Twitter thoughts and Twitter thinking. Tweet and Re-Tweet.

Most people reading this have never tweeted. (You included?) On the off chance that you have tweeted, my guess is you have less than 5,000 Twitter followers – maybe less than 500.

Whatever your situation is there’s no denying that Twitter is a major force in business social media. The next few paragraphs will challenge your thinking in regards to participation, specifically why you need to begin to take advantage of it today.

This is not simply a lesson. It’s also a perspective and a business building challenge. Or to put it into your language more sales NOW!

I began tweeting several years ago, but I didn’t really understand the impact it could make or the opportunity it presented. I justtook quotes from my books and began to post them.

What happened was very surprising to me. Not only did I gain more followers, but people also began to retweet my tweets to their followers. Cool.

That put my message in front of the followers of my followers. For free. Many of their followers then became my followers. For free. Is that cool, or what?

That was 50,000 followers ago. I now have a much more sophisticated strategy to distribute my message, to add to my followers, and to gain new customers. For free.

Here are my Twitter actions and the thoughts behind them:

• I tweet several times a day. I’m consistent. Never miss.
• I include links to my videos or promotions on less than 30% of my tweets. Some days none.
• I tweet my own thoughts 95% of the time. The other tweets are profound quotes of others, or people I believe are worth following.
• I only tweet what I believe my followers will benefit from.
• I tweet what I believe is valuable enough to pass along.

Here are several actual examples of my tweets:

• Fear of being wrong is more powerful than risk of being right. Leaders emerge as they become fearless. #gitomer #fear #power
• Social media is everywhere, you may not like it, but you can’t ignore it. #gitomer
• In a nuts and bolts world, there are far too many nuts, and an extreme shortage of bolts. #gitomer #greatquote
• Are you a thinker beyond your business? If not you’ll wallow in mediocrity. #gitomer #think

Two hours ago I tweeted: It’s no sin not to tweet or use Twitter, it’s just a tremendous lost opportunity to sell and become known. #gitomer #twitter #opportunity. So far this tweet has been retweeted fifteen times and seven people favored it. It has already reached more than 20,000 followers of other people. With my name on it. Forfree!

Two days ago, this tweet: The key to selling is to ask for the sale in a sincere, friendly manner. Don't push or use high pressure. #sales #gitomer had twenty-four retweets and thirteen “favorites” within twenty-four hours (on a SUNDAY). This tweet reached another 20,000 people. With my name on it. For free!

Three days ago, this tweet: If you lose, ask yourself this all powerful question. Did I do my BEST? If you didn’t, you’ll blame the world for your own lack of effort got fifty-six retweets and twenty-four favorites. ON A HOLIDAY. This tweet reached another 50,000 people. With my name on it. For free.

DESIRED OUTCOME: My Twitter goals are to be re-tweeted 100 times a day, be “favored” fifty times a day, and pick up 250 new followers a week. I usually tweet three or four times a day.

CAUTION: I have been tweeting for four years. In that time I have learned what to do and what not to do. I am far from an expert, but I have more followers than most people who claim they are.

The advice I’m offering is based on my own experience and my own strategy. The best advice that I can give you is to create your own strategy focused around what you believe will help your customers the most. Then follow that strategy consistently. Daily.

Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of twelve best-selling books including The Sales Bible and The Little Red Book of Selling. He just published two new sales books, available exclusively on Amazon’s Kindle. Win Now! and The Sale Re-Defined. They will change the way you think and sell. His website, www.gitomer.com, will lead you to more information about training and seminars, or email him personally at salesman@gitomer.com.