For those of you who are new to Twitter, building your follower-base can seem pretty daunting. For those of you who are not-so-new to Twitter – this is still a challenge! We know the buzz word “engagement”, but how do you make it happen? Here are 5 simple steps you can take to build your follower foundation on Twitter.
1) Personalize Your Page
Take advantage of all of the opportunities Twitter provides to really personalize your page and have it stand as a representation of who you are, what you’re interested in, what you do, or what you’re looking for. The left side of your Twitter page (250×700 pixels) should be your primary focus, creating the rest of the page to complement this section. Photos, logos, and/or contact information are good, basic ideas to start with. Validating your account is also a good idea (especially for bigger brands and public figures), as well putting together a to-the-point and effective bio. When followers can quickly get a sense of who you are and what you’re about (without doing too much research), they’re more likely to follow you.
2) Ask Interesting Questions and Ask for Help
Delve into conversation. Your Twitter followers are a great resource for feedback as well as help. If you are a brand, questions don’t necessarily have to be about your product – asking someone’s opinion and making it clear that it’s appreciated goes a long way. Make it fun!
3) Re-tweet and Reply (in Moderation)
Re-tweeting (RT) and replying to tweets is an effective way of acknowledging your followers and letting them know you find their tweets valuable and informative, and most importantly that you appreciate their following.
However, make sure to keep your re-tweets, original posts, and replies balanced. Conversation is important on Twitter, but keep in mind that you don’t want your Twitter feed to turn into a long list of “@reply” posts. Followers will not only find this uninteresting, but they won’t have the patience to look through the conversation to find what it’s all about. From personal experience, this type of Twitter feed is the last kind that I want to follow!
4) Post Relevant Updates
I love using Twitter to follow my favorite news sources for the latest updates and brands for the latest deals. By posting relevant and informative info and links, followers can come to consider you a good source of information and will find it worthwhile to engage with you.
5) Go Back to the Basics with Follow Friday (#FF)
Putting some time and thought into a #FF post is worthwhile and a great form of engagement. It’s an easy way to give a shout-out to your favorite Tweeters and let them know you acknowledge and like their Tweets. It’s also a quick and effective way to make a recommendation to the rest of your followers. It’s a win for everyone!
What are some other tips you have in mind for great engagement on Twitter? Share with me in the comments section!
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