14 Ways to Get More Twitter Followers for your Business

This is the first post of my weekly diary series. I have chosen to do it on increasing your Twitter followers as it is a topic that isn’t too technical, and is a little light-hearted compared to more complex digital marketing channels (SEO, PPC, content marketing) that I am still trying to get my head around.

Also, social media marketing is where I probably have the most knowledge and skills gained through regular daily use and experience using it to promote a brand.

So, let’s get started:

If your business has a high Twitter following that is ever-growing, the chances are you have created a robust content strategy.

If not, don’t fret, this handy guide can help you get to grips with Twitter and the many ways to help increase your followers.

Firstly, a question some may ask, why do I need more followers?

Well, to begin with, a high follower count can establish a social authority - meaning the more Twitter followers you have, the more of an “expert” or “important” you are perceived to be.

When your customers are looking for a business, they can be more likely to choose a company who has a higher following (or Verified) on Twitter because they know they are established and can be relied on - they gain a sense of security.

It can also help increase brand awareness and sales to your business if you have a high following as more people will be talking about you, searching for your business and to see if you have what they’re looking for.

However, saying that, not all businesses need to have a social media presence to be successful. Some may gain awareness and sales through print marketing, word of mouth, or even just through other related businesses.

14 ways you can increase your Twitter followers:

1. Make sure your profile is complete

Your profile is the first thing someone will look at before they decide to hit the follow button – make sure they do by including:

2. Pick the right name

Creating a @username is required when creating a Twitter account but make sure you choose it carefully. Ensure it reflects your brand or business and is easy to find amongst Twitter’s 300+ million active users.

It is important to be aware of the dangers of having a similar username to others.

Spare a thought for the man who constantly gets mistaken for the UK department store, John Lewis.

Dear @johnlewis, I bought a packet of out of date condoms that split and now I'm having to have a baby. Who can I contact about a refund?
— Ronnie Joice (@ronniejoice) August 6, 2017

I'm sorry, my policy is a substantial penalty for late withdrawal. https://t.co/LoUJW9kW8L
— John Lewis (@johnlewis) August 6, 2017

A good tip when creating your brand is to make sure your username is available, on-brand, memorable and will not easily get mistaken for somebody else.

On that note, please also be aware of the importance of not using underscores in your business username if you are (and should be) thinking about Twitter SEO:

“Google does not treat the underscore as a “white space” character like spaces, periods, dashes and so on… In rare cases where it may be the best option available, you may use the underscore, but be aware that it only provides a fuzzy match relevancy that can be very weak” - Search Engine Land

Therefore make sure you take into account these factors when choosing your brand name to ensure you are creating a valuable brand asset.

3. Remember to complete your bio

Don’t leave this blank. You have 160 characters to explain what you do or what your business offers. What differentiates you from everyone else? Make it known.

4. A small detail, but add your location

Include your location on your profile. People like to know where you are from / based. It also makes people looking for local business easier to find you.

5. Surely, you remembered to do this?

Link your website. This is where people can find out more about you and it may lead to a sale or future client.

6. Show your face or brand

Twitter may have stepped away from the “beloved” egg avatar and replaced it with a more generic image but people can still think you are either a spammer, troll or a newbie if you don’t upload one.

7. Make good use of the header image

Upload a header image, ideally one that compliments your profile picture.

A header image is also a great way to promote any seasonal promotions you have, as well as communicating your brand message clearly.

Example: Gecko Twitter Page

8. Share engaging and creative content

This is the most important piece of advice. Tweet and share content you know others will want to read.

However, make sure it is relevant to your brand. There’s no point sharing content that won’t benefit your business. Ask yourself:

What’s the purpose of this content?
What makes it unique?
Who’s my target audience?
Will other businesses in the industry want to share it?

Also, be sure to engage with others by retweeting, liking and responding to other people’s tweets regularly. They’re more likely to do the same for you.

9. Use visuals to communicate a stronger message

Add an image, video or GIF to your tweet.

It makes your post that little bit more interesting and also encourages people to engage with you on a personal level through replies, retweets and likes.

Wherever you are in the world, you can get a "virtual" taste of the Edinburgh Festivals via this immersive VR app https://t.co/U5MAaAC4xD pic.twitter.com/0ZkDdo7tM1
— Creative Scotland (@CreativeScots) August 12, 2017

For example, Creative Scotland have attached an image to their tweet about a new virtual reality app for Edinburgh Festivals. This works well as the image is fun, comical and most importantly, compliments the content. Readers are instantly aware that the tweet is about Edinburgh due to the city photo references in the collage.

In fact, tweets with images get 150% more retweets and 89% more likes. So, yes, using visuals is a key way to increase the engagement with your content.

10. Use hashtags to increase visibility

Using hashtags in your posts can have a positive effect on your visibility and engagement if you choose the relevant tags.

Research shows that tweets with hashtags get 2x more engagement through many people searching Twitter for those keywords.

Just don’t use too many - it can get repetitive and annoying.

#only4moredaystilltheweekend #hwg #partyyy

11. Don't follow just any old Tom, Dick and Harry!

Follow people in the same industry as you, just like I’ve been doing with the Gecko account.

This week, I followed Equator (Digital Marketing Agency), Attacat (Digital Marketing Agency) and Creative Scotland (Creative Industries Support / Opportunities in Scotland).

Why? They may help generate ideas for our own activities or who knows; maybe it will call for a future collaboration.

Follow your influencers, colleagues, customers, counterparts, and even just people who randomly follow you.

It will show that you have genuine interest in your customers.

12. Link to your Twitter profile from your website

If you are a business, people are most likely to find you through your website.

Therefore make sure you include your Twitter handle and any other social media channels you have on your site.

Visitors can follow and keep up-to-date with your products or service through these platforms. You can adjust your content to suit each and they also make you readily available if someone wishes to contact you.

13. Consider Twitter Ads to extend your reach

Twitter Ads are a great way of promoting your business as a whole or even just a particular product or service you are offering. You can either promote a tweet, trend or account.

If you’re willing to pay for it, a promoted account is probably the best way to help you gain a significant following and reach potential customers.

14. Make your life easier with social media management tools

You’ll be able to find a range of online tools that can help you manage your Twitter account effectively.

Tools such as Sprout Social for example can manage everything from scheduling your tweets to analysing your followers, impressions and engagements.

Tweepi is also a popular one to help find people in your world of work and will encourage you to follow and engage with these people, and even filters out the people who don’t speak your language or are far from your geo-location of interest. Cool, right?

What top tips do you have for increasing your Twitter followers? Tweet me @wearegecko and let me know about your best tips.

15th August 2017

Author

Gillian Wylie

Junior Digital Marketing Manager

Gillian is Gecko’s Junior Digital Marketing Manager. When she is not learning all things digital, she enjoys regularly going to gigs and experimenting with fashion trends.

@LinkedIn @Twitter