Getting Your Tweets Retweeted on Twitter

Retweets on Twitter are not only a compliment, they spread your messages to a new wider audience.  If they like your tweet and want more they will click the follow button to follow you, which means you increase your digital reach and visibility.

Retweets give you instant feedback: when you are retweeted that’s the sign your followers are finding your content worthwhile.

Here are some tips and tactics to play with until you find the right mix to give your followers the content they appreciate so they will retweet you.

1. Tweet more good content

Tweet content relevant to your target market. Give your followers information that will help them solve their problems. You can also use a scheduling application to pre-schedule your tweets so you can set up (and then get on with your other work). One that I have started using is Hootsuite which has a free version. Make sure you check your tweets and mentions later in the day though so that you can respond to any tweets made to you.

Add variety to your tweets:

• Some breaking news relevant to your target market.
• Some good information of value to your target market.
• Some inspirational or encouraging quote relevant to your target market.
• Some promoting you and your business (approx 20% of tweets).
• Some promoting leaders in your niche.
• Some for fun.

Think of your Twitter stream like a good TV channel. What will keep your target market tuning in?

Mix your mediums:

• Some text.
• Some videos.
• More photos. (Especially now that they are shown on your profile page)

2. Make it easy for others to retweet you

Keep your tweets short – 120 characters at the most – allowing space for your Twitter name in the retweet and their comment.

3. Tweet links

Links get retweeted. Mix links to your content with links to others’ content that your target market will find useful. When you tweet about your new blog post, start your tweet with [New Blog Post]. There has been research that suggests that the best place within your tweet for the link is about 25% into your tweet.

4. Retweet others

Others will be grateful to you for retweeting them and they will normally return the favour.  When re-tweeting don’t just click the automatic retweet button as your twitter name won’t show on that retweet and you can’t make any comment.  Instead hit reply to the tweet you are retweeting, copy and paste their tweet, paste the content into your new tweet put RT before their twitter name and also add in your little comment to their tweet.  More personal and gets more attention.

5. Gratitude works too

Thank those whose content helped you.

Thank those that retweeted you. Include their name and a well wish or interesting comment.

6. Use a recognized link shortener

Bit.ly is great as each link is unique and you can track and monitor how many have clicked on that link.  Great tool if you want to track what works best and attracts the most interest.

7. Add a retweet button to your website

If you have a WordPress website the TweetMeme Retweet Button plugin is excellent. Install at the beginning and end of your posts and pages.

I have heard the SexyBookmarks plugin is brilliant too, although I haven’t tried this one out yet.

Some prefer to use Twitter’s own official Tweet Button. Which ever is your favorite, make it easy for people to retweet you.

Fabulous for getting your content publicised to a wider audience.

Most importantly, have fun and interact with others.  Twitter, and all social media, is all about the connections you make, not just blasting information to your tweeps all the time!!

Let me know how you are going on twitter and leave your twitter handle in your comment below so that I can ensure I am following you.

You can join me on twitter at @webonize

I look forward to tweeting with you.