A strong network can open doors you – as an entrepreneur – never thought could be available. But how do you build that network on Twitter?
Here are some tips that will help you “pop through the Twitter clutter”, get the attention of the people you want to meet, build relationships with them, and create a strong network that can benefit everyone involved.
Give. Give. Give. And Give Again.
Every relationship worth having is one that goes 50/50. But who should take the first step? Well, how about you! Here are some ways you can make that all-important first approach:
- Retweet – If you found it impactful, share it around.
- Share what you read – If you read an article or blog posts that solved a problem for you, make sure to make it available for others. It might help someone else solve the same problem you had.
- Use the #FF hashtag – This is a cool way to let others know that you pay attention to what they say. You can get creative when doing it, and it doesn’t have to be just on Fridays.
Automate Your Tweets… the Right Way
On a recent newsletter, Chris Brogan made clear the importance of knowing when to automate:
Should you automate your Tweets? Probably not, if you mean those “thank you for following me” direct messages. Nearly no one likes those. It’s just a point of detail, I guess. Can you automate what time of day you send tweets? Sure! Lots of people do, and to good effect. I do. I blend automated/scheduled tweets with my realtime work every single day.
I am one of those who do not like automated DM messages. However, I automate informational content throughout the day to make sure I am sending information out when I am not around. These are not “hey, what’s up?” tweets, but links to blog posts, videos, and photos that I am sure at least one person will find useful.
Brevity is Key
Now, more than ever, time is gold. Look for a way to send your message in the most concise of ways. If possible, no more than 120 characters. That gives your network the chance of RT’ing your message in its entirety.
Klout is More than Just a Number
Klout can become more than just a number that illustrates your social influence. If used right, it can help you learn more about your network, and to see if there are other interests outside of work that you can explore on. This helps relationships to grow even stronger.
Be Personal
Remember the “social” part of social media? Make sure it is always in your mind.
People don’t want to deal with robots; they want to work and get to know real people. Every once in a while I tweet about yoga, photography, or sports. It’s a good way to let others know that I am interested in other things, and maybe even connect with someone else on a personal level. A “good morning” or “good night” don’t hurt either.
Tweetchats
They are a fantastic way to meet people within your professional field or sharing a personal interest. If you’re looking to find a tweetchat, here’s a list of chats that run throughout the week about different topics.
If you want to leave feedback, leave a comment below and let us know what you think of the post, or add more tips for entrepreneurs to build strong networks on Twitter!
