Tips For Using Twitter
Regardless of whether you are new to Twitter or have been tweeting for a long time, there is plenty to know about this social media application. Twitter is a very useful platform, and I started out hating it, but now enjoy it immensely.
Part of the enjoyment is because I understand the basics. Chris Brogan (of social media fame) wrote a great introductory post about Twitter for those who have not yet investigated it in much detail. (If that is you, check it out.) It can help make sense out of all the noise.
Those of you who have been around for a while may want to branch out (bad pun–see picture) and learn some of the fancy ways to use the site. There are deeper ways to use Twitter, according to Brogan, and I like what he has to say about that as well. I consider myself an intermediate user, since I know a good deal about it, but I know that there is always more to read out there.
Social media in general is constantly evolving and changing. Keeping up with it all can be a real challenge–but it can also be worth it. If you utilize sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, try to learn something new about them once in a while to help maximize your presence there. Believe it or not–it can actually make networking online more fun!
How do you use Twitter? Are you an avid tweeter or do you shun the idea of it all? Would love to hear some voices from the dance world on that one!
Social Media: More Than A Tool
The title of this post says it all.
When I first started using social media to promote 4dancers, I did so grudgingly. I joined Twitter and scratched my head at how I was supposed to use it. I certainly didn’t think I’d enjoy it.
Using Facebook as a tool also lacked appeal for me. After all, the majority of my friends on there were actual friends and family.
LinkedIn seemed to make the most sense. After all, it was more of a “professional” site, designed to showcase your resume and develop connections.
So what happened?
Social Media: The Free Marketing Solution
Have a tight budget for marketing your dance studio? Looking for ways to cut back on costs? If this sounds like you it is probably time to take a good hard look at social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn if you haven’t already done so.
If your first instinct is to roll your eyes and think, “Who has time?” or, “I don’t understand this stuff”, try to have an open mind. Social media not only offers you the ability to meet potential customers where they are at (on the web), but just as importantly, it is free.
Rather than pouring your hard-earned money into another ad campaign in the local paper, why not take an hour a week and begin setting up your social media campaign. You can learn a little at a time, and before you know it, you’ll be up and running on the web. Ask yourself–can you afford to do without a free marketing option that really works?
0Social Media: Adding Value
Today’s social media tip has to do with adding value.
What does this mean, exactly?
It means that you should be giving readers something of value periodically without wanting anything in return. This means you take a break from promoting yourself tirelessly (yes, I said it!) and think about what you can do for your fellow dancers/bloggers/followers. What would make them happy?
Adding value can be as simple as passing along a link to something that is helpful or letting people know of a special deal that they might find interesting. For example, if you just heard that a local dance studio is holding free classes during their open house…pass the word. See a great dance video on You Tube? Share that link…
You get the idea.
So, then next time you are posting on Twitter or sharing on Facebook, try being “other focused”. Not only does it work–but it’s a nice thing to do. And it feels good too.
Using Hashtags On Twitter
If you are a Twitter user, the hashtag is your friend.
Hashtags are the # symbol, and on Twitter they are used to mark a certain subject for a search. For example, if I were to do this: #dance, it would categorize my tweet under dance in a search for that subject. While it doesn’t guarantee that people will find your tweets–it can really help!
Want to learn the details? Take a look at the Twitter page that gives you all the details.
Managing Social Media With Hoot Suite
Time for a social media post…
If you are on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn (or any combination of the three) you already know that managing all of your social media accounts can be a real pain. Logging in and logging out, tweeting when you are busy and keeping up with people who are contacting you…these things can get overwhelming very quickly.
Good news though–Hoot Suite is a great dashboard program that you can download for free and manage all of your social media accounts from one page.
Update everything at once, in just seconds. And if you have a mobile phone, you can get the ap for that as well. (Not sure about others, but the iPhone ap costs $2.99 and is worth every penny.)
Make your life easier. Get Hoot Suite today!
Dance Professionals: Why You Need Social Media
Think you can do without social media? Perhaps you’d better think again…
Social media is fast becoming an important part of an overall marketing strategy and it continues to be embraced by a wide range of people. I fought it in the beginning, but I had to give in eventually!
I have found a great resource from Kodak that gives some terrific tips and strategies for utilizing various social networking platforms to your advantage. It also has some interesting stats in the document, such as:
Each minute, ten hours of video is uploaded to YouTube. This could be a commercial for your studio or a clip of you dancing that you link to from your website. You never know who might see the video.
There are 44 million (and counting) Twitter users. Can you afford to ignore them? I have had companies in the dance field contact me for reviews, interviews and other opportunities. It happens. Signing up takes only a minute. (Follow 4dancers!)
Over 120 million people log on to Facebook at least once a day. Creating a fan page or a place to connect with people on this social media site can be useful for communicating information. (Why not join our fan page too while you’re at it?)
If you haven’t signed on to the social media scene yet, why not begin today. Start simple. Set up a Twitter account or a LinkedIn page. Take it one step at a time. You’ll thank yourself later on down the road…trust me.
Social Media For Dancers: Branding
If you are looking to firm up your “brand” on social media, there is much to know. Whether you are a dance studio owner trying to present a certain image or a freelance dancer looking to get noticed, knowing good branding techniques can help you out.
There is a great piece on this–100 Personal Branding Tactics Using Social Media–that offers tips on everything from adding a link to your blog in your e-mail signature block to commenting on other blogs. Take a peek and see what you can use…
Tips For Using Social Media Safely
Whether you are a freelance dancer using social media sites like Twitter to promote yourself or you are a dance studio owner with a Facebook account, you’ll want to be sure you know how to protect yourself against the “bad guys” out there. Do you know what to look for in terms of safety?
While this Microsoft page is designed for parents, it offers some great tips for using social media wisely. If you are fairly new to all of this, be sure you know how to avoid issues down the line. Social media is terrific, but it has its downfalls if you don’t know what you are dealing with. Remember…knowledge is power!
