Here’s a question you’ve probably asked at some point:
Can Twitter really help me find more work, or is it just a waste of time and energy?
The truth is, Twitter can help you fill your plate with awesome freelance jobs and put more money in the bank… but maybe not the way you’re thinking.
Sure, you can seek out freelance gigs on Twitter. You can search hashtags and watch your lists like a hawk and hope that you’ll be sitting in front of your computer, staring at your Twitter feed, when your dream employer tweets, “We want to hire a freelance blogger.”
But the chances of that happening are pretty small. The chances of you noticing that a company’s hiring someone with your skills and then actually landing that gig are small not because you won’t discover those opportunities, but because a thousand other people will discover them at the same time.
That’s why rather than using Twitter as an outbound marketing tool, where you reach out to others, you should use it for inbound marketing instead, helping potential clients find you. [You like that? Tweet it!]
So how do you help people find you on Twitter, and how do you turn those potentials into paying clients? Here are a few tips:
Be Your Awesome Self
Twitter is your chance to show the world that you know what you’re talking about, without waiting for anyone to give you permission to get up on the podium.
So don’t be shy about sharing your expertise!
That doesn’t mean you can only tweet links to your own portfolio. Part of your awesomeness is your network, and how keyed in you are to the industry you write about, so tweet plenty of helpful links to resources in that field.
The fact that you know your stuff, not to mention other people in the space, is attractive to anyone who might consider hiring you.
Have a Home Base
Once people see how awesome you are, they’re going to want to find out more about you. In fact, they won’t hire you until they do. So you need to have a place where they can do that, one that’s featured prominently on your Twitter profile. You want to make it easy for them to take the relationship one step further.
For most writers, that home base is a blog, but it doesn’t have to be. It could be your LinkedIn profile. Or an About.me page. Or a succinct profile on any of the million portfolio sites out there (here are a few examples of portfolio sites for journalists).
If you don’t have some way for curious parties to find out more about you, your strengths and your services, you’ll never convert your Twitter effort into clients.
Make Smart Connections
Networking on Twitter is great, but you know what’s even better? Strategic networking.
We all love serendipitous Twitter connections, where you meet an intriguing new friend or professional contact (or in my case, a boyfriend!). But true Twitter power users are far more strategic with the platform, finding ways to connect with specific people who will help them reach their goals.
One way to do this is by creating a private Notice-Me list, and then looking for ways to interact with people on that list through RTs, @replies, @mentions and eventually Direct Messages.
Having a target list of people to “meet” will help you focus your efforts on social media, so you know what tangible steps you should take to reach your goals. It will also help you measure your progress and really see the return on your investment. If you follow through on this, you’ll never feel like Twitter is a waste of time.
Use the @Mention
And use it properly! This sounds simple, but it will go so far toward building your network.
Take every possible opportunity to @mention publications, companies, and most importantly, individuals, and they’ll be far more likely to notice you exist. Then, if your feed is quality, they’ll notice how awesome you are. Then they’ll hop over to your home base. Do you see where we’re going with this?
That person who noticed you might not hire you at that very moment, but if you stand out in some way, they will remember you down the line. They’ll think of you when a friend mentions his company needs a copywriter, or when their boss says it’s time to find a freelance blogger. That’s when you want to be top of mind.
So rather than trying to find freelance gigs on Twitter, focus on helping potential clients find you. It takes some legwork and some smarts, but it’s far more effective in the long run.
Image: Rosaura Ochoa
Brilliant tips, Alexis! Thanks for sharing. Heading now over to Twitter to create my Notice Me list. 🙂
Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but *I* certainly noticed you on Twitter this past week! 🙂
So glad you found the article useful, Anca. Thanks for stopping by!
Excellent list of Twitter tips. The piece of advice; don’t aim to find freelance gigs, aim to help clients find you is the smartest advice I have ever found on the blogosphere.
Love it Alexis!
Thanks, Anthony!
My pleasure. Actually these are the most powerful twitter tips I’ve discovered. Thanks for writing about them.:)
Awesome tips! I love using twitter to find new projects and clients, but this gave me an extra push!
Sometimes an extra push is all you need to succeed. 🙂
Thanks for commenting, Cat!
Wow!I am not a Twitter person but the tips here have given me that extra nudge for my writing work. Thanks Alexis.
So happy that Alexis was able to give you the extra nudge you needed, Donna. 🙂
I’ve personally had exceptional luck with Twitter. It’s my favorite of my current social media outlets. Once you get used to it, I think you’ll grow to love it as well!
Great tips here Alexis. The idea of a Notice-me list is wonderful.
I thought that was a great idea too. 🙂 I still need to get mine set up…
Thanks for commenting, Edward! Glad you found the article helpful.
I am one of those people who sort of flounders about on Twitter or any social media for that matter. Thanks for providing tips on how effective Twitter can be when you actually have a goal.
Thanks also for the info on About.me. Another great way to tell the world you exist 🙂
Absolutely right @Victoria, there are several ways to help your visitors reach you and everyone compliments each other.
If someone is reaching out with their own blog and promoting it on twitter then there should be following pages present on the blog before starting any promotion.
About Me page – Since twitter only supports 140 characters, hence your prospect can’t know all about you within that 140 characters and everyone don’t have such free time to check out all your tweets and make out some idea about you, rather if they like your tweet they are in hurry to know more about you in one place and once they land on your blog through your twitter profile page they often look for About Me page to grasp an idea about you.
So, an About Me page is must and that should be powerful enough to convert your prospects into your client.
Another 2 important pages are Hire Me page and Contact page.
Hire Me page will help your prospects know that you are available for getting hired and Contact page will help them sending you some message instantly when they feel so. So, mind it..
Twitter is a great platform to expose yourself but be ready before you start promoting.
I used to be a bit of a flounderer myself, Victoria! However, if you make an effort to write in some “social media time” into your schedule each week (half an hour per day? 2 hours every Monday?), you’ll start to make it a habit. Keep at it and you’ll start to notice the results within a couple weeks! 🙂
Thanks for commenting!!
@Alexis, this is really a great piece of information on twitter. I have noticed that most of the twitter user end up just spamming their links and nothing else. They just don’t know what is twitter all about.
I really appreciate your effort of making people aware of different aspects of twitter through your articles and your “Become a Twitter Power user” course..
Keep it up. Such awareness will definitely help interactions on twitter more interesting.
So true, Amit. There’s a ton of self-promotion going on among the Twitter folk (and every other social media outlet). A little goes a long way…
As Linda Formichelli (@lformichelli on Twitter) said the other day: “Don’t look at other writers as your competitors—look at them as your colleagues. The more you share with them, the more you’ll receive in return.”
Great advice, huh? By sharing the work of others, the more likely they’ll get to know you and share YOUR work in return! (That’s kinda-sorta how I got my job here, to be honest! Hah!)
Thanks for stopping by, Amit!
What’s great about this is that it gives you complete control to remain relevant. I’ve only used my twitter account to ‘burn’ jokes with other comedians and friends and on occasion post from by blog, but this is a great idea that helps me look into better writing gigs. Thanks!
Hey, Jon! Unless burning people is part of your branding, I would avoid doing it on your professional Twitter account…
That said, I like to joke around (or share off-brand messages) with my friends too! That’s why I have two Twitter accounts–one private personal one and one public business one. 😉
Maybe that technique would work for you as well?
Anyway, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Best of luck to you on your gig hunt!
Hi Alexis,
Its for sure that what you have written in your blog is really helpful, I think the point that you have mentioned “Make Smart Connection” is the most important one, i have also a website and i am also trying the same-thing.
A few smart/targeted connections are so much more valuable than thousands of “connections” who don’t care about your message. Best of luck, Joel! 🙂
I honestly don’t do much with Twitter, but I agree that it can be very useful if you’re willing to keep it up.
Out of curiosity, if not Twitter, which social media outlet do you prefer?
These are great Alexis! Trying to do the @ more.
I adore @ messages. I get SO much less spam than with DMs. I think you’ll quickly grow to love ’em. 🙂