One of the number one social media questions I hear from business leaders is “what should I tweet?”
It's funny because most business owners start a business because they have a passion for something or at minimum have an interest in it enough they believe they can make some money providing such a service or product. However, when it comes to sending a 140 character tweet they struggle with it.
Many are use to the days of the long corporate brochures and matching websites where they can hire a writer to craft every word to perfection. However, times have changed. Conversations are now real time. They are immediate and happening 24/7. Such a scenario puts many business owners and leaders in the spotlight without them really knowing what to do.
If you are one struggling with “what to tweet” I encourage you to go back to the reasons you started your business. Focus on your audience, clients, partners and community. Get in their head and do your best to understand what it is they need. What do they want to talk about? How can you personally help them? How can your business help them meet their goals and objectives?
Below is a list of 42 things you can do on Twitter besides tweet coupons or promote your business all day long.
42 Things to do on Twitter Besides Tweet Coupons & Spam!
1. Share relevant content that will provide value to your followers.
2. Join or host a tweet chat.
3. Social listening. Listen and watch others in your community, industry leaders, competition, partners, and clients.
4. Use hashtags to start a new community around a specific topic, event, business or cause.
5. Share inspirational content such as quotes or scripture. Did you know quotes are the #1 retweeted content on Twitter?
6. Share a song.
7. Have a conversation and talk to people. Yes, I know it sounds crazy but you can simply just talk like you do in real life! ;)
8. Welcome new businesses online who you know have just joined Twitter.
9. Share local events from your local news channels.
10. Share good deals from some of your favorite businesses.
11. Support your clients. Check out their tweet streams frequently for information you can help them share.
12. Thank someone via twitter for commenting on your blog.
13. Ask a question that starts dialog.
14. Support causes and charities.
15. Obtain support for your favorite cause or charity.
16. Share other people's content such as blog posts and tweets.
17. Start a movement.
18. Share tips that can help your target market.
19. Develop an editorial calendar of tips and conversation points. It will help you particularly on the days when you have a writing or brain block.
20. Make new friends.
21. Share a photo. You can incorporate sites such as TwitPic, Instagram, Flickr and Pinterest.
22. Ask a question
23. Create a poll and gather input from your twitter followers.
24. Share an upcoming event.
25. Share content and key nuggets of information and quotes live from an event.
26. Find old friends.
27. Share a funny or touching video
28. Share an idea and gather feedback.
29. Share a new design or logo and ask for input.
30. Ask for feedback when launching or testing new website, blog or even Facebook timeline.
31. Show appreciation and advocacy for those in your community.
32. Wish someone Happy Birthday or any other holiday that is appropriate.
33. Share kids event photo and funny happenings.
34. Share a daily wisdom tweet.
35. Create themed days for morning or evening content. If you can inspire your followers, they may return daily to see what you have to say. For example, Monday could be Marketing Monday, Twitter Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, Facebook Friday etc.
36. Gather opinions and wish lists for blog posts you can write that will help your followers and readers.
37. Create a Twitter list to keep track of industry experts, clients or simply your favorite tweeters.
38. Check out the Twitter lists of your community, clients, partners and even competitors to find good Tweeters to follow.
39. Cheer someone up.
40. Tweet when you check into your favorite restaurant using Foursquare.
41. Talk about people who spam coupons (joking.)
42. Tweet this post!
What do You Tweet About?
So tell me, what do you tweet about? Do you struggle with what to tweet or do you have a rapid tongue that never runs out of things to say? Was there ever a time you struggled with how to get a Twitter conversation started? What tips can you share to help others who may be new to Twitter or still feeling tweet challenged?
Related Articles:
How I tweet in a Nutshell – 55 Twitter Behaviors of a Twitter Nut
CEO's Repeat After Me: We are NOT Afraid to Tweet!
10 Tips to Get the Twitter Conversation Started
Zoom Your Tweets in 7 Easy Steps
@robertlburns Thanks Rob!!
Awesome, all-inclusive list, Pam — Tweeted! :)
I think what many online marketers struggle with is finding the right balance between Tweeting helpful tips/promos/personal stuff. As you know, spam abounds on all the social media platforms and Twitter is no exception.
Thanks for providing your readers with lots and lots of ideas to Tweet about!
@MelanieKissell Thanks for the kind words Melanie. I think the key is to just know in your heart if you are tweeting spam or not. If it feels like too much spam it probably is. Focus on the value and content your audience wants. You’ll know it when they like it… they aren’t shy about telling you!
@PamMktgNut Follow your Tweeting heart — love it! I totally agree. I believe people sincerely know when they’re overstepping spam boundaries. Your advice is solid. Just trust your instincts and your gut and you’ll stay off the offender’s list. :)
@JimmyPicanza thanks Jimmy!! Happy green day to you!!! How are you? Any fun plans this wknd?
@PamMktgNut Get 4 Free tickets to 6 Flags: Call up your friends and enjoy now: @Free_Six_Flags
@PamMktgNut Missed this tweet. Always some fun between work and chores on weekend. Hey, you and Josh want to schedule lunch together?
@JimmyPicanza Yes, that would be awesome! Next week would be great. Let us know what works for you too! No kids either, right!!?? ;)
@PamMktgNut Absolutely no kids. Tuesday, Thursday or Friday works here. Thought we could just do Country Corner Market.
@PamMktgNut Absolutely no kids. Tues, Thurs or Friday. Thought we would just do Corner Market on litharge/.pincrest.
@JimmyPicanza awesome! Let’s do it. Gym clothes or Jammies required, not optional!! ;)
@PamMktgNut email me at [email protected] and tell me a good time for lunch this week. :)
@osakasaul thanks buddy!! :-)
Pam — I read this after seeing it on… Twitter! I love the point you make at the beginning about brainstorming your business passions. I’m going to quote you in an upcoming newsletter!
Pam — I read this after seeing it on… Twitter! I love the point you make at the beginning about brainstorming your business passions. I’m going to quote you in an upcoming newsletter!
@iggypintado @planetshark @prosperitygal @hensel @arkarthick @ezyblogger @amitV_tweets @wordsdonewrite Thx much 4 RT luvs! xoxo
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Hi.I have a great time reading it. I really like number 7 and 8. These are the things that make Twitter a very useful tool in business marketing. Thanks for sharing this post..
For interested parties who want to gain quality followers, you might want to visit the link below.
http://feed140.com/how-to-get-more-followers-on-twitter/
Interesting next step would be a survey – of the items in the list, which ones do people still consider to be spam (i.e. waste of my attention)?
Great idea Chris. Will try to do one soon.
@kathikruse kathi!! Let’s talk this week’
#Twitter #Tips @PamMktgNut http://t.co/lOGzCsHt “42 Things To Do On Twitter Besides Tweet” via @SocialMediahs & JustinFScott:
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I love the list – it is amazing how I can write a blog post or a lengthy detailed report with no issue, but Twitter does stump me. I hate to be spammed so I want my posts to be as personal as possible. I love your #5 – I think I’m going to start providing more quotes. I often use quotes to inspire my day to day activity…integrating them into my social media…brilliant! Thanks for the list.
Thanks for the comment Elizabeth. It’s okay. Twitter stumps many people. It’s different communication than most are use to. Quotes are a great way to get to know your audience. If you try to tweet a variety of different quotes you’ll easily see what ones people are interested in.
I have met some amazing peeps from a simple quote including some rockin’ clients! I actually got one client who is a serial entrepreneur from a #FF tweet followed by a quote I sent. He said he followed me for 6 mos after the quote & #FF tweet from a colleague he trusted. Finally after 6 mos he called us. Gotta luv the power of social! Good luck and please let me know how it goes!
Nice post. I really have fun reading all of them. However, for me, I can really relate to number 7 and 8 on your list. I am a business type of person and Twitter has really helped me promote and advertise my thing. Thank you for sharing this post. Keep it up!
Ray Trigg
http://feed140.com/using-twitter-for-business/
@seotrafficlab How To Make Money Online Quick{Affiliate Marketing} @home_make_money
@seotrafficlab http://t.co/zeWMgbff
@mikefixs Hey there Mike! Long time no chat. Hope all is well!
@DrRus Hi Rus – likewise. Still would like to catch lunch sometime and catch up. :-)
@mikefixs That sounds like a great idea. Is there a day that works better for you than others? Maybe we could meet at same place as before.
@JessicaNorthey ランチョンミートのことですか？
Great tips. It’s a question I get asked a lot. So many businesses fall into the trap of thinking they can only tweet special offers.
@trevord209 hola! How have you been?
@mmangen pretty darn good. Im finally working for myself writing mostly. How is my favoritest va?
@trevord209 oh congrats!!!!! How is that going?
@mmangen mostly scary. Im getting some good potential writing gigs.
@trevord209 it can be totally scary but the potential outweighs for you hopefully
@mmangen so far so good. I am getting in a good work rhythm…
@mmangen I am collecting leads to offer wordpress help. There a lot of rural local businesses here who have no websites at all.
@trevord209 you should connect to @tommytrc and @tvorse if you aren’t already – they aren’t MKE but WI local
@mmangen @trevord209 @tvorse Pleased to meet you!
AFMarCom – yes, brainstorming & planning content up front can really help jet set early stage efforts! Thx for the quote :)
Liz Christopher yes, I see it too. I think it’s because that’s what they are use to doing and also they think they can fit much more than that in the 140 characters which is false.
oops meant to say they think they “CAN’t” fit much more, not CAN. Sorry! :(
It’s also a big conceptual jump from traditional marketing. A lot of businesses still need persuading that customers want more than offer codes. Getting across that social media is less about selling and more about relationship and brand loyalty building.
Hi all! I love the #35 tip. This is something I should do more because knowing what I’m going to say in advance takes the pressure off. Making a publishing calendar for my blog has helped me tremendously. I love to share relevant content as well. I tried quotes one month and I did get retweeted. The hardest part of it all though for me is still finding time and energy for my own projects.
@rachelstpierr Hi Rachel, thx for the Retweet. How’s your Monday going so far?
@SmallBizLady thanks
@SmallBizLady FirstTime Open forum Innovators to Fabricate their Prototype/Model from [email protected]*call 091 9924110119
Hi all! I love the #35 tip. This is something I should do more because knowing what I’m going to say in advance takes the pressure off. Making a publishing calendar for my blog has helped me tremendously. I love to share relevant content as well. I tried quotes one month and I did get retweeted. The hardest part of it all though for me is still finding time and energy for my own projects.
@GulshanPawar I agree with you 100% on time being the hardest part. There are days (sometimes weeks) I feel like my brain just can’t shut off. I think it’s due to the never ending, 24/7 conversations happening in our honor that we will never be able to turn off. However, we can turn it off, hide the phone, take a vacation and learn it will all be there when we get back. If not, they can always tweet us, pin us, comment, again… ;)
Nice post. I really have fun reading all of them. However, for me, I can really relate to number 7 and 8 on your list. I am a business type of person and Twitter has really helped me promote and advertise my thing. Thank you for sharing this post. Keep it up!
Ray Trigg
http://nichetweets.com/make-money-on-twitter/11/how-to-market-on-twitter/
So much we can do on Twitter; I mostly share info I think others would like, stuff I find helpful and interesting, which yes means tweeting my own posts on occasion. I participate in chats (though not enough) and plenty more of the things on this lists. That said.. people that tweet nothing but FS check-ins or nothing but pre-programmed quote-bots.. they find my unfollow button but quick; moderation and balance, like anything else. FWIW.
@3HatsComm Sounds like a great strategy. Yup, good thing that unfollow button is so easy to find and click ;)
@PamMktgNut thanks for the 42 great Tips
@baerbelsmile Pleasure!! :)
@PamMktgNut Thanks for “42 Things to do on #Twitter besides Tweet Spam & Coupons”. Very useful :-)
@twitagency Thanks for the RT! Cheers!
@meetmikemorgan my pleasure!
@chievasss
Dumbway Clique – Goin In -> http://t.co/jG1kWJMd
Please check it out and give us some feedback.
Thanks for the support!!
@PamMktgNut wow! Strong advice.
@ratisbon glad you liked it!
Thanks for the inspiration, Pam! I think what many folks seem to overlook is that Twitter can be nothing more complicated than a conversation; sharing ideas and thoughts as if you were standing face to face.
Cheers,Marc
@MZazeela My pleasure! I agree, we seem to complicate the parts of social media that are really the most simple! ;)
42 Things to do on Twitter besides Tweet Spam & Coupons http://t.co/XHP7ZIGh via @PamMktgNut #sm #twitter
@MelissaOnline @PamMktgNut . Thanx for the heads up on this site! It is wonderful! Linda
@peter196 @t0pinabean That’s some good stuff — Thanks!
@TwitterSmallBiz thank you!
@PamMktgNut :)
@dudeman718 hello bro :-)
@TwitterSmallBiz @pammktgnut thanks!!
@Ahmed_AlHussain have
you missed ‘photoshop ur avatar!’ ;) just kidding gr8 list RT @PamMktgNut @PamMktgNut: 42 Things to do on Twitter http://t.co/jEfl5cnr
@LiivLee ha! good one ;)
@PamMktgNut not that I did… ;)
@LippeTaylor @pammktgnut seems like that’s a small threshold
@PamMktgNut hello hope you are well & I am ok in my self but little tired at times. Enjoy wonderful days & enjoy peaceful time @jlf1957
@RonSupportsYou thanks Ron!
@purplewoman thanks Lisa!
@RachelintheOC @pammktgnut Wow, this seems to be an interesting read. Thanks Rachel!
@RachelintheOC @pammktgnut coupons?!?! who in hell does that?
@toddtrann @pammktgnut lots of mommybloggers — clearly not the demographic for you :)
@RachelintheOC @pammktgnut sigh. Tried to keep my wife off GroupOn. I can’t stand it.
@toddtrann I’m not on it. who has time? well, your wife I guess, right? xo
@RachelintheOC nah, I let her get burnt by a couple of “deals” and then I said “told you so”. That killed it for her!! :D
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We just read the other day that spammers are earning $200 million a year by spaming Twitter and Facebook with Google Adsense ads. At least if you are going to tweet a discount send out a legitimate promo code that only earns the end user a decent savings. bluepromocode.com