Every business should use Twitter to promote its products, reach new customers, and maintain relationships with existing clients.

Here’s what you need to know about Twitter marketing.

What Is a Tweet?

A tweet is a post on Twitter, like a blog post on your blog.

When your Twitter followers log onto Twitter, your tweet will appear in their personalized news feeds.

Each Twitter user has a unique Twitter feed containing posts from people they follow.

Unlike posts on Facebook and other social media platforms, tweets can only have 280 characters.

Why Post a Tweet?

Posting content on Twitter allows you to interact with customers and leads, reach new people, and establish yourself as an authority in your niche.

Here are the top reasons to post a tweet.

Interact With Customers

Social media allows you to connect with customers one-on-one, in real-time.

You can build long-lasting relationships with your followers, provide customer support via DM (direct message), and answer questions about your services on your Twitter account.

Outreach

Twitter allows you to reach new customers and collect new leads.

By building your follower count and publishing quality content, you can build trust and drive sales.

It also helps you connect with other influencers and bloggers in your niche.

Growth

Twitter is great for growing your business and other social media networks.

Posting tweets will help grow your following.

By cross-promoting your content, you can increase brand awareness, build your email list, and drive traffic to your blog.

Advertise

Twitter also allows you to run paid ads.

Promoted tweets will enable you to increase your reach and get results a lot quicker than by sticking to organic traffic.

How To Post a Tweet

To post tweets on Twitter, you’ll first need to sign up for a Twitter account.

Next, choose a Twitter handle that reflects your business, and write a bio that describes what you do.

Upload a business logo or a photo of yourself, depending on the type of business you run.

How To Post on Twitter

Once you’ve created your profile, it’s time to start tweeting.

Follow these steps to write your first tweet on desktop or mobile.

Mobile

First, download the Twitter app from the app store.

Then, log in.

Once on the app, follow these steps to post a tweet:

1. Click the blue “+” button at the bottom right of your screen.
2. Click on the blue feather icon next to the word “Tweet.”
3. Compose your tweet.
4. Click on the blue “Tweet” button at the top-right of your screen to publish your tweet.

Desktop

From the Twitter homepage, follow these steps to post a tweet:

1. Click on the big blue “Tweet” button on the left side of the screen.
2. In the text box that says “What’s Happening,” write your tweet.
3. Click on the blue tweet button at the bottom-right side of the box to publish your post.

How To Post Videos on Twitter

Composing a video tweet is no different from writing a regular tweet.

1. Start by clicking on the blue tweet button.
2. Then, write some accompanying text for the video (optional).
3. Click on the media icon at the bottom left side of the text box. Select a video from your files.
4. Click on the blue tweet button to publish your tweet.

How To Post Photos and GIFs on Twitter

To post a picture on Twitter, follow these steps:

1. Click on the blue tweet button on the left side of your screen.
2. Click on the “media” icon.
3. Select an image from your computer’s files.
4. Write some accompanying text (optional).
5. Click on the blue tweet button in the corner of the box to publish.

To post a GIF on Twitter, follow these steps:

1. Click on the blue tweet button on the left side of your homepage.
2. Tap on the “GIF” icon (next to the media icon).
3. Select one of the available categories, and then select a GIF. Alternatively, type a search term into the bar to find relevant GIFs.
4. Toggle “Auto-Play GIF” to on if you want the GIF to play automatically.
5. Write an accompanying text (optional).
6. Publish your tweet.

Rules for Posting a Tweet

There aren’t that many rules for posting on Twitter.

However, Twitter does have community guidelines that you must adhere to. Let’s go over them.

Twitter Rules

Each tweet can only have 280 characters, double the previous limit of 140 characters.

You’re free to write about whatever you want, but some basic rules include:

• No violence or threats
• No extremism
• No hateful conduct and racism
• No illegal goods
• No doxxing
• No spam

Read the complete rules here.

Tips for Posting a Tweet

Are your tweets not getting any likes or shares?

Use the following tips to increase engagement and get more likes and shares.

1. Be Conversational

Being conversational instead of promotional will encourage engagement.

People will be more likely to comment.

Try to drive engagement by asking questions and asking your followers to share their thoughts.

2. Be Relatable

Talk about topics that your followers are interested in.

Tell a short story that you experienced yourself to be more relatable.

Share trending memes or GIFs to attract attention.

Above all, try to be friendly instead of just cold and professional.

3. Stick To One Hashtag

Hashtags allow people who aren’t following you to see your tweets.

However, overusing hashtags can seem spammy.

Besides, it will take up precious space—remember, you only have 280 characters.

4. Keep It Short and Sweet

Twitter is for short thoughts and insights.

The idea is that people have short attention spans on social media, and concentrating your thoughts into a few sentences will help get the message across quicker.

Keep the longer messages for Facebook and your blog.

5. Monitor Interactions

Even if you schedule your posts in advance, continuously monitor your interactions.

Respond to questions and like comments; when someone shares your post, “like” their retweet or thank them.

Check your DMs and respond to them promptly.

6. Tweet Regularly

You don’t want to spam your followers with tweets, but remember that your followers won’t see every one of your tweets.

The more people someone is following, the less likely they are to see all the tweets of everyone they’re following.

By tweeting more, you’ll get more exposure.

Besides, it will keep your account active.

Tweeting one to three times a day is ideal.

However, if it seems like a lot of work, you can use a tool like Hootsuite to schedule your posts in advance.

7. Jump on Popular Topics

Jumping on trending topics will increase exposure.

Check the “Trending” section in your country and find relevant topics to tweet about.

However, don’t just post about any random topic that is not relevant to your niche; if you can’t find a way to tie the topic into your niche, skip it.

Avoid talking about politics, as it only serves to alienate parts of your audience.

When Are the Best Times to Post a Tweet?

According to research by Buffer, a social media scheduling app, the best time to tweet is early morning or at night.

Tweets in the early morning drive the most clicks, while tweets in the evening get more likes and shares.

Buffer analyzed 4.8 million tweets from 10,000 accounts to gather this data.

The most popular time to tweet is from noon to 1 PM.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s the best time to tweet.

Since more people are tweeting, there is more competition, and people are less likely to see your tweets.

Twitter provides analytics that helps you measure engagement so that you can test out different times yourself.

Remember that your followers may not be in the same time zone as you.

Final Thoughts

Every business should be on Twitter, even if you’re already active on Facebook and Instagram.

Twitter allows you to collect leads, drive traffic to your website, collaborate with influencers, and establish yourself in your niche.

Facebook drives me nuts, Instagram’s fun but it doesn’t bring me any blog traffic or business and the jury’s still out on Google+, though I am keeping a close eye on that one. But I love Twitter.

I really do.

It’s the only social media outpost I’ve ever written about it because the simplicity and instant gratification it delivers have made me a confident, happy Twitter user. Better still it gets results.

Twitter is the fourth referral site for my travel blog Get In the Hot Spot, behind StumbleUpon, Facebook and this blog.

Over here at Successful Blogging Twitter is the second referrer site after StumbleUpon – up from seventh the last time I write about Twitter almost two years ago.

I’ve been on Twitter four years but didn’t use it strategically until last year when I got smarter about using Twitter marketing to grow my blog or business.

I still find Twitter fun but it’s also become a powerful marketing tool.

Now I’ve got 8,000+ Twitter followers on two accounts which isn’t huge but it’s enough to provide a good testing ground for these Twitter strategies and to make a difference to my business.

But no matter how many or how few Twitter followers you have, adopting these strategies should boost your blog traffic and help you get more sales.

If you’re new to Twitter, blogging or social networking or think Twitter’s a waste of time check out these posts:

• 9 Twitter Tactics: What Works For You?
• Twitter Tips For Bloggers
• How To Use Twitter As A Motivational Tool (yes, really!)

Or read on for five winning Twitter marketing strategies to help you better grow your blog and boost your business.

1. Push Push Push

I shied away from being too pushy in the beginning until I saw a blog post by Robin Dickinson which was a break down of how salesman extraordinnaire Gary Vanderchuck gets more sales.

It’s a simple solution. When he has something to promote he plugs it hard, tweeting again and again throughout the day.

I spend between four and eight hours writing my blog posts but hardly any time promoting them so it makes sense for me to start pushing them more.

So now on Twitter I:

1. Send multiple tweets when a new blog post is published. Between 3-12 tweets over a 24 hour period.
2. Schedule the tweets using Hootsuite. You can sign up for a free account or get a free 30 day trial on the pro version. That’s an affiliate link because I always sign up for affiliate programs if it’s a tool I love.
3. Use Crowdbooster to see what are the best times of day for you to send tweets. For me it tends to be 8, 9 and 10am then 2pm and around 7 or 8pm. Crowdbooster has a free trial too so you can find out for yourself.

Don’t be ashamed of plugging your own products or blog posts.

That’s why you’re on Twitter and why you’ve worked hard to build up a following.

But do make sure those tweets that are plugs are interspersed with other more human offerings.

2. Be human, be helpful

If someone’s thinking of following you on Twitter they’ll probably check out your timeline first.

So make sure you’re not only plugging your own stuff.

Here are a few ideas for tweets:

1. Auto-retweet other people’s posts (only people whose work you can guarantee will be great). You can set this up automatically on Hootsuite.
2. Spend 5-10 minutes each day interacting with people on Twitter. Thank people who retweeted you or brought your product, reply to questions or retweet tweets that catch your eye.
3. Share tips. You can easily create a list of tweetable tips like “Have you backed up your work lately? I’d hate you to lose it,” then schedule one a day each month on Hootsuite.
4. Keep the focus on your topic 95% of the time.

3. Connect

Who you know counts and it’s ridiculously easy to make connections with people on Twitter.

I use it to get people’s email addresses, let people know I appreciate their work and thank clients for their support.

People are always asking me for email addresses of popular bloggers who I’ve guest posted for but I won’t give them out.

Instead I tell them to send a tweet which is generally how I get email addresses.

Some people tell me they already tried Twitter and didn’t get a response.

If that happens send another tweet and rephrase the request.

These tweets are a good way to get an influencer’s email address:

@BIGBOY I’ve got a GREAT guest post idea for you.

Interested?

Please DM me your email address

@HOTSHOT Just thought of a fab way to get more people to read your book.

Interested?

Please DM me your email address.

It’s easy to see what I’m doing – piquing people’s interest, offering to help them out and definitely not asking them for help to make sure they don’t think I’m just another Internet desperado.

4. Pimp your profile

But remember less is more.

1. Use key words and phrases that will attract the clients you want. I got my first job in Australia from Twitter because I had the word copywriter in my profile.
2. Make sure you follow no more than the number of people who follow you so you maintain your influence.
3. Have a smiley photo unless you’re confident that people who don’t know you won’t mistake that cool, sultry, philosophical gaze for grumpiness.

5. Use smart formatting and key words

Format your tweets so they’re quick to read.

That’s proven to get more people reading them and more retweets.

1. Make your tweets scannable – I often preface them in uppercase so they stand out:
   COMMENTED I Name of blog post – link
   LOVE THIS I Name of blog post – link
   NEW I Name of blog post or product – link
   WRITING TIP I Quick tip that will please your followers
   THANK YOU I @SoAndSo For buying my Product Name – Link
2. Use words which are proven to increase retweets – adding the word new helps as does asking people to retweet or RT. You can do this in a tweet (Please RT , on your website or at the end of your blog posts.
3. Use arrows like this —–> to encourage more people to click the link.
4. Keep tweets as short as possible.

Those are the main Twitter marketing strategies that work for me.

Have fun on Twitter, play around with it but stay focused on growing your business.

They say love is blind but if it boosts blog traffic and business sales then you’ll fall in love with Twitter too for all the right reasons.

Which of these Twitter strategies do you like best?

Have you got any more Twitter marketing strategies that have helped grow your blog or business? 

Please leave a comment and feel free to include your Twitter handle so we can follow you there.

You can connect with me on Twitter @BloggingMentor and @AnnabelCandy for my travel blog.

And while we’re at it why not join me on Facebook and circle me on Google+ too. Thank you.

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Author: Annabel Candy

However, finding the right people to follow can be tricky since there are over 290 million active Twitter users every month worldwide.

Nevertheless, a Twitter directory can come in handy in finding new people and businesses easily.

In this post, you’ll find the best Twitter directories.

An Overview of Twitter Directories

If you are new to Twitter and are interested in finding new people and businesses, Twitter directories will help you connect with people who match your interests.

What Is a Twitter Directory?

A Twitter directory is a third-party resource that can help you discover new Twitter users that you can follow depending on your interests.

Twitter directories can also help you find new tools to enhance the platform’s functionality.

Why Are Twitter Directories Important?

Twitter directories are essential in various ways, as discussed below.

1. Gain new followers

Once you add your Twitter account to these directories, various users can easily find you.

They will follow your account if you share the same interests, helping you gain more followers.

This is a free approach to building your follower count; most times, these followers are not spammers.

2. Discover new people to follow

If you are trying to find new people to follow, Twitter directories come in handy.

You can browse popular Twitter users in a specific category such as technology, sports, blogging, writers, and politics and follow them.

As a result, you will increase your chances of learning more about topics that suit you.

3. Enhance targeted brand awareness

As a business owner, you can quickly discover people interested in your business using Twitter directories.

This way, you can create content they can directly relate to, helping them know more about your business and persuade them to try out your products.

With this, you can gain new customers, retain existing clients and increase sales.

Does Twitter Have an Internal Directory?

Twitter has an internal user directory at the footer of the homepage in the form of a link when you’re logged out.

Once you click on the link, it directs you to Twitter’s user directory, which lists all Twitter accounts in alphabetical order, including those with non-Latin names, from A to Z.

However, even though the directory option is still there, the link seems to be broken lately, and Twitter has not yet given an official statement about it.

Can I Find Someone on Twitter Without Their Username?

There are various ways you can use to find someone on Twitter, even when you don’t know their username.

Some of them are:

Search by Phone Number or Email

When opening a Twitter account, one of the requirements is to enter your contact details.

Therefore, if you want to find a person’s Twitter account but don’t know their username, you can search using their phone number.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Log into your Twitter account
2. Click the icon on the top left corner and tap on the security and privacy option
3. Open the privacy and safety option
4. Scroll down a bit and select discoverability and contacts from the list of options under “Your Twitter activity.”
5. Enable the Sync address book contacts to permit Twitter to access your contacts

In addition to following the steps above, you can directly enter a person’s phone number or email on the platform’s search bar and try to see if their account shows up.

If the person has a photo in their profile, it will be easier to find them.

For people to find you on Twitter through your phone number or email, you need to turn on the let others find you by phone or let others find you by email settings on the discoverability and contacts section.

Use Third Party Tools

There are various third-party tools you can use to search for a person’s Twitter account if you don’t know their username, including:

• Spokeo
• BeenVerified
• CheckPeople
• PeopleFinder
• InfoTracer

When using these tools, you need to know the person’s email or phone number.

These platforms also require you to pay an amount to use their services.

Best Twitter Directories for 2022

Everyone is always looking for new ways to get more Twitter followers.

Well, one of the best ways to do this is by getting discovered through Twitter directories.

There are many out there to choose from and it’s very quick and easy to add yourself to them.

So, here are a few to get you started. Feel free to share your favorite (whether listed or not) in the comments.

1. Twellow

Twellow is often referred to as the Twitter yellow pages.

This is because it has over 25 million users classified into various categories based on the information on their profiles.

Therefore, you can easily find the right people to follow.

If you plan to add yourself to Twellow, it’s best to register with them so that you can update your profile as well as create an extended biography.

They have a large variety of categories to choose from which makes it easier to target your niche.

2. WeFollow

This site is neatly organized by tags with each area showing the top users for that category.

Sadly, celebrities are taking up the homepage since most of them have more followers than anyone else.

So, you don’t get to see any of us “regular” users unless you dig through the tags.

3. Loaded Web

Loaded Web is a location-based directory.

You can currently see users in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Each country is then categorized by states, territories, and cities.

4. Just Tweet It

Another directory with a large range of categories to add yourself to.

You will need to register with the site in order to add yourself and this also allows you to update your profile whenever needed.

5. TweetFind

This is a live Twitter directory that not only allows you to view Twitter users by category but also by rank.

If you can’t find a category that fits you, TweetFind allows you to suggest it; they aim to please.

You can also view and keep up with Twitter trends.

6. Mr. Tweet

Mr. Tweet is unique in that instead of you doing the work, it does the work for you.

Mr. Tweets looks through your current Twitter relationships to suggest compatible followers.

It also will suggest you to other Mr. Tweet users who are similar.

7. Twibes

Twibes is another Twitter directory that puts users into various categories depending on their area of interest.

This site primarily operates as Twitter groups.

You can join any group to gain access to its members and more followers with the same interests.

The best thing about Twibes is that you can register for a free account.

8. Hashtags

Hashtags is a barebones directory of hashtag users on Twitter.

Simply enter a hashtag in their search engine and the site will show you prolific users of that hashtag and recent posts with that hashtag.

9. Twitterholic

Twitterholic is a website that allows you to search for your Twitter account and see the number of followers you have gained.

It also enables you to search for other Twitter users, showing the number of followers they have gained over time.

The best thing about this site is that it is accurate.

Typically, its follower count is within 10 to 15 of the actual numbers.

However, the website cannot allow you to get much information on the Twitter community at large.

10. Inside Higher Ed

Inside Higher Ed is a twitter directory for higher education hashtags.

So if you’re searching for Twitter users or groups associated with a particular institution, you’ll find them on here.

You can also submit your own hashtag to be featured on the website if you want to promote your higher education group.

11. Twiends

Twiends is a Twitter directory that lists several users depending on their three provided tags.

To gain more followers, you can set up a profile on Twiends depending on your tags.

The site also operates on a coin-based system, which entails following other members to earn more coins and share them to obtain more followers.

12. TwitterPacks

TwitterPacks is a Twitter directory that uses a wiki-style setting. It groups users according to topics, locations, businesses, events, and meetups.

This website has tools such as auto pack that helps you know the users to follow or unfollow depending on their Twitter packs.

Additionally, it has Twitter tools containing important clients, tools, and websites.

13. Legal Birds

Legal Birds is a specialized listing of legal professionals on Twitter, including professors, attorneys, legal administrators, and librarians.

Therefore, if you are searching for like-minded individuals to follow on Twitter, this site comes in handy.

The site also allows you to gain new followers from the legal field, helping you to learn more information from these individuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping Up

From the discussion above, the best Twitter directory for 2022 is Twellow.

The main reason why Twellow is the best is that it has many users.

Therefore, you can easily find people with shared interests and increase your Twitter following within a short time.

Other Twitter directories that stand out in the list are Twibes and Twitaholic.

You can check out other Twitter directories from our selection above to find the best fit for your needs.