Growing your fan base on Twitter: Things to avoid


Using Twitter for business has proven to be a valuable tool for many companies, but like any growing media, the rules are still developing and constantly changing.

In a recent post at Mashable, blogger Atherton Bartleby compares the interaction between people on Twitter to that of a fabulous party:

“We’ve all been there: You’re at a party hosted by that one fabulous friend, and populated with the best of your mutual circle of friends. The atmosphere is almost carbonated with excitement; the guests’ personalities flawlessly compliment each other; and the conversations that abound are infused with intelligence, caustic wit, and a wide variety of knowledge that ensures the complete absence of any pregnant, awkward pauses. Then, it happens: someone appears who just doesn’t…fit.”
A similar situation occurs on Twitter when someone starts following you and doesn’t fit into the conversation. “This is the person whose follow on Twitter you simply cannot bring yourself to return,” and what Bartleby calls the “follow fail.”

If you would like to grow the number of followers you have on Twitter and get Bartelby to start following you too, here are a few pointers from his list of top reasons why he doesn’t follow some people in return:

  • No user avatar
  • - You may think that tiny 48 x 48 pixel avatar is insignificant, but it may have a lot to do with whether people choose to follow you or not. Create an avatar that is either a personalized photograph or reflective of your brand to help users associate your Twitter account with your company.
  • You profile is lacking
  • - Take a minute or two to make sure your Twitter profile includes your location, website and a short bio. Remember, you want people to follow you - so explain why they should.
  • It’s all about you
  • - By using Twitter, you hope to increase awareness of your brand to drive more people to your site to buy your stuff, but you don’t have to make it so obvious. Show that your account is worthy of followers by sharing valuable content, not just product updates.
  • You’re not engaging
  • - Engage and interact with the people who are following you. “They aren’t called ‘social’ networking and ‘social’ media for nothing.
    And that’s not even the half of it … read more Twitter tips here.

    Like any other aspect of your business, Twitter should be used to create value for your followers. Twitter has the potential to improve your business if you work to engage the people in your network, start interesting conversations and share valuable information.

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