Consumers are no longer required to pick up the phone or send an email to learn more about you, your product or service.
They are actively researching, listening and learning about your company in real-time.
As business owners and brands, getting your marketing message out and heard is critical.
Twitter levels the playing field allowing small to mid-sized companies to cast their marketing net further than ever before.
However, gaining a loyal Twitter following is easier said then done. Below are eleven simple tactics to get more Twitter followers!
Get More Twitter Followers (the right way)
1. Share Quality Content
While this one should go without saying, it is always worth repeating. Quality content gives people a reason to share, comment and come back for more.
Are you a blogger? Re-purpose your content to give it an added boost. Turn a post or survey into an Infographic or share a single quote or thought to elevate the conversation and begin to better brand your tweets.
Shareable content has a purpose.There is a passion and authenticity behind it, a vision driven by goals. http://t.co/wXfeBjMTHx
— Rebekah Radice (@RebekahRadice) June 17, 2013
2. Know Your Niche
Understanding who your potential consumer is and what needs you can solve is vital when crafting content.
Steve Keating is laser-focused on the needs of his followers. He provides quality tweets on a daily basis that speak to the sales professional and leader.
If you can’t care about more than yourself then you can’t care enough to truly lead.
— Steve Keating CSE (@LeadToday) June 16, 2013
Consider this as well. While many say to avoid politics or religion, that might not be the right solution for your business.
Twitter offers a platform where being a little controversial might be a great way for you to start a dialog. The important component is to always put the needs of your followers first.
3. Be Honest
When asking for followers, do not trick them into following. Be straightforward in your intentions and make it clear what you like to talk about or what your opinions are.
Expectations up front will connect you with the right people and avoid frustration and eventually, a loss in followers who feel mislead.
4. Use Hashtags
Use hashtags to find people and topics centered around subjects you are interested in. #Ford for example would introduce you to fellow Ford enthusiasts who are eager to chat about their favorite topic.
#Ford pic.twitter.com/KRXB1hHpK4
— Lifted Trucks (@_LiftedTrucks_) June 17, 2013
5. Join Twitter Chats
Twitter chats are an excellent way to connect with like-minded individuals who are tweeting about the same content that excites you.
Check the frequently updated Twitter chat schedule
The largest chat on Twitter, #Blogchat is one I recently joined and truly enjoy. It is a weekly chat about topics helpful to anyone blogging personally or professionally. Hosted by Mack Collier, topics cater to newbies as well as advanced. This means you can connect with people that are talking about what interests you. Build deeper, more meaningful connections through Twitter chats!
If you missed last night’s #Blogchat on our fav WP plugins, here’s the transcript – https://t.co/TfpWVqyGW4
— Mack Collier (@MackCollier) June 17, 2013
6. Brand Your Twitter Channel
Take advantage of the customization options Twitter options including a branded background, adding your professional head shot and filling out your bio.
Take your time to carefully write a bio that expresses who you are, how your business can help consumers (this is your answer to the “what’s in it for me” question) and above all else, be authentic. Take your offline personality and accurately convey that on Twitter.
Nobody has a more authentic brand then Peg Fitzpatrick. Whether you land on her blog or her Google+ profile, each picture, word and post screams “positively Peggy.”
As the Queen of Google+, she also stays true to her love of that platform by sharing great G+ tidbits often! The key here? Your personal brand is about more than a look or feel. It’s incorporated into your tone, voice and content shared.
Get ready to rock your Google+ http://t.co/jK6rrzVRyf
— Peg Fitzpatrick (@PegFitzpatrick) June 17, 2013
7. Get Engaged
Get involved in the conversation and make it a point to stay actively engaged. It’s not enough to schedule a few tweets. You must begin to create conversation.
Ask questions and craft them in a way that they are worth replying to. People and content are moving rapidly. Give them a statement worth replying to. Reply in kind and open the lines of communication.
8. Don’t Haphazardly Follow
Be strategic in who you follow. What is your niche, passion, favorite pastime or hobby? Follow people that share information similar to what you find interesting.
A few Twitter tools to find people to follow:
- Twellow – A directory of public Twitter accounts, with hundreds of categories and search features to help you find people who matter to you.
- WeFollow – Get the most out of Twitter by finding the right people to share the conversation: find new, like-minded friends.
- Just Tweet It – A user directory for Twitter organized by genre to allow for users to easily find other Twitter users to connect with.
9. Be Helpful
If you are only using Twitter to push out your marketing message, you are missing a huge opportunity. Twitter allows you to offer great content that provides a benefit. Share helpful information that solves a problem or provides a solution.
What content do you have sitting on your website or blog that could be shared in bite-sized snippets? Take your frequently asked questions, company about or top tips and use them as helpful and meaningful tweets.
10. Cross Promote
Use your existing social media accounts like Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest to cross-promote your Twitter channel. It’s a good marketing practice to drive people back to other social properties.
Not everyone chooses to engage on each social network, make sure you remind people where you are and how you would like them to connect with you.
11. Extend Your Twitter Karma
Someone who most assuredly has a whole heap of good Twitter karma coming his way is Terry Sullivan. Terry is a rockstar when it comes to retweeting, sharing and actively supporting his community. He is someone I met a while back and has now connected with my hubby. Gotta love the power of Twitter!
Take a tip from Terry and start a conversation today. You just never know where it will lead!
@RebekahRadice Hi Rebekah. I just want you to know that I think the world of your husband. Have a great weekend!
— Terry Sullivan (@TerrySullivan) June 16, 2013
Thank you. I will follow your tips
Thanks for your tips. I followed and got a good result
That’s great to hear Caroline. Thanks for sharing!
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You can certainly see your enthusiasm within the article you write.
The sector hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to mention how they believe.
All the time go after your heart.
That is a great tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere.
Simple but very precise info… Thanks for sharing this one.
A must read article!
Superb blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers?
I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress
or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that
I’m completely confused .. Any ideas? Thanks
a lot!
Hi Rebekah,
I found your post when searched for how to get followers on Twitter. Your post was from 2013, so will this still work in 2015?
So, if I follow the competitors followers, will this work to get more followers to my twitter?
I really appreciate your post and still need time to grasp it all.
Thank you for making the post, so inexperience one like me could get the benefit.
You actually make it seem really easy along with your
presentation but I in finding this matter to be really one thing that I believe I’d never
understand. It sort of feels too complex and very large for me.
I’m looking forward inn your next put up, I will try to get the rasp of it!
Hi Rebekah,
I just want to say that I have been looking for help with understanding how to effectively utilize Social Media and really didn’t understand Twitter that much. I have a wide variety of interests and limited time so this has been really helpful for me.
Thank you.
I love to hear that Heather! Thank you for stopping by!
You have given me some great ideas. I’m excited to try your recommendations. Many thanks.
I just walked into the jungle of Twitter and it is overwhelming for a newbie. I’ve read various guides and Twitter-Tips pieces, but yours is the first that seems helpful as well as applicable. Great job, and thank you so much for the help.
I am taking a new approach to Twitter after reading such a helpful piece.
I usually share content video on twitter. I think that good for my chanel. I think twitter good social promote text more than video share
Thanks for your great advice. Nowadays I am working for my twitter followers hope these tips will help me lot.
I have a hard time with Twitter and other social media being older. When I was teaching, we were told not to use social media, but I’m retired now and blogging. I’m doing my best to adapt and learn. Articles like this help a lot. Thanks so much, Rebekah!
Good tips! I’d add a 12th as well: budget time to regularly engage. Twitter isn’t a set it and forget it platform. Make time to talk to followers and others and actually BE social.
ok, so I love Twitter and I didn’t even know there was a Twitter Chat Schedule- thankful for your continued advice!
Great points. I have also noticed that I tend to get more followers when I make it as easy as possible for them to follow me, i.e. by providing a follow me button / box on my blog. When the follow me button is missing, I get followed only by those people who are trying to sell me something and are willing to spend their time searching for ways to follow me. Painless following is the answer. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
I only have ten followers on Twitter. I have no idea how most of them found me. I am still new to Twitter and haven’t really discovered all the wonderful things that it has to offer. I am so glad I found this post. Thank you!
It’s a process Kim just like anything else, but if you stick with it and make a commitment to growing it, followers will come in time. Have fun!
Great post, I’m off to check out the Just Tweet It directory right now.
Let me know what you think Matt!
Hi Rebekah, I totally agree with you. All your points are valid.Share Quality Content can be the main point to increase followers.
Thanks Pawan – I completely agree on quality content!