{"id":117552,"date":"2014-09-04T18:54:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-04T23:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dacgroup.com\/happyhalfbirthdaytwitter\/"},"modified":"2024-12-21T05:54:27","modified_gmt":"2024-12-21T10:54:27","slug":"happyhalfbirthdaytwitter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dacgroup.com\/en-ca\/insights\/blog\/strategy\/happyhalfbirthdaytwitter\/","title":{"rendered":"8 \u00bd Twitter Tips for Brands on Twitter\u2019s 8 \u00bd Birthday: A Guide to Safe Twitter Usage for Brands"},"content":{"rendered":"

#HappyHalfBirthday @Twitter<\/h2>\n

Twitter is awesome. Its year-over-year new user adoption rate proves it. And it’s why I can’t wait another six months to celebrate its awesomeness.<\/p>\n

Twitter was founded in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone and Noah Glass. By 2012, it had garnered over 500 million registered users and hosted 340 million tweets per day. Today, two years later, there are almost 650 million users. That\u2019s more than triple the amount of users on Instagram and Pinterest combined<\/em>. Needless to say, if your consumer brands aren’t on Twitter, you\u2019re very likely missing out on a goldmine of opportunities to engage with your customers.<\/p>\n

Assuming that your brand is on Twitter (ok, here is the \u00bd tip<\/i><\/strong>: if your brand isn\u2019t on Twitter, please open Twitter in a new tab, sign up, then come back and keep reading\u2026), you have probably seen a number of articles about brand follies on Twitter. US Airways, JP Morgan, The Home Depot and PayPal have all fallen victim to viral \u201cTwitter Fails\u201d, some to the extent that they had to take public action in an effort to rectify the respective misfire. This goes to show that anyone is susceptible to the social hot seat. On the flip side, successes and authentic brand communication have shone through both from branded content and with spontaneous human interactions (see\u00a0Sainsbury<\/a>‘s recent punny consumer encounter over a fish purchase gone overboard).<\/p>\n

\"punsainsburys\"<\/p>\n

Have no fear: we want to share a set of basic guidelines that will help you run a smooth Twitter feed for your brand. Remember, nothing can prevent all errors \u2013 but these tips for Twitter could open your eyes to some new ways to secure the name and image of your brand while engaging your biggest fans and favorite customers.<\/p>\n

1. Automated reply tweets are like swimming in shark-infested waters<\/h2>\n

Automation and social media are polar opposites when you boil them down. The premise of \u2018social\u2019 is engagement. If you want to gain and retain real fans and customers through social engagement, each interaction should be a genuine and tailored communication<\/a> at the one-to-one level. Use of automated replies have gotten some top brands in hot water:\"oreo\"<\/p>\n

2. Use caution and creativity in selecting your Twitter profile header image<\/h2>\n

Twitter made a smart move in the competitive social media sphere when they implemented the use of header images. It gives brands the opportunity to select a hero image that reflects their image and personality. It\u2019s important to keep in mind who and how many people are going to see this image. Here are a set of questions you should ask before going live with your header image:<\/p>\n

1. Does your image accurately represent what you are trying to accomplish with your Twitter feed?
\n2. Could your image offend anyone?
\n3. Are you using an image people will enjoy looking at (aesthetically and fundamentally)?
\n4. Does your image highlight what people know about your brand?
\n5. Is your image original and creative? Is it an image people will not only identify with, but will provoke a higher affinity for your brand?<\/p>\n

Check out these Twitter header images for inspiration:<\/p>\n

Burton Snowboards:\u00a0 <\/b>Notice they aren\u2019t flaunting their product line? That\u2019s ok; they\u2019re showing how you can feel when using a Burton board (I personally ride a Burton \u2013 oh, yeah!).<\/p>\n

\"Burton\"<\/p>\n

Western Union:\u00a0 <\/b>WU wants to reassure their customers of the value, ease and security in using their services\u2026 I don\u2019t know about you, but when I see this image, I\u2019m certainly comfortable!<\/p>\n

\"WU\"<\/p>\n

The UPS Store:<\/b>\u00a0 Catering to a multitude of personas and business sizes, the UPS Store has found a way to identify with everyone \u2013 the collage!<\/p>\n

\"UPS\"<\/p>\n

3. Gauge before you engage<\/h2>\n

Much like other life scenarios, it’s wise to l<\/strong>isten first and think about what you\u2019re hearing<\/b>\u2026then engage. In the case of Twitter, just remember that once you tweet something, it will live virtually forever. Sure, you can delete a tweet \u2013 but what if it\u2019s already been captured by a thousand trigger happy Snag-It yielding bloggers? Being smart with Twitter means you have to stay ahead of that curve. Tweets are a lot like writing an email to your CEO. Would you fire that email off without reading it, sitting on it for a while, then re-reading it later with a different mindset? I certainly would not.<\/p>\n

When you listen to what your audience is saying, you have to evaluate things that don\u2019t always transmit over a tweet. Is there sarcasm? What\u2019s the real tone of your customer? How are they positioning themselves? Does their tweet warrant a direct, public response? Have others jumped on their bandwagon?<\/p>\n

There are a number of factors to evaluate before pushing \u2018send\u2019. One practice that you can use is the triple-eye-pass-through. (Admittedly, I just coined that term.) You can do this by writing the tweet, but letting it pass by three sets of eyes for approval before firing it out into the social sphere.<\/p>\n

4. Hashtag overkill will annoy your customers \u2013 take it easy!<\/h2>\n

My 3-year-old knows what spam is. So does my great aunt. Neither of them like it, and your followers probably won\u2019t either. Use hashtags that are relevant, and try to keep it to no more than two hashtags per tweet. If you\u2019re unsure of what a particular hashtag means or is categorized as, visit a directory like tagdef.com<\/a> first to make sure you\u2019re not putting a damper on your brand\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

Apart from the sheer overkill, remember there is a 140-character limit on tweets and your hashtags count toward that threshold. Replies and retweets will drop in volume if they don\u2019t fit within the confines of Twitter regulations.<\/p>\n

\n \n
\n
\n

\n Stay Forward <\/h2>\n

\n Get exclusive insights into digital
media's top-trending topics delivered
directly to your inbox. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n