Photo credit: Pixel Addict

Do you want to spread the word about your idea or project, but don’t know where to start? A premiere tool for making a splash and spreading the word about your start-up is Twitter. Use it right, and your ideas will reach the right audience.

Really Communicate and Network. “Follow” people with whom you want to network, and make an effort to start a conversation with them. Twitter is best used for dialogue, not soliloquy.

Make it Interactive

Ask your followers questions and share the responses with the rest of your followers, host Twitter giveaways, and post fun, timely tweets. If your feed is interactive, people are more likely to spread your message (through retweets and @mentions) and you’ll gain followers.

“Complete your profile with a bio and a picture of yourself or product logo”

Think of your Twitter profile as something that answers the question: “Why should I follow you?”. You only have a couple sentences to describe who you are, what you do and why people should care. Note that you can also use #hashtags and @mention other Twitter accounts.

Create Backlinks to Your Website and Social Networks

Use Twitter to link to website updates, new blog posts, and your social networks. Linking your website on Twitter does double duty: it brings traffic directly to your site, and it helps your website rise through the search ranks on Google.

Use #Hashtags and Twitter Search

Hashtags are keywords made searchable by preceding them with the “#” symbol; e.g. #jaxinnovation or #onespark. Using appropriate hashtags for the subjects within your niche will help the right people find you. Search for other Twitter users who share your interests to get an idea of what common hashtags are already in use. Additionally, using Twitter’s search feature (search.twitter.com) shows you who’s discussing your interests, in real time.

Feedback on Products and Services

When you’re starting up a business or idea, your followers enjoy being part of the story. Ask Twitter followers for opinions on your ideas, products, and services. You’ll get instant feedback to help you develop your ideas and engage your community.

In short, Twitter is the perfect tool for exposing your ideas to the right niche. Create an engaging feed and really interact with your followers and you’ll make sales and connections that will take your ideas and start ups to the next level!

Get Started On Twitter Today: Follow Mayor Alvin Brown

Begin by following Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown on Twitter. He’s expressed a desire to foster innovation, create jobs and develop partnerships between the public and private sectors. Let’s get him involved in the conversation about sparking innovation in Jacksonville.