Twitter gives you only 140 characters to get your message across, so you have to choose your words wisely. Luckily, Twitter offers a variety of features that can help you increase the visibility of your tweets.
Twitter is a real-time, conversational platform, so you don’t want to find yourself distributing excellent content that doesn’t get read, says Kirtarath Dhillon, social-media and public relations coordinator with Advisor Websites in Vancouver.
Here are four tips for making your tweets stand out — and get read:
1. Pin a tweet to your profile page
Twitter has a feature that lets you promote one tweet at the top of your profile, which is made visible to anyone visiting your page. This is one way to make a tweet stand out from all the other posts on your page, Dhillon says.
Many users employ this tool to feature an announcement, a blog post, an inspirational quote or a tweet that has gained a lot of attention. You might find it useful to pin a tweet that complements your marketing goals.
For example, if you’re planning to attend an industry conference or event, you can pin a tweet saying that you’re eager to connect with other attendees, Dhillon says. You can advertise any sessions at which you’ll be speaking or provide contact information for other attendees to get in touch, he adds. Just remember to remove the pin after the event has passed.
2. Add comments to your “retweets”
Earlier this year, Twitter revamped its “retweet” button to include a comment box above the embedded original tweet, allowing more space for users to introduce the tweets they are sharing.
This is a great resource for adding your opinion to industry news, Dhillon says. For example, if a prominent industry player comments on a new federal rule, you can add to the conversation by retweeting that post with a comment of your own.
3. Mention other users
One of the best ways to attract people to your page is to engage other users in the conversations you’re interested in.
For example, if you’re posting content on the financial difficulties facing millennial clients, you can invite other professionals in the field to comment. Engaging with influential industry experts is always helpful, Dhillon says, because they can put your tweets in front of a larger audience.
4. Share photos
Including photos with your tweets will increase their visibility, Dhillon says. Images catch readers’ eyes as they scroll through their Twitter page. And, because most users are now adding photos, your tweets will get lost if you use only text.
Stay away from stock images whenever possible, Dhillon says. Instead, look for opportunities to share original photos. For example, include an image of your team at a charity event or a picture of a panel session at a conference you’re attending. Users want to see information in real time, Dhillon says, so try to post content as the events are unfolding.
This is the third part in a series on getting the most from Twitter.
Next: Increasing visibility by using hashtags.