Twitter's great, but nurture your own site too
The noise on the web is deafening. Everyone is competing for attention. Facebook, Friendfeed, Twitter, you name it; it doesn’t matter where you go the emphasis seems to be on rapid updates, new information, snack and graze, click and share.
It’s very easy to get distracted.
Don’t Forget YOUR Website
If you’re already on Twitter, that’s great. I do think there are business beneifts for both individuals and company’s to actively participate in the conversation as I’ve written elsewhere.
But don’t let Twitter & Co distract you. Don’t forget to keep producing content for your website or business blog.
Blog = Show / Twitter = Tell
Your website is the place where you can show people what you’re doing or thinking. As a space, it’s as large as you want it to be and you can paint your canvas as you see fit. Once you’re done you can tell people about it on Twitter.
As an example, let’s say a Stockholm school has a website and a twitter account. These are the two media channels that they’ve decided to focus on.
Their strategy might be something like this:
On their website they include a Resources Blog. Here teachers and students regularly share things like:
- a PowerPoint presentation on How To Write an Essay
- a set of slides on Following the MLA Guide
- a video report on a class project
Instead of saying “this is a great school”, the school is showing visitors through its website that it is committed to learning. If the slides or report are engaging and pedagogical, visitors will understand intuitively that this is a great school with talented staff. More people might want to study or work there.
Invest in your own website
By investing in your own website and sharing quality information (that will hopefully gather linklove over time), you work to build your reputation as a provider of quality resources. In the case of the school this may well recruit more students; when it comes to your own site, it may bring in more customers to your business.
Twitter can be used here to tell people about the (free) resources. For example, the school could send a link to anyone looking for #essay_tips.
By adapting this kind of strategy to your own company (or skills) you can see how a blog or website can be a valuable way of creating an online persona. The free, quality resources you give away to your community will help build your brand positively.
Show Your Skills
The school here is just an example because I’ve been talking to a customer about these issues. But what I’m saying is applicable to all kinds of businesses:
- A psychologist might write about Ten Signs to Spot Clinical Depression on their website, instead of just announcing “Psychologist for hire”
- A copyeditor might give away: Apostrophe Rules Simplified, instead of announcing Hire me to check your copy.
- A landscape gardener might write an ebook: How to Have a Perfect Lawn, instead of just telling people s/he’s a great gardener
The Takeaway
The thing to note here is that instead of saying what you can do is to show visitors to your website. Give them something of value and you might hold their attention. Create resources for your community and they might just turn into customers having already gained an insight into the quality of the work you do.
What have you done to help grow your website as a valuable resource today? Or are you too busy being distracted by the noise on Twitter?
Image: FlickrCC
Related posts:
- Has Twitter Caught Bird Flu?
- Nurture Online Contacts, Build Your Business Blog
- Your Website like Your English Tells a Story
- Is Twitter Search Your New Homepage?
- Johnny Spence on How to Start a Business Website
Jon Buscall - Communications Consultant
I'm an available-for-hire online communications consultant based out of Stockholm, Sweden.
What I do:- Online Marketing and Communications Strategy
- Speaking
- Teaching
- Training
- Write stuff: articles, blogs, brochures, copywriting, presentations, the works!
Contact me today to set up a free consultation to discuss how I can help your business succeed online.
