What Every Financial Advisor Ought to Know About Twitter

Imagine… by the end of this post you’ll be able to optimize your Twitter account to enhance your business!

With Twitter being right up there alongside Facebook and LinkedIn as one of the most dominant social networks on the web, it’s no wonder why Twitter is a valuable business and professional engagement tool.  And, with 200,000,000 registered Twitter users (and counting), does it not make sense that for you, as a financial advisor, Twitter is the place to be if you want to reach your clients (many of whom are no doubt on Twitter)?      

Your aim, as an advisor, is to establish a Twitter following comprised of your client base.  In establishing your own ‘Twitter identity’ and inviting your clients to “follow” you, you fulfill a number of accomplishments:

A)     You establish and sustain your position as a thought leader.  Each and every one of your clients active on Twitter is following someone – and that someone should be you!

B)      You open up a new and different channel of communication.  It’s not always necessary to conduct long meetings.  Sometimes, all that’s required is a brief message – a Tweet – that will direct your clients to a specific article that will inform them as well as support your advice or line of thinking on a certain issue.

C)      You are afforded a great opportunity to develop a following independent from your existing client base – you can reach prospects as well!  How can you attract more quality followers?  Read on:

1.       Stay Active in your “Twitter Community” – It’s important that you participate in the conversation.  Find your financial community on Twitter.  Who are the leaders?  What content is being shared?  Check out what other advisors are tweeting.  Being an active part of your industry on Twitter will help you connect to a relevant audience.

2.       Follow Others that You Want to Know – Don’t follow people simply because you want them to follow you.  Follow those that you genuinely want to know – other industry experts and prospects – people who peak your interest and who will enrich your life as a financial advisor.

3.       Make Sure that You Introduce Yourself – As its title suggests, social media is just that – social.  Think of Twitter as a gigantic industry party.  Take the step to introduce yourself to those you want to know – it’s easy to make a personal introduction.  And, why not comment on or ask a question about a recent blog of a person to whom you’re introducing yourself!

4.       Keep it Focused – If you’re using Twitter for business purposes, try to refrain from posting too many tweets about your kids or your dog.  Keep them industry focused – at least for the most part.  There’s nothing wrong with posting the occasional more personal tweet or perhaps a funny one-liner or inspirational quote, but bear in mind that posting plenty of content relevant to the financial industry will attract your target audience.

5.       Join in on Lots of Twitter Discussions – Involving yourself in finance-related discussions will further serve to draw attention to your expertise.  Finding discussions is easy on Twitter – just use the search tool or search via hashtag – e.g., #mutual funds; #retirement planning; etc.).

6.       Pay Attention to Your Audience – Know what your audience is talking about – what kind of questions they’re asking and what information they’re sourcing.  By providing tweets of substance, you will attract quality followers.  Ensure that you respond promptly to questions in order to build or maintain your status as a valuable resource.

7.       Don’t Be Afraid to Retweet – Retweeting posts that are of interest to you will increase your visibility on Twitter.   People following those that you retweet will view you as someone who shares common interests.  Ensure that you include the @name when you refer to other users, as this will develop relationships.  And, other users who monitor themselves will be sure to notice your retweet!

8.       Promote Your @Name – Ensure that you include your @name (your Twitter handle) on your business cards, your email signature, your blog and your website contact info. 

Twitter is an extremely useful resource at the disposal of every financial advisor.  If you want to learn more on how you can get the most out of your Twitter experience, join one of our Social Networking for Business workshops and we’ll teach you all you need to know!  Simply click on the link below for a schedule of workshops in your area!

http://www.escomputertraining.com/courses/details/industry/2/course/20