If you have an online business, you’ve probably been told at least once to get on Twitter. Maybe you’re already on Twitter but don’t feel like you’re getting anything out of the space.

Truth be told—Twitter can be great for promoting your small business. And while proponents of social media like to say “anything goes, there really are no rules”—that’s not necessarily the case.

There are a few unspoken etiquette rules when promoting your business on Twitter and if you don’t pay attention to some of the tips mentioned below, it can cause people to ignore your friend requests or unfollow you all together.

Just remember, Twitter is a community—not advertising space. People will accept the promotion of your business in balance. Don’t expect to sign up for twitter, put out a few of your links and have whopping sales or clients pouring in overnight.

Seriously– not gonna happen.

But, if you work to make relationships and connect with your target audience, you’ll be on your way to getting sales or clients in no time.

And I do say this from personal experience. As a freelance writer, all of my well paying writing gigs have come as a result of the connections I’ve made on Twitter. Same goes for my network marketing business. While the venture is relatively new, I’ve been able to speak with prospects and sell a few products because of my connections in the space.

So without further adieu, let’s get started with some basic do’s and dont’s in promoting your business on Twitter:

• DON’T sign up for twitter and follow hundreds of people all at once. Instead, sign up and follow people sloooowwwly (You don’t want to be mistaken for a spammer). If a person follows me and they have one update, 500 friends and 2 followers, I just assume it’s a spammer and won’t follow.
• DO follow a manageable number of people and try to keep your followers to followee ratio relatively equal until you get the swing of things.
• DON’T make all of your updates about your company, blog or service. Instead, have REAL, friendly conversations until people get to know you as someone they can trust. This requires you following what other people are saying and engaging in conversations that go beyond yourself or your business.
• DO post links to your latest blog entries, sales, etc.—but KEEP IT BALANCED.
• DO share (or Retweet) links to other people’s giveaways, blog entries or sales items. By paying attention to what other people are saying, those people will be more likely to give your stuff a look when they see it come across the screen. It’s called karma and it works.
• DON’T auto DM! Auto Dm’s are those pesky little personal messages you are probably sending out to your followers that say “Hi! Thanks for following! Here’s the link to my site _______!” If that’s you, STOP. Again, get to know the people you are following before you hit them with your links. Anything a person needs to know about you can be found on your bio line. Keep it that way.
• DO DM someone about something that relates to THEM (again stepping outside yourself). For example, I followed back someone today that wrote how she had 50 some followers and her husband was impressed because that was more than Jesus. Well of course that made me laugh so I DM’ed her to say hi and that I was cracking up over her comment. Friendly conversation in a DM is A’ok
• DON’T announce to the world how many followers you have! I know it gets exciting when we feel like we are finally connecting to our target audience and people want to hear what we have say, but keep your numbers to yourself!
• DO use twitter to invite people in your target audience OFF the space and onto your blog. From there you can be more promotional of your products, your services, etc. On twitter you’ll make and foster the connections—but you’ll actually convert sales, clients, etc. on your own turf. Keep that in mind before you spam

And to help the Twitter newbies out there, please weigh in below with the Twitter habits that annoy you the most. By nicely telling people what NOT to do, we can have a much better experience in the world of social media.

 

Amber Watson-Tardiff is a freelance writer, virtual assisant and solopreneur. When shes not writing or teaching people how to start their own home business, Amber can be found starting trouble here on Twitter or hanging out on her own blog, jerseymomma.com. To contact amber, email ambertardiff at gmail dot com.

 

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If you have an online business, you’ve probably been told at least once to get on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a>. Maybe you’re already on Twitter but don’t feel like you’re getting anything out of the space.</p> <p>Truth be told—Twitter can be great for promoting your small business. And while proponents of social media like to say “anything goes, there really are no rules”—that’s not necessarily the case.</p> <p>There are a few unspoken etiquette rules when promoting your business on Twitter and if you don’t pay attention to some of the tips mentioned below, it can cause people to ignore your friend requests or unfollow you all together.</p> <p>Just remember, Twitter is a community—not advertising space. People will accept the promotion of your business in balance. Don’t expect to sign up for twitter, put out a few of your links and have whopping sales or clients pouring in overnight.</p> <p>Seriously– not gonna happen.</p> <p>But, if you work to make relationships and connect with your target audience, you’ll be on your way to getting sales or clients in no time.</p> <p>And I do say this from personal experience. As a freelance writer, all of my well paying writing gigs have come as a result of the connections I’ve made on Twitter. Same goes for <a href="http://www.shaklee.net/ambert/distMain">my network marketing business</a>. While the venture is relatively new, I’ve been able to speak with prospects and sell a few products because of my connections in the space.</p> <p>So without further adieu, let’s get started with some basic do’s and dont’s in promoting your business on Twitter:</p> <ul> <li>DON’T sign up for twitter and follow hundreds of people all at once. Instead, sign up and follow people sloooowwwly (You don’t want to be mistaken for a spammer). If a person follows me and they have one update, 500 friends and 2 followers, I just assume it’s a spammer and won’t follow.</li> <p></p> <li>DO follow a manageable number of people and try to keep your followers to followee ratio relatively equal until you get the swing of things.</li> <p></p> <li>DON’T make all of your updates about your company, blog or service. Instead, have REAL, friendly conversations until people get to know you as someone they can trust. This requires you following what other people are saying and engaging in conversations that go beyond yourself or your business.</li> <p></p> <li>DO post links to your latest blog entries, sales, etc.—but KEEP IT BALANCED.</li> <p></p> <li>DO share (or Retweet) links to other people’s giveaways, blog entries or sales items. By paying attention to what other people are saying, those people will be more likely to give your stuff a look when they see it come across the screen. It’s called karma and it works.</li> <p></p> <li>DON’T auto DM! Auto Dm’s are those pesky little personal messages you are probably sending out to your followers that say “Hi! Thanks for following! Here’s the link to my site _______!” If that’s you, STOP. Again, get to know the people you are following before you hit them with your links. Anything a person needs to know about you can be found on your bio line. Keep it that way.</li> <p></p> <li>DO DM someone about something that relates to THEM (again stepping outside yourself). For example, I followed back someone today that wrote how she had 50 some followers and her husband was impressed because that was more than Jesus. Well of course that made me laugh so I DM’ed her to say hi and that I was cracking up over her comment. Friendly conversation in a DM is A’ok </li> <p></p> <li>DON’T announce to the world how many followers you have! I know it gets exciting when we feel like we are finally connecting to our target audience and people want to hear what we have say, but keep your numbers to yourself!</li> <p></p> <li>DO use twitter to invite people in your target audience OFF the space and onto your blog. From there you can be more promotional of your products, your services, etc. On twitter you’ll make and foster the connections—but you’ll actually convert sales, clients, etc. on your own turf. Keep that in mind before you spam</li> <p> </ul> <p>And to help the Twitter newbies out there, please weigh in below with the Twitter habits that annoy you the most. By nicely telling people what NOT to do, we can have a much better experience in the world of social media.</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="color: #999999;">Amber Watson-Tardiff is a freelance writer, virtual assisant and solopreneur. When shes not writing or <a style="color:#999999;" href="http://www.shaklee.net/ambert/distMain">teaching people how to start their own home business</a>, Amber can be found starting trouble <a style="color:#999999;" href="http://www.twitter.com/jerseymomma">here on Twitter</a> or hanging out on her own blog, <a style="color:#999999;" href="http://www.jerseymomma.com/">jerseymomma.com</a>. To contact amber, email ambertardiff at gmail dot com.

 

As a social networking tool, Twitter has caught on like no other. Millions around the world are twittering away constantly like there’s no tomorrow. But apart from its social networking benefits, Twitter also has useful advantages to offer to your business, primary being driving the traffic up. The tips listed below will help you maximize the Twitter traffic that you can drive to your own website.  

Tip 1: Spread the Message

The fact that you’re there on Twitter needs to be told to people. Include your twitter address in your email signatures, your IMs, your status messages and every other communication that goes out from your end. Over time, people will know that you’re there (and active) on Twitter, and your “followers” there, will gradually follow you to your own website.

Tip 2: Tweet Regularly and Often

The more you tweet, i.e. the more you post messages on Twitter, the more traffic you will be able to draw to your website. In case you are unable to find the time to tweet often, feel free to outsource, though, just make sure that you oversee the work that is being done. After all, irresponsible tweeting could only cause irreparable damage to your reputation.

Tip 3: Go Beyond Selling

You don’t want your “followers” to be turned off by your constant selling barrage. Therefore, do not, at all times, look to sell your website or product or brand or even yourself! Look at providing useful information to the Twitter community. Prove to them that you are here to inform and to educate, and not just to sell. Their forthcoming acceptance of your marketing and promotional messages will be much better, if you do not always market or promote.

Getting the most out of Twitter and maximizing Twitter traffic is not so difficult after all!

 

Fabian Tan is a well-known Internet Marketing expert and the author of the popular 59-page Report:

“Murder Your Job: How To Build Cash Sucking Autopilot Businesses In 30 Days Or Less!”

Head over to http://www.MurderYourJob.com to get your FREE copy now!

Also, quickly download his FREE “Explosive Traffic System” report that shows you how to generate 10,000+ unique visitors per month at no cost! => http://www.ExplosiveTrafficSystem.com

 

To publish/reprint this article in your ezine, website, blog, forum, RSS feed or print publication:

1. Click inside the box to Highlight the article
2. Press Ctrl-C on your keyboard to Copy the article
3. Press Ctrl-V on your keyboard to Paste the article

Twitter Traffic Tips - 3 Effective Tips For Maximizing Your Twitter Traffic Quickly and Easily</p> <p>As a social networking tool, Twitter has caught on like no other. Millions around the world are twittering away constantly like there’s no tomorrow. But apart from its social networking benefits, Twitter also has useful advantages to offer to your business, primary being driving the traffic up. The tips listed below will help you maximize the Twitter traffic that you can drive to your own website. </p> <p>Tip 1: Spread the Message</p> <p>The fact that you’re there on Twitter needs to be told to people. Include your twitter address in your email signatures, your IMs, your status messages and every other communication that goes out from your end. Over time, people will know that you’re there (and active) on Twitter, and your “followers” there, will gradually follow you to your own website.</p> <p>Tip 2: Tweet Regularly and Often</p> <p>The more you tweet, i.e. the more you post messages on Twitter, the more traffic you will be able to draw to your website. In case you are unable to find the time to tweet often, feel free to outsource, though, just make sure that you oversee the work that is being done. After all, irresponsible tweeting could only cause irreparable damage to your reputation.</p> <p>Tip 3: Go Beyond Selling</p> <p>You don’t want your “followers” to be turned off by your constant selling barrage. Therefore, do not, at all times, look to sell your website or product or brand or even yourself! Look at providing useful information to the Twitter community. Prove to them that you are here to inform and to educate, and not just to sell. Their forthcoming acceptance of your marketing and promotional messages will be much better, if you do not always market or promote.</p> <p>Getting the most out of Twitter and maximizing Twitter traffic is not so difficult after all!</p> <p>Fabian Tan is a well-known Internet Marketing expert and the author of the popular 59-page Report:</p> <p>”Murder Your Job: How To Build Cash Sucking Autopilot Businesses In 30 Days Or Less!”</p> <p>Head over to <a href=”http://www.MurderYourJob.com” mce_href=”http://www.MurderYourJob.com”>http://www.MurderYourJob.com</a> to get your FREE copy now!</p> <p>Also, quickly download his FREE “Explosive Traffic System” report that shows you how to generate 10,000+ unique visitors per month at no cost! => <a href=”http://www.ExplosiveTrafficSystem.com” mce_href=”http://www.ExplosiveTrafficSystem.com”>http://www.ExplosiveTrafficSystem.com</a>