Listbuilding with Twitter

Hit and miss advertising is not an effective method for creating rapport with your target market. If you want to establish a long-term relationship with customers, you’ll need to contact them frequently. Twitter is a successful and effective means for building steam in your Internet marketing campaign. If you’d like a free and effective way to reach your niche market, listbuilding via Twitter is the way to go.

Unlike the advertising you see in popular media, which may focus on creativity and entertainment over effectiveness, Internet marketers must work consistently to put the face of the company “out there” to connect with their target market. The popularity of social networking sites like Twitter is effective because your potential customers make the choice to “follow” you, which means they’re already interested in seeing what you have to offer.

In order to be a successful marketer, you need to focus on the reach and frequency of your advertising program. The number of people you contact is referred to as the “reach” of your campaign. For Internet marketers, the frequency of your contact is important because customers cannot drive by your business, so your visibility is dependent on the contact you make with them.

The first rule of building your list is to treat your followers with respect. No one wants to be spammed, so don’t make the mistake of bombarding your followers with ads. Use Twitter to provide your followers information about you and your business. Give them some insight into your personality. Offer hints about upcoming product launches. Add links to your website. Have fun with your Twitter account, but keep in mind that your tweets are the face of your company so think before you post.

Use Twitter as your first source for sharing tips about your product or business with your target market or for offering special deals for your followers. One of the great aspects of using Twitter is that you can add links to your landing page or blog to drive more traffic to your website. You can also direct followers to your opt-in pages. Offer something free-like a report or customer discount–in exchange for their names and e-mail addresses.

When you first begin to use Twitter, you’ll notice that your followers will grow with little or no effort. One good way to increase your followers is for you to follow others who cater to your target market. This enhances your visibility, and people who do not know you will begin to follow you. Followers of your followers will also jump on board.

One of the tools you can use to enhance your Twitter account is TweetLater. TweetLater allows you to schedule your tweets for the future. If you’re going on vacation or will be on a business trip and won’t have access to your Twitter account, TweetLater will allow you to store your tweets for future distribution so you can keep your tweet stream flowing.

When planning your marketing campaign, use multiple channels to build your list. Social networking sites are a great place to begin. Listbuilding with Twitter is one of the easiest ways to expand your reach and contact your potential customers with the frequency necessary to promote your Internet marketing business.