How to Optimize your Twitter Account

Twitter is the modern art of micro-blogging. It is the realm of seemingly inane post and pithy comment. At a glance it seems ludicrous, yet many users have thousands, hundreds of thousands and even millions of followers. What do they know that you don’t?

First of all, to be clear, if you think Twitter lacks the class you want in a business tool then you will never approach the opportunity in a way that allows you to recognize it’s increasing value. This is understandable when you know you have 140 characters to develop a message for others to read. What can you say in 140 characters? How can those words impact others?

The World of Viral Tweets

If you can post something that is memorable enough ‘followers’ (those who have agreed to receive your tweets or micro-blogging messages) may be inclined to re-tweet or resend your post out to their followers. In a very short period of time your few words could be read by thousands and may be on its way to going viral. Since your name is attached to the tweet thousands of individuals may decide to follow you. After all, if you can post something cool like what they just read they will want to read more.

Link Generosity

If you find something cool to share then share it. Be generous with your links in your tweets. The cool stuff doesn’t always have to originate in your mind in order for it to be cool. Since Twitter allows links in your posts you should consider making good use of the offer and share the best stuff with your followers. If you link to an article (perhaps one you have written) it can also then be retweeted and linked throughout the web driving even more traffic to your article and ultimately to your business website.

Be Very Aware of SEO

Twitter is a source of material for search engines. Some of the best Twitter accounts make good use of keywords or key phrases with respect to Search Engine Optimization. It is not uncommon to find the effective use of keywords bringing a Twitter account into the top ten for the phrase. By design the owner of the account has understood how to use a consistent keyword or phrase to keep their message focused while ensuring the loving attention of the search engines.

Call Them Headlines If You Want

The tweets that you send to followers do not have to be something like cotton candy. They really can pack a punch when the tweet is linked to a powerful corresponding message, video or audio piece that provides value. The tweets themselves can simply be used to draw attention to the real story. Write your headline (tweet) carefully and don’t be surprised if others find the same value in the post that you did.

Find the Good in Others

If you have followers then you should also be following. You will find good information in the posts of others. That will be good source material for what you pass along. This trend allows others to see you as someone committed to the idea of an online social community. Too many social media users only post their own material and earn the reputation of someone who doesn’t really care about what others have to share – or only care about their own message.

Combine some of these ideas to find a growing following while enabling your online branding to mature in impact and trust.

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