Twitter continues to be a highly effective means of connecting with individuals in today’s instant communication driven society. As such, it is an excellent platform for reaching out to both existing and new clients and customers. The biggest question that most people ask though is how they can gain more and more Twitter followers. It is undeniable that a larger viewership can lead to more business conversions, so just how can you increase your follower base?
The first thing you should do is to take a look at the top twitter users. Keep an eye on how they handle tweets including how they talk to their followers and what sort of content they share. Also, make sure that you have completed your bio. Your bio is shared on the Suggested Users page, so a blank one is not very conducive to encouraging new followers.
The next suggestion is more of a common sense one. Tweet about the things you love and/or know the most about. As you do this, add #hashtags. Hashtags act as the Twitter equivalent of keywords and will get your tagged content to the forefront. Proper hash tagging can go a long ways toward increasing follower numbers. Also, you should look at search.twitter.com to find the current most popular hash tagged topics and begin adding your comments to the conversation.
Encouraging retweets is a great way to get your @username into areas and conversation circles where it might not otherwise go. This can, in turn, garner you more click backs on your profile. Another great tool for snagging followers are pictures. People love to retweet pics of interesting content. A truly outstanding pic can actually snag thousands of views! Keep an eye on how many new followers you are adding. This can let you know how effective your tweets truly are. At the same time, you should also keep track of those who unfollow you following a tweet. This can potentially tell you what it was that led them to unfollow. Everyone loves a good contest.
Remember, the best possible means of increasing your followers is through exposure. Share your twitter account with everyone you meet in the real world whether by adding your account to your business cards, to a presentation, or while speaking. Also, place your Twitter profile everywhere you can online. Your blog, LinkedIn, Digg, email signatures, Facebook and other such contacts should all include links to your Twitter profile. Another great way to share on your website or blog is through the use of feedburner-style badges such as those available from TwitterCounter.
Increasing your Twitter followers may seem like a huge undertaking. Once you get these basics down however you will find it a great deal easier than you imagined. Doing so will only help you grow your following and increase your chances of converting followers to clients and/or customers. One thing to keep in mind – make sure you are keeping the conversation social. Even though you might be looking to increase sales, no one likes to hear a pitch 24/7. Encouraging conversation is the best way to gain interest.