Does Your Twitter Business Feed Make You Look like A Liar?
One of my favorite things as a social media manager and blogger is connecting with my audience – I love to be able to provide value, and I love it when an article hits that nerve that gets everyone talking at once!
Monday's article on content marketing seems to have done just that; I'm always so thrilled when I'm able to provide solid value for my readers!
So I wanted to follow up with one on a similar note about Twitter. Specifically – Does your Twitter feed make you look like a liar? Here's what I mean. When you post to Twitter, re-tweet someone, or favorite a tweet, what's your strategy? Are you just looking for any old thing to post, or are you systematic and strategic?
If you're not being intentional in your content on Twitter, you could easily be shooting yourself in the foot – and that's the best case scenario of "what could possibly go wrong." If you really "step in it," you could make yourself appear hypocritical or even like an out and out liar.
Your business has things it stands for. Or at least I hope it does. If not, you really need to take a look at that. But assuming you have, you have values, a mission and a vision, or something like those things. Every single piece of content you produce needs to support that. And I don't mean just your blog, either. All of your social media platforms need to be consistent in promoting your brand's message. If they're not, it could be disastrous.
Twitter is one that is easy to take very lightly – it's only 140 characters, after all. But those 140 characters make it very, very easy to be so casual that you goof, Tweet something that doesn't match the big picture of what your brand stands for, and be in "Hurt City" when it all blows up.
Ways Your Twitter Strategy Could Make You Look Like a Liar
1. Watch your Re-tweets
Re-tweeting is a great strategy to build your connections on social media. But – you need to make sure whatever you're re-tweeting (and favoring, for that matter), is consistent with your brand's values. Otherwise, you end up looking seriously hypocritical – like your values are there just as words on a page and something you don't actually *live* by or do business by.
2. Make sure you're providing serious value
If you're using Twitter to promote your business, honestly – you need to be providing value, not just promoting yourself in every single tweet. To be 100% truthful with you – it looks like spam when you just self promote. And – if every tweet could be sung to the tune of "How Great I Art," it looks like you've got to be lying about yourself. Don't be that person! Make sure you're leading with value, promoting yourself when appropriate – but humbly (let your product or service speak for itself), and be sure to be willing to be human, too. No one is perfect.
3. Choose your conversations wisely
Similar to re-tweets – make sure you're conversing wisely on social media. Old tweets have a habit of showing up at just the wrong time, especially if they're embarrassing at all. Your conversations on Twitter are public – make sure you're tweeting in ways that you and your brand would be proud to have found on Google now and in the future, not to mention having them found by your grandma or minister.
Do you have any Twitter bloopers you'd be willing to own up to publicly? Or what are some of the Twitter "moments" you're glad weren't yours? Leave a comment – would love to hear from you!
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Yes, keeping the brand's value is very important in tweets and retweets. Everyone should be mindful of that. Thanks for the reminder.
we really do have to watch it.. I like things and retweet on Twitter without paying attention sometimes..;)
Great points Liz! So important to be aware of what we are retweeting! Thanks
Thanks Kerry! I have been guilty myself and decided to do better..;)
no i’m saying know what you are tweeting..
Excellent tips and reminers, Liz! We have to be on our toes!
ya welcome! i hope you can keep your twitter rocking!
Great points Liz. It's critical that our tweets reflect our values and brand.
Excellent advice! I have sometimes had people comment and they obviously hadn't carefully or at all read my tweet or post! But I thank them any way for their effort!
Great tips Liz! Loved all three tips, but really liked #1. Be careful what you re-tweet. Early on, I automated RT's and boy was I ever sorry! Thanks for sharing.
Solid advice Elizabeth. I am very careful about my retweets. Great post!
I have retweeted a few things that I wish I had've checked first. I don't know that they were not good, but my sensors went up when I did it. After checking a few links my name was attached to, I won't do that again!
Realistically, with all of the do’s and don’ts that scare many clients away from social media, I now call it social networking. Act the way you would act at any business related networking event. If you can’t do it online, stay off it or find someone who can represent your company well.h
[...] See on assistsocialmedia.com [...]
Great reminders Elizabeth! I often get lost in tweets and retweet things, post, etc. Great reminder to think of my followers first!
Thanks!
One thing to note, is this. Like drinking and driving, please don't tweet drunk. Last All Singles Day (Valentines Day for you normal folks) I was dealing with a cyber stalker while celebrating my 10th year single. Needless to say, I don't drink and downed a large bottle of wine. I was wasted! I'm known as @cryptision on twitter so if you like a laugh, look at my timeline. Its riddled with mis-spelllings, mis-typings, and other bungling of a single nerd. My timeline is like a things not to do on social media.
lol aww Ben! Well it happens to people and hey we all live and learn..;0) Thanks so much for sharing your “Twitter” oopss with us!..;)
Okay Liz I'll confess…although I haven't done it in awhile I did used to post more links to articles than all other tweets. Now I do my best to only post 4 articles per day, mix in quotes other retweets and The Fiery Grandma'isms…
Greats points! One big goof I’ve seen is people not reading a post and just RTing based on the headline. Though you may often be able to get away with it, you could be caught if it’s a link to a different article, or a dead link.
I know.. I’m guilty and have been surprised that what I thought was a great article wasn’t..;)
Elizabeth … as always interesting food for thought and tips.
Thanks for the visit Pam… It is something to think about..;)
Very valid points! It is important to maintain authenticity, professionalism and integrity.
Thank you Forrest! Those are the very reasons we have to be careful!
Great point on the self promoting Elizabeth, nothing turns me off more than a tweet stream that's all about how amazing a business thinks it is.
Great point made here, Liz!
Thanks Kim!
Excellent reminders! Appreciate your article!
Thank you Niki! Glad to have you drop by!
Excellent point Elizabeht on those re-tweets. Sometimes we get too eager to share. It seems more brands are understanding not to tweet their own stuff only today. I noticed that much more a few years ago than today, thank goodness.
If one really likes to share a lot they may want to set up their own personal account too.
Lisa, I learned so ling ago that people are on social media for fun. If you build a relationship with your target audience then they will not only share YOUR content for you but they will buy your product. It’s about a relationship and fun.. HOW you present it is so important!