5 Reasons Brands, Businesses and Bloggers Need to Start Participating in Twitter Chats.
The first people I started following when I signed up for a
Twitter account were Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber. No offense to their
fans, but UGH! Was this really what made Twitter so popular, spying on the
lives of celebrities? It just didn’t feel like the network for me and it took
me a long time to get into the Twitter grove. (And, no, Kim and Justin never
did follow me back – the nerve!)
I now know I’m not the only one who’s struggled to get
excited about Twitter. One of the most frequent comments I hear, from private
individuals and business owners alike, is that they just don’t “get” Twitter.
They’ll say things like it feels as if they’re shouting into a void and they
want this to change. They know that Twitter is too massive a network to ignore
and they don’t want to be left behind. They just don’t know where to begin.
My number one rule for surviving and thriving on social
media is that you’ve got to be social and, fortunately, Twitter makes this easy
through Twitter chats. Twitter chats are regular, reoccurring discussions
(using in a question and answer format) that center around a general theme,
with a different focus at each new chat.
For example, the #foodiechats chat that occurs every Monday
at 8pm EST, is perfect for anyone who loves food. Isn’t that all of us!? Each
week, there’s a different focus, be it California cuisine or French wines, with
people around the world chiming in as the moderate presents a different
question to the group. That’s all you have to do. Just follow the hashtag and
speak your mind! Like most Twitter chats, it’s non-corporate in nature (though
there may be sponsored prizes), distinguishing it from the one time,
promotional Twitter parties thrown by businesses.
If the idea of drooling over great food isn’t enough of a reason to dip your toes into the Twitter chat waters, here’s five great reasons to participate.
1.)
They’re fun! There’s little point in being on
social media if you’re not enjoying yourself. And I can’t think of a better way
to spend 30 minutes than talking about travel, or fashion, or wine. There’s a
chat – or a few dozen chats – for literally every topic, interest, and hobby
you can think of so there’s no excuse not to treat yourself to a relaxing,
engaging, fun conversation with friends around the world.
2.)
They help you gain more followers – and a bigger
audience. Everyone loves to see their social media numbers soar but the truth
is that those numbers are meaningless unless you’re attracting the right kind
of followers, people who will support and share your content. The connections
you make in Twitter chats are with the kinds of followers you want. They’re
active, engaged, and share your interests.
3.)
It keeps you in the loop. Twitter is a fast
paced network in a fast paced world. There’s no better way to keep tabs on your
industry and community than to dive right into a chat with participants from
around the world. If there’s gossip, news, or developments that you should know
about, you’ll hear it here first.
4.)
It establishes your credibility. Want to prove you’re
a chef who really knows their cheese, or a writer who always has the best
insights? Short of inviting everyone to your house for a meal or sending
everyone a copy of your latest book, you need to build up online credibility. A
Twitter chat is a great place to make that happen. You can share your expertise
in a smart, savvy forum and even post photos and video clips.
5.)
It inspires and advances your career. Every
business is really a global business these days. A Twitter chat can help you
connect with peers in similar fields from all around the world, allowing you to
make the informal connections needed for networking. They’re a great way to
form new collaborations with similar businesses and brands in different
jurisdictions. Imagine
being able to swap ideas with a fellow personal trainer, home organizer, or
animator in Rome or Rio or Los Angeles!
I’ll never have Kim or Justin’s social media success but I
can confidently say that Twitter is now my best performing network – and also
my favourite one to hang out on. And Twitter chats have played a huge role in
that. I’ve connected with amazing people and clients, learned so much, and have
had a great time chatting with like-minded people from all over the world. Give
them a try and see how it changes how you feel about Twitter!
I'm thrilled to have Vanessa Chiasson guest post here at Cathy Thinking Out Loud. Thank you Vanessa for your insight into what makes twitter chats so great. Whether Vanessa is sharing travel adventures on her blog, speaking at BConnected Conference, or hosting a Travel Massive Ottawa event she's always inspiring and engaging.
Be sure to follow Vanessa on twitter.
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| Vanessa from Turnip Seed Travel |
Vanessa Chiasson
crafts content and strategies that inspire people to connect to their clients,
to the web, and each other. She believes that social media and online content
is an integral part of every successful small business and can walk anyone
through the process, making it fun and empowering. See more of her social media
tips at SculptSocial.com
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