How to Use Content Marketing on Twitter

In the third installment of this four-part series on using content to market and generate leads via social media, we’ll take a look at Twitter, which, due to its viral nature, is the best way to spread your messages like wildfire (of the Big Three, that is: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn).

But first, a little review about content from the first post:

When are you marketing yourself online, content is king.  The only way you can connect with your target market online and convince them that you are the person they need to do business with is by producing and sharing useful, interesting content on a consistent basis.

So who’s following you on Twitter?  In order to tweet the content they’re interested in reading and retweeting, and maybe even DMing you about, you need to know who your audience is.

Your Twitter followers are most likely complete strangers whose locations span the globe. Depending on your business model, they are not likely to be the best potential customers.  Maybe they’re interested in your company, but they are most likely interested in your industry.  Therefore, this is the place to share non-company-focused information to gain thought leadership.

Basically, Twitter is an information-dissemination platform more than an engagement tool just due to the vast amounts of tweets being generated 24/7.  If you mention or DM an individual or a company, they’ll get an alert via email, a cool new feature I really appreciate that makes it easier to engage on Twitter.

Just be sure that in your 160-character blurb that appears under your name and Twitter handle, you include your blog and website URL so people can learn more about you if they are so inclined.

Here’s what to tweet:

• Blog posts that are not company-focused but rather industry-focused
• Industry-focused articles, videos, and blog posts
• Articles, videos, and blog posts others have tweeted

That’s it.  Short list.

One other thing to keep in mind: Do not automate replies to people who follow you.  If you want to connect with them, write a personal message.  Automated replies smack of laziness and prove you have no clue what you are doing.

Next up: Content marketing on LinkedIn.

Image Courtesy: Flickr user crazyoctopus   (Creative Commons)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 at 9:00 am and is filed under Marketing, Social Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.


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