THE SUBTLE SCIENCE AND EXACT ART OF TWEETING

Shruti Raghuram

Potterheads obviously understood the reference. In case you didn’t get it, it’s what Snape described Potion Making to be.

The world is currently ruled by social media. The king of the kings of social media just so happens to be one that will help you promote your business. I’m talking about Twitter. The key to becoming an internet wizard lies within the 280 characters that can make or break your reputation as a business entity.

When you post something on Twitter, you only have a minute where someone might stumble upon your tweet. You need to make sure that you capture the reader’s attention within those 60 seconds - because it’s Twitter! Two refreshes and you’re lost among the sea of tweets, never to be found again. So, when you post something, you need to sell the content to your readers. In the end, what matters most (parameters of your success) is:

●        Your comprehensibility. How much of your content is relevant to the audience you’re targeting.

●        The number of retweets.

They are key to becoming well-known on the internet and to get you the money you need to keep your business afloat. Like everything we do, there are some basic rules to live by when posting an article on twitter.

1. Your opinion does not count. The readers' does.

Just because you think that your content is amazing does not mean that the reader feels the same. Your tweet should appeal to the maximum number of people possible. The “They’ll know what I’m talking about” attitude will back-fire 90% of the time. 

2. Nail it. Every. Single. Time.

If you want all the posts in a reader’s feed to part for you like Moses, then be Moses. People will only click on your post if they find it to be nothing short of excellent. You get one shot. If you create a good post, they might just notice your Twitter handle and keep track of your future posts. If you’re advertising your product, they might like your content and click on your website link. Free advertisement! Learn to use it to the fullest. Hire a blogger or a part-time writer to proof read your content and make it enticing or appetizing enough to the reader. While you’re at it, you could also look into a good graphics designer to illustrate them. Because, you know, a story is always more interesting with pictures.

3. Your title.

It’s everything. It is the first thing a reader will read. Everything about your article will have to be condensed into one title. Readers are judgemental. If they find your title interesting, they will read your article. On twitter, books are judged by their cover. So, make sure you have a kick-ass title. Sell your article without actually having to sell it.

Example: your article should not scream “read me!” or “click on me!”.

4. Grammar Nazi spotted!

Yep. Use flawless grammar and perfect spelling. If you fail to do so, not only will you become a laughing stock but your article will lose its credibility.

Advertisement of a product and the way it is perceived by your audience is pivotal for good publicity. If you have a website for your business, it will generate internet traffic and that is one kind of traffic that no one minds being stuck in! If you continue to use poor English, readers will stop paying attention to your posts and you will be reduced to nothing but a spammer. 

5. Shorten your links with bit.ly

Enough said.

It’s the best out there and you should use nothing but the best. There are other sources as well, like tinyurl, but they’re not trusted as much by the professionals and therefore, you mustn’t use them. In fact, the use of anything but bit.ly is mocked upon by other professional twitterati writers. The interface for bit.ly may seem to be ancient, but it’s a “got to deal with it” thing.

6. Dot your I’s and cross your t’s!

We need to punctuate this business.

You are often judged by the English you use and the punctuation marks matter a lot.

Every English nerd on earth lives only for one objective. A perfect looking article. As someone once said, if you succeed in making an English nerd happy, you have succeeded in life. If you haven’t guessed already, I said that. Simple things like "were" and “we’re” make lot of difference in the way a person judges your article’s worth.

Ross once said,” ‘Y O U R’ means 'your' and "Y O U ‘R E" means 'you are'.”

Basically, you need to think your article through before putting it out on the internet. Not that it matters much. I mean, it’s only out there forever you know? Just casually.

On a serious note, the impression you create on social media plays an important role in helping the readers decide what kind of person or company that you represent. Be creative with your content. Be witty with your statements. Read what you wrote from a reader’s perspective. Most of all, have fun doing it. If you love what you do, you will do it with more enthusiasm. Just like your start-up. You are investing all your time and energy working on it because you love doing it! Share that same love with its marketing. 

What are is your opinion on Twitter and the role it plays for your business or start up? Have an experience that you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments section below! Happy Tweeting!

Sincerely yours,

The Girl With A Quill.