Optimizing your Twitter profile page is one of the most important but often overlooked aspects of Twitter marketing. Seriously, folks, having a killer profile page can make or break your marketing efforts on Twitter.
If you’re active on Twitter, it’s just a fact that people are going to view your profile page. Make sure you’re leading them down the path to action with every part of your Twitter profile.
In a few hours, you can implement the following jab, jab, right hook approach to your Twitter profile page to start getting more followers and driving more traffic to back to your website. (thanks for the metaphor, Gary Vee – forgive me for leaving out a jab).
So here’s how you do it:
Jab One – Your Twitter Cover Photo
Use your Twitter cover photo to get people interested and moving down the line of your profile page.
Your Twitter Cover photo is the biggest piece of real estate on your profile page. Use it! I see tons of businesses and solopreneurs letting this space go to waste. They’ll have a picture of the beach or some sublime landscape.
Yes, these pictures are beautiful and awe-inspiring. But they don’t do much to inspire people to follow your account or do business with you.
There are many ways that people find you on Twitter. It could be from a Tweet you sent out with a hashtag they follow or a retweet of their account. You may have followed them first. There are any number of scenarios where they get to your profile.
Regardless of how they found out you exist, the first thing they’re going to do is come and check out your profile page. And the biggest thing they’ll see when they land there is your cover photo. This is an opportunity not to be squandered.
Remember that Twitter moves fast. People aren’t going to linger on your profile page. Think of your cover photo as a billboard on the highway. Folks are virtually zooming by at 70 miles-per-hour. You only have a few seconds to grab their attention with your cover photo. Make them count.
Use this valuable real estate to its fullest with an eye-catching image. Use one that gives people a sense of what your products or services are all about. Include text overlays to drive it home with your cover photo.
Here are some examples of some great cover photos you can learn from:
Peg Fitzpatrick (@PegFitzpatrick) has a great cover photo highlighting her personal brand as a social media speaker and author.
The text overlay clearly and boldly states her name and exactly what she does. The picture clearly backs this up by showcasing her speaking in front of a huge crowd. She’s included her URL so people know where to find her. And, finally, she’s included a text overlay, “HIRE PEG TO SPEAK” on the left with an arrow pointing to the link where people can get more information. THAT is how to use your cover photo to it’s fullest.
For a brand example, check out Dollar Shave Club’s cover photo.
They have a nice slogan and beautiful picture of all the products they offer. This image has perceived value written all over it – exactly what the DSC brand is all about.
Jab Two – Your Twitter Bio
After getting to your profile page and seeing your cover photo, most people’s eyes are headed for your bio. This is where you need to hook them. Your goal is to have them follow you or at least keep them on the page. This will afford you those precious few more seconds you need to deliver the right hook that’s coming up.
Use your Twitter bio to humanize you and/or your business. People want to connect with people and your bio needs to entice them to follow you.
So how do you do this?
First, you have to let people know what you’re about. It’s simple idea but you’d be surprised at how often people neglect to do this.
Part of my job is reviewing Twitter accounts to help people optimize their profile. I can’t tell you how many time read a bio and still have no idea what their purpose for being on Twitter actually is. Not a great recipe to get people to follow you.
Second, inject some personality. Pardon me while I toot my own horn for a moment and share my bio:
There was a lot of thought that went into it and tweaking that got it where it is now. In fact, I still tweak now and again. But I know that my bio does work and people follow me because of it.
I can say that unequivocally because I’ve had Tweeps flat out say to me they couldn’t help but follow after reading my bio. Sorry if that comes off as braggadocios, but it’s the truth.
Specifically, new followers often comment on the “80s geek,” “sarcasm aficionado,” and/or “fluent in GIF” parts. See what I mean about injecting some personality? People do respond to it.
Also, keep in mind that your cover photo and bio aren’t only visible on your profile page. If you’re active, Twitter will be suggesting your account as one to follow on other parts of the site as well. It can be on other peoples’ profile page that have recently followed you or on searches of hashtags or keywords.
I’m sure you’ve seen it before. It looks like this:
As you can see, not having a bio isn’t doing HomeLife Magazine any favors.
If you’ve got your cover photo and bio working for you, you will get more followers courtesy of Twitter. Pretty sweet, right?
Right Hook – Your Pinned Tweet
This is where the magic happens on your profile page – where you can successfully and consistently get people to take action. As soon as people finish reading your bio, they’re going to almost always check out at least one Tweet.
Make sure the Tweet is your money Tweet and keep it pinned to the top!
Pinning a Tweet takes literally two seconds, but can be a game changer for driving business with your Twitter marketing. Here’s how to pin a Tweet to the top of your profile page:
Click the three dots and then “Pin to your profile page.” That’s it!
Keeping a pinned Tweet with a strong call to action will produce more traffic than a pile up on the freeway at rush hour. This is the best place to drive traffic from Twitter because, again, people ARE visiting your profile. And when they do, they cannot miss your pinned Tweet. Done right, it will get retweets and link clicks galore.
So what makes a great pinned Tweet? Two words: lead magnet.
A lead magnet is an offer for something of value in exchange for contact information – usually an email address. It could be a free eBook, a software trial, a short training course – really anything you know will appeal to your target market.
The reason you want to use a lead magnet is because social isn’t a place to sell. Social is a place to give – but not for nothing. Get those email addresses and build a list. THAT’S what you market to – but that’s a topic for another post.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it – the jab, jab, right hook approach to optimizing your Twitter profile page.
Follow these instructions and in a few hours or less you can have a Twitter profile page that’s working for you 24-7 to bring you more followers, leads, and ultimately business from Twitter.
Is your Twitter profile properly optimized or did you have a takeaway from my post? Please let me know by commenting below!
David Boutin
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Thanks for a lot of (simple) tips and insights! I’ll be making some changes with a fresh view :)
Awesome! David, I just overhauled my profile @RicardoNewbold Thanks for the tips. I’m rocking & rolling now!
Thanks David, my name is Patrick. Was glad to learn how to pin a tweet. I had seen it before, but was unsure how to do it myself, am @moodgzagza Great looking profile btw.
Very informative. Will implement asap.