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Top 4 Twitter Fails (& how to fix them!)
Are there things you’re doing on Twitter that have a negative effect on your efforts? 
There are certain habits and time-saving behaviours that could actually be stopping Twitter working for you as a business generating superpower (read on here for how Twitter can be a massive game changer for your business). And, if you’re not getting business results but find you spend lots of time on Twitter (or money if you’re outsourcing your tweeting), you might be making these massive Twitter fails without even realising it.
But that’s okay…we all make mistakes!
Read on to find out 4 of the most common fails and how to rectify them.
1. Are You Too Busy For Small Talk?
You know that guy who is super quick at producing his business card and working a room with little or no interest in anyone else?
They exist on Twitter, too. Don’t be that guy!
Communication and social chit chat is the bedrock of Twitter. You may think small talk is a waste of time but every relationship starts with and includes it.
It’s how authentic business relationships are formed, so if you’re not chit-chatting and having two-way conversations on Twitter (that means replying and responding to tweets), then what are you doing?
Solution
Make the Notifications tab in your Twitter profile your BFF (best friend forever) and the first stop whenever you access your Twitter account. This is where all the interactions by others are logged so you can see (and respond to) anyone who’s replied, mentioned or followed you.
2. What Would Your Mama Say?
No one wants to know how annoying you find your clients or how the proposal you’re working on is a boring drag (okay, maybe we do… but purely for our own entertainment).
Think about it. Is that the impression you want to portray? After all, you’re there to promote your products and services – we may be doing business together one day!
Solution
Think before you tweet. If it’s something you wouldn’t want your boss/parent/a tabloid journalist to know, then don’t share it.
3. Do You Do The Robot?
If you think Twitter is about technology, think again. It’s a channel for communication. A way for you to meet people who can help you grow your business.
An amazingly amplified, awesome way!
Automating all of your tweets is like expecting your voicemail message to schedule your meetings and convert prospects into customers.
Don’t get me wrong, some automation is okay. Scheduling your updates throughout the day helps you reach more people while making the most of your time. That’s the sensible way to leverage Twitter for your business. But here are some Twitter auto-action sins to avoid:
- Auto Direct Message people who follow you. We know you’re not really there and we’ve only just met so, no I don’t want your latest e-book, thanks.
- Auto follow me when I follow you. You’re setting yourself up to receive loads of spam Direct Messages. That’s no concern of mine but it will annoy the hell out of you. Plus, it has zilch meaning (more on that below).
- Using a validation service. Do you really get so much spam that you need me to verify that I’m human? It’s not the best way to start a new relationship. You’ve just asked if I’m a robot and expect me to jump through another hoop in my already busy day to follow you. No thanks.
Solution
Be wary of automation tools. Before using them consider your deepest intent. Are they just serving you or the peeps you want to connect with? The best measuring stick is knowing how YOU would feel being on the receiving end.
For more information on social media automation, read on here.
4. Do You Focus On Vanity Metrics?
Obsessing about how many connections you have is a waste of energy and a massive distraction. Worse, periodically updating us on your progress, or asking for help to achieve your goal of achieving X number of Twitter followers is super-duper dull.
Amassing high numbers of followers is not as important as making genuine connections, and in reality it’s a vanity metric. It doesn’t mean you’re brilliant at what you do or that you’re a must-know person, or that you have a following that hangs on your every word. It just means you….have lots of Twitter followers.
Solution
Stop fussing about the numbers. Concentrate on providing interesting stuff, joining in meaningful conversations and having fun, the rest will fall in to place.
Think quality relationships over quantity, build a community of fans that love what you do and happily spread your messages instead. That’s when the magic happens.
What about you?
What fails are you seeing others make as you go about your day on Twitter? Let me know what irks you in the comments below.
Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared on Women Unlimited
8 Tips to Boost Your Twitter Brilliance
“What can I tweet to benefit my business?”
If every time I was asked this question and someone brought me a cup of tea and a slice of cake, I’d be one happy lady. This is the question I’m asked most of all. Seems that when it comes to Twitter, everything we learn about talking about our business and connecting with people, flies out of the window. And we get stuck in that constant loop of addictive tweeting and time-wasting.
By golly it’s fun though, right?!
But you’re using Twitter as a marketing and communications tool, so while you’re there having a fine old time, add these simple ideas into the mix to instantly boost your Twitter kudos and make that time investment count.
A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: Retweet With Authenticity
Compile a list of 5-10 tweeters that you trust for inspiration. A rising tide lifts all boats, so get busy re-tweeting their wickedly cool content on rotation so that others can enjoy them too, that way everyone benefits!
The best approach is to always make it relevant to your audience, and ideally re-tweet peeps you want to establish a long-standing relationship with. Bingo.
Hug-A-Hack
Plenty of journalists and influential bloggers are Twitter regulars. If they have a question or query that their latest article hangs on – their communication tool of choice is Twitter. One tweet can provide a pick n’ mix of answers instantly. Pretty cool.
Make a list of useful media connections that you can make yourself invaluable to (not in a creepy, stalker kind of way), and get ready for media opportunities galore!
What’s The BEST Way To Get A Response?
Do you want to know the best way to get a conversation going and learn more about your audience? Ask questions. Lots of them.
Don’t make them too complex. Stick with simple questions that don’t take a brain surgeon to answer and see what attracts the most feedback. Rinse and repeat.
Quotes + Twitter = Match Made In Heaven
Love them or hate them – people go nuts for quotes on Twitter. After all, everyone likes a shot of inspiration any time of the day – which is why quotes are the most shared tweets of all – and with Twitter’s 140 character limit you’ve got a match made in heaven. See…
Goodreads Quotes and Brainy Quote
Stretch Your Comfort Zone
‘Life begins at the end of your comfort zone’ said Neale Donald Walsch, and on Twitter that means tweeting with people you don’t know. Instead of just hanging with your inner circle, take a giant leap outside and make new connections daily.
Sprinkle In This Vital Ingredient
These are the social chit-chat, daily musings, funny observations and commentary type tweets.
They don’t have to be business related. Remember Twitter is a SOCIAL network, and just like in any other social setting – whether that’s business focussed or not – small talk and chit-chat takes place. It’s a vital part of relationship and community building.
It’s what makes you human and real. And, when you can be real, be you and be comfortable with that Twitter becomes a lot more fun, rewarding and effective.
Not A Wordsmith? Think Again!
If you’re thinking ‘Yeah right, I’m no wordsmith and snappy quotes don’t exactly roll off my tongue’ think again! You’re an expert, and you have amazing talent and a wealth of experience. I bet you have a selection of snappy soundbites you use when speaking to clients, prospects, in your blog posts, articles or presentations that can be adapted into perfectly formed, totally retweetable tweets.
Exercise Your Subtle Promo Muscle
This isn’t the brash ‘in-yer-face sell-in’, it’s the subtle, modest, elegant way of demonstrating what you do, in a way people understand and get curious about.
Tweet about what you have coming up in your business, what you’re working on, a sneak peek behind the scenes and into your day-to-day life. The more you do this and think like a PR person, the easier it becomes. It’s like exercising a muscle.
Got any Twitter tips? Share in the comments below!
Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared on Women Unlimited
I Just Heard A Nasty Rumour About You!
Ever received a Direct Message on Twitter like this?
Or how about this one:
Haha! Have you seen this hilarious picture of you?
Here’s an image of one I received. Boyyy, was I tempted to click on the link inside…
These direct messages are usually from someone you know and always include a live link. If you click you expect to be met by your biggest fear: the MOST embarrassing picture of you on the internet for everyone to see.
Eeeek!
Normally the link directs you to what appears to be a Twitter log in page where you’re prompted to enter your account details.
Your worst fear isn’t realised (thank God) but if you’re not careful it could lead to something else:
Your account being hacked and used to spread more malicious spam to all of your followers.
And so the spamming continues…
What to do if this happens to you…
- Firstly, don’t be tempted to click on the link. The tweets are written in such a way to make your curiosity get the better of you, and are normally from someone you know and trust. Don’t click!
- If you do click, don’t provide any personal details, log ins or passwords or anything else that may risk your security.
- If you’re super curious about the message, ask the sender what it’s about. If it is spam you’ll be doing your friend a favour by alerting them of it.
- Change your password (and do this regularly) using the official Twitter.com website.
- Check what apps are connected to your account (Settings > Apps) and revoke access to any that you are no longer using. This is often a weak link in to your account.
If you’re unlucky enough to have been hacked and the spam messages are coming from your account, don’t panic.
Follow the steps above, and send a tweet to your peeps explaining that your account has been hacked. Advise them not to click on any DM links that have come from you.
And, don’t worry – move on up. It won’t ruin your reputation or be the end of your business – it happens to all of us!