In part 1, we got a good look at some of the unique characteristics and features that make Twitter an attractive place for small businesses. In part 2, we will take a look at what Twitter has been up to recently and how we can best use those changes to our advantage.
Native GIFs
Twitter users love GIFs. So much so that, in 2015, more than 100 million GIFs were shared across the platform.
Back then, sharing GIFs was a bit of a pain. If you wanted to share a GIF, you had to look for one on the Internet and share it. Now including a GIF in your tweet is quite simple. GIFs are now available at the touch of a button, thanks to Twitter developing more in-app features.
You can use the available GIFs to increase the relatability of your brand, and since it’s in-app, it doesn’t take a lot of extra time and effort to do.
Speaking of GIFS, don’t just use the ones Twitter provides. Yes, the native GIFs are great but don’t be afraid to upload your own! You can use GIFs to run promotions and still maintain a sense of fun. Look what we did recently!
If you want to get started but don’t think you have the tools or know-how, check out Canva. You can sign-up for free, and they make it super easy to create GIFs for you to use.
Live Streaming
For those who don’t know, Periscope is an app Twitter purchased, that allows you to live stream video. Since Periscope’s incorporation, Twitter has been working hard to make the streaming of live video as easy as possible.
Seriously, it’s really easy. On your IOS or Android device, tap the compose icon you use to tweet, click on the Periscope icon, and record! It’s that simple. Note: On my Android, I have to click the camera icon and then the Periscope icon.
With the ability to go “live” your audience is given a chance to interact with you real-time. Live streaming helps to create an active community and when used successfully can entertain while growing brand awareness.
Instant Unlock
Conversion rates are one of the key indicators used to measure the successfulness of a campaign. Lucky for us, Twitter is making conversion rates even easier to track.
Conversional ads are photos or videos that contain call-to-action buttons and customizable hashtags. The CTA buttons require users to click something to unlock the ad, while the customizable hashtags require you to retweet the content.
These ads make it even easier for your audience to engage with your content and spread your brand’s message. According to Twitter, companies see an average 34% earned media rate, which means for every 100 paid impressions, the advertiser receives 34 earned impressions.
While purchasing ads can be a bit more daunting and does cost money, there really is no excuse for not using live-streaming and GIFs to promote your business. And with a broad audience, a diverse demographic, a community of small businesses, and a global market, Twitter is still a prominent market and one you should definitely make sure you’re a part of.