Twitter Tips for PR Pros
If you’re a PR professional, you’ve got to be on Twitter. The free online news and social media platform is THE place to be. It’s essentially a massive playground for public relations.
Not only can you share created content, you can also catch the latest stories and events as they’re developing. Additionally, “Retweets” and “Likes” on your posts provide free publicity and mass communication on a global scale.
But global success doesn’t just happen overnight. You must know when and how to utilize Twitter to make it work best for both you and your client. Here are the top five tips and tricks that will help you own Twitter’s enormous social sphere.
Establish Yourself
It’s important that your make your Twitter account your own. Remember that this is a public profile and in order to gain followers you’ve got to look your best! Always keep an updated avatar, bio, and cover-picture.
Make sure that your profile is relevant and that it effectively communicates what you or your client’s brand is all about. You are creating a digital voice on a platform used by millions, so be sure you stand out from the rest!
A great example of a brand making their twitter account their own is Wendy’s. Not only are their avatar, cover-picture, and bio relevant to their brand, they’ve also created a humorous voice, making them one of the most popular branded twitter accounts active at the moment.
Always Engage
You need to create relationships with not only your key publics but also any relevant influencers for your brand. To successfully build these relationships you need to be answering questions, establishing conversation, and interacting with key tweets through likes and retweets; key tweets are any tweets relevant to you and your brand.
You are essentially a liaison between the consumer and your brand. Engaging with consumers and influencers alike effectively helps to build your online presence and reputation.
Use Hashtags
Hashtags are important! Always make sure that your hashtags are short and sweet. And if they’re witty, you’ve already gained a competitive edge. The hashtags you use need to seamlessly integrate your brand into any conversation. The better the hashtag, the more opportunity for impressions and engagement with your brand.
A great example of a brand using a hashtag to increase engagement with their product was Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke campaign. Coke created and distributed bottles with different names and titles, which encouraged consumers to take a picture of their bottle and share it wherever they were in the world.
Follow People
Make sure you’re following key influencers and consumers. By hitting that follow button, you are notifying that person that you and your brand exist. A follow also sometimes initiates a follow back, further building your audience and your reach.
Utilize The “Lists” Feature
Twitter has this nifty feature called “Lists” and it creates all the difference on your daily timeline. Make sure you’re effectively utilizing this component to break your timeline down between brands, influencers, and whatever else you deem important for you or your client’s brand. This way you can stay on top of the trends and participate in the latest conversation.
Making the best use of your twitter account can create a world of difference for you and your brand. By actively incorporating the tips listed above, you’re bound to succeed!
About Paige
Paige Koziol is a senior studying Advertising and Public Relations at Grand Valley State University. The 2017-2018 school year is her second year with PRSSA and her first with GrandPR. Even though she is incredibly excited to graduate in April 2018, her last semester in GrandPR has offered her valuable knowledge and experience that will not only prepare her for the real world after graduation, but guarantee she succeeds. She loves being outside, so in her free time she likes to travel around looking for new spots to hike, kayak, and camp!