How To Get More Leads on Twitter

Mon, Jul 2, 2012

Social Media, Twitter

Its one thing to have a lot of followers on Twitter, but it takes a new level of engagement to turn your followers into leads that generate sales for your business.

Here are 7 ways you can increase your leads on Twitter

1. Add a Hot Link to Improve the Bio section of your profile

Everyone knows that Twitter gives you a space to add your website URL; but did you know that you can now add a second link in the 160 characters of your “Bio”?

Since you can now add a second link, it is time to be strategic. So….Create a shortened link that sends people to your Free Opt-In webpage. This way you can directly generate leads from Twitter. Easy-peasy!
Watch this short tutorial.

To add the Hot Link, first click on the person icon (next to the blue quill icon) in the top right hand corner of the Twitter page. Next, choose “View my profile page”. Then, click on the gray and black “edit your profile” button in the top right hand corner. In the bio section, you can now include a link.

It is best to include a short link since you only have 160 characters.

2. Create a custom About Page

Where Twitter allows you to add your website address in your profile, you want to be more strategic than simply adding your homepage URL.

Instead, it is in your best interest to create a custom landing page on your website for your Twitter followers. Then, when a follower clicks on your website link, they will discover that you’ve created a page just for them.

This shows that you have taken the time to customize their experience on your website and immediately improves your “know, like, trust factor”.

Additionally, when you welcome them to your website (on the customized page) you have another opportunity to tell them about a relevant free offer. Since they just came from Twitter, be sure to explain why someone who is Twitter-savvy would want your free offer. Personalizing can go a long way in building leads!

3. Search for tweets that are “requesting recommendations”

I’m sure you’ve probably seen a few “requesting recommendation” tweets since you began your journey on Twitter. There are always people looking for recommendations on who to hire for this project or that.

Now, you can see if anyone is requesting recommendations in your field by using the Advanced Search feature on Twitter. See picture below.
Advanced Search How To Get More Leads on Twitter

Two fields you want to be sure to fill in are: “All of these words”, and “Written In”. You may be tempted to fill in “near this place” however, unless it is absolutely necessary, don’t. The search will exclude more than you might want when you narrow the location beyond language.

Then, when you find someone on Twitter looking for a recommendation in your field, it is time to introduce yourself. For example you might say, “@namehere I would love to help out your friend. I have a lot of great Social Media programs that he/she might like.”

4. Rotate your Twitter Profile Picture, Bio and Profile Design –

By rotating your Twitter profile picture, bio and design, you better express yourself to your followers. As long as there is a common thread throughout each of your designs, your followers will come to know more about you. This again increases your “know, like and trust factor.”

Likewise, it peaks people’s curiosity. They are more likely to click through to your profile page on Twitter and see what you have going on there, if you change it frequently. Otherwise, they will only see your tweets in their newsfeed.

The more frequently followers visit your profile page; the more likely they are to join one of your lists and become a true lead.

5. Keep your posts short enough to retweet

Having your tweets retweeted is a key way to get in front of more potential followers and leads. Thus, it is in your best interest to make it easy for your current followers to retweet you.

To do this, you need to consider the length of your username plus the phrase “RT: @”. For example, mine would look like: “RT: @beverlymonical”. Therefore, I need to subtract at least 15 characters from the 140character max, each time I write a tweet.

Ideally, keep your tweets between 100-120 characters because this allows your followers the opportunity to add their own reaction when they retweet your tweet. A followers reaction AND a retweet is like an endorsement or testimonial because the follower is in effect saying “hey I like this tweet so much I’m going to retweet it AND tell you why.” A reason why is powerful! More people will sit up and pay attention!

6. Post Genuine Follow Friday #FF Tweets

It can be tempting to mention 10 friends in one #FF tweet. But, this helps no one, nor does it feel personal.

Rather, pick one or two followers that you engage with on Twitter and share why you find their connection valuable. They are more likely to retweet your #FF mention of them and recommend you to others.

7. It’s a PARTY on Twitter

As you build a community on Twitter, host an 30min Twitter party. This can be especially useful if you have a product launch, or new series coming up.

To set up a Twitter party, decide upon a short and relative #hashtag that “partiers” can use to communicate with you.This one is for the more advanced Twitter user and probably for someone that has products to sell and lots of followers. This takes planning like any party!
Also, be sure to put each attendees name into a hat for a free copy of your latest product. Then, have fun answering questions, giving away prizes, offering discounts, and promoting your products. This takes some planning but from the ones I have attended, it looks real powerful!

Which one of these will you implement this week?
I look forward to your comments below.

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6 Responses to “How To Get More Leads on Twitter”

  1. Jon Barry Says:

    Hi Beverly, a really interesting point about twitter, and how to maximise it.

    I used twitter to death, then stopped, almost cold turkey.

    I was using it, and told people that, as a way to spread motivational quotes, then a load of people left saying all I do was post motivational quotes…. and these were people I was communicating about other things too….

    I had told Twitter to shut down that account, but it is still there now – curiously odd!

    What so you think the right balance is with twitter, between posting stuff about you, posting or RTing others posts – and telling people what you had for breakfast…… (seriously, why do people assume we need to know that!)?

    As I have started a new blog, and have an account to go with it what do you think is the best way to use a virgin account with a virgin blog?

    Jon Barry
    Jon Barry recently posted..Success Leaves Clues

    Reply

    • Beverly Says:

      Jon, I had gotten away from Twitter for a while too.Then a few people I followed kept saying Twitter is good for your business so I started back.It is a relationship building tool too but you have to do it in less words.:) If people see good posts, they will be attracted.Finding the time to actually RT or talk to someone just takes time.Set up 15-20 minutes a day to be there.Many people use robots to gather followers but I would rather get them by looking for them.

      Reply

  2. Angus McEwan Says:

    Hi Beverly a great post and helpful video thanks. You have taught me some new things about Twitter that I didnt know and some good suggestions like rotating info. Angus

    Reply

    • Beverly Says:

      It is a big learning experience.Glad you liked it. What did you like the best?

      Reply

      • JonBarry Says:

        To hijack onto Angus’s comments, I thought the icon rotation tip was intriguing.

        In fact I had gone the other way, same icon on twitter as Facebook, same banner used for website as Facebook Page cover, and a common theme and image to be me – my avatar everywhere.

        Your approach completely spins that on its head, and possibly grades familiarity with freshness.

        What are your thoughts on that?
        JonBarry recently posted..Success Leaves Clues

        Reply

        • Beverly Says:

          I have always done that too Jon.I learned this from another good Social Media person so I am going to start switching mine out.I had always thought keeping it all the same was good for branding.I still think Branding is important but seeing you differently makes you look approachable too.

          Reply

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