6 Tips for Writing a Tweet that Pops

By day, I work as Empowerment Group's events coordinator. By night, I'm an aspiring entrepreneur with more questions and uncertainties than I have answers.

So far, I've been building the business slowly, adding pieces here and there when appropriate (and money-permitting). With opening day about 10 months off, I have a simple website, a few business cards, land, and a fictitious name. I'm still a ways away from a fully operational vegetable farm, but things no longer feel unattainable.

About a month ago, I decided it was time to introduce another piece to the business: a social media presence to the farm’s marketing efforts. The Facebook account lasted about a week before I ran out of ideas. The blog is chugging along, but the updates are glaringly infrequent. For the most part, things are so-so.

Except for the Twitter account. To my surprise, I became totally smitten with Twitter--a medium I had previously dismissed as frivolous. The new found enthusiasm sent me down a rabbit hole of Twitter-themed queries, one of which we’ll explore here today. What makes a compelling tweet?

1. A purpose. As a business owner, you want your customers to respect your unique insights and professional expertise. Make sure your tweet has a specific purpose and offers value to your customers/colleagues before sending it out into the world.
2. A headline. As with any marketing/networking effort, the appropriate strategy is largely dependent upon your intended goals. If you want people to read your tweets and take action (respond, click through, retweet, etc.), you’re going to need something that grabs their attention. For headline-writing tips, check out these comprehensive articles:
1. “How to Write Tweets that Get Clicks”
2. “How to Write Twitter Friendly Headlines”
3. Brevity (duh). Always keep it short as short as possible, and don’t be afraid to pepper your tweet with easy-to-understand symbols and abbreviations, such as “&” or “+”. However, dutifully avoid excessive shorthand--you don't want your tweet to alienate users unfamiliar with your lingo, confuse readers, or sound unprofessional.
   
4. A link. Oftentimes, your tweets are trying to move people from your twitter feed to elsewhere on the web. Make sure to include a link and, more importantly, a link that works. I generally use bit.ly to condense my links into shorter Twitter-friendly versions, but there are lots of options out there. If you do decide to shorten your links, include cues to let the reader know where you’re sending them.
5. Any relevant Twitter handles (@insertnamehere in Twitter speak). If you’re referencing another business/media source/website/person, use their Twitter handle when possible.
6. A single focus. 140 characters can be unforgiving. To get the most out of the limited space, make sure your tweet sticks to one subject. You should also make sure to vary that focus from tweet to tweet, blending the personal and the professional, the serious and the light-hearted. Take the principles of a robust in-person customer relationship and apply them to your online presence.

Anxious to see an example? Review 5 revisions of a single tweet here.