Twitter has 336 million active monthly users, according to the company’s Q1 letter to shareholders, yet some companies are still not using the social media platform effectively. Amanda Hill, Principal and CEO of Three Box Strategic Communications, noted this in a recent blog post for the Public Relations Global Network.
“Many brands are still missing the mark by not having an intentional Twitter marketing plan and strategy,” Ms. Hill says. “Being proactive and strategic about your approach can generate positive brand exposure, quality hires, new business and more.”
What are some ways can you use Twitter effectively for your business? Here are some tips from the experts at Buchanan Public Relations:
“Twitter is a living laboratory of real-time business case studies. Companies can always find timely and relevant events, articles, or occurrences to comment on or share.” — Anne Buchanan, President
“A tweet should be treated the same as a customer service call or email. If the tweet is positive, always like it and respond, if appropriate. If the tweet is negative, address the tweet directly in a response and try to take the discussion offline.” — Nicole Lasorda, Vice President
“Companies can use the platform to establish themselves as thought leaders within their industry by addressing broader trends or current events.” — Megan Keohane, Assistant Vice President
“Take part in Tweet Chats. It’s an easy way to showcase your expertise, engage with your audience, and potentially, gain more followers.” — John Reynolds, Senior Account Executive
“Organizations should include visuals in their tweets whenever possible to help posts stand out.” — Jen Tedeschi, Account Executive
“Always keep an eye on Twitter’s list of trending topics and hashtags. For example, when “sheetcaking” was a trending news story, the BPR team recorded a video recreating the SNL skit and then published it to our social media channels. It became one of our most popular videos to date – all because we took advantage of a story everyone was talking about.” — Lauren Force, Account Coordinator
“Twitter is a great way to communicate directly with consumers. Consider engaging with your followers on Twitter in a funny way.” — Katie Byrne, Account Coordinator
Do you have tips for how businesses can use Twitter effectively? Let us know in the comments or in a tweet @BuchananPR.