Trainers: How to become a Twitter expert
- Dan Martin outlines his tips on how to maximise twitter to boost your training business
- Links to other relevant articles that illustrate how trainers can utilise social media to promote themselves
The chances are that you’re already part of the internet phenomenon that is Twitter. But just how do you become an expert and maximise the benefits for your training business? Dan Martin, who was recently revealed by The Independent as one of the UK’s most influential tweeting bloggers, shares the secrets to Twitter success.
1. Smart registration
Key to the registration process is using the right keywords in your biography. You have to be clever as like every other area of Twitter you’re restricted in the number of characters you can use. Many tweeters use search engines to track down relevant people so use keywords you think will be popular. For example, make sure you get ‘coach’ and ‘coaching’ in if you’re a coach and if you’re targeting SMEs use words like ‘small business’ and ‘small companies’. Equally, if you’re after clients in a particular locality include it in your profile.
2. The art of conversation
Key to making a real success of Twitter is conversation. Engaging with others and sharing your knowledge will show people you are a real expert in your field. It is very tempting to continually post links to blogs, articles and other content on your own website but many tweeters will soon get bored and click the ‘block’ button. To avoid losing followers and gain more, track down conversations you can get involved with. Use the search function to track relevant topics or use services like Twitlert or TweetBeep to let you know when particular keywords or phrases are mentioned. You could also take part in the many regular chats. Here’s a useful list.
Target peeps and enjoy the conversation - don't expect any leads for 3+ months." @efficiencycoach
"It's only part of the marketing mix not the be all and end all - and learn from those trainers that have used it successfully." @GaryGorman
"Be yourself!" @robshepherd
"Twitter is a relationship tool not a sales tool."@RapidBi
3. Arrange a tweet-up
Despite the benefits of building relationships online, it's still very useful to meet someone face-to-face. If people are following you on Twitter, they have already expressed an interest in your expertise so put a call out for a meet-up (or tweet-up) and see whether anyone responds. The event can be as formal or as informal as you like but will allow you to gather useful feedback not only about your business but also about your tweets! TrainingZone.co.uk will soon be organising its own tweet-ups so make sure you follow the website on Twitter and be one of the first to find out.
4. Your own website
One of the golden rules of making a success of your company website is keeping it as up to date as possible with fresh content. One way to do this is to display your Twitter feed. To do so, go to www.twitter.com/widgets where you can grab some HTML code to embed into your website. Your feed will then be displayed and automatically update as you post tweets.
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5. Follow me
Use every opportunity you can to promote your Twitter feed. Free to use 'follow me on Twitter' badges are all over the internet which you can put on your website, in your email signature and on your business cards. Some examples are here and here.
6. A local place for local tweeple
Twitter may be global but don’t forget about the potentially useful contacts on your doorstep. Finding clients, customers and partners locally could bring big benefits to your training company. To track down nearby Twitters use the advanced search function in the Twitter search which allows you to find tweeters within certain distances of particular places or use services like TwitterLocal and Twellow. The latter website also allows users to find specialists in particular business and professional sectors.
7. Measure your success
Like any form of marketing, it’s always useful to measure the impact of your efforts. Several services have been released over recent months which allow you to do just that. One of my favourites is the latest version of HootSuite. If you use the site to post a link to Twitter, you can track how many people click on it and where they are based. So, for instance, if you’re based in the UK and you discover that most of your followers are in the US, it would be worth doing most of your tweeting later in the day.
If you still need more advice on how to get started with Twitter, read our last article on Twitter Tips for trainers or follow Mike Morrison's 'Diagnostic, Needs Analysis and Organisational Development' blog.
Dan Martin is editor of www.BusinessZone.co.uk. He was recently named the 10th most influential political blogger on Twitter by The Independent. You can follow him at www.twitter.com/BusinessZone and www.twitter.com/Dan_Martin
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Great advice Dan
Thanks for a great article Dan and for the name check!
Anyone interested in hearing my Twitter experience and how I generated sales of over £10,000 using it might want to listen in to a live telephone interview between Melina Abbott and myself.
The cost is £15 + VAT and it's taking place next Thursday (20th) starting at 1pm.
More details are here http://www.businessbyresults.com/twitter-interview/
Regards
Gary
http://www.twitter.com/garygorman
Thanks for a Great Article
Interesting article which I enjoyed reading. Thanks Dan.
I can only endorse the comments made about the benefits of using Twitter - but I have to say I'm amazed at the number of freelance trainers who are NOT using it!
Sharon
--
Sharon Gaskin
The Trainers Training Company
Helping Trainers Create Successful Businesses
www.thetrainerstrainingcompany.co.uk
www.twitter.com/sharongaskin
Thanks for the great post
Great post and easily actionable. I'm relatively new to Twitter but am really enjoying the experience. It's also a great listening tool - a must have for all sales professionals who want to understand their clients and prospects better.
Regards,
Richard
www.sellingatahigherlevel.com
A good introduction
I have been using Twitter for about 9 months now and realise that the quality of conversation and connection is directly related to my own input ie it takes some work. I have made contacts on one day for a specific purpose and others on a regular developing basis - all of which are really valuable.
I personally believe that the best Twitterers ( Twits!) are those who are obviously engaging in conversation , continuing the discussion, making appropriate links and meaningful introductions, sharing ideas and prompting debate.
Other Twitterers may be happy to simply read your stream of your own thoughts, ideas, quotes - and promotion of products but I don't think that is what social networking is about or how it is sustained.
I urge you to think about Twitter as a micro version of the discussions like this on places like TrainingZone..and have a go!
www.twitter.com/jackiecameron1
Twitter - a valid training and business tool
Hi Dan
great article
I was originally introduced to Twitter through Steve at Sift reflecting that you were 'off twittering'. It was due to this introduction that I started to investigate Twitter - and i am glad I did when I did - although managing the account is now a significant element in my on-line marketing activity - but it is powerful and I have gained great contacts and work as a result.
Your point about the bio is important - one strategy i have discovered is the ability to automatically change the bio on a regular basis thus hitting several sets of keywords in one go ;)
Mike
@rapidbi
RapidBI Blog
ps shame the users listed included people that have not tweeted since May - that to me is a lapsed twitter as I have software to unfollow people that don't tweet at least once a month - Twitter is about currency not history
Twitter software
Hi Mike,
Interested in the software you use to manage your twitter account - what do you recommend?
I wasn't listed as a traning zone twitterer but you can follow me either account - @CfPD or @Margaretburnsid (couldn't fit the 'e' on the end!!)
I have trouble convincing others that it is a worthwhile activity, however, for me it has been one of the most powerful learning tools I have used in a long time! What a great way to find out new and interesting information in the worlds of leadership, training, coaching, HR and technology ...
Tell your stories to convince ..
Hi Margaret - know your question was aimed at Mike but thought I would add my tuppence worth.
I found that telling stories of how I use social media generally has sparked interest in so many people. In fact I have been asked to tell those stories to 3 different groups in the next few weeks. For some the surprise learning is that I have attracted people to attend my workshops, for others it is about building credibility in a business sector, for others still it is about asking questions to help with business issues ( like this forum)...
I use Tweetdeck which helps me manage the different categories of those I am following.
www.twitter.com/jackiecameron1
Twitter software
Ah interesting question...
I use a lot..
on my desktop I use Seesmic - I find it more flexible than tweetdeck
when mobile I use tinytwitter or twobile
On the web I use:
tweetlater
tweetspinner
twitterfeed
On my blog I use a number of twitter plugins
and I have had a couple of custom applications written to manage followers that none of the above do..
My strategy is to integrate and automate so I only do something once - where possible
The other 'software' I use is other twitters - we have a small 'consortium' running to test a model of working and over the past few months has proven successful - maybe a topic for an article here...
Mike
@rapidbi
RapidBI Blog
Convincing others
"I have trouble convincing others that it is a worthwhile activity" - simple don't....
If people ask you how you market or communicate tell them - but don't sell it to them - let them buy your success.
Mike
@rapidbi
RapidBI Blog
Response to MargaretB
I mentioned it in the article but I'd recommend Hoot Suite which allows you to manage multiple accounts, keep track of particular subjects and schedule tweets. Like Mike said, you could also try TweetDeck.
Dan Martin
Editor, BusinessZone.co.uk
Thanks for the twitvise!
Thanks Jackie, Mike and Dan!
really helpful stuff, I've been using Tweetdeck (but obviously not to its full capacity!) and Tweetie on my iphone but I will look into the other recommendations as well now.
As for convincing others - you're right Mike - they'll soon see the benefits for themselves!
Good discussion here - always helpful to get others experience when navigating a brave new world!
Best wishes,
Margaret
Social Media
I too use Twitter's free iphone app, I find myself being able to Tweet a lot better when I am on the go rather than at my computer. I am finding Twitter a valuable resource in building brand identity for a number of my online businesses and it works fantastically, though being able to reach such a large audience of many different demographics and not being able to target them each effectively can be a problem at times