How To Get High Quality Followers on Twitter

Earlier this week I was talking with a group about the use of the various forms of social media. One of them commented to me afterwards that they thought I was a real Social Media Enthusiast which is a phrase which resonated with me.

I am really enthusiastic about the ways in which the many forms of Social Media can be used to build relationships and connections. From Twitter to LinkedIn, Facebook to your small business blog, YouTube to Google + each of them offers the focused business owner to connect and interact.

One of the sites which people will most readily recognise when social media is mentioned is Twitter.

So let’s take a look at how as a small business owner you can take advantage of Twitter to grow your business. Even in the last week I saw a small business burst onto Twitter to a great welcome only to fizzle out because they clearly were doing it because someone had told them that “you have to be on Twitter.” That happens all to often because people think that it will be easy and because of their lack of a strategy it becomes a complete waste of time.

Key to success on Twitter is building a large, relevant and high quality follower base.

Connect With Other Businesses

That might seem like a strange idea to look at following other businesses. However if other businesses in your local area or niche are already established on Twitter then firstly you can potentially learn from them. Equally you can raise awareness of your business by interacting with them and commenting on thing they say. Let’s take an example. If you are in the restaurant business and follow other local restaurants then when their followers see you in their Twitterstream they may well be inclined to take a look at you. I know this is something I do frequently as I am always on the look out for new places to eat locally. So don’t see others in your area as simply competitors!

Adding Value

A great way to build a large and high quality follower base is to provide valuable information. Make sure that you provide valuable content to your followers on a daily basis. Of course you will want to provide links to your own website or blog but don’t limit yourself to that, interact with others, comment on other users tweets, retweet their tweet and add value for the sake of value. Sticking with restaurants why not share ideas for a great ingredient that people can try at home or link to a great recipe – making sure that it is one you offer in your restaurant so that you can also invite people to let you cook it for them!

If you offer value to Twitter members, they will start following you so that they get to see more information from you. Sit down and create a plan for offering regular pieces of valuable information to your followers.

Be An Active Tweeter

As I have seen many small business owners just publish links and promotions. They rarely if ever interact. Again as I have seen with some small businesses it’s probably the easiest way to see your follower numbers go down. One of the things I do quite frequently nowadays before deciding to follow someone or a business is run the name through this free service Twitcleaner which tells me if they simply post links.

If you are aiming to build a large and dedicated group of followers then you need to interact with them.

Make sure that you get involved in relevant conversations. Offer help, advice, and information. As I have said a number of times, Twitter is a social networking site and the emphasis is on the word social. Again sit down and develop a plan that enables you to use your time on Twitter to participate on a daily basis. The more effort you make to interact, the bigger and better your following will be.

Generating a large, engaged and high quality following on Twitter isn’t that difficult. But! it really does take time, energy, entusiasm and a strategic plan. As a small business owner you can take advantage of Twitter to grow your following and in turn to grow your business.