Small businesses have big opportunities with social media. This guide will help you to understand how Twitter is used by consumers and deliver practical advice on what your business can do to reach them.

1. Twitter
+ The Local Business

2. Why Should A Local
Business Use Twitter?

3. Your Customers Are On
Twitter
Twitter is the second most popular social
network in the US.

4. Your Competitors Are
On Twitter
78% of small business owners report using
Twitter, and 67% of Twitter users report
following a business or brand.

5. Twitter Users Are
Mobile
Half of all Twitter users access the network
through a mobile device.

6. And Twitter is Growing
Rapidly
Active users in the USA increased by 94%
in 2012, faster than any other social
network.

7. How Can You Keep A
Great Twitter Account
For Your Local
Business?

8. Create Messages
Meant To Be Shared
Content on Twitter can spread rapidly.
The best tweets are short, but interesting
enough to pass on to others.

9. Tweets can contain up
to 140 characters, but
staying around 120
allows room for links
and user mentions.
Users who RT (retweet)
your message in full will
help your content
spread.

10. Reward Your Followers
Access to specials or discounts gives your
customers a reason to stay connected with
you online.

11. Treat your followers on
Twitter to specials and
inside info just for them.
Tweet a “secret
password” or ask
customers to mention
Twitter when they come
in for a special offer.

12. Tweet Frequently
Keeping your updates fresh gives people a reason
to follow and stay connected.
Users tune in Twitter at different times during the
day, so you can share updates several times each
day without overdoing it.
If your account goes too long without updates, it
may appear inactive and users may unfollow you.

13. Share A Look Behind
The Scenes
Keep things interesting by posting photos of
daily happenings around your business.

14. Images are an effective
way to increase visibility
in your customers’
Twitter feed and connect
your online presence
back to your real-world
business.
Candid shots often
make the best
impression, snapshots
from your phone’s
camera work great.

15. Connect With Your
Community
Follow the Twitter accounts of other businesses
in your neighborhood or local community
organizations.
Use RTs ("retweet" sharing) to cross-promote
with your Twitter business neighbors and tap in
to each other’s social networks.

16. Show Some Love For
Your City
Twitter users seeking local happenings are
searching for their city name.

17. Including names of local
places in your tweets
helps your content reach
potential local
customers who are
looking for businesses
like yours.

18. Think In Real Time
Twitter is a social network that’s all about
what’s happening right now.

19. Mention
weather, holidays, local
events (conventions, in-
store, sporting, etc.) and of
course, your daily
customer specials.
Timely calls to action can
move customers offline
and into your business.

20. Engage The Press
Most local news outlets and 84% journalists have
their own accounts on Twitter. Following news
accounts in your area or industry keeps you better
informed and provides new content to share.
Following and interacting with these accounts also
allows you let them know what’s newsworthy about
your business and help you tap into their audience.

21. Respond To Mentions
Set alerts or watch for mentions of your
Twitter account to know when your
business is being talked to… or about.

22. Let your customers
know you are paying
attention by answering
their
questions, responding to
their concerns, and
thanking them for
praise.

23. Ask Questions And
Listen
Find out more about your Twitter followers
and potential customers in your local
community.

24. Inviting feedback gives
your fans a sense of
ownership and inspires
conversation about your
business on Twitter.
You can also find local
users to engage or
follow by searching
nearby for relevant
terms to your business.

25. Find Inspiration
Find out how businesses like yours and
businesses near yours are reaching
customers on Twitter.

26. Perch is a free mobile
app designed for small
business owners.
Use it to find, view and
create a Watchlist of
other business social
media in your area.

27. Get Perch Now
Visit perchapp.com.