Ok, so you signed up and got your Twitter account. Now what do you tweet about? You do a couple of tweets and you read others tweet – but you just don’t get it.
How do people really use Twitter and in 140 characters or less? How to you become a LEADER on Twitter?
Here are some ways to use Twitter to make it effective in your overall online marketing and branding:
1. Link to helpful articles. Add your own comments or ask for feedback.
2. Teach a lesson in 140 characters. Add #lesson after
3. Invite people to subscribe to your ezine, blog, or facebook page.
4. Tell your followers you have a free gift on your website.
5. Re-tweet good posts by other people, but don't go overboard—most of your tweets should be yours.
6. Announce a conference, book or CD release.
7. Make introductions to people who are also on Twitter. (Just use the "@" sign)
8. Congratulate others when they share good news.
9. Sparingly link to your own blog posts. Don’t over promote yourself.
10. Tweet out videos (yours or others) from Youtube.
11. Post an inspirational quote or message. Show your personality. Add #quote after it if you can.
12. Ask questions that encourage responses. Engage!
With more than a decade of experience in marketing, ranking from pay-per-click to direct mail, I’ve seen a lot of failures and far more successes when it comes to marketing.
Today, the art of marketing is far more complex than it once was. However, many of the same basic principles still apply. Too often, professional marketers and small business owners overlook the basic techniques that have separated successful campaigns from those that never turn a profit.
Know your audience. Successful campaigns get that way because marketers know their audience. They fully understand their needs, how to help meet those needs and how to create demand. Knowing and understanding your audience through proper market segmentation means a well targeted campaign that generates a profitable return.
Focus on the offer. A marketing offer is the driving force of marketing promotions that drive results. In fact, market testing has proven that the offer is the most significant criterion for conversion.Focus on your offer if you want to be successful.
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Split test. Never ever run a campaign without testing something. One of the most common is a split test which allows you to simultaneously test two versions of something. It can be a web page, post card, or email. Split testing is essential for improving performance.
Never work alone. The most creative ideas come from working with other creative people. Don’t feel like you need to have all the answers or great ideas. You may start with an idea, but an open dialog with creative individuals will make it better.
Don’t sell on price. I’ve seen so many marketers fail because they sell on price alone. This leads to a discounting war, lower profitability, and often bankruptcy. Rather, focus on creating so much value that the perception of price becomes insignificant.
Consistent messaging. Consider the entire user experience before you launch a campaign. From email to website to offer, is the prospect having a consistent user experience? If they are, your campaigns stand above 98% of others.
Create value after the sale. As marketers, it’s our job to understand our market segment and build relationships, not dump people off at the front door of our store and walk away. Focus as much of your energy on building relationships with customers as you do prospects.
Test. Test. Test. In addition to split testing, you should consider multiple forms of testing in each marketing discipline. For direct mail, test headlines, offers, copy, time of direct mail drop, etc. Consider testing a life long mission.
Integrated Marketing Works Best. You can’t rely on one form of marketing to carry you to success. It’s okay to generate most of your leads or sales through PPC marketing if you will but what happens when that dries out? Use multiple media sources to meet your goals.
Nothing can replace experience. You can run out and hire all of the best consultants in the world, but you still have to do the work. Nothing can replace actual experience. It will make you a stronger marketer and more successful in the long term.
Apply these helpful marketing tips if you want to be truly successful. These techniques and tips are applied by successful marketers on a daily basis. The result is an ever growing success rate of marketing success.
About the Author
Are you looking for marketing tips that will take your marketing to the next level? Visit the marketing tips blog for helpful information, tools, and marketing secrets you won't find anywhere else.
Effective Networking tips from PR coach, Pam Perry
1. Be visible. Dress sharp and snappy. Look like someone others want to know because your image says “success.” Be willing to attend functions alone. Networking expands your circle of influence, builds your personal brand, and garners support.
2. Give before you get. Sow before you reap. Share information and resources with contacts before asking them for anything. Search for their interests and goals when meeting someone new. Figure out a way to help them. ACT LIKE A HOST; NOT A GUEST.
3. Gather, collect, and distribute info. Position yourself as the “go to” person for information. Provide regular updates about helpful events or books. Use an email database system like Constant Contact to simplify the process and send information attractively. See http://ministrymarketingsolutions.constantcontact.com
4. Write your vision. Make it plain. Make the most of networking opportunities by having eye-catching marketing materials. Have more than a business card when going to a conference or event. Be intentional about your purpose. Have a bookmark or postcard describing your book. Offer a CD or brochure as a speaker.
5. Demonstrate your character and integrity. Follow the Golden Rule which says, “Treat others as you want to be treated,” with respect and courtesy. Follow up and follow through. Deliver on your promises.
I am 20 plus years older than the fabulous LaShanda Henry and Angel Laws.I could really be their Mama! But they make me whip my hair back and forth! OMG! They are some smart, sharp, internet-savvy, social media swag sistas. And I just love their swagger!
I have learned that "Boomers" need to get with the program and stay connected to young ladies like these two who know their stuff and are willing to share. We need to support them, endorse them and encourage them! (Get their books, read their blogs, comment, sign up for their telesummits and buy everything they put out!)
A lot of my BOOMER colleagues (to be frank) are too proud to learn from younger people. NOT ME. I guess I've always been progressive and loved to learn new things - so this "Information Age" just re-energized me.Once you've been a career for a couple of decades - you look forward to stuff new! And Social Media Marketing found me - and I found Lashanda and Angel.Met them both online and then in person at the big multicultural blogging conferences! (Where I was a speaker too! How cool is that?)
It's all about staying up to date and READING. Be curious. Click the buttons. Follow the leaders. Quit lurking, playing games and start engaging. Those that SHOW UP, go up. I'm a witness!
My love for social media marketing and PR has driven me to start another company. We are now Social Media PR Solutions, LLC.
More details will come. Right now I'm on my way to Los Angeles do a presentation on social media PR (how to use both traditional media and social media to build buzz, brand better and get more business).That's what Social Media PR Solutions will focus on. We have new clients from other industries (not ministries) - so we created a whole new business model. It's exciting.
Check it out: Social Media PR Solutions We are serving corporations that target the multicultural market using social media methods and digital communications strategies. That's what we provide. We will be phasing out the coaching programs. Will be introducing you to our new staff shortly. We have one opening for an intern. If you know of a college student who would like a job for the summer, let us know: info (at) socialmediaprsolutions.com
Build a database. This is hub of your platform. Make sure you build an email database and regularly communicate with them via an email newsletter. Drive traffic to your website/blogsite from your social media sites and capture their email addresses by offering a “free” gift that is representative of your brand. This should be a free gift that is so convincing of your expertise that they will stay connected to you over time and eventually become a “raving fan.”
Learn about self-publishing and how the book industry works. I have had writers come to me and tell me their "publishing nightmare" stories. They talk about how printers or subsidy publishers took advantage of them.
Yes, there are companies who will swindle you. But, if you are well-informed, it will lessen the chances of someone ripping you off. Don't rely on one source for all your information. Use Google and do some research! You must do your due diligence.
Know where to get an ISBN, how to get national distribution, where to find a cover designer, typesetter, printer, etc. Ask other self-published authors what they've done and how it has worked for them. Follow the leaders. Do what they did to achieve success.
Study what Kendra Norman Bellamy, Stephanie Perry Moore, Marilynn Griffith or Kim Brooks have done. Most authors have their "publishing testimonial" on their website or offer publishing tips to new authors. Read their advice - you can learn from mistakes or from mentors. Mentors are cheaper.
