If you’re using Twitter as a tool to promote your brand or products, it’s crucial that you write retweetable tweets. The shareability of your message makes it viral and extends the reach of your message beyond your own Twitter followers. The trick is to make sure that the content you are writing provides immediate payoff by entertaining, giving useful information, provoking or sharing experiences that help your followers. If your tweet provides some kind of value and is not another “me-too” , it has a good chance of being passed on. Once it’s passed on, your message gains momentum through a wider audience and increases your influence. If you use your 140 characters wisely you can compel your followers to spread the message and help you develop your following.
Use these tips to encourage retweets:
- Add a link to your tweet (You’ll want to use a URL shortener like bit.ly or ow.ly)
If your tweet is compelling enough, your followers will appreciate more details on the subject and a link to your blog or some other source that will provide them with more information, making your initial tweet more valuable. - Leave room for the RT@username
If your original tweet is ready to be retweeted conveniently without much action required by others, it will be retweeted more often. Keep it short so it has room for the user to append the RT with their own signature. If you use up the allotted 140 characters the user will have to edit or reword. The easier you make it for your followers to retweet, the better the response. Some might have the time to edit and add a personal message before retweeting but the vast majority are in a rush and want to simply pass it on. - Add your comments or remarks to the tweet when retweeting
Just as it is more likely for people to read a forwarded email if it has a personal message from the sender, your tweet is also more effective if you put some personal remarks in front of the message you want to retweet. It makes the tweet less generic and gives it a better chance of standing out in the Twitter-clutter. - Establish your credentials with your bio and URL
Websites and blogs have “About” pages that tell visitors if the owners of the web entity have the credentials to back what they are promoting or what makes them subject matter experts on a specific topic. Similarly, Twitter provides “Bios” for the Twitter user- an area that affords them the opportunity to introduce themselves and build credibility. Always fill out the bio using keywords and phrases. Also provide a link where the visitor or follower can find more details about you; a website, a social media profile page or simply your LinkedIn profile. The bio and URL go a long way in setting you apart. - Throw in something personal every now and then
Even though your tweets are for your business or company, your followers want to know the person behind the tweets. Occasionally, add in a snippet from your life or personal experiences that give your followers more insight about who you are outside your work and the subjects you care about. Personalizing your Twitter messages builds a connection between you and your followers. They will be more inclined to retweet if they feel that they can relate to you!
