Twitter Tips for Virtual Assistants

So I just created a thread HERE in the Social Networking area with some links to different Twitter resources to help you get started with using Twitter and with getting familiar with how Twittering works. But I thought I would use the wonderful new blog feature to write some more specifics about how Virtual Assistants can use Twitter not only for their own marketing and networking purposes, but as members of the larger Virtual Assistant industry.

I've only been using twitter for a couple of months and I will freely admit that I'm thoroughly addicted. When I get up in the morning, I check my email first and then moments later, I log into twitter. All this usually happens before I've had coffee or breakfast...(and embarrassingly sometimes even before I've made breakfast for my son. Shhh, don't tell anyone!)

In using Twitter I have:

1) received a referral from someone who saw me tweeting and referred me to a colleague

2) had two people contact me directly about working with me. One of whom will be signing on in January.

3) been asked to join a fellow twitter's online networking group.

4) been able to "converse" directly with experts in many industries who I might otherwise not have ever come into contact with.

5) commented on a fellow tweeter's blog about how a virtual assistant could help with the topic he was writing about and he went back and edited his post to include a link to my website.

6) been asked by a fellow twitter to comment on their new twitter related site and in return they placed a link to my twitter profile on the site.

7) received 50 free flyers printed by a graphic artist/printer on twitter because I responded to their post first. She later became a resource for me to get some business cards and letterhead printed for a client- who loved them!

Here are some tips for how I believe Virtual Assistants can effectively use Twitter:

• Interact with other Virtual Assistants that you either know from other places or that you do not know at all. This not only provides you with good networking, but you also gain insight into how other VAs are using twitter.
  
• Tweet about Virtual Assistant industry. This shows you are knowledgeable about your industry and that you are "in touch" with your profession and industry.
  
  
• Occasionally tweet that you are a Virtual Assistant and how you can help. Do this sparingly as people are rather adverse to blatant, constant, in your face marketing. Twitter should mostly be seen as a tool for creating connections and relationships.
  
• Tweet intelligently and professionally but also as a person. Let your personality show but keep in mind that people will be watching your tweets to gage what kind of person you are and how knowledgeable you seem. People will easily be thinking, "Is this someone that I can see myself working with?" "Can this person bring value to me and represent me in professional way?" However, keep in mind, that people also want to see the human side of you and who you are as a person.
  
  
• Use the "Search" feature at the bottom of the page to search for the terms "Virtual Assistant" or "Virtual Assistance" at least once a day. Read these tweets to see what people are saying about VAs and also to look for people who may be tweeting about needing a Virtual Assistant. You can also search for other terms as well. And if you're really serious about it, you can add that search term to your RSS feed reader and get notification in your feed reader everytime that term gets mentioned. There are also other applications out there that will help you track keywords or specific terms as they get tweeted- which I'll post more about later on.
  
• Post your twitter ID everywhere you can think of putting it without looking thoroughly obnoxious about it. I post mine at the bottom of comments I write on blogs. I've posted it on the Wall of several Facebook groups that I joined. I put it on my personal and business facebook page. It's on the front page of my website and it's on my blog. The key is get people to follow you. This increases the audience to which you are tweeting- all of whom can be potential clients, leads or referrals. After only a couple of months, I have almost 650 people following me. Guy Kawaski said it best on his blog...there are two kinds of twitters- those who want more followers and those who lie. True 'dat!
  
  
• Respond to other people's tweets with a good, quality response. People love to be acknowledged for their tweets, it gets you "seen" and possibly remembered by that person.
  
• ReTweet other people's tweets. If you see a tweet that you like, think is good, or simply want to pass on, then Retweet it. People really appreciate it when you Retweet their tweets. And hopefully, they will do it in return for you- this means that one tweet could not only be seen by all of your followers but also by all of that other person's followers and so on.
  
  
• Post good quality links to pages or items that you think people following you will be interested in. This helps people to see you as knowledgeable and as an information resource. I have several terms set up on Google Alerts and I'll go in about once day and post several social media links since so many on Twitter are into the most current and relevant social media links. This has gotten me several Retweets. I also make sure that my last tweet of the day is one that includes a good link to something newsworthy or interesting. This is a good thing to do because when people first go to look at your profile they are going to see your last tweet first and in the biggest and boldest font. You want to leave a good first impression until you are able to come back to twitter.
  
• Speak highly of the other Virtual Assistants you "tweet" with. Give them shout-outs in your tweets. This helps create the impression that Virtual Assistants are a unified industry who supports one another- something that I personally think is very important.
  
  
• Check your @replies frequently and tried to respond to each one. Not only is this a courteous thing to do, but have some "conversation" with others on twitter provides others with the impression that you are using twitter for more than just a marketing tool but also as a means to actually interact with others. It's not really advisable to carry on a several tweet conversation with someone though as many of your followers may only see your side of the conversation which makes your tweets not all that interesting to them. You can always take direct tweeting to the Direct Messages feature.
  
• Do not sign up to send an auto response Direct Message (DM) to new followers. Most people hate this as it is rather impersonal. And especially don't use it send an auto generated Direct Message with a link to your website or blog. This is considered to be spammy and off-putting.

Okay, I think that's about it for now. I'm planning a follow up post to this one with some twitter resources, tools and helpful sites that I use for my twittering. Please Feel free to add how you use twitter as a Virtual Assistant or to ask me any questions about using twitter in the comments area.



Happy Twittering and Come Follow Me!
@jkvirtualoffice