How To Use Twitter Lists To Help Your Business

With Twitter lists, you can categorise other Twitter users into groups based on what they have in common, or in any way you want. All the tweets from users on a list will appear in a single column on the list page, making them easier to track. Your business can use lists to keep track of customers, connections and even competitors.

Creating a list is easy, just click on “Lists” in the “Me” tab on Twitter and select “Create list”. You must choose a name and write a description for your list, then decide whether you want the list to be private or public – accessible to just you or accessible to everyone. You can add other users to your list (as long as they have not blocked you) at any time from their profile page. You cannot add yourself to a list.

A well-managed Twitter list can be a powerful tool for any business. Here are a few tips on how to get the best out of Twitter lists:

1. Naming a list

List names cannot begin with a number and they cannot exceed 25 characters in length. 25 characters is plenty. Make sure the names you give your lists are concise and accurate. If you want to create a list of companies which distribute products to your business, call it “Distributors”, for example.

Lists with accurate names are more likely to appear in the right searches. Good lists can help raise your profile on Twitter, as people will become aware of your business after following your list. Renaming a list will drop all its followers, so make sure that when you create a list you give it the right name.


2. Managing your lists

You can create up to 20 lists, each of which can contain up to 500 Twitter handles. Manage your Twitter lists well so that you don’t end up needing 21 Twitter lists, otherwise you will have to delete one. If your Twitter list is public, deleting it will annoy other Twitter users who have followed it.

Categorize the people you already follow into lists. If you have a large number of clients, put their Twitter handles into a list so that you can follow their conversations. Do the same with your business contacts and suppliers.

3. Track your customers

Use lists to track your customers and monitor their conversations. You don’t need to follow someone to add them to a list, so if you don’t want to follow everyone who follows you but you still want to know what they are talking about, add them to a list.

Add people who tweet about your company or the products you sell to a list. By creating lists of potential customers you can discover what they want from your company. By monitoring these lists of potential customers you won’t miss an opportunity to engage with them.

4. Monitor your competitors

One of the best things about lists is that you can monitor people without having to follow them. Create a list that includes your competitors and other businesses that work within your field. You can use lists to track what your competitors are up to without them knowing, which could provide you with inspiration and ideas on how to use Twitter to promote your own business.

5. Research and connect

Search for other users’ lists that are relevant to your field. You may find great new Twitter contacts on a list created by another Twitter user with the same interests as you. Adding a user to a public list is a compliment, so don’t be afraid to add those people whose opinions you respect to lists. If anyone adds you to a list have a look at the other people in the list, it may provide you with some great new contacts.

How do you use Twitter lists to promote your business?