Once you finally get used to hashtags, handles, and all the Twitter rules, you may be wondering how to step up your Twitter game and get more exposure on the social network. When it comes down to it, the amount of influence your tweets have can be determined upon how your tweets are composed. When writing your tweets, you have to shoot for creating or curating memorable posts that other users want to share.
To start, there are three types of tweets:
1. Original tweet – a new, original thought you created and shared
2. Link – generating a tweet based on a link to an article, website, image, etc. that you wish to share
3. Retweet – republishing someone else’s tweet to share it with your followers
Once you determine which type of tweet you wish to share, you can break down the allotted 140 characters into the following form:
• The message – 100 characters
• A link – 20 characters
• Blank space – at least 20 characters
The message is the main chunk of your 140-character tweet. It should take up about 100 characters and should provide a call-to-action, while informing readers of why your tweet is of value to them. You can mix in facts, statistics, and hashtags to draw even more attention to the post. Just be sure to maintain correct grammar and usage throughout, as well as uphold a professional tone.
The link should draw users to click for more information. Whether the link leads to one of your social networks, your website, or your practice blog, users should feel compelled to open the link. Be sure to use a link shortening service, such as Bitly, to conserve your characters. Also, the majority of your tweets should link to either your website or blog posts in an effort to increase website traffic.
Blank space allows other users to retweet your post without having to fuss with editing it to meet the 140-character limit. Making it easy on other users can increase the likelihood that your post will be retweeted.
After formatting your Tweet just so, you can improve the chance that your tweets will be seen and shared. Here are some additional tips to consider:
• Use “you” or “your” instead of “I” or “we” to make readers feel included in the conversation and more likely to favorite or retweet.
• Mention other users by including their handle in your tweet to influence a share, follow, or retweet.
• Limit your hashtag use to just one or two per tweet to prevent other users from thinking your tweets are spam.
• Share popular news within your industry to help attract the attention of colleagues who may decide to retweet your post.
• Avoid the use of all CAPS to make your tweet more likely to be read.
If you haven’t yet started using Twitter to market your practice, you can download our free Ultimate Social Media Guide to Twitter, which walks you through the setup process and offers key tips and strategies on using social media to market your practice.
