Even if you aren’t using Twitter for marketing purposes, I think it can still help you become a better marketer. One of its most basic features can help us write better marketing copy, regardless of medium.
When I first started on Twitter I struggled with the character limit. In speech we’re used to using superfluous words and long sentences. Soon I realised it was forcing me to learn a valuable skill.
Keep It Relevant
On Twitter the character limit means brevity is essential. Marketing, as I understand it, is about getting your message across as effectively as possible. Saying everything we need to in under 140 characters means we have to communicate our core messages succinctly. Once you’ve got to grips with condensing your main points into one Tweet the same practice could make writing your marketing copy easier and more fruitful.
No Room for Padding
In a tweet there is no room for jargon and sales speak. Faced with a customer, we have less than 140 characters to convince them to buy. We really have to think about the main benefits of our product. In doing so we might even raise valuable questions about our overall marketing plans.
The more we think about how to clearly communicate our message, the better we become at it. When we next have a Press Release to write, with lots of important information to fit into just the title, we have had a lot of practice. When next thinking about the first paragraph of our website homepage, we have that extra knowledge on keeping it snappy.
Help or Hindrance?
Reviewing and analysing your own copy is one way to learn to be more succinct, but I think that learning by doing is always faster. Trying to tell people about your product in less than 140 characters will help a lot more than any amount of proof reading and study.
At first I didn’t like Twitter’s character limit. Now I realise that it could make me a more effective communicator. What do you think? Has it helped you convey your message more effectively, or have you found yourself too restricted?
Why not share your thoughts in the comments section.
