We’re all on Twitter for whatever reason, but how can one use it for their business. Well one way is to just use it as a self branding tool. A strong personal brand can really boost a companies brand for several reasons …. the main ones being that they build trust and prove expertise.

Building a strong personal brand is not hard, however it does take time and effort. The more you know about your industry, the easier it will be for you.

The key to branding success is in watching Twitter for conversations you can provide benefit in. The problem is that most people just watch their own Twitter stream or monitor mentions of their brand for these conversations. People need to learn how to monitor hot topics and trends within their industry on Twitter.

The easiest way to do this is by using one of Twitter’s many search tools. Twitter Search works great but I prefer TweetGrid because I can monitor multiple conversations in real time and the grid auto updates.

So let’s say you are a small business selling your services outside the big city. First thing you should do is set up a local search that monitors all local activity on Twitter. Local Tweeps are great because you can meet up for lunch or even after work to network beyond the social media space. Also, going to Tweetups is a great way to really get people talking about you. It’s all about having a strong presence.

Next you might want to set up a search for anyone using terms relative to your business/industry. Now just jump in wherever you have unique feedback. Don’t just piggyback off what others say, that’s something followers do. To be a leader you need to stick out.

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Remember that Twitter is just a tool. Use it however you wish. This is just an example as to how many are using Twitter to support their own businesses. There is no secret sauce or tricks. Just know your shit and people will start listening.

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