Three keys to content marketing are ideas, distribution and readers. For each of these goals, is there a better tool than Twitter?
If you want to know what others are talking about, tune into Twitter. If you want to start a conversation or get the word out about a new piece of content, put it on Twitter. If you want to attract the people who like what you have to say, get involved on Twitter.
I recently found an infographic by BuySellAds, that confirms my feelings. It’s called “The Who, Why and How of Twitter” and it gives some insight as to why it works so well for content marketers.
Twitter and content marketing
First of all, Twitter is becoming a popular channel for both sides of the content equation, whether you create or seek content.
- Currently 20.6 million U.S. adults access Twitter at least once a month.
- 177 million tweets are posted per day.
- There’s been a 182% increase in mobile Twitter users in the past year, making it a great way to bring mobile marketing into your mix.
What are these users doing on Twitter?
- Keeping in touch with friends.
- Finding news so they can stay up-to-date.
- Posting status updates, both personal and work-related.
- Researching.
In other words, Twitter users are looking for information. That makes it invaluable for content marketers and bloggers. But even if you haven’t committed to content marketing, Twitter is still a powerful way to promote your business.
What big business tweets about
If you’re waiting to see how well it works for other businesses, you’re in luck.
Seventy-seven of the top 100 companies in the 2010 Fortune Global 500 Companies have at least one Twitter account. They average 5.8 Twitter accounts per company and use Twitter for:
- PR. Give company news and updates (88%).
- Customer service. Answer questions and field problems (40%).
- Sell. Offer deals to their followers (28%).
- Find employees. Release job information (10%).
Does it work?
At first glance, statistics about who responds to tweets may be discouraging.
- Only 29% of tweets generate a reply or retweet.
- Of those, 85% only get a single reply.
But it’s important to remember that replies and retweets aren’t the only responses. If you’re a content marketer, click-throughs may be just as valuable.
What’s more, as marketers, we can’t deny the value of a follow. Your followers seek you out and decide to follow you all on their own. There’s no bait and no reward.
On Twitter, a follow signifies some degree of trust or interest. Either they like what you have to say or are considering doing business with you. So Twitter pre-qualifies your audience with a precision that old-style direct marketers would have envied.
You might say, if you tweet, they’ll follow.
Get involved and start engaging
If you’re looking for a way to test ideas, generate interest in your website or blog, or connect with people in your niche — and you don’t already include Twitter in your mix — you’re missing out.
Get involved. It’s time to drink the kool-aide.
Are you using Twitter yet? What’s the biggest benefit you’ve found?
photo credit: jans canon
