Social Media Marketing University » Twitter for business http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com The #1 Most Trusted Social Media Training Firm Sat, 08 Jun 2013 01:50:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Twitter for Business Gets a Relaunch: What To Expect http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/twitter-business-relaunch-expect/ http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/twitter-business-relaunch-expect/#comments Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:18:10 +0000 John Souza http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/?p=4804 Twitter for businessTwitter for business has finally relaunched this past Monday, and aims to be the central resource to help businesses gain traction, fans and income with their Twitter marketing strategies. There, you can find a variety of lessons and tutorials teaching you about leveraging the 140 character platform. Let’s investigate. What is Twitter For Business? Twitter [...]]]> Twitter for business has finally relaunched this past Monday, and aims to be the central resource to help businesses gain traction, fans and income with their Twitter marketing strategies. There, you can find a variety of lessons and tutorials teaching you about leveraging the 140 character platform. Let’s investigate.

Twitterbiz 300x180 Twitter for Business Gets a Relaunch: What To Expect

Courtesy of twitter.com


What is Twitter For Business?

Twitter is a very large, very prominent social site, but they are also acutely aware that many of the business people on their platform, have no idea how to use it properly. As a result of this inability to adequately market on Twitter – bounce rates are higher, and owners are choosing to market more on the ‘easier’ platforms like Facebook and Pinterest.

Twitter for business is their solution to this concern. It will function like the Facebook blog, and Allfacebook.com, which is the total resource site for all things to do with the social network. Business owners will be pleased to find simple-to-use tutorials that provide powerful tips and advice, which will help them gain followings and sell on Twitter.


The Homepage Structure

Twitter’s slogan ‘grow your business, 140 characters at a time’ is splashed across their homepage, with a button that invites you to begin advertising right away. This is clearly part of Twitters strategy to increase the reach of their advertising networks. Twitter for business is therefore a learning resource and a promotional step up for Twitter.

• The site will improve Twitter’s ad revenue, as it teaches people how to effectively use their advertising options.

On the homepage, Twitter promises that they’ll help you master the basics, build your community and market on Twitter. They don’t
disappoint.

Twitter2 300x193 Twitter for Business Gets a Relaunch: What To Expect

Courtesy of Twitter.com


The Basics Area on Twitter For Business

The basics area on the site introduces you to Twitter and why you should be using it. Twitter cites the main reasons as, growth, learning, listening and connection. There are several other Twitter for business areas in this basics section that teach you:

• Twitter glossary of terms and functions (tweet, mention, hashtag etc)
• It tells you who is on Twitter and what they talk about
• According to Twitter, 94% of Twitter users want to hear about your discounts
• This section discusses Twitter mobile, and how 60% of fans use it
• You’ll learn how to establish your brand personality
• How to tweet daily in an organized fashion
• How to write star-quality tweets that work
• How to use photos, videos and other content on Twitter for business
• The best practices to use, how to measure them and how to secure your account
• Click on what kind of business you are for more in-depth tutorials


The Build Your Community Area on Twitter For Business

This section shows you, the business owners, how to make the right impression with your profile, and how to engage your initial audience. From creating a stunning profile, to building your fan base, attracting followers and integrating your efforts – there’s a practical section for you to read on this powerful new learning resource.

Twitter also recommends that you work with others, and educate your employees to work with Twitter to increase your reach. On nearly every page, there is a small section pushing the Twitter for business advertising options.

Twitter3 300x184 Twitter for Business Gets a Relaunch: What To Expect

Courtesy of Twitter.com


The Marketing With Twitter Section

On Twitter for business, you’ll find the ‘marketing with Twitter’ section that takes a closer look at more advanced Twitter strategies and practices. From targeting, to working with analytics, running promotions and executing marketing techniques – you can figure out how to do it all here on the platform.

The most interesting section here was about scaling. I find that in business, companies always find it difficult to grow after they have reached a certain number on their social networks. This section introduces some fresh ideas about TV and Twitter, and how 95% of conversations about TV happen on the platform. It’s well worth reading.

You can also move onto the promotional section, where Twitter will teach you how to engage your audience with events, launch products on Twitter, how to use incentives, and finally – how to create exclusive deals that will drive your overall results. It’s all very clever, and very nicely done. I would recommend sifting through this resource, even if you’re a pro.


The Ad Products Section

There is a section that explains their advertising products in more detail, though the entire site really pushes businesses to use this service that they offer. I find myself feeling like Twitter for business is half about learning and half about selling.
This section will take you through each form of advertising (promoted accounts, promoted tweets etc) along with the analytics potential and pricing for each service.

twitter4 300x191 Twitter for Business Gets a Relaunch: What To Expect

Courtesy of Twitter.com


The Success Tab and Blog

Twitter for business has also included a success section, as social proof that their ads and platform can really help business owners earn more money and gain more social reach. They haven’t really touched on using Twitter Vine yet, as it’s still so new – so watch out for an addition on this at a later point.

If Twitter can figure out how to integrate advertising and Twitter Vine on their platform, they just might be able to break through the glass ceiling and really skyrocket their ad revenue. Search the Twitter for business success section to hear all about brands making Twitter work for them. Otherwise check in at the blog for the latest news and updates.


The Final Say on Twitter For Business

All in all, the videos are great, the content good and the experience is worth a go. Advanced users will find these resources interesting but shallow, as they are geared towards a novice market. However, I would suggest checking it out anyway. Don’t let the pitch fool you though, this is Twitter trying to push advertising on their users. It’s not a bad thing, but be prepared to see it for what it is.

What did you think of the new Twitter for business page? Is it useful?

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10 Ethical Ways To Find Twitter Followers Online http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/10-ethical-ways-find-twitter-followers-online/ http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/10-ethical-ways-find-twitter-followers-online/#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:25:49 +0000 John Souza http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/?p=4502 find Twitter followersTo find Twitter followers for your account, you’ll need to employ some tactics that don’t involve paying for ‘fans.’ This trend to pay for fans and followers is being undermined by the changing algorithms on these social platforms. The only way to find and keep good followers, is to source them organically. Today, I show [...]]]> To find Twitter followers for your account, you’ll need to employ some tactics that don’t involve paying for ‘fans.’ This trend to pay for fans and followers is being undermined by the changing algorithms on these social platforms. The only way to find and keep good followers, is to source them organically. Today, I show you how.

121003 TECH twitterfollowers.jpg.CROP .article568 large 10 Ethical Ways To Find Twitter Followers Online

Courtesy of slate.com


#1: Have a Custom Page

If you want to find Twitter followers in your niche, then you need a great looking Twitter page. Invest some time and money into your design, your logo, your icons – and focus especially on your background. When people check to see who you are, they should be able to find out in a matter of seconds. Keep those Twitter ethics in mind!


#2: Find Twitter Followers Via Directories

The internet is full of quality directories like Twellow and WeFollow, where you can discover the most applicable people to follow in your niche. Sometimes all it takes is a friendly hello and for you to follow their account. Then they will follow yours (as long as you’re relevant). Directories are a great place to find business contacts, friends, mentors or peers.


#3: Run a Twitter Contest

It sounds cliché, but Twitter marketing contests do work! Simply put together a nice prize for the winner and create a catchy hashtag. The bigger the prize the more followers you’ll get. You can also offer multiple prizes and be sure to keep it exclusive to Twitter. Find Twitter followers by adding general contest hashtags to these posts.


#4: Discover Twitter Online

The easiest way to find Twitter followers is to explore certain niches or hashtags on Twitter itself. Twitter often recommends some great people for you to follow. Alternatively you can click on a Twitter business account you admire and see who they follow. Sometimes the best people are hidden away in these more mainstream accounts.

photodune 882828 follow checkbox xs 300x199 10 Ethical Ways To Find Twitter Followers Online

Courtesy of get-social-fans.com


#5: Be Highly Interactive

The first thing real Twitter users look for is to find Twitter followers that actually interact with them. Be sure to interact regularly with your Twitter users, chat with them – share stories and advice with them – anything to get the discussions or comments moving forward. That way when new users check on you, they’ll see that you are an active user.


#6: Authentic, Regular Posting

Nothing is easier than posting on Twitter every day, and it’s something you must do if you’re trying to grow your following. Find Twitter followers by adding at least 4-5 pieces of new content to your account daily. Consistency is really the key to a successful Twitter page.


#7: Live Tweeting For Followers

Host special ‘live tweet’ events where you and your followers add event details or up-to-date news on your page as it happens. Going to a niche seminar? Keep your Twitter fans in the loop by tweeting all about it.


#8: Use Tweets in Your Blogs

You may have noticed that I sometimes use Tweets as social evidence in my blogs. You can do this to boost the number of people flowing from your blog to your Twitter page! Find Twitter followers by adding tweet evidence to your blog posts.

twitter followers 10 Ethical Ways To Find Twitter Followers Online

Courtesy of productsreviewsblog.com


#9: Be an Authority

I know it’s been said a lot but if people know who you are they will follow you. Write an ebook, podcast or webinar and brand it with clickable links to your Twitter page!


#10: Use Hashtags Properly

Learning how to properly use hashtags will help you find Twitter followers ethically. Notice how other people use them on Twitter and be specific. Never more than 3-4 in one update!

Use these 10 tips to find Twitter followers online. You don’t need to PAY for followers, and it’s an unethical practice that has no real value. Do the right thing!

Join our Twitter page right here!

How do you ethically collect Twitter followers?

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20 Quick Twitter Tips To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/20-quick-twitter-tips-thankful-thanksgiving/ http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/20-quick-twitter-tips-thankful-thanksgiving/#comments Fri, 23 Nov 2012 04:51:35 +0000 John Souza http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/?p=4001 Twitter tipsLearning Twitter tips like these will give you good insight into how you can improve your strategy, and ramp up your networking efforts this Thanksgiving. From now until Christmas, you have a window of opportunity to leverage these great ideas and make them work for your business. Today, I’m giving you a quick and easy [...]]]> Learning Twitter tips like these will give you good insight into how you can improve your strategy, and ramp up your networking efforts this Thanksgiving. From now until Christmas, you have a window of opportunity to leverage these great ideas and make them work for your business. Today, I’m giving you a quick and easy list of pro tips for your Twitter strategy.

twitter tips teachers 20 Quick Twitter Tips To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving

Courtesy of edudemic.com


#1: Add a Page Header

You can now add a page header image (1200×600, max 5mb) make sure that yours helps define your brand identity.


#2: Bookmark Twitter Tips

Add a few key search terms on Twitter tips to your list of indexed keywords on Google, and have fresh information delivery to your inbox each day.


#3: Dial Back The Direct Promotion

Instead of publishing ad tweets, add value by promoting something worthwhile, and attach an ad message to that once the reader clicks through.


#4: Exclusive on Twitter

Treat your Twitter followers like they are special, and give them exclusive deals and coupons. These twitter tips will help expand your fan base.

twitter915 20 Quick Twitter Tips To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving

Courtesy of consumerqueen.com


#5: Be a Twitter Crusader

Your Twitter details belong on your business card, email signature, general stationary, website, sales pages, forum extension – everywhere you can put it.


#6: Use Lots of Images

One of the best Twitter tips I can give you is to focus on uploading images that enhance your tweets. People love to respond to the emotion in images.


#7: Find People on Twitter Directories

Want to add relevant people to your page? Use Twitter directories like Twollow, WeFollow and Connect.me.


#8: Resource Twitter Tips

Share resources with your community that are truly valuable and interesting. Anyone can find an infographic, but is yours something special?


#9: Make Hashtags a Habit

Use hashtags to describe your blog posts, Facebook updates or other content – or integrate a hashtag into important content, that will draw people to your Twitter page.


#10: Get on Expert Lists

Make friends with 5 key niche experts, and interact with them often. Twitter tips like this will get you put on expert lists, by the experts.


#11: Be a Twitter Chatter

Host live tweeting events or attend them to become more visible in your niche. There, you can connect, network and share with lots of influencers and potential followers.


#12: Focus on Quality Users

Focus on getting quality users by finding people to connect with who always share things on Twitter. Twitter tips like this will have a dead page transform into an active feed within days.


#13: Maintain Your Profile

Check on your connections daily, follow back, learn, reply, retweet – be active. You need to maintain your profile all the time.

Twitter Follow Text Bird Web 20 Quick Twitter Tips To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving

Courtesy of makeitinmusic.com


#14: Use a Twitter Client

If you find direct platform use a bit much to manage, use a Twitter client like Tweetdeck. There you can form a strategy and schedule tweets.


#15: Focus on Variety

Twitter tips often don’t extend to the conversation itself, but that’s what you’re after. Focus on speaking to and about a variety of things (and people), to attract more followers.


#16: Creative DM Use

Don’t use your direct message system to try and sell something to new followers. Be creative, personal and add value instead.


#17: Be Direct and Honest

When connecting with people, get to the point! Be direct and honest and make your intentions known, or you won’t get replies.


#18: Thoughts VS Actions

Actions are important, but thoughts on Twitter matter more. A Twitter tips stream for example, with no opinion or substance won’t gain many followers.


#19: Showcase Twitter Talent

Use your Twitter community to enhance your blog, newsletter and other marketing goals. Roundups, shout-outs and ‘discussion topics of the week’ are a great place to start.


#20: Going The Extra Mile

Twitter tips like these will keep your profile buzzing! One last thought – Being on Twitter is like paying to get into a nightclub. You’ve made the effort to be there, but you won’t have a good time if you don’t reach out to other people. Buy people drinks, put a platter out – show them some great dance moves, and you won’t have to spend the night alone!

Did you enjoy this post? Then please share it with your friends!

Which one of these points did you find most useful?

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How To Curate Information From Twitter http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/curate-information-twitter/ http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/curate-information-twitter/#comments Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:26:26 +0000 John Souza http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/?p=3721 Twitter CurationTwitter has become quite the breaking news resource, and it’s packed full of user-generated information, topics and tips. If you know where and how to look, you’ll never be short of content for your blog or social media pages. Today, I’m going to show you how to curate content on Twitter. A Quick Curation Guide [...]]]> Twitter has become quite the breaking news resource, and it’s packed full of user-generated information, topics and tips. If you know where and how to look, you’ll never be short of content for your blog or social media pages. Today, I’m going to show you how to curate content on Twitter.

Content Curation 300x172 How To Curate Information From Twitter

Courtesy of iloveseo.net

A Quick Curation Guide 101

Curating content simply means collecting content from various credible places online. When you share someone else’s blog post on your Facebook page, that’s curating content – or when you retweet something on your Twitter feed. If it involves someone else’s work and you’re sharing it on your own network, you’re curating content.

Twitter As a Curation Tool

There are three reasons why you’ll want to use Twitter as your main content curation tool.

1) Twitter is to the second, which means content is always fresh there
2) Twitter is home to some expert curators, which makes your job easier
3) Twitter is brimming with content gems waiting to be discovered

First of all subscribe to these 3 accounts:

• @BreakingNews (4 million followers)
• @nytimes (6 million followers)
• @Reuters (2 million followers)

If you subscribe to these 3 accounts you’ll always be informed when breaking news hits, and you can then use it to boost your social strategy. For example, news is rampant because of Hurricane Sandy in New York. If you were warned early of this, you could have used it to create a thoughtful blog post.

twitter search 300x227 How To Curate Information From Twitter

Courtesy of mashable.com

Use Twitter Search

I love Twitter search, it’s a vastly underused resource for content creators online. Simply type in the term or topic that you’re searching for, and you’ll be able to find incredible accounts with amazing content. Then save your search, so you can find those accounts again when you need more info later.

Use Twitter search for:

• Facebook post updates
• Twitter retweets
• Finding niche authorities
• Creating interesting blog post topics
• User generated research for ebooks or whitepapers
• To find great hidden blogs the search engines hide
• To find unique Pinterest images

Think of Twitter as a super-powered search engine, except it’s run by people and not stats. If I type in ‘social media’ for example, I immediately get a list of real people and companies working in the social media niche. Then I can pop onto their pages and find relevant content for this post.

twitter search linkedin 300x280 How To Curate Information From Twitter

Courtesy of twitter.com

Clicking on @mauricefreedman (Social Media Expert) I find an interesting article on how brands can now buy video ads on Linkedin. I can then choose to create a post of my own about it, write a response post to his blog or just share the info with my social network.

Twitter has the power to provide you with new information, something you always need when you’re running your own social campaigns. So, keep your eyes pealed and take advantage of breaking news, trends and hot topics in your niche, by using Twitter as a curation tool.

If you liked this blog post on Twitter curation, please share it with your friends icon smile How To Curate Information From Twitter

How do you find content to share online?

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7 Explosive Twitter Marketing Tactics You Don’t Know About http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/7-explosive-twitter-marketing-tactics-dont/ http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/7-explosive-twitter-marketing-tactics-dont/#comments Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:20:37 +0000 John Souza http://socialmediamagic.com/blog/?p=2976 Have you done anything to improve the way that you market your business on Twitter lately? If not, then check out today’s post, where I list 7 of the most explosive Twitter marketing tactics used by the pros. You might not know about these yet! #1: Use a Validation Service Are you tired of the [...]]]> Have you done anything to improve the way that you market your business on Twitter lately? If not, then check out today’s post, where I list 7 of the most explosive Twitter marketing tactics used by the pros. You might not know about these yet!

What to Tweet Twitter Marketing Tactics 300x169 7 Explosive Twitter Marketing Tactics You Don’t Know About

Courtesy of digitalorganics.com.au

#1: Use a Validation Service

Are you tired of the thousands and thousands of tweets, and absolutely no interaction from any of your followers? A lot of Twitter accounts are spammers, and there’s only one way to deal with those – sign up for a Twitter validation service! Each person that follows you will have to validate that they are human.

#2: Use Your Direct Messages Properly

Direct messages are a great way to share incentives with select fans. Run a Twitter competition, and tell your fans that the prize will be delivered in a DM link. You can get a lot of interaction on Twitter from this one simple marketing play.

#3: Streamline Your DM Auto Delivery

If you have an auto-tweet that is delivered to the direct message box of new followers – please make sure that yours is friendly, non-intrusive and does not sell anything to anyone. People don’t like spam, sales spam, or other spam, disguised as an incentive.

#4: Advertise As Much as You Can

If Twitter is a big earner for you, there’s nothing more lucrative than setting up an advertising campaign on the platform. People are hesitant to spend advertising dollars on social sites, but once they do – they never go back. Step out of the box and advertise – your earnings will increase rapidly in no time!

#5: Don’t Only Use Hashtags, Create Them

Hashtags can be used to great effect, when the small business marketer creates and markets something unique across their social pages. Use hashtags to promote a new product, give away a great incentive – or to get the word out on a local event. It doesn’t have to trend to be extremely valuable to your users.

#6: Use Your Connect Page To Open Dialogues

Click on your ‘connect’ page to open your interactions section in Twitter. Find out who has retweeted your tweets, favorited them, followed you, spoken to you and more. Target recent folks who want to open a dialogue, and do! Create genuine friendships with people, and Twitter will become a marketing hive for you.

#7: Use Your Twitter ID Everywhere

If you haven’t yet put your Twitter handle on your business cards, emails, pamphlets, on your blog author signature – everywhere – do that now. You have to build credibility for your Twitter ID, by making it as popular as your actual name. Think of it as a name, with a lot of information attached to it. You want people to see it!

Use these 7 explosive Twitter tactics to expand your following, increase interaction and create a great name for yourself on Twitter. Once the word is out that you’re using your account like a pro, the rewards will come. People appreciate a well-managed account, even if it’s just based on ‘interaction’ page replies.

Are you harboring an explosive Twitter tip that you’d like to share with SMM? Leave it here!

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Twitter Brand Pages And Their Role in Your Business http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/twitter-brand-pages-role-business/ http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/twitter-brand-pages-role-business/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:59:24 +0000 John Souza http://socialmediamagic.com/blog/?p=2484 Subway Twitter PageTwitter brand pages are on the rise. But what role will they play in your social strategy this year? Find out in today's hot post on Twitter brand pages!]]> Twitter is in the process of launching their new brand pages – but what’s the big deal? It’s just another update by a social giant trying to keep up with the rest, right? Wrong! There is something appealing about these brand pages, and this makes them very important. Has Twitter once again cut through the complex nonsense and delivered a winner? Let’s take a closer look at these brand pages.

New Twitter Subway 300x180 Twitter Brand Pages And Their Role in Your Business

Courtesy of therealtimereport.com

Brand Pages are Spreading

Just a few days ago, Twitter brand pages hit the UK, and they’re making headlines. After a December introduction in the US, marketers are sitting up and taking notice of this development, with interesting results. Experts have compared it with both Facebook and Youtube – but it has something these two sites don’t have.

Once again the simplicity of the idea has astounded the world. Considering the fact that internet users are consuming thousands of pieces of text everyday, and they’re doing it at lightning speed, this is a good move on Twitters part. Now, your brand has a simple yet powerful brand page on the world’s fastest news site.

Fans love to read snippets of information, to keep updated on your business. Twitter is the perfect location for this. Your brand page will become one of your most influential social pages – it may even rival Facebook. With simplicity, speed and easy consumption on their side, Twitter has made great strides in de-cluttering your online presence with these brand pages.

Twitters Role in Your Business

Your Twitter brand page will become a complete profile for your business. You can upload an attractive header, for additional brand identification and exposure. You are also able to showcase images and videos here, which open directly on your page. To make it even more interesting, you can ‘pin’ a particular tweet to the top of your page.

Twitter has secured a more prominent role in your social strategy. It ties in nicely with your Youtube video feed, and makes any image marketing more efficient. Now that you can tweet with video and images, you’ll be able to attract more followers. There is one concern though – once someone has followed you, they don’t need to return to your brand page.

All of your tweets will show up in their feed. They may get lost in the ever scrolling torrent of followed tweets. You’ll have to work extra hard at keeping your business profile up to date to make any impact. If anything, these new brand pages have made tweeting often even more compulsory. Time them right, and you’ll enjoy a lot of clicks, views and comments!

The question on everyone’s mind is: when will brand pages be available to everyone? We can only hope as soon as possible. Early adopters will enjoy increased exposure, and increased interaction on their pages – as tweeted conversations are grouped together, like they are on Facebook. Watch this space!

Do you like the new Twitter brand pages? What do you like about them? Leave your insight below.

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The New Twitter: Design, Functionality and Strategy http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/twitter-design-functionality-strategy/ http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/twitter-design-functionality-strategy/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:09:43 +0000 John Souza http://socialmediamagic.com/blog/?p=2427 Twitter changesThe new Twitter comes complete with brand pages, but they're not here yet! Find out how your business will benefit from these new changes. It's the low down on their redesign, and your future strategy.]]> There have been a lot of changes to a range of social sites over the past few months, but none quite as excellent, as Twitter. For some reason, the Twitter team really gets it right. There are a whole new range of possibilities to consider early this year, as they roll out a dazzling variety of changes, that are making businesses smile all the way to the bank. Today, we take a closer look at your future Twitter strategy.

twitter brand page 580x391 300x202 The New Twitter: Design, Functionality and Strategy

Courtesy of slashgear.com

Redesign and Simplicity

Twitter’s mantra has always been about simplicity, and they do a great job of keeping that intact with these new changes. The redesign has shifted their basic navigation buttons to the left, instead of the right – and the three main buttons are now home, connect and discover, at the top. The most interesting is the discover tab that pulls in articles and posts from around the internet, that have been tweeted about.

Twitter Brand Pages are Coming

Aside from small improvements to search and navigation – the biggest change was the introduction of Twitter brand pages. Right now, you can’t set yours up yet, but the microblogging platform plans to open them to the public in the next few months. This is what you’ll want to keep an eye out for, as it enhances your business profile on Twitter. More clicks, media and sales are on the horizon.

The brand pages are outstanding. They’re reminiscent of Youtube’s brand pages, only they’re much easier to look at, and use. When the brand pages are rolled out, you’ll be able to display a much larger logo or avatar to your fans – and you can upload a ‘banner’ graphic below your information for better brand identity.

In the spirit of providing great content to your Tweeting fans, you can also pin certain tweets to the top of your page. This means businesses can promote certain tweets continually, without having to tweet a million times about something important. On the right, you’ll have a list of your information – like who you’re following, and what lists you’re involved with.

But I have to say – the best part of the new brand pages is the media functionality. Now, each tweet that contains a video or image has the ability to expand that media right on the page. And every single reply that you get from fans is detailed below the tweet, so that others can join in the conversation more efficiently.

Improved Communication Across The Board

This has turned Twitter into a much more convincing social community. Before, on personal profile pages, messages were disjointed and it was difficult to keep track of group conversations. The new layout means that videos and images are equally as important as Facebook videos and images – as they prompt additional interaction.

Brand page owners can set certain tweets so that the media is open, for visual impact, to enhance their pages. The pitfalls of this new functionality are already becoming apparent. Coke for example, spends a lot of time replying to individual tweeters, which makes their brand page seem one dimensional.

The new layout and design will have Twitter marketing strategists searching for ways to even out the content influx and replies. Timing, scheduling and media are definitely going to become more important. All in all, a fantastic step up for Twitter. We can’t wait until we can get our brand page up!

Check out these live brand pages: @DisneyPixar, @CocaCola, @McDonalds.

Do you like the new Twitter layout? Tell us what you like about it!

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5 Ways Twitter Can Be Improved http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/5-ways-twitter-improved/ http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/5-ways-twitter-improved/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:26:23 +0000 John Souza http://socialmediamagic.com/blog/?p=2132 Twitter picWill Twitter be able to evolve like Facebook and Google+? Here are the top 5 things we'd like to see Twitter implement in the coming months. Read it now!]]> No social media site is perfect, and people do a great job of letting these top sites know what needs to be changed. So, this is our contribution to a controversial list. We want to see some positive changes on Twitter, for increased social networking and better business exposure.

twitterWhale 5 Ways Twitter Can Be Improved

Courtesy of telerikwatch.com


#1: Trending Topics Filter

It’s nice that every time you log onto Twitter, you get to see which topics are trending in the world, but they are very rarely useful. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to filter these topics by niche or category? That way you can keep track of what’s hot and trending in your field. Less “Birdy Nam Nam” more “Social Business.”


#2: Lists That Don’t Profile Publish

Following lists is fun, but it’s a bit of a hassle wading through one-on-one person spam. Instead, why not allow users to publish exclusively to certain lists? It would increase list popularity, improve hashtag use, and make for a true second location to visit on Twitter. No on wants to see these posts on your profile.


#3: Can and Can’t See Profile Tweets

We always check out someone’s profile before following them, but a lot of the time – you can’t make sense of it. When you start a conversation with one person on Twitter, it litters your profile with conversation. All the good stuff ends up hidden. Instead of choosing between a great profile and a good conversation, why not add in a tweet profile editor, where you can show or hide certain tweets?


#4: Hashtag Filtering

It’s great that hashtags can solve a lot of filtering issues, but what if you only want to see a hashtag used by one specific person? Yes there’s the refine search option, but wouldn’t it be easier to have a little one click button on your Twitter page? Simply pop in the hashtag you want to find, click the button and it automatically does it. No more 10+ screening options. Twitter users like it short and quick.


#5: Hashtag Collections

Sometimes when we’re on Twitter, we come across a hashtag we really enjoy. Then suddenly, it’s gone. How about a widget that allows you to store your top 5 or collections of hashtags, that can be viewed by your community? They will help define your business account, and add great crowd sourced info to your profile.

Twitter will continue to evolve, and hopefully we’ll see some of these changes in the future. There hasn’t been much discussion on how the Google+ vs. Facebook debacle will affect Twitter – and we think it’s more than they’d like. Both Google and Facebook have spent a lot of time and money expanding their services, and we’d like to see some from Twitter as well.

There is so much more that they can do to make their site business friendly, improve on spam filters and update their hashtag technology. If they do these things, it’s likely that Twitter will remain a prominent player in social media.

How do you think Twitter can improve? We’ve given you some suggestions, now add to the list!

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10 Tips To Monetize Your Twitter Page http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/10-tips-monetize-twitter-page/ http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/10-tips-monetize-twitter-page/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:50:27 +0000 John Souza http://socialmediamagic.com/blog/?p=2019 Monetize TwitterTweeting is fun, but it's also a business tool for making money. Find out how to transform your Twitter page into a constant money maker here. Read it now!]]> How do you make money from running a Twitter page for your business? That’s the question we look at in detail today. Twitter is not as simple to figure out as social sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, but it can be a highly lucrative platform for your business. Implement some of these ten tips to monetize your Twitter page.

twitter money 300x300 10 Tips To Monetize Your Twitter Page

Courtesy of myresonancescore.com


#1: Use Your Background Space

Get a custom design created for your Twitter page that promotes your other pages, business or products that you sell. This space is free to use, so use it! Marketers that have great background info go on to get more clicks, follows and sales.


#2: Tweet About Trends

You want to get more followers on your page, so keep up with the daily trends – and include them in your tweets. Tweeting trending topics is a great way to source new followers, and drive more traffic to your websites.


#3: Use Links!

Tweets that contain links are retweeted more often than tweets that don’t. If you want a tweet to go viral, or to syndicate properly – say it with a link. Just use your tweet space to promote the link, instead of trying to cram a story in 140 characters.


#4: Add Photos

People love to see that who they’re interacting with on Twitter – are real. Add unique photos to your Twitter feed that promote your business. The key is to keep these photos unique to your Twitter page, so don’t syndicate them anywhere else.


#5: Blog Product Punts

Punting a product gets very little response on Twitter, unless you’re a corporate giant with an excellent deal. Instead, shape a blog post around your product, and promote the post. Include great info, and make it relevant for more clicks.


#6: Free Offers

If you’re giving something away on Twitter, you need to find an interesting way to offer it to your community. A lot of ‘free’ things are given away on this platform that end up being spam, or worse. Include a link and a friendly, witty comment.


#7: Real World Promotion

If your business exists in the real world, you need to let your customers know that you’re on Twitter. Instead of running an online Twitter promo, do one in real life – where a client gets the prize. Post the results and photos on Twitter!


#8: Help Other Sellers

Retweet the links and product placements of other Twitter users, then shoot them a message to say that you’ve helped them. Do this often enough, and you’ll build an army of people that are always willing to retweet your posts.


#9: Advertise on Twitter

Take advantage of Twitters sponsored tweets, or become a promoted business. Really, this is the only sure-fire way to build a large following in no time on the platform. If your community is a little thin, start here.


#10: Tweet on Facebook

Add your Twitter stream to your Facebook page. It will help filter some Facebook fans over to the microblogging platform. You could also run Twitter promotions on your Facebook page, and drive new traffic there that way.

How do you monetize Twitter? Is there something specific we’ve left out? Please let us know, under the post!

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How To Use Images on Twitter For Direct Sales http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/images-twitter-direct-sales/ http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/images-twitter-direct-sales/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:33:05 +0000 John Souza http://socialmediamagic.com/blog/?p=1862 Twitter imagesTwitter has a new photo sharing tool! Find out how you can maximize your photo gallery and sell more products in today's post. Read it now!]]> Twitter recently updated their platform by adding in an image gallery – so that your fans can browse your images. This new photo sharing functionality is a little different to platforms like Flickr, or Facebook for example. So, how can you use this new addition to your feed to sell more products?

corbin jpg twitter photo gallery hacks normal 300x196 How To Use Images on Twitter For Direct Sales

Courtesy of mashable.com


News on The Update

The Twitter photo gallery pulls in pics from hosting sites like Photobucket and Twitpic. The functionality is still quite basic, and the limits are quite staunch – only 100 images allowed. Once you upload an image…you can’t delete it yet, but hopefully that’s on Twitters top priority list. All you have to do is click on the image icon (the camera) at the bottom of every tweet to get Twitter to work its magic.


Using Your Photo Gallery

Use hashtags (#) to organize your photo stream, especially if you’re going to be planning some great image marketing. Now that Twitter allows photos, you can whip out all of those excellent product images, promo pamphlets and team shots that you’ve been dying to share with your community. Your goal is to increase your sales directly from Twitter, which has been difficult in the past.

Your followers can flick through your photo feed, and decide to buy then and there – something the traditional 140 character tweet made nearly impossible. Images are far more persuasive for browsers than words, so use this to your advantage.


Image Ideas

• Run photo competitions based on your brand. Track entries with a chosen hashtag.
• Release promo images and ask your followers to retweet. If they retweet, make them liable for a special offer or an incentive of some kind.
• Upload informal images of your business, team or guest appearances to personalize your feed.
• Upload your brochures, sales material or price lists – the more exposure they get, the more you will sell.
• Ask your followers to create a tweet (with your hashtag) based around a photo or product you’ve uploaded. Remember the incentive.
• Get creative. Use original artworks, cartoons or vectors to make your brand come alive.

These are just some ideas that you can incorporate into your Twitter marketing strategy. Individual personalities are finding the photo stream functionality extremely popular with their followers. Businesses can learn a thing or two from the celebs that have embraced the feature. Personal photos taken on impulse are a nice change from the stiff, posed images of the past.

Images are a great tool to inspire conversation, discussion and debate. If you need to pick up the interaction on your page, why not publish an image of someone else’s new product? Give it a review, and ask your followers to do the same. With this new direct feature on Twitter, marketers and business owners should be careful not to flood their followers with marketing material.

Involve other people’s products, images and comments to make the most out of this new feature. As always, it should be 80% conversation and 20% marketing. Product images are nice, but don’t forget to visit your favorite community feeds and comment there too! Soon direct sales from Twitter to your business website will soar!

Have you used Twitters photo gallery yet? What do you think? Leave your comment below!

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