Skip to content

Is Your Brand Following Twitter Etiquette?

Social media has proven to be valuable in promoting website traffic for organizations, most commonly through the use of Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus. This is partially because social media helps bridge the communication gap between organizations and the targeted publics.
Because of its increasing importance in online marketing, organizations should follow Twitter etiquette when creating an account and posting content. First, let’s look at some of the top reasons people choose to follow a Twitter account:

  • Tweets are informative and original
  • Tweets are funny
  • The account is owned by a celebrity
  • Shared interests between the users
  • Tweets are inspiring and motivating
  • The users are friends or acquaintances

However, the reasons for unfollowing a Twitter account are endless. Here are some of the top reasons Twitter users gave for unfollowing:

  • No profile picture
  • Tweets are in another language
  • Tweets have so much slang that no one is able to understand them
  • You tweet way too much.
  • Your tweets are a constant stream of ads and self-promotions
  • You fall for spam too easily
  • Tweets are too offensive
  • Too much biased political talk
  • You constantly tweet your real-life problems
  • You add no value to the Twitter world

Some of these reasons may be more surprising than others, but essentially, all users are looking for some sort of self-beneficial value from your tweets. This could mean simply getting a laugh or getting informative links to a mutual interest. If you want to properly engage your targeted publics on Twitter, gain followers and provide this desired value to the Twitter world, it is important to participate in Twitter etiquette. Below are some rules of thumb to help your brand:

Engage with your followers as much as possible.

Many Twitter users — and all social media users in general — are using the communication channel to have a direct line to the brand. They may have questions about your brand or services, or they may simply have a direct complaint. In other words, many are coming to Twitter as a customer service resource. Ignoring questions and comments often results in a frustrated audience, regardless of how small and insignificant the comment may seem.

Follow others in the industry

Getting involved online with your industry is a way to expose your account to the industry. If you are an upcoming law firm, following other law firms in your area can be beneficial in brand strategy. Beyond following them, make sure to retweet and comment when the user provides beneficial, informative tweets for you and your audiences.

Have interesting and various content.

If your tweets are simply basic content every time you post, you may not generate much traffic. The most successful brands with Twitter accounts have retweeted others (but not too much), provided relevant links, included pictures and videos, etc. It’s acceptable to promote and advertise specials, but only once in a while. As previously mentioned, a stream of advertisements is considered clutter and often results in unfollows. Keep your tweets informative, interesting and engaging. Is it something you would retweet?