The premise: Your website or business blog is a core segment of your business. You want people to go there, find value in your offerings and begin to know, like and trust you. More people finding value in your website equates to growth for your business.
The goal: Identify and communicate with new potential customers, continuously.
Let’s use a part of Twitter as another tool to help drive people to your website. This one is simple; you don’t need to be a Twitter expert or keyword guru. Here is what to do:
Analyze your search engine traffic to see which are the most popular keywords people are using to arrive at your website. The best way to do this is with Google Analytics. Once you have your keywords, go to your Twitter account and create an automated search feed for these keywords. This will identify conversations people are having using your selected keywords.
These people may be prospects and it make sense Tweet with them. And better yet, if they are using keywords that are of value to your business, it is likely their friends and associates have similar interests.
As a brand on Twitter, it is important to interact with users, and to be mindful of all of your brand mentions. Every Twitter user should be considered as either a customer or a prospect. The opportunities to respond to customer comments (relationship building) or prospect questions (lead generation) on Twitter are great way to humanize your brand, develop customer loyalty and start conversations with prospects.
A Power Feature
One of the most powerful features of a Twitter search is the geolocation option. Twitter lets you geo-locate your searches within a zip code or city name. For example, a coffeehouse business in Hollister, California, could narrow the search to find people who had used the word “coffee” in a tweet within a 20 mile radius of Hollister. Or your website design firm in San Benito County could target a search for “WordPress specialist” or “web designer” or perhaps “organic SEO” in the 95023 zip code.
If you have spent any time on Twitter, you know it can be filled with inconsequential content, fluff and just plain garbage. So for a business to capitalize on the power of this tool, the user/owner/webmaster must determine which words, when used in a meaningful context, might represent opportunities for that customer.
Here is an example of relative content that also includes smart use of the geolocation feature:
A non-profit community food bank in the Hollister might enter the terms “hunger,” “donate food,” and “volunteer” to identify people within a 30 mile radius having relevant conversations on Twitter; by reaching out early, the food bank might sign up volunteers and food and money donations in advance of an upcoming holiday food drive.
Bonus Tips On Using Twitter To Find New Customers:
• Follow people who are relevant to your industry and target market
• Make sure your employees and colleagues are on Twitter, and refer to them
• Answer your mentions
• Search for your name/business name
• Use Twitter to ask your customers questions…and get good answers
As the owner or business development person for your enterprise, you are limited only by your own creativity and time investment. Need help with organizing or implementing your continuing mission to seek out new customers? Contact us!
