Build a loyal following on Twitter
October 31st, 2011
Image via CrunchBase
One of the best strategies for building a loyal following on Twitter is to share helpful tips with your own hashtag. A hashtag is just a keyword with a # before it. Twitter users read streams with hashtags that are relevant to their interests. You want to create a hashtag that is unique to you and relevant to your offerings.
For example, my hashtag is #MindsetTip because that’s the subject that I want to share tips on and mindset is what I coach about. So it’s relevant, unique to me, and of interest to my target market.
Here’s one of my tweets with my hashtag:
#MindsetTip: Start reminding yourself that wealth is on its way to you and be grateful for it.
The way to determine if the hashtag you want is being used is to do a search in Twitter for it. If nothing comes up you can use it. If tweets come up for it and it’s a big keyword for you, you can still use it occasionally in your tweets. Some general hashtags that I occasionally use are #mindset, #success, #life coach, #BusinessTips, and #LOA (Law of Attraction). But you still want to have one that’s unique to you so that twitter users can follow it and know that it’s you.
Here’s an example of using a general hashtag:
What is the one thing that only you can do today to increase your business revenue? #success
Some people put their hashtag at the beginning and others put it at the end. My method is to use my own hashtag at the beginning of tweets and general hashtags at the end.
You can start by compiling a list of tips on your topic that are under 140 characters. If you want them to be retweeted you should make them even shorter. They can be a specific topic within your field or your general topic. Whenever you think of more tips, add them to your list. I recommend having a list of tips that are on your main topic and then other lists of tips on specific topics.
For example, I write tips for mindset principles and business skills, but then I also write tips on specific areas such as Law of Attraction, social networking, money management, and successful practices.
Another method you can use is to tweet a short tip that links to a blog post that explains the tip in more detail (like this one!). Be sure to use a URL shortener when you use a link in your tweets so you have plenty of room.
The next step is to schedule your tweets using one of the Twitter schedulers such as Socialoomph, Hootsuite, or Tweet Adder. You can set them to run automatically and you can also connect them to your other social media accounts.
When you consistently share helpful tips and make it easy for your followers to find them with your own hashtag, your followers will begin to look forward to your tips.
I have a whole system set up for my tweets, which include tips with the hashtag as well as several other important categories. If you would like to have a social media assessment and learn how you can set up a tweeting system for the whole year’s worth of tweets check out my Social Media Mastery VIP Day.
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Great tips!
My challenge with twitter is that I almost feel like I’m tweeting only for the sake of tweeting. While I do get some comments once in a blue moon and some re-tweets, I feel I get very little return in terms of business. But maybe I’m just not dedicating enough time to it…
Love the hashtags Jeannette. And I have found that hashtags are a great way to build your visibility on Twitter. The general hashtags are seen my so many folks and if they are curious about you they are just a click away to visit your profile and then to start following you.
Thank you for sharing your tips and advice on personalizing your hashtags. I started one several months ago #socialmarkettips that corresponds to the group I started on Facebook. So that idea for your personalize hashtag.
Hi Jeannette
BEST explanation of Twitter hashtags this side of the Mississippi! Glad Lynn chimed in — I use #socialmarkettips quite a bit in my Tweets .
Great advice to “shorten” Tweets in order to make room for hashtags as well as Re-Tweets. For anything related to blogging, I like to use #blogchat and #blogtip. Of course, anyone participating in a blogging challenge is always provided with a hashtag specific to that challenge.
I just secured a hashtag a couple of days ago that I’m going to encourage attendees to use during a free webinar I’m doing next Wednesday. My presentation is all about marketing and promoting virtual events to get really good attendance. The hashtag I created is #EventMktg.
Thanks so much for an awesome post — love this topic!
Melanie
xoxo
What a great post. Learned alot since I am just starting to you use Twitter. Thanks Helen
Well that’s certainly a great compliment, Melanie! Glad I explained hashtags clearly enough. Thanks for stopping by!
Yes, E.G. it does take time and at first I didn’t think it was worth it. But after some coaching with an expert I figured out a way to make the time and use it more effectively. I use Twitter mostly to give away content and get my readers more familiar with me, my style, and my business. What makes it easy is that I have a system in place that does most of the work for me. I found that my traffic increases proportionately to the increase in number of Twitter followers. Plus using it gives you more exposure so people start seeing you everywhere.
Yes, Lynn. hashtags really increase your visibility. Be sure to use a unique one as well as the general ones so your fans can follow you. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for stopping by, Helen and I’m glad you liked the post.