off if you listen first to your audience and then develop your messaging strategy.
The below example will not work:
“tweet 1: Hi I’m John I had pizza for breakfast mm so good have you bought my ebook yet….
tweet 2: definitely check out my new blog post omg did you see Jersey Shore last night….
tweet 3: love this product you should buy it now and use my affiliate link please blogged this….”
Simple Manners
The above example is an extreme, but you get the point. Always being self serving isn’t a good idea. What we can also learn from the above is that simple manners can get you far.
A few examples are:
• Don’t be one way with your messaging, help a follower out and RT their stuff.
• Provide valuable content to your followers that naturally engage them.
• Ask questions, and answer questions.
• Put your business branding cap on: don’t be too controversial.
• Avoid: religion, money, and politics.
• Reply to someone who sends you a message whether it be DM or @reply. Now…if it’s spam, no need to response of course.
A Little More Advice
• Put a link to your blog in your bio.
• Add Twitter plugins to your blog.
• Follow back. This may be one piece of advice that others won’t give you, but I always follow back the users who follow me. Again, if they’re spam: no need to reciprocate a follow.
• Make EVERY message you send out short enough for a RT. You’re given 140 characters but if someone tries to RT your message will be cut off. Stay around 100-120 characters in each tweet.
• Be complete in your sentences
• Use short URLs: bit.ly is great. Use it. Love it. Live it.
• Monitor your account on a regular basis. Look to tools like Hootsuite (who just recently got a revamp) or Tweetdeck to help you organize. If you decide to delete all tweets due to tweet spam check out Twitwipe
Remember: Contribute valuable content, connect with other users on a very personal level, and share others information through the use of a RT. These are the keys to using twitter to bring traffic to your blog. Simple conversational etiquette is all it takes to make you stand out!
About the Author
Vern is a writer on a variety of topics including social media and marketing. Vern is also a featured writer on a new expert advice site. Visit YoExpert.com for more information.
Image Credit: Shovelling Son
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Very good advice. I have found that Twitter is the best driver of traffic to both of my blogs. The thing with Twitter is like all social media, the more time you put in, the more return you will get. I like the advice of not politics and religion. I follow this advice on my Twitter accounts that are associated with my blogs. I have a personal Twitter account that I am a little more free to express myself on.
Dan Keller recently posted..What is a personal career brand and How do I create one
I think the one sided deal on twitter only works for the famous and those who are already in high standing on Twitter. I think for the common folk like us, we really do need to have a more real connection with our followers, and not just make it a one way street.
Till then,
Jean
used tires recently posted..Used Tires Dealers Website
twitter is the third biggest source of traffic to my blog, its a great tool to drive targeted traffic.
BTW that image of Twitter whale is so cool
Shanker Bakshi recently posted..How to Get Started in Affiliate Marketing-Part I
This is great advice, I agree one should not be selfish on Twitter and just promote their stuff, they should respond to others and make it 2 way. Not just about promoting your blog. Twitter can be very powerful if used correctly.
I think this is a very good advise but i think you should have a long list of twitter followers for this to work.
http://cafedegeek.com/guess-young-women-morning-facebook/
This is really a good advice but it depends on the resources that you have. If you don’t have enough spare time for twitter every day then you might be losing it.
I agree that Twitter is an awesome traffic generation tool. There are some businesses doing it really well, like the UK’s Virgin Trains, for example, and some who aren’t.
I guess the rule of thumb I always stick to is to ask myself what followers are getting out of following me. There’s got to be something in it for them…. info, news etc.
Stacey Cavanagh recently posted..The Annoying Things About Facebook
I’ll have to agree Twitter is one of the best traffic generators for my sites too. Especially with the automated tools that are out there – you can really get a great reach and a huge increase in traffic when used properly.
Another great way to gain relevant followers is to talk about hot topics and people tend to RT them.
jtGraphic: James Thompson recently posted..FAQ- What are follow and nofollow links
This is a good another concept to get more followers. Twitter surely helps me in generating traffic.
Web Design Los Angeles recently posted..Trouble free Ways to Keep a Website Contemporary
Great post Vern, I think Twitter has really evolved into a great marketing media but we should use it very responsibly and not spam it. Thanks for mentioning the tips, I will certainly be implementing most of it if not all
Shiva | Web Magazine recently posted..CouponPress and PremiumPress Discount Coupon Code – July UPDATE-
Wow ZK, your blog has really grown over the years. Congrats on the success.
I use twitters Auto-DM system at SocialOomph.com to get traffic. Quite effective if it isnt spam.
no one can expect any site or blog without doing social media. It must be done..weather you like or not.
Nice ZK. What we’ve been doing is blogging about community stuff (not business stuff) and Tweeting or Facebooking those kinds of things. Because they are more community-centered, they bring traffic and are not perceived as self-promotional.
Colleen recently posted..Funny Faces- Cool Dads
Oops, sorry about that. I just noticed Vern wrote the article, not ZK.
Colleen recently posted..Funny Faces- Cool Dads
Handy list of Twitter protocols, Its true that most, myself included …see Twitter as a one way promotional highway and miss out, I guess it also comes down to time… There is so much information out there! I find it difficult just following a few while maintaining my own sites! Good stuff though, I love being reminder… this is a community!
Not a big fan of twitter but I can see where this would work. I know someday I will have to break down and join in.
Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace really is a great tool not just to boost traffic to your website, but as well, as gaining new friends who have the same interests as you are.
I think twitter is used a lot nowadays not only from the common people but celebrities are also using it. The thing is to get targeted traffic from twitter you need to have good links towards the more followers.
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