I’ve said it before, Twitter is a game. The goal is to get more followers. The way you get more followers is to tweet things that your followers like enough to retweet. When they retweet something you’ve tweeted, you reach more potential followers. When those people follow you, you win.
So, how can you get more retweets – and therefore more potential followers?
Here are the best ways to increase your chances of getting retweeted:
1. Ask.
No seriously. It’s that easy. Tweets that begin or end with “Please Retweet” are twice as likely to be retweeted. Try it.
2. Leave room.
Twitter gives you 140 characters to play with. Brevity is key. If you hope to get that tweet to go viral, you’ll leave room for someone to easily retweet your post and add their own stamp to it.
If you can, try keeping your tweets down to 100 characters or less.
3. Use hashtags.
Yes, I know, they get mocked relentlessly, but the truth is they work. Create your own hashtag, or better yet, look at the top trending hashtags of the day and see if your tweets fit into one of those categories. Have some fun with it. Get creative. But use those hashtags.
4. Tweet strategically
The content of your tweets really matter, but when you tweet is also important. Studies show that tweets sent between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. get the highest shares. Friday’s are also the best days of the week for getting a retweet. Not that you shouldn’t tweet all the other days of the week, but if you’re specifically hoping to reach your maximum number of people, your best day is on Friday.
I know Han Solo asks you to never tell him the odds, but listen to these and tweet during these times for best results.
5. Tweet about someone else.
Yes, we know that your favorite subject is you, but when you tweet about someone – or something – else, people respond. It can be a cool website you discovered, a funny picture or a shout out to someone you really appreciate. But just don’t make it about yourself. We hear plenty about you all week long. Note: Inspiring quotes are always a big hit. Go for something unexpected that hasn’t been over-circulated and you’re good to go.
6. Tease them.
People love a mystery and inquiring minds want to know. So, let’s give them something to whet their appetite for knowledge. Ask a question, or tempt them with a juicy detail. It works!
7. Talk about what’s happening now.
Did you just read a breaking news item? Share that link. Did you just hear great news from a friend? Tell us! People love being the first to know what’s happening, so don’t keep people in the dark. Note: A photo of your lunch plate isn’t news. Go for actual information that your followers would genuinely appreciate.
Any other ideas we’ve missed? Please let us know in the comments below.
Post contributed by Keith Giles, copywriter for Agency Ingram Micro.
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