Past Tense

Social media & micro-blogging sites like Twitter have changed how many companies market themselves on the internet. They are looking for cutting-edge ideas to win over new friends and followers to convert into potential customers. The dilemma is striking the right balance of friendly conversation and product pitch.

In February of 2009 @AlexKaris posted the following question ion Twitter: What is the NUMBER 1 reason you unfollow people? The winning response with 42% of the votes was “tired of watching them self promote with links and no interaction.”

As a businesswoman on Twitter my dilemma became as I interacted and became part of the Twitter community I became cautious about making a sales pitch to my followers. By the second month of Tweeting I became aware of followers who sent only a bombardment of sales Tweets with zero communication were extremely irritating. I did not want to become “that guy/gal” sending only 140 character Twitfomercials to my followers.

I had to ask myself the following questions. If I communicate too much, too little, send a random sales pitch or lay low will I be unfollowed? How do I advertise my website products and customer service without alienating potential clients? How do I avoid sabotaging my positive Twitter reputation?

You cannot find a better example of the social vs. selling balance on Twitter than that of @ricklondon. Rick London Group, LLC CEO Rick London’s personal approach involves putting himself forward as the face of his company on Twitter. He Tweets freely with the online community promotes his celebrity clients and provides links to his humorous cartoons.

You can market yourself and your brand to the Twitter community with these easy steps. Build your following first by interacting with those in your immediate network. Tweet famous quotations, music and humor if you are not comfortable with the friendly banter. Finally use your tweets to invite and entice your base to check out your latest items rather than a hard sell by now strategy.