While other social media sites are always changing algorithms to reduce influence, Twitter is an unfiltered democracy of voices that allows any campaign an equal opportunity. And while Twitter may encourage you to pay to boost your campaign, there is actually a lot that you can do for free. Here are some of our favorite tips:
1. Listen First
Before you launch, listen first. What the trends and keywords are people talking about in your particular area? Who are the influencers? Take another look at your campaign goals and strategy – is it something that your target audience will be interested in and likely to share? If not, do more research.
2. Find Your Niche
Microcommunities and microblogs are niche online communities that share a lesser-known common interest. They rose to prominence in 2016, and nowadays there’s a microcommunity for just about every hobby, interest and lifestyle. You can even find lovers of artistic manhole covers.
3. Tag the Influencers
If you want your campaign to have maximum impact, consider the influencers in your industry area. When used appropriately, tagging an influencer not only grabs their attention but also improves the likelihood that they will retweet your message. It helps to begin engaging with influencers before you need them – authenticity still matters.
4. Make it Visual
Static lists or data aren’t big attention-grabbers. Add or create your own images with tools like Canva and Pikto-chart. As an added bonus, you can tag influencers in the picture without wasting the limited 280 characters—further boosting your reach. And, don’t forget video. Pillsbury, looking to attract consumers with fun and different recipes, created a chicken parm recipe video. It was shared over one million times.
5. Post at the Right Time
When is the best time to tweet? The answer depends on your goal. Do you want people to watch a video? Visit your website? Sign a petition? Generally speaking, tweets posted before 9 a.m. receive the most clicks; whereas tweets posted in the evening receive the most favorites and retweets. Understanding your target demographic’s use of social media can help you hone in even more. For example, TrackMaven created a guide to show social media trends according to industry. And Small Biz Trends gathered some interesting stats on how different generations use social media.
6. Run a Contest
While Twitter contests can be a great way to generate buzz, the range of options is endless. Socially conscious contests, paired with a celebrity, are some of the best examples. Take the case of Kiehl’s, which partnered with Autism Speaks and Matthew McConaughey in a video campaign, promising a $1 donation for each time the video was shared on Facebook. To date, it has been shared more than 564,000 times.
7. Ask for Retweets
Especially at the beginning stages of a twitter campaign, when momentum can be slow, utilizing your already established connections is a direct route to increase likes and retweets. Reaching out to 40, 50, or even 100 of your friends via phone call or email with a direct link to the tweet makes it easier for close acquaintances to help you with a personal favor. For the lucky few, the act of asking is enough to make a tweet skyrocket—as was the case when Carter Wilkerson wanted free chicken nuggets.
8. Use a Hashtag
Social, cultural and relevant hashtags are always circulating Twitter, and properly integrating them into a Twitter campaign can help catapult a tweet into the national conversation. Whether it’s #NationalCerealDay or #WednesdayWisdom, hashtags unite strangers across the internet into a community conversation that helps heighten a campaign.
Learn more about how some of the biggest brands are using social media.
By Alex Boonstra