Many businesses suffer from zero reputation within social media communities, especially on Twitter. By this, I mean that they do not have active followers nor are they able to achieve popularity as a brand, individual or a business. 

However, it is important for the marketing team that is creating and implementing the social media plans; to make it clear to senior management that acquiring followers and loyal members takes time, effort, and most importantly patience.

The following are some guidelines that you can follow in order to transform your zeros to a hero reputation on Twitter.

Locate and Advocate Leading Users

Initiate the process by searching for users to engage with by topics that interest you. To do this, you can use some of these tools; Twello , Followerwonk, Topsy, Socialmention.

This may involve saying good things about others’ tweets, thanking them for posting helpful links, retweeting them, adding them to your favorites, or commenting on their tweets, rather than bombarding them with automated messages about your blog or your business.

Because tweets can be no longer than 140 characters, try to make your tweets shorter in order leave space for “RT @yourname” for others to retweet you.

The well-known theory the Golden Rule states, “Do unto others as you wish others to do unto you.” In addition to applying it generally, it is a great philosophy to consider when creating your social media plans. It advocates treating people in the same way that you wish to be treated yourself. Ensure that you follow the Golden Rule at all times while tweeting.

In order for your tweets to get the attention that you desire, you will need to maintain a positive attitude in your tweets. No one wants to read a depressing message about how frustrating life is or how much anger you have towards your employer or how horrible this world has become.

In short:

    1. Learn how to select the right users

    2. Give each user 2/3 times a week, to interact, of your social media time

    3. Simply Repeat

Avoid Speaking to an Empty Room

Tweeting or posting comments when no one is listening will not help you achieve your objectives. This means that you should find out the times in which your audience is most active on the social media platforms you are using. This will help them see you and interact with you.. There are some tools that can help you determine the best times to tweet like Tweroid and Socialbro, in which your posts will get proper exposure.

To be a Hero, Help the Other Zeros

Using #Hashtags, for instance, is a great example, but make sure you are using the right ones. Watch and listen to the hashtags that you choose and start learning about the community. Once you understand it, start contributing

Build Relations with Communities not Just Individuals

The simplest approach is to ask the community the questions that you are getting from your followers; so it’s only one post from you that engages lots of people.

Another easy way to engage is to use polls, so either create interesting ones or copy what you think is interesting.

Engage Only in Valuable Interactions

Because time is gold, know exactly how to spend your effort by asking yourself the following before each engagement, “Is there a value for me or someone else?”, “Is it connected to my interest?” Focus on valuable interactions. For instance, never waste your time answering questions that don’t make value to you or your followers. Also, one of the best practices you can do is to look for people who are asking questions, looking for help or suggestions, and answering them using your professional expertise and the result will be more than you can expect.

Once you start building your reputation as a hero, it will begin to take on a life of its own. It is not rocket science, but it needs effort, consistency and dedication.