Engaging with Your Community: What Small Businesses Should Display on Twitter

When it comes to managing a Twitter account for a small business, the focus should be on building genuine connections with your followers and fostering an engaging presence within the community. Too often, businesses mistakenly believe that constant promotions and advertisements are the key to attracting followers. However, this approach can backfire, leading to decreased engagement and a loss of followers. Instead, it's crucial to tailor your content and interaction style to meet the needs and interests of your audience.

Engaging Through Community Involvement

One effective strategy is to become a knowledgeable source within your local community. By sharing insightful information and engaging with local businesses and events, you can establish a reputation as a valuable resource. Here are some ways to do this:

Local Recommendations: Provide recommendations for shops, local eateries, or activities in your area. This shows your followers that you have a genuine interest in their well-being and can help them explore your community. Replying and Engaging: Actively engage with your followers by responding to tweets, questions, and comments. This helps build a sense of community and demonstrates that your business is a reliable and approachable entity. Encourage User-Generated Content: Encourage your followers to engage more by retweeting or featuring their content. This not only builds a strong following but also strengthens community bonds.

Beyond Sales: Showcasing the Human Side of Your Business

People buy from people, not companies. To create a more personal and authentic presence, share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business operations. This not only humanizes your brand but also builds trust.

Examples:

A plumber sharing a picture of themselves fixing a boiler or a video tutorial on how to unclog a drain. A local bookstore owner posting a snapshot from their book club event or a video of them signing books. A boutique sharing a picture of a behind-the-scenes day or a video of them prepping for a new collection launch.

Posting Your Own Content

This is one of the most effective ways to build an organic following. By sharing your own content, you create a personal connection with your audience and demonstrate your expertise in the field.

Photography: Share pictures of your business in action, employee events, or products you work with. Video Content: Create tutorials, product demonstrations, or vlogs that showcase your work and the value you bring to your customers. Blogs: Write insightful articles or share helpful tips related to your industry. Ensure these articles are valuable and engaging for your target audience. Use Hashtags Wisely: Utilize a mix of generic and industry-specific hashtags to increase visibility. For a local plumber, hashtags like #plumber, #plumbing, #localcontractor, #plumbingservices, and #leakytap can be highly effective.

Content Curation: Feeding the Curiosity

To keep your content fresh and engaging, consider using content curation tools. There are numerous platforms that allow you to discover and share relevant articles, videos, and other content. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do this using a popular tool:

Using Feedly for Content Curation

Create a Feedly Account: Sign up for a free account on Feedly. This platform allows you to follow blogs and websites of your interest. Collection Management: Create a collection of blogs that you find interesting in your niche. Explore the latest movers, shakers, and thinkers in your industry. Discover Trending Content: Follow popular blogs to discover the latest news and trends. This helps you stay up-to-date with what's happening in your industry. Share Relevant Content: Choose articles or posts that are relevant and interesting for your followers. Share these directly on Twitter using a tweet with appropriate hashtags.

No matter what you tweet, it's important to stay on message and on point. Avoid sharing political views, long-winded rants, or content that is not related to your business. Instead, focus on providing valuable and engaging content that resonates with your audience.

Conclusion

Showcasing a genuine, engaging presence on Twitter can significantly enhance your small business's online influence. By focusing on community involvement, showing the human side of your business, and sharing relevant content, you can build a strong and loyal following. Remember, it's all about creating a connection and adding value to the lives of your followers.