Going Beyond 140 – 5 Tips to Build Meaningful Business Relationships on Twitter

Everyone knows how to get more Twitter followers, but how many of those followers are you actually building relationships with?

Some people say that it is impossible to build real relationships on Twitter, adding that you can’t really get to know someone in 140 characters or less. However, with a little time, persistence and a genuine interest in what others are saying, it can be a fantastic platform gain attention and start dialogue with those you otherwise would not have the opportunity to meet.

5 Tips to build meaningful relationships onTwitter

1. Follow back those who follow you

You should disregard spammers and those who are clearly not following you for the content, but don’t be afraid to follow back your loyal followers. Don’t just click “Follow” when someone new follows you, look through their feeds, comment on their tweets and see if there are any discussions you can weigh in on.

2. Answer questions

If there are questions and conversations going on in your Twitter feed, don’t be afraid to join in! This is the perfect opportunity to increase your visibility, showcase your knowledge and possibly gain a few new followers. Just remember to say clear of controversial topics that could ruin your reputation and credibility.

3. Don’t forget to follow-up

Nothing shows you care more than follow-up. If you helped someone answer a question they had, or read about a dilemma, it’s a great idea to follow-up and say, “how did things go?” Most people will respond, but all will take note of your genuine interest. .

4. Give a shout-out to those followers you admire

Are there people who you really enjoy following who always create great content? #FollowFriday is a hashtag created to give shout-outs to those who you really enjoy following. Trust me when I say, this will not go unnoticed.

5. Say thank you!  

When someone retweets one of your tweets, it is professional and polite to say thank you. If you want to show even more appreciation, retweet something great of theirs. Remember that not everyone knows when they have been “retweeted” so you might want to include a personal message congratulating them or letting them know what you liked about the tweet.

Remember, Twitter isn’t all about hashtags (#), @ signs and RT’s, it’s about relationships. Without some type of engagement, you are losing an opportunity to build those relationships and possibly turn those followers into paying customers.

Carey