Up until a year
ago the only tweeting I did was when I sang Rockin Robin in one of my
performances. Now 600 or so followers later, I am still learning but
starting to get it. So let me share with you some Twitter etiquette
do's and don'ts.
It's a Conversation
This is so
basic. You can not sell on social media. You need to provide
value. Receive an interesting tweet with good information - re-tweet
it. Come across a good article, tweet it. Respond to other
tweets. Ask questions. Compliment. As healthcare professionals
it's about understanding who your followers are and what value you
provide. So if they are consumers, empower them with information to
live a healthier life not information about the latest and greatest
technology you just acquired. Basic yes but people still get this
wrong - a lot.
Multi-Task
I try to
provide value by feeding my blog to Twitter. So my followers receive
useful information. Then my blog also feeds to my Facebook page.
Double whammy. And then of course I link it to my Linked In account
too.
Tweet Early and Often
With
hundreds or even thousands of followers it is hit and miss as to who is
reading when and if they ever catch your tweet at all. So I try to
tweet the same information two or three times a day to reach different
segments. Not sure if it is totally effective but you will get more
people to actually read what you post.
Have a Point of View
People
like to follow people not organizations so have a point of view and a
personality. That is reflected in your writing style and the words
you use. So not only is it about conversation but meaningful
conversation.
Say More With Less
Sometimes
you can't quite get it all in 140 characters especially if you are
referencing another web link so take that link and shorten it using many
of the tools out there. I use budurl.com
Follow Your Competitors
There's a
great way to do surveillance. And sign up for their offers.
Track how often they are re-tweeted and quoted.
Support
Desk
Comcast
has become the case study of a company that really tracks the tweets and
have solved customer service problems as a result. Give you a
personal example. I was sitting in my ophthalmologists office for an
inordinate amount of time first in the waiting room and then the exam
chair before the doctor arrived. So I pulled out the trusty iphone
and tweeted to no one in particular my lament of waiting in the doctor's
office. Now if someone from that practice was following me (and why
shouldn't you try to follow your customers - hey give us your email, your
tweet address, your facebook page) - then they might have reacted.
Breaking News
I know I
know. Some hospitals are tweeting surgery for goodness sake.
That is great until something goes wrong. Smacks of gimmicky to me.
However Twitter as a first breaker of news IS gaining traction. When
US Airways went down in the Hudson, first reports were on Twitter.
Obama sometimes breaks news first on Twitter. So take a lesson.
Follow Me Follow You
If someone
follows you it is good policy to follow back. Though I am careful, I
click through, check out their web site, see how I feel. A lot of
pyramid-types and alleged SEO gurus seem to proliferate. And I have
subsequently blocked people after I realized what they were really trying
to do.
So put a
smile on your face and a tweet from your heart and you should be in the
right frame of mind to get started on this journey.
Oh and
follow me:
http://twitter.com/anthonycirillo
