We’ve all heard of “word of mouth” marketing, but have you stopped to consider the value of your words? Today I noticed the phrase “Word of Mouth”, which I presume was a Freudian translation. Twitter is used as part of our web presence solutions and being in the world of social media on a daily basis I see many giving advice on social media specifically for Twitter as of late. Although the service has been around since 2006, there is a continuous flow of people from all over the world joining the network. Twitter prompts users with the question “What are you doing?” and “Responses must be under 140 characters and can be sent via mobile text, instant message, or the web.” This is an opportunity to use word of mouth marketing in a whole new way through technology.
But at a time when information can be had in seconds, if not instantly, it’s important to think about the value of your updates. Is your update something your contacts would be interested in or can relate to? Is it useful in any way?
It’s also important to remember that people use Twitter for many different reasons, whether it’s to keep in touch with friends, family, the media, make business connections, or spread the word about a valuable product, service, event, or organization. Not everyone is there for the same reason, and that’s also true in the world of social media. If you have a product or service and all you do is link to that product or service in your updates, you may be ignored by many. I find that if you’re using social media tools for business, it’s critical to balance your updates with a good mix of greetings and personal communications, as well as informative and promotional updates. Your followers will appreciate the fact that your brand is friendly, approachable, and personable.
My personal Twitter tip is this: If you’re new to Twitter and have a business, you should have a public profile. Private profiles are an option on the service, but are best used by those who only want to communicate with those they know personally. If you want to spread the word about your business, you must participate in public broadcasting. Always take the time to preview the profiles of your new followers and make sure they are legit; this includes a preview of your photo, bio, and tweet history. If something doesn’t feel right to you, you have the power to block it. Be courteous to legitimate followers and follow them. Keep in mind that they won’t be able to “DM” you unless you’re following them in return, and it’s possible that this simple reciprocity could come in handy one day. Be sure to acknowledge your connections, what your interests are, and why you’re connected. Try to provide them with valuable updates, share interesting thoughts, and enjoy the fact that you are connected to each other, fostering those connections, just as you would with any friend, to the best of your ability.
