Twitter Hashtags – introduction, popularity, tips, ideas and resources

By Nigel TempleNo Comments
The hashtag symbol look like this: # The # symbol is followed by unbroken text. This can be one word, i.e. #book or a string of characters: #photography Hashtags have only been around since 2007. They were invented by Chris Messina: https://twitter.com/chrismessina Hashtags are used to tag social media posts with relevant keywords. Therefore, a good place to start is with your alphabetical list of keywords / keyword phrases, which I recommend you print out and display in your office (if you have an office, that is!) Social media websites use hashtags to track the popularity of topics (AKA ‘trending’ within Twitter) and users can use them for search purposes. Some marketers ride on the back of successful hashtags and embed them within their Tweets (I think that this is OK if the hashtag is actually relevant to your brand). Visit hashtags.org to find out what is currently trending on Twitter:  https://www.hashtags.org/trending-on-twitter As you will see, this site has a search box at the top. The...
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7 quick Twitter tips

By Nigel Temple1 Comment
Here are seven quick Twitter tips (updated 22nd April 2014) 1. Tweet at least six times every day (including ReTweets) 2. If your Tweets are 100 characters or less - they are more likely to be read 3. Include http:// ...within URLs (web page addresses) to create a 'live hyperlink' 4. Link back to interesting content within your website 5. Click 'Notifications' at the top of the screen - to see who is mentioning you 6. When you open up your website browser, ensure that Twitter opens up first 7. Twitter is a 'social' network. Respond to people. Engage with them. Be yourself. Connect with us for more twitter tips: @marketingcmpass and @nigeltemple If you are a business owner and if you would like more twitter tips and ideas on how to get more customers, you are welcome to join The Marketing Compass - as we are here to help. Join us! Compass membership is FREE! * Create a profile & promote yourself * Hyperlink back to your website * Connect with other...
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Your social media strategy

By Nigel Temple3 Comments
It is important to have a social media strategy. Otherwise, the whole thing becomes random, unpredictable and pointless. Begin with objectives Decide what your social media objectives are. To raise brand awareness? To generate more traffic to your website? To build your email marketing opt-in list? To get sales enquiries? To generate sales? Choose your platforms Then choose the social media platforms you are going to use regularly. For example: Twitter www.twitter.com/marketingcmpass Because it is quick to use and can generate virtual conversations with customers (which can turn into telephone or face to face conversations). Several of my clients have told me recently that 'Twitter is good for B2B (Business to Business) marketing." You will get more Twitter followers if you follow more people, on a regular basis. Post at least 6 Tweets and day and respond to questions and mentions quickly. Keep a close watch on @Connect ...which you will see towards the top of the Twitter screen. Scroll down for some more Twitter tips.. Facebook http://www.facebook.com/The-Marketing-Compass Particularly...
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How to use social media to engage with customers

By Nigel Temple1 Comment
Social media is, to a large extent, a global conversation. If you only use it to broadcast your marketing message, you are not using it correctly. After all, it is not an advertising medium, is it? Have you noticed what happens to people who continually shout about their products / services within the likes of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn? What do you think of people who do this? Within a normal conversation, you would listen, ask questions and respond to people, wouldn't you? I suggest that you do exactly the same within the social media communities you belong to. Be quick to react I know that you are busy. However, it only takes a moment to check @Connect within Twiiter, to see who is talking about you, asking you a question, etc. There are also numerous tools available to help you to manage multiple social media converations, inluding http://hootsuite.com (the "Social media dashboard") and http://marketmesuite.com ("Your social inbox"). Be useful Or, to put it another way,...
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How to get more likes on Facebook and more followers on Twitter

By Ben TempleNo Comments
We often get asked by our members how to get more likes on facebook & how to grow their social media following and how to use their pages effectively to grow their business online and get more sales enquiries. Here are a few simple principles to kick start your campaigns... 1) Ask your friends! Invite contacts on social networks and in person. 2) Include a 'like' / 'follow' link in your email signature, on your website and on your printed marketing material. 3) Offer an incentive. You could send new 'likes' a gift, this could be a guide that shares some of your professional knowledge...this often leads to solid sales leads! 4) Leave comments on relevant company's Facebook / Twitter pages with your incentive. It's amazing how many companies don't engage with their fans, it's an opportunity glaring you in the face! Once you start to get more fans and followers, make sure you engage with them. Post regular updates that are inspiring, connective, educative and...
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The praise sandwich

By Nigel TempleNo Comments
Here's a short story about the praise sandwich, which can help motivate your team... Karen Kimberley has been a member of our community for several years. Her marketing strapline is: 'Changing people inside' - which I have always liked. Karen helps large companies with communications workshops, confidence training and coaching. Karen has shared many helpful ideas with me. One of my favourites is The Praise Sandwich. Here is a Tweet which I have just sent out to my 11K+ Followers: When giving feedback, use "The Praise Sandwich": Praise - Constructive Criticism - Praise. @kkimberley karenkimberley.co.uk All too often, we hurt each others' feelings by being too direct. The client offends the supplier. The manager succeeds in making the staff member clam up and stop asking questions. The boss wonders why nobody comes up with creative ideas. IMHO The Praise Sandwich should be taught in Primary schools. It should be displayed in large lettering on giant posters in offices. It should be etched into watch straps,...
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The social media party

By Nigel TempleNo Comments
Social media is like a huge, sprawling party which is happening within a mansion. Conversations are going on around the pool, in the lounge, in the kitchen, in the hall and throughout the rest of the building. Guests are forever arriving and leaving. Flashbulbs pop as celebrities make an appearance. Gossip and tittle tattle buzz throughout the place. Some of the guests are people watchers. They don't talk much, if at all. Others are actively networking. They make new contacts, discreetly exchange business cards and move on to the next conversation. A small group causes successive sensations with startling revelations which attract a throng of guests. So, what type of guest are you, within the social media party? Are you a Wallflower - happy to watch and listen? Are you a Networker - out to make as many contacts as possible? Or are you a News Maker? Whether you use Twitter, LinkedIn, Ecademy, Facebook or any other social media platform, you should be...
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Twitter Tips

By Ben TempleNo Comments
How to attract more clients, via Twitter By following these 10 steps, you will build a Following on Twitter and attract more visitors to your website. This is all part of 21st century client attraction. 1.   Who do you want to connect with? What are they interested in? What are they searching for? 2.   Find your Voice. If you are using Twitter as part of your client attraction strategy, think about your 'Twitter Positioning'. In other words, what do you stand for and how do you want to be seen by other Tweeters? This will lead to your Twitter voice'.  For example: informative, helpful, relaxed and humourous. 3.   Be a Giver. People will follow you if you have something to give them. For example, helpful, useful and interesting tips and ideas. 4.   People first, business second. Twitter is first and foremost a social network, so be sociable! 5.   Reveal something about yourself. You are a unique and interesting human being. We want to know more about you, as a person. 6.   Be Helpful. Recommend other...
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An introduction to Twitter

An introduction to Twitter

By Ben TempleNo Comments
If you haven't already done so, register your name and your company name within Twitter. What is Twitter? It is a 'micro blogging' website. The idea is to answer the question 'What are you doing' in 140 characters or less. Messages can be sent via mobile texting, instant message or the web. Notice that the messages are not delivered by email. They appear online / on your phone etc. Once you have registered, people can choose to 'Follow' you, which simply means that they will receive your messages. How does this help my marketing, then? * It is another way of 'getting the word out' about your enterprise. * Followers can get to know you and what you do. * You can alert your Followers about new articles, blog postings, events etc. * As networkers know, relationships lead to paying customers. Your Twitter profile allows you to put a line or two of information about yourself. For example, 'Small business marketing specialist'. You can let people know whereabouts in the world you...
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