Recently in my travels I’ve had several conversations with people about Twitter for business. Most of the people that I have spoken with aren’t yet on Twitter. It’s been a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. When we approach the topic of social media as part of their B2B marketing strategy, almost immediately the conversation turns to the “how-to” of tweeting and if there are benefits for their business. Here are seven points people have been most surprised to hear me say.
1. People are just nicer on Twitter.
In the fast paced world we live in, sadly we’ve grown accustomed to getting cut off on the highway, doors not being held for us, and a “me, me, me” mindset. With Twitter it’s different. You’ll almost immediately notice a kindness and generosity amongst everyone that is both refreshing and welcomed.
2. If you weren’t a numbers person, you are about to be.
You’ll be asking yourself, how many followers do I have? Why aren’t more people following me? How many lists am I on? Why did that last tweet only get 9 clicks? The metrics could become an obsession, so be careful.
3. It’s quite emotional.
I guarantee the first time you see one of your tweets retweeted, you’ll feel good and get a pretty big smile on your face. I did. When the first follow friday comes, you’ll likely wanna throw your arms in the air. At least, that was how I felt (just being honest).
4. It’s as much about discovery as it is communication.
There is no question when you start using this microblogging platform you’ll begin to think that at its core lies communication. You will soon learn that it helps you discover new resources for just about everything you need.
5. Twitter fatigue is real.
I’ve felt it, I’ve worked through it, and wasn’t sure it had a name until I read this post at MLT Creative’s blog, B2B Ideas@Work. Be prepared for Twitter fatigue and use goals to keep you on track.
6. 140
It’s not a lot of characters but you will be surprised by how much time you spend crafting each tweet. Many people have said it’s akin to writing subject lines for newsletters. But a word of advice and context…don’t overdo the copy editing; remember there are millions of people on Twitter sending on average 27 million tweets a day. While important, you can always send a similar one at a later time.
7. Twitter breaks down walls.
In a matter of weeks, you will be having a conversation with at least one person you never thought possible AND a working relationship with someone you can’t wait to meet offline. As a result of number 1: People are just nicer on Twitter. Starting a relationship is as easy as following someone and upon their following you back, sending a direct message to introduce yourself. Remember though, if you are doing more than introducing yourself, (like selling yourself), you’ll run into the same barriers as you do elsewhere.
To conclude, I’ve had the @b2bbloggers Twitter account for just over two months four months. At the time of this writing the @b2bbloggers account has 516 followers 1,144 followers and is on 52 lists 206 lists. We have very specific goals and strategies that we use for the account, but the most important principles we stick to are pretty basic: Be useful, and be helpful. While our goals and schedules ensure that we post new tweets regularly to keep the @b2bbloggers Twitter feed up to date, it’s the content of those posts—and the spirit of them—that matters most in the end.
What has surprised you most about Twitter for business?
