Twitter has emerged as a tour de force in the world of social media.
Short, succinct, and to the point, Twitter is a great place to share thoughts and build your brand, but how do you craft tweets that get attention?
My guide today is for people who want to learn how to write content for Twitter and use the social platform to build their brand and enjoy a wider reach (part of our new #howtowrite series!).
Why Use Twitter?
Today, Twitter is the platform that intersects with all of the various directions of technology and content. Designed to offer rapid-fire updates and live streaming news and videos, Twitter is a social platform designed to cater to mobile users (an estimated 80% of Twitter’s users are mobile), and enjoy the maximum level of reach. Today, there are 500 million tweets sent each day, and Twitter is doing things each day to adjust its upward mobility and cater even more effectively to changing markets.
Changes to the 140 Character Limit
While some Twitter users have always loved the 140-character limit, others view it as impossibly restrictive and frustrating, Fortunately, Twitter took the bull by the horns and make a large step earlier this year to make the 140-character limit a little more flexible for its users.
Under the new Twitter limit increases, things like the @name that’s commonly used in replying to a tweet, all media attachments, and the retweet button on your own Tweets will no longer count toward the character limit. What’s more, users will no longer have to implement the @name to reach a specific followers. Instead, all Tweets that begin with the @name convention will reach all followers.
How to Write Content for Twitter: Follow These 7 Rules
To write content for Twitter that your readers actually want to engage with, follow these simple rules:
1. Be engaging.
Twitter doesn’t allow a bunch of room for chatter, so it’s important to be engaging and let your content rest on that. Since tweets are only 140 characters (not counting the recent updates to that limit), you’ll need to pack all of your efforts into a small space.
The best bet to be engaging in this type of climate is to speak directly to your target audience. When your Tweets are highly customized and personalized, they’ll have an easier time capturing your readers’ attention and will survive Twitter’s inherently short content lifespan (which is only 18 minutes) a bit more effectively.
2. Add a shortened URL.
While a typical URL will eat up all of your Tweet space, a shortened URL is a great way to drive twitter followers back to your site. With this in mind, use a site like Bitly or Buffer to shorten URLs and add them to your tweets. This will allow you to enjoy a traffic boost without sacrificing much room in your tweet in the process.
3. Use trending hashtags.
Hashtags are the skeletal structure of Twitter. To be sure your tweet performs as well as possible add a hashtag. Bonus points if it is a trending hashtag. In addition to branding your tweet, hashtags can dramatically enhance your visibility on the network and can easily make it so that other Twitter users can find you and interact with your posted material.
4. Add an image.
There are not many places in the world wide web that images don’t help content, and Twitter is no exception. In fact, Buffer reports that simply adding an image to a Tweet boosts retweets by 35% To help your tweet perform well, add an image, video, or GIF to the content you post.
In addition to grabbing reader attention, this simple addition will also go a long way toward boosting your post’s engagement and helping it make its way around the web more efficiently.
5. Talk to people rather than at them.
Twitter is a highly personal platform, and your tone will go a long way toward defining whether your Tweets welcome your readers or alienate them. To keep your tone helpful and friendly, be sure to talk with people rather than talking at them. While it’s easy to feel like the people on Twitter are some distant crowd you’ll never meet, thinking of them as your friends and relatives can help you craft a voice that’s welcoming and exciting.
Struggling with how, exactly to do this? Don’t fear. Think about conducting your Twitter engagement just like you would a conversation with a friend. Focus on fostering a back-and-froth and developing topics, ideas, and conversational directions that are interesting to your readers. While this is a tiny step, making your Tweets more conversational and personal can truly have a massive impact on how effective your Twitter presence is at generating leads and promoting engagement.
6. Add your sense of humor to Tweets.
Humor is a powerful tool on Twitter, and it’s great for drawing people in from various parts of the web. As a general rule, though, you’ll just need to be sure that your humor is appropriate and professional enough that it can be passed along the web without harming your company or your brand.
For an example of a company that does this well, and always has, consider Innocent Drinks. The UK-based juice brand has virtually built its identity on a sly sense of humor, and Tweets like this one abound on the company’s Twitter profile:
ATTENTION EVERYONE: it’s cold. Best to wear everything you own and, if possible, find a bear to hold close to you for the next 5 months.
Twitter relies heavily on viral words and phrases that tell people what to do and when to do it. To use these in your Tweets, check out a list of the most-used viral words and phrases and incorporate them into your Tweets. While it may seem like a simple step, this can go a long way toward making your Twitter presence more engaging and compelling for your readers.
How to Write Content for Twitter: Simple Tips to Get You Started
Learning how to write content for Twitter is a process, but these simple tips are ideal for anyone who is new to the game. By being engaging, speaking directly to your readers, and making use of the viral nature of Twitter, it’s easy to craft a Twitter presence that improves your brand and helps your company stand out online.
Need social content that will knock your readers’ socks off? We do that! Our talented Social Media Experts are super creative, and in demand with our clientele. Check out our social media services!
If not, it’s safe to say you’re missing out on an incredible opportunity. And I’m not saying that just because Express Writers has our own monthly chat, #ContentWritingChat.
Twitter chats bring likeminded people together from all over the world. They provide a place for everyone to share their thoughts, offer advice, and ask questions. Not only that, but the right chats could lead to new friendships and even potential clients for your brand. That’s why it’s time you take advantage of them.
To help you see the true value in Twitter chats, this guide shares their benefits, tips for joining in on the fun, and five chats to add to your calendar ASAP.
Why Twitter Chats Are a Huge Opportunity for Your Brand
Twitter chats are a live conversation in which a host asks questions and encourages participants to share their thoughts and opinions. These chats are an hour long and typically happen on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. And there’s usually a specific topic for each new chat. It’s essentially one big hangout where people with similar interests can come together and talk.
It sounds great, right? But why do these chats present such a huge opportunity for those who are using Twitter to build their online presence?
Here are three reasons participating in Twitter chats is great for your brand:
They Help You Make Connections: With so many likeminded people together for a lively hour of Twitter chatting, it’s a great way to make friends or discover potential customers who may be interested in purchasing your brand’s offerings.
You Get to Share Your Expertise: Positioning yourself as an authority in your field is essential to establishing your brand and also building trust with your target audience. Through Twitter chats, you can share your knowledge, showing people that you really know your stuff.
They’re a Great Place to Learn: Not only do you get to share what you know, but you’ll be able to learn from others who are participating in these chats. You never know when someone might share a game-changing tip or trick that will help you take your online presence to the next level.
How to Join a Twitter Chat: 4 Tips for Being a Great Participant
To get started, you’ll want to identify different Twitter chats in your niche that you may be interested in. If you’re using chats as a way to grow your brand, you’ll want to be strategic about the ones you join. Meaning, it’ll be smart to participate in chats where you can showcase your expertise and connect with your target audience. Once you’ve selected a few, you just need to schedule time to join them.
Once that time comes, there are a few rules you’ll want to keep in mind.
1. Label your answers with A1, A2, etc. This is a pretty standard rule for all Twitter chats. The reason you want to do this is because it helps other participants match your answers with the correct question. If someone wanted to read all the responses to the first question, yours will be easy to identify.
2. Engage with others. Once you’re in the chat, don’t just share your answers to the questions and ignore the others who are also responding. Make an effort to interact with those who are joining in by replying to their answers and adding your own thoughts. You can even ask questions to further the conversation.
3. No self-promotion. Sharing a link to a blog post you know would be helpful is one thing, but you definitely don’t want to spend the hour promoting your content and offerings. Doing so may come off a little sleazy and kind of intrudes on the host of the chat.
4. Follow any other rules the chat may have. Some hosts make it a point to share set “house rules” for their chat. If you find yourself in a chat with rules like this, please be respectful of them. For example, our chat has a few simple rules that you can see in the graphic above.
5 Twitter Chats to Add to Your Calendar
Now that you’re prepared to be an amazing participant in Twitter chats, you’ll need to find a few to join. Luckily, I’ve rounded up a list of some great options for content creators and marketers.
1. #CMWorld, Hosted by @CMIContent
If you’re a content marketing expert or wanting to learn more about being a content creation pro, mark your calendars for every Tuesday at 12 PM Eastern. That’s when #CMWorld from Content Marketing Institute takes place. This chat always features knowledgeable guests and educational topics, so you’re sure to learn something that you can implement for your brand.
2. #semrushchat, Hosted by @Semrush
If you love SEO, digital marketing, and everything in between, #semrushchat is the place to be. Hosted by our friends at Semrush, you’ll learn all sorts of amazing tips that will help you get your content ranking on the first page of those Google search results. If you want to join, this chat happens every Wednesday at 11 AM Eastern Time.
3. #TwitterSmarter, Hosted by @MadalynSklar
Don’t let the name fool you! While Madalyn Sklar’s #TwitterSmarter chat is often focused on Twitter-related conversations, she still covers general social media topics that appeal to all marketers. It’s a must for anyone wanting to stand out on social media. This chat is held every Thursday at 1 PM Eastern Time.
4. #ContentChat, Hosted by @SFErika
Here at Express Writers, we love Twitter chats that teach the value of creating great content. That’s exactly what Erika Heald does every Monday at 3 PM Eastern during #ContentChat. This chat covers topics like content marketing, social media, email marketing, and more.
5. #Digital360Chat, Hosted by @B2the7
Bernie Fussenegger leads the #Digital360Chat every Friday at 12 PM Eastern. The way he’s set up this chat is rather unique. One chat per month is dedicated to sharing tips focused on marketing (digital and social media). Then, the rest of the chats are an “In the Spotlight” feature that is centered around a specific marketer and their career.
Join Us for #ContentWritingChat!
While you’re adding these awesome chats to your calendar, there’s one more you don’t want to forget. And that’s our very own, #ContentWritingChat! It takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central Time. We chat about all sorts of topics from content marketing to SEO and social media. It’s the place to be for content creators.
Ever wanted to learn how to become a social media manager, or what it’s like being one?
Krystal, one of our talented client social media managers, is guest blogging today with her thoughts on the subject. Plus, she’s sharing a look at her day, writing and creating social posts for our client base. Enjoy!
I grew up on the Internet.
No, seriously.
If you knew me up until college, you knew me as the shy, quiet, artsy anime/video games nerd that had some good ideas, but wasn’t very effective in communicating them. That is, unless we were friends online.
Text role play, fanfic writing, and managing online communities was how I got out of my shell and found my writer’s voice.
It was a way to communicate that didn’t always flow as freely in person. I learned how to manage folks on MMOs and do customer service via email.
These types of things were done for leisure, naturally.
I was always a reader and a lover of fiction, but when I started working for an indie bookstore, I was reading ten books a month and bridging the gap between having an online personality and communicating with bookstore patrons in person.
Now how, might you ask, did this culminate in becoming a social media manager?
How to Become a Social Media Manager: Krystal’s Starting Roots
Reading and writing have always been my pillars. I used to do more Fine Arts (I even had a brief stint in art school), but I found that I couldn’t communicate with my paintings and photos as deeply as I could with words. This became apparent to me as I started becoming engaged in online communities such as LiveJournal and managing big raids in World of Warcraft and really excelled at connecting with users and empathizing with them.
You learn how to communicate with people in a whole new way, using persuasive and subtle language to create a sense of a virtual community. No matter what online platform I’m on, that’s what I strive to do – create a community, whether it’s with fellow nerds or customers I’m trying to reach out to.
It’s like calling a hotline and having to speak to a computer. That’s bad social media. Good social media is connecting with the user on the other end. Great social media is getting them to laugh at the screen and look forward to your tweets or status updates. You want to feel like the person on the other side of the screen is your confidante, ready to answer your questions and guide you in the right direction, whether it’s helping you figure out why your flight was delayed or which ice cream is the hot flavor of the month.
Being a Good Social Media Manager is All About Great Research and Writing
Of course, there’s more to social media than just being a solid communicator. You have to love research. Having a degree in Applied Psychology, I’m used to spending hours, days, even weeks doing research on one topic.
My biggest hurdle when I first started writing copy for social media professionally was getting used to writing copy for topics that I knew nothing about, or –let’s face it—topics I couldn’t care less about.
A Day in the Life: Writing for Typical Subjects Can be Fun!
But the beauty of loving research and writing is that, in general, you most likely love to learn. This was an unexpected perk when I joined up with the great folks at Express Writers.
I was getting clients that were connected to products like luxury vehicles, RVs, beds, and real estate litigation. I happen to own a bed, but otherwise I don’t know anything about any of those. I was pleasantly surprised by how fun it was to research the kind of content that their customers wanted to see, Googling all sorts of articles and such to get people excited about RV safety. Who knew!
As long as you check your sources and make sure they’re legit, you can find some awesome content out there. I keep a word document of all the websites I’ve found to be useful depending on the subject, just so I can revisit the ones I know will give me great content if I need to.
Tip: Be Conversational in Your Writing Style
Then, I get the information out there as if I’m having a conversation with someone. Even if a client wants the tone of the copy to be professional, I try to give it my own personal spin so that every tweet feels like a greeting, a first impression between strangers. I can talk a lot about keywords and SEO, which are all essential in the most fundamental ways, but once you’ve drawn in your customers with the right algorithm, you need to keep them hooked with your personality. This is of course true with actual face-to-face interactions, but when information is flying at users on their Timelines or Dashboards.
This is what I love about being a social media manager. It’s the ultimate social experiment of the human condition, only way more fun and interactive than anything you’d read in a textbook!
4 Tips to Share on How to Become a Social Media Manager That’s Worth Their Salt
TL;DR, right?
Well, I’ve zeroed in on some tips that I think you’ll find useful if you’re thinking of getting involved in the professional social media world:
1. Keep Reading
Seriously. Whether its articles online, novels, or even episodic video games – keep yourself immersed in some form of literature, whether it’s Dostoevsky, Murakami , or That-Indie-Graphic-Novel-That-You-Wish-Other-People-Read,-Too. It makes you a better, savvier writer overall and keeps your noodle engaged with language. Draw on the voices in literature to help you cultivate your own. It’s important to do, even if you only have 140 characters to show it.
The same goes for writing. If you get an itch to write a little story, poem, or blog, scratch it.
2. Stay Connected to Social Media
This is related to my last point, and it may sound pretty obvious, but it deserves special mention: stay involved.
Read your timelines, study how your favorite companies stay relevant on a daily basis and how they connect with their customers.
Really listen to their tones and how they come across.
Sometimes I even say posts out loud to see if they sound natural. You can really learn how much tone makes a difference when it comes to what kind of impact one has online.
3. Remember Your Audience: They’re Just Like You
I hate stuffy sounding social media. You know what I’m talking about. It sounds like the kinds of emails your boss writes when they’re trying to sound engaging – the ones that make you roll your eyes.
If you’ve been in the position where you’ve read a social media post that’s trying to be engaging and it makes you roll your eyes, then you know that that writer hasn’t found their inner voice.
This goes for professionally-geared social media accounts, too, not just the fun ones. Your posts should sound like a conversation – a virtual handshake to your followers – not a thesis statement.
4. Emojis Are Fine and All, But…
Use them smartly and sparingly.
Same goes for hashtags.
This is 2016 – you really don’t need twelve hashtags and thirty emojis in your tweet unless you’re a spam bot.
Need great social media content? Can’t keep up with the demanding schedule that social media needs for the highest exposure results? We can help! Check out our Social Media Management packages – to have Krystal on your social media, just request her in the order form!
Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? Check out the recap and learn everything you need to know about leveraging your social presence and how to find clients with Twitter!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Find Clients with Twitter with David Boutin of Social Quant
Our guest host this week was David Boutin. David is a digital marketer, writer, and marketer over at Social Quant.
Q1: What are ways to build potential customer/audience following and trust on Twitter?
If your business doesn’t know how to find clients on Twitter, you’re really missing out! These tips from Tuesday’s chat will have you building trust and attract all the right people to your account:
A1) It’s all about providing value. With every Tweet you make, ask yourself: “Will my audience care about this?” #ContentWritingChat
As David said, it’s all about providing value. If you want to build trust with your audience and show your expertise, you need to share valuable content with them. Before you post that next tweet, ask yourself if your audience will actually care about what you’re sharing.
A1: Curate content instead of going with 100% self-promotion. Respond with thanks when your content is shared. #contentwritingchat
Annaliese knows that you can’t promote yourself all the time. Instead of constantly pitching your own content, products, and services, you need to curate great content as well. Pull valuable articles from other sources and share them with your audience. And when someone shares your work, make sure you say thanks!
She also said to be human with how you use the platform. We agree that Twitter chats are a great way to show your human side by engaging in conversations and adding value.
A1: Talk to people, jump into conversations, offer to help & be consistent. It takes time to build relationships/trust #ContentWritingChat
It’s all about engaging with your audience! Brandie said to talk to people on social media. By jumping into conversations and offering your help, it can establish trust.
A1: Be sure to engage with your followers through social listening, curating content for variety, and memes for fun! #ContentWritingChat
Halle from CoSchedule agrees that engaging is a must! You can do some social listening to get to know your audience better and curate amazing content your followers will love. And you can add in some memes or GIFs for a little fun!
A1. Interact with like-minded ppl in your niche, share their content & look for opportunities to work together. #contentwritingchat
Kristen’s advice was to interact with like-minded people in your niche. You can share their content or potentially collaborate. Collaborations are a powerful way to not only grow your audience, but also establish trust with your audience.
A1: Join Twitter chats that have a huge following such as this one. Follow up with people you connect with afterwards. #ContentWritingChat
Remember that it takes time to build trust. It won’t happen overnight, so you need to be consistent about growing your social media presence and providing value to your audience.
Q2: Has Twitter played a role in helping your land customers for your business?
So, has it? Take a look at what some of Tuesday’s chat participants had to say:
A2) Yes! Twitter is great for content marketing b/c ppl want it there – sharing content on FB and IG feels intrusive IMO #ContentWritingChat
Brandie has had a great experience with using Twitter. The conversations she’s had on the platform have led to friendships, clients, and other opportunities.
A2: Yes! I have received book readers from using Twitter. #ContentWritingChat
As David said, it all goes back to providing value for your audience. If you want to convert someone into a customer, you need to establish yourself as an expert in your field by showing your knowledge and expertise. Share great content with your audience that they want to see.
A3: Communicating & engaging with them. Treating them like a human & not someone on the other side of a screen! #contentwritingchat
You also want to make sure you’re aware of who your audience is. What are they interested in? What do they need help with? Show them how you can help and those conversion rates will increase.
A3. Ask ’em to sign up for your email list! That’s where the relationship really blossoms ? #contentwritingchat
Kristen knows just how powerful email marketing can be. She suggested getting those Twitter followers on your email list. You can nurture the relationship there and encourage them to make a purchase.
A3 We’ve started including more CTAs in our blog posts for email grabs. Clickthroughs = subscribers = potential buyers #ContentWritingChat
Julia also agrees email is where it’s at! Once you get those subscribers on your email list, you can grow those relationships and promote your products to increase sales.
A3. Give away a LOT of value for free, to build that “know, like, trust” factor. Then charge for the best of the best. #contentwritingchat
Pamela’s advice is to give a lot of value away for free. This can help establish you as an authority in your field and it gives your audience a taste of what your paid content is like. It’s really going to help you build that Know, Like, and Trust Factor.
A3) Provide value to your followers. Value = trust. Trust = conversions #contentwritingchat
David knows Twitter chats are a great way to make connections online. They make it so easy to reach out and start a conversation with someone new. Just make sure you take the time to nurture those relationships after the chat.
Erika said the key is to finding the chats where your ideal customer is hanging out. Those are the chats you should participate in regularly. She also said to make sure you introduce yourself by telling people what you do and who you serve.
A4) Twitter chats are an amazing tool. Use them to monitor & engage customers, partners, vendors, prospects, local bizs! #ContentWritingChat
David’s advice is to wait until after the chat to reach out. Don’t do it in the middle of a Twitter chat. Reach out afterwards via a direct message or through email. You can read their responses to figure out what their struggles are and reach out later with specifics on how you can help.
It helps to touch on the topic you discussed during the Twitter chat when you reach out later. It shows you were paying attention. You can even start by sharing a relevant blog post from your website.
A5. Learn everything you can about them & reach out via email/DM. Having a fully-baked idea/pitch helps! #contentwritingchat
Kyle said to answer any questions this potential customer may have. If you have a solution to their problem, let them know about your product or service. It’s a great idea to do by following-up after the chat.
A5: Don’t sell, but communicate. Sharing products over and over and not caring about your audience is a no-no. #contentwritingchat
David said to make sure your profile is working together. Have a nice cover image, a captivating bio, a link to your website, and a pinned tweet with a call to action that’ll get your audience’s attention.
A6 Being present! Make sure you’re involved with your twitter account everyday & sharing content that’s worth looking at #ContentWritingChat
Annaliese said you shouldn’t only broadcast your content and services. You should retweet others, curate content from other sources, and interact with your followers.
A6. Sprinkle in some non-work stuff, to show you’re a real (and fun) person. People do business with people they like. #contentwritingchat
Brittany knows that authenticity is important when building your presence on social media. Be true to yourself. If you aren’t, your audience will see right through it.
Q7: How can you promote your service the right way on Twitter?
Promoting your services on Twitter doesn’t have to be hard! This advice’ from Tuesday’s chat will help you out:
A7) Nurture leads on Twitter and organize them w/lists. As they become warm, take the conversation off Twitter and sell #ContentWritingChat
David said to use Twitter to nurture leads, and then take the conversation off of Twitter to make the sale. He recommends using Twitter lists as a way to keep track of people and build relationships.
A7) Speak about its value to the customer – use case studies instead of simply pitching. Talk about the benefits. #contentwritingchat
Focus on the value your product or service can provide to a potential customer. Annaliese suggests using case studies as a way to show the benefits it can have.
A7: By sharing your knowledge. Show that you are good at offered services instead of telling potential customers you are #contentwritingchat
Make sure you give your audience a clear call to action. Thell them what the next step is. Pamela said to send them to your website or encourage them to sign-up for your email list.
@ExpWriters A7: use your banner, update bio, use Twitter ads for promotion, share content via graphics with hashtags #ContentWritingChat
Quite a few of you agreed about utilizing Twitter headers. Make use of your Twitter header and bio as a way to promote your latest product or service. You can even try Twitter ads if you’re willing to spend a little money.
Q8: What brands do a great job of promoting themselves on Twitter?
Who is doing a fantastic job on Twitter? Check out these brands:
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM CDT for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? Well, you sure missed one busy chat! This Tuesday, we shared a ton of tips that will help you become a Twitter superstar. Keep reading to learn more!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Twitter 101, How to Build a Following, Write Compelling Posts, & More with Madalyn Sklar
Our guest host this week was social media guru Madalyn Sklar. Madalyn is the host of the #TwitterSmarter podcast and Twitter chat. She has also been ranked #1 in social media for the Houston, Texas area. Pretty amazing! Be sure to check out Madalyn’s website and her podcast.
Q1: What are the best practices for building a following on Twitter?
Are you looking to give your following on Twitter a major boost? You just need to keep these tips in mind:
A1: Best practices for building a Twitter following: listen, engage, share great content, be consistent, be real. #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
A1: Being real and transparent is everything on social media and especially on Twitter. You can’t fake it over here. #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
What are Madalyn’s tips for landing more Twitter followers? Listen to others, engage with your audience, share great content, be consistent, and be real. If you do these things regularly, you’re sure to see results. Also, make sure you’re always true to yourself. If you aren’t, your audience will see right through you.
A1: Think of Twitter as a cocktail party. Talk to people. Connect with them. That’s the mindset to building a following. #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
Madalyn also said to think of Twitter as a cocktail party. Make sure you’re talking to people and connecting with them. That’s a great way to look at it!
A1: We would say engagement! Twitter is a great tool to build relationships and converse with your audience & users. #contentwritingchat
— MioDatos (@MioDatos) July 19, 2016
A1: Engage, engage & engage! Also share valuable information that your followers want to interact with. #contentwritingchat
— Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) July 19, 2016
Engagement is definitely key if you want to grow your following on Twitter or any social media platform.
A1: Follow people, talk to them, participate in chats that appeal to you. Communicate a worthwhile message! #contentwritingchat
— Chris Christensen (@christensen143) July 19, 2016
Chris knows participating in Twitter chats is a great way to build your audience. Twitter chats make it easy to connect with others. You don’t have to worry about feeling awkward when jumping into a conversation.
Sarah from ThinkSEM said to get to know your audience and share the content they want. When you give your audience what they’re looking for, you’re giving them a reason to follow you and stick around. Don’t forget to also listen to them as well. What are they saying online?
#ContentWritingChat A1: Post useful, interesting content consistently (at least 5x per day) & use 1-2 industry-specific hashtags per tweet.
— New Jupiter Media (@NewJupiterMedia) July 19, 2016
Post content that is both useful and interesting to your audience and do so consistently. Don’t forget to select a relevant hashtag or two to expand your reach.
A1 Joining #ContentWritingChat and other Twitter chats has been a great way for me to find like-minded followers!
— Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) July 19, 2016
A1 If you provide value or solutions to problems, you will build a Twitter following organically. No short cuts! #ContentWritingChat
— Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) July 19, 2016
Bill has us all blushing over here! He knows that Twitter chats, including #ContentWritingChat, are a great place to find like-minded followers. He’s also spot on with his advice. If you’re providing valuable content, people will want to follow you.
Q2: What makes Twitter chats a must for anyone on Twitter?
If you haven’t joined a Twitter chat yet, you’re really missing out! (And you should absolutely be joining #ContentWritingChat.) If you haven’t yet figured out why they’re a must, just read these tweets:
A2: Twitter chats are an amazing way to connect with like-minded people and build your tribe. #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
A2: Twitter chats allow you to get educated on a variety of topics and subjects. It’s better than Google! #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
Madalyn said Twitter chats are an amazing way to connect with like-minded individuals. With so many chats going on these days, it’s easy to find one where your audience is hanging out. She knows they’re also a fantastic way to learn and expand your knowledge.
As Sarah said, Twitter chats are the perfect place to network, meet new friends, and get insight from others.
A2. Connection. Collaboration. Expertise. I love learning from others and creating great online communities w/ chats! #ContentWritingChat
— Bourbon & Honey (@BrittanyBrander) July 19, 2016
Connection, collaboration, and expertise. Great answer from Brittany!
A2) They’re fun! Lot’s of like-minded (and not so) participants. You learn and share what you know #ContentWritingChat
— Tim Fawkes (@Tim_Fawkes) July 19, 2016
Tim thinks Twitter chats are a lot of fun. He knows they’re a great place to connect, but also to learn and share the knowledge you have.
A2: chats are HUGE for genuine relationship building..it brings together like-minded individuals #ContentWritingChat
— Brett Pucino (@BPucino) July 19, 2016
Brett said chats are a must for genuine relationship building.
A2. A great place to find others to follow, helps show your knowledge on a topic and can help you learn a things too. #contentwritingchat
— BrandBlox (@BrandBloxNet) July 19, 2016
The best chats are ones where you can share your knowledge to help others and you can learn a thing or two as well.
@ExpWriters A2: Great opportunity to network, talk to great people and learn something new from the great responses! #ContentWritingChat
— TransactViaLegal (@TNTL2015) July 19, 2016
Chats are a good opportunity to network and learn something new.
Q3: How can you create content that stands out on Twitter?
Dealing with Twitter’s character limitations doesn’t have to hold you back. You can still create amazing content that gets noticed by your audience. Here’s how:
A3: Know what content your audience is interested in and cater to them! #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
A3: Use content that stands out on Twitter: images, video, GIFs #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
Madalyn knows it all goes back to your audience when it comes to creating content. If you want to share amazing content on Twitter, you have to give your audience what they want to see. Provide value to them.
She also recommends using images, videos, and GIFs to get your content noticed.
A3: Always think: What is of value to my audience on Twitter? What pulls them closer to me? #contentwritingchat
— Ray Sidney-Smith (@w3consulting) July 19, 2016
Ray is on the right track with his answer. He knows how important it is to consider your audience when creating posts for Twitter. Think about what your audience would value and give that to them.
A3. Be passionate about the stuff you share + engage others in discussions about it. #contentwritingchat
— Kristen Dunleavy (@KristenWritesIt) July 19, 2016
Kristen feels passion is key when it comes to sharing content on Twitter. If you want your tweets to get noticed, make sure you’re passionate about what you’re posting.
A3: VISUALS! Adding videos and images to your content will help them stand out on your followers timelines! #ContentWritingChat
— TransactViaLegal (@TNTL2015) July 19, 2016
Adding a visual is always helpful if you want your content to stand out. Create eye-catching graphics that will grab the attention of your audience as they scroll through their timeline. Don’t forget to add relevant hashtags as well.
A3 Creating “stand out” content requires a great visual, a great subject, & a great deal of subject-matter research #ContentWritingChat
— ShereeseM, MS/MBA (@ShereesePubHlth) July 19, 2016
Shereese said if you want to stand out, your content needs to have a great visual, a great subject, and a great deal of subject-matter research.
A3. Provide value – Could someone get this info somewhere else? Take common info but present it in a more usable way #contentwritingchat
— BrandBlox (@BrandBloxNet) July 19, 2016
Provide value to your audience. What are they interested in? What would help them? Give your followers what they’re looking for.
A3: By sharing/creating posts that share a consistent message with media, appropriate hashtags, interactions, etc. #ContentWritingChat
— Jane Clauss (@JaneClauss) July 19, 2016
Jane recommends keeping your message consistent across all of your posts. Don’t forget to add hashtags and interact with others as well.
A3) Drill down into demographics analytics and optimise keywords/hashtags. Have a new take even if it’s an old topic #ContentWritingChat
— Ellie Hubble (@ellie_hubble) July 19, 2016
Ellie said to check out your analytics and find out the demographics of your audience. When you get to know them, you can optimize your content for keywords and hashtags so you can stand out.
To put it simply, write for your audience. Give them what they’re looking for and they’re sure to love your content.
Q4: Are there rules to how often you should post on Twitter?
How often should you really be posting? Is there such a thing as too many tweets? Check out what some of the participants from Tuesday’s chat had to say:
A4: There are NO rules when it comes to Twitter. You make the rules! You can post how often you want. #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
A4: But I will say you don’t want to post too little or too much. Find an amount that works for you. #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
Madalyn said there are NO rules when it comes to Twitter. You can post as often as you’d like. Just make sure you don’t post too little or too much. Find a balance that works for you.
A4: If you are new to Twitter and just starting out, I recommend tweeting 3-5 times a day. #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
She also recommends to post 3-5 times per day if you’re just getting started on Twitter. Great advice!
As Sarah said, it all goes back to your audience. No matter how often you post per day, make sure you stay consistent.
A4: Post as often as you feel comfortable with. Just make sure you’re focused on providing value + remaining consistent. #ContentWritingChat
— Rachel (@redheadrachel) July 19, 2016
Ultimately, you want to make sure you’re providing value to your audience with every tweet you post. You should always be focused on giving your audience the great content they want to see.
A4 I prefer a solid Created/Curated balance rather than a posting quantity limit. Whatever amount, give valuable content #Contentwritingchat
— Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) July 19, 2016
Bill agrees that providing value is key. The value you give to your audience matters more than how often you post.
A4. Find out what your balance should be by watching metrics. No need to post more if it doesn’t generate anything. #contentwritingchat
— BrandBlox (@BrandBloxNet) July 19, 2016
Keep an eye on your metrics to see how well your tweets are performing. You can do this by checking Twitter Analytics. Is your audience engaging with all the tweets you’re posting?
As David said, make sure you re-post content for different time zones. Keep in mind that your followers are likely located all over the world. You don’t want them to miss anything by limiting your posts to a certain chunk of the day.
A4: Honestly, you should post the amount that feels right to you & your audience. There’s not a single magic # for all. #contentwritingchat
— MioDatos (@MioDatos) July 19, 2016
Do what feels right for you and your audience. There isn’t a magic number that works for everyone.
A4) Experiment! Find your peak times and tweet most then. Don’t be afraid to talk if you have something to say #ContentWritingChat
— Tim Fawkes (@Tim_Fawkes) July 19, 2016
Tim said you should experiment with your posting schedule. Find your peak times for posting and tweet the most during that time. If you have something to say, don’t be afraid to share.
A4. Find out when your audience is most active on Twitter, then plan your posts around that. #contentwritingchat
— Kristen Dunleavy (@KristenWritesIt) July 19, 2016
Kristen also recommends taking advantage of your peak posting times. Find out when your audience is most active on Twitter and schedule your posts around those times.
@writingchat Q4: Daily. It’s important to know your audience. Learn when & how often they’re looking to engage with you. #ContentWritingChat
— Jessy (@jessyh2609) July 19, 2016
Make sure you’re posting daily. You should create a schedule and stick to it.
Consider your industry and your community. They’ll respond to things differently than another online community.
A4) I usually schedule 5-7 a day and then mix in live tweets and live interaction #ContentWritingChat
— Nick Rishwain (@expertsdotcomvp) July 19, 2016
For Nick, he likes to schedule 5-7 tweets per day. He mixes that up with live interaction with his audience.
A4. I think the most important thing is to engage rather than just post about yourself. Have conversations. Be polite. #ContentWritingChat
— Jorgenson Lockers (@JorgensonLocker) July 19, 2016
Remember that social media isn’t just about talking about yourself or your business. You should also make sure you’re engaging with your audience and having conversations.
Q5: How important are hashtags on Twitter? What can they help you do?
Are you using hashtags regularly on Twitter? You should be! A relevant hashtag can help you expand your reach on the social media platform. Check out these tips:
A5: Hashtags are important because they help you find tweets using a relevant keyword(s). #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
Madalyn knows hashtags are great for finding tweets using a relevant keyword. They’ll help you to connect with your audience and others who are interested in what you’re sharing.
A5) Relevant hashtags give your tweet wings! Targets it to an audience, extends it’s life and makes it discoverable. #contentwritingchat
— Jim Carter (@MSLJim) July 19, 2016
Jim said relevant hashtags give your tweet wings. Hashtags allow you to target your content to a specific audience, helps to extend its life, and makes your post more discoverable.
#ContentWritingChat A5: Hashtags are vital! They help people find conversations about your industry & organically grow your following.
— New Jupiter Media (@NewJupiterMedia) July 19, 2016
Hashtags are a must if you want people to find what you’re posting. They can help you to grow your following organically.
A5) Hashtags connect you to people who are interested in what you’re saying. They enable amazing chats like this too! #ContentWritingChat
— Tim Fawkes (@Tim_Fawkes) July 19, 2016
Tim said hashtags can help connect you to others who are interested in what you’re saying. They also help us to have amazing Twitter chats, just like #ContentWritingChat!
A5: Hashtags are essential but many times overdone. Two tops per tweet and in your bio. Anymore and it looks messy. #contentwritingchat
— Chris Christensen (@christensen143) July 19, 2016
As Chris said, hashtags are essential but it is possible to overdo it. Limit yourself to two hashtags per tweet.
A5: Hashtags can be very powerful! But only use ones that make sense and don’t go overboard with them. #contentwritingchat
— Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) July 19, 2016
Use hashtags that are relevant to your audience and the content you’re sharing. Don’t go overboard either. Twitter is not the place for it!
Q5: Hashtags are pretty vital, since they help ensure your post reaches your target audience, & a wider range of people. #ContentWritingChat
— Alexia P. Bullard (@ap_bullard) July 19, 2016
Alexia said hashtags are vital for making sure your content reaches your target audience.
@ExpWriters A5 – Relevant hashtags reach an audience that may not be following you yet. I use hashtagify.me to research. #ContentWritingChat
— globalHMA (@globalHMA) July 19, 2016
Relevant hashtags will help new people discover you. Try a tool like hashtagify.me to find the right ones for you.
Think of hashtags as search keywords to help your content be seen.
A5: Hashtags are super important for awareness, relationship building & engaging with your community #ContentWritingChat@writingchat
— Zola Creative (@ZolaCreative) July 19, 2016
Hashtags can help you generate brand awareness, plus help you build relationships with your community.
A5. We do hashtag research to keep a bank of approved hashtags and keep them in order of possible impressions. #contentwritingchat
— BrandBlox (@BrandBloxNet) July 19, 2016
Great tip! Do some hashtag research and find ones that are relevant to your audience. Save them all by order of possible impressions and refer to them when scheduling your posts.
Q6: How can you take advantage of Twitter’s features such as Analytics and Lists?
Twitter Analytics and Lists are great tools to utilize if you really want to make the most of Twitter. Here are some great tips from Tuesday’s chat:
If you haven’t used Twitter Analytics yet, you can access yours at the link Madalyn shared.
A6: I recommend viewing your Twitter analytics every month so you can see what’s working best. #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
A6: Twitter lists help you cut through the noise and see the most important tweets. #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
Madalyn recommends checking out your analytics every month so you can see what’s working best. Which posts are resonating with your audience? Which ones didn’t perform as well as you’d hoped?
For lists, she feels they help you cut through the noise to see the most important tweets. Carefully curate your lists so you see just the updates you’re truly interested in.
A6) Twitter analytics help you learn who your audience is (and isn’t) and what they like (and don’t like) – imperative! #ContentWritingChat
— Ellie Hubble (@ellie_hubble) July 19, 2016
As Ellie said, you can get insight into what your audience likes and doesn’t like when it comes to your posts.
A6: b) Tweets can also get lost in a user’s feed pretty easily. Analytics can show the best times for you to tweet. #contentwritingchat
— MioDatos (@MioDatos) July 19, 2016
Analytics can help you determine your best times to tweet. You can schedule your most important posts around these times for an increase in engagement.
Your analytics will give you insight into what’s working for you and what’s not. The metrics you see can help guide your social media strategy and set up up for success.
Varun knows lists are great for monitoring relevant and important accounts. You won’t miss a thing if you keep your lists in order.
A6: Twitter lists when combined with Tweetdeck make sure you never miss a thing. I would be lost without this combo #contentwritingchat
— Andy Drinkwater (@iqseo) July 19, 2016
As Andy said, TweetDeck is a great tool to use if you want to stay updated with your lists. The columns TweetDeck provides makes it easy to see what everyone is sharing. You’ll never miss a thing!
Q7: How can you write a targeted Twitter bio that earns more followers?
The bio you include on your Twitter profile is so important. It can make or break whether or not someone chooses to follow you. Take a look at these tips to ensure you maximize the characters you have for an amazing bio:
A7: Make your Twitter bio stand out. Be compelling. Be descriptive. Tell your story. #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
A7: People will look at your Twitter bio and decide in seconds if you are worthy to follow. Be worthy! #ContentWritingChat
— Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) July 19, 2016
Madalyn’s advice is to be compelling and descriptive. Use your bio to tell your story. It can play a deciding factor in whether or not someone follows you, so you better make sure it’s a good one.
A7. Use your bio to tell a story about you: what you do and why you do it. #ContentWritingChat
— Bourbon & Honey (@BrittanyBrander) July 19, 2016
Brittany said you should tell people what you do and why you do it.
Sarah recommends stating your mission, describing who you are, and how you can add value to your audience. Don’t forget you have to do all of that in only a few characters.
A7) Brands should use some (relevant!) hashtags, & summarise their USP. The character limit forces you to be creative #ContentWritingChat
— Tim Fawkes (@Tim_Fawkes) July 19, 2016
Tim said to use relevant hashtags in your bio and summarize your unique selling point.
A7 Be short, precise, what, where, why. Location, website. And plz, include your real name if ur handle does not say it #ContentWritingChat
— Zala Bricelj (@ZalkaB) July 19, 2016
Zala said to keep it short and precise. You should share what you’re doing and why. Make sure you’ve also included your location and a link to your website. She said if your handle doesn’t include your real name, you should add it to your bio.
In response to Kristen, Madalyn said she loves pinned tweets. The pinned tweet is prime real estate on your profile and you want to take advantage of it. Pin something you want to receive extra attention.
A8: @ellie_hubble Twitter continues to provide great ways for us to market. It will keep growing. Use the new features! #ContentWritingChat
She thinks Twitter ads are hit or miss, but that they’re worth trying out. If you’re thinking about using them, just give it a go and see how it works for you. Everyone has a different experience. We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM CDT for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
