9 Powerful Strategies One Consultant Used to Build a Stellar Brand on Twitter

Twitter can be an incredibly powerful platform for consultants looking to build thought leadership, grow an engaged following, and attract new clients. But with over 500 million tweets sent per day, cutting through the noise and establishing your authority is no easy feat.

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So how can you stand out and make your mark in a sea of hashtags and retweets?

One social media consultant has unlocked the formula for Twitter success, not only for her own brand but for her many clients as well. Discover her top nine strategies below and learn how you can apply them to skyrocket your influence on Twitter.

1. Optimize Every Element of Your Twitter Profile

When it comes to branding, the devil is in the details. And on Twitter, those details start with a fully optimized profile.

According to Twitter, accounts with a professional profile photo see 10 times more engagement on average compared to those without. So start by choosing a high-quality headshot that clearly shows your face and aligns with your personal brand aesthetic.

But don‘t stop there. Ensure you‘re also leveraging:

A compelling, keyword-rich bio that communicates your unique value proposition
A branded header image that visually showcases your personality and expertise
A pinned tweet highlighting your most valuable content or offer
A link to a relevant landing page or your website in your bio

For an example of a consultant with a stellar Twitter profile, check out Ann Handley (@MarketingProfs):

[include screenshot of Ann Handley‘s Twitter profile]

2. Consistency is Key (But Don‘t Overdo It)

One of the biggest mistakes consultants make on Twitter is tweeting too infrequently. If you want to stay top-of-mind and maximize engagement, you need to be consistently showing up in your followers‘ feeds.

So what‘s the sweet spot for tweet frequency? Research shows that accounts tweeting between 5-15 times per day tend to see the highest engagement rates. But quality always trumps quantity, so focus on sharing valuable, relevant content rather than hitting an arbitrary number.

In terms of timing, data suggests that tweets sent between 8am-10am and 6pm-9pm generate the most engagement, on average. Use tools like Followerwonk or Sprout Social to analyze when your specific followers are most active and experiment with tweeting during those windows.

3. Become a Hashtag Hero (But Use Them Wisely)

Hashtags are essentially the SEO of Twitter, allowing users to discover your content even if they don‘t follow you directly. But as with most things in life, moderation is key.

Tweets containing at least one hashtag see 2x more engagement than those without, according to Twitter‘s own data. However, engagement starts to decline once you use more than two hashtags per tweet, so resist the urge to keyword stuff.

When choosing hashtags, aim for a mix of broad, industry-specific tags and more niche, conversation-specific ones. Some popular hashtags for consultants include:

But don‘t be afraid to join in on timely, trending topics as well, such as #MondayMotivation or #WednesdayWisdom. Just be sure your content adds value to the larger conversation.

4. Harness the Power of Video, Especially Live Video

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then video is worth…well, you get the idea. Video content continues to dominate social media engagement across all platforms, and Twitter is no exception.

Consultants who incorporate video into their Twitter strategy, particularly live video, see an average 10x increase in engagement compared to regular video tweets. Why? Live video offers an authentic, unedited way to connect with your audience in real time.

To maximize the impact of your live videos:

Keep them between 10-20 minutes for optimal viewer retention
Promote them in advance to your email list and other social channels
Use eye-catching titles and descriptions to pique curiosity
Engage with viewers in real-time by answering questions and responding to comments
Repurpose your livestream content into bite-sized clips, blog posts, or podcast episodes

Not sure what to go live about? For consultants, some winning topics include:

Q&A sessions on your area of expertise
Behind-the-scenes looks at your day-to-day work
Interviews with industry thought leaders or clients
Tutorials or demos showcasing your processes and results

5. Leverage Twitter Lists to Streamline Engagement

As your Twitter following grows, so will the amount of noise in your feed. To ensure you‘re able to cut through the clutter and engage with the right accounts, Twitter Lists are your secret weapon.

Lists allow you to curate specific users into their own dedicated feeds, making it easier to track and interact with their content. Some strategic ways consultants can use Lists include:

Creating a "Dream Clients" list to actively engage with your ideal prospects
Adding industry thought leaders and influencers to a "Experts" list for inspiration and networking
Monitoring competitors and their content via a private "Intel" list
Keeping tabs on event attendees or conference speakers for easy reference and relationship-building

6. Amplify Your Reach With Targeted Twitter Ads

Even if you‘re consistently sharing stellar content, the reality is only a small percentage of your followers will see your organic tweets. That‘s where Twitter‘s paid advertising options come in clutch.

To get started with Twitter ads:

Create 3-5 campaigns focused on specific goals (e.g. brand awareness, website traffic, lead generation)
Incorporate eye-catching visuals that stop the scroll
Include 1-2 relevant hashtags to expand your reach
Develop 3+ ad variations per campaign to A/B test copy, images, and CTAs
Monitor your campaigns daily and optimize based on performance
Install the Twitter pixel on your website to track conversions and build retargeting audiences

When setting your budget, start small and scale up as you refine your strategy. Even a modest $50/day can generate meaningful results if your targeting is on point.

7. Showcase Your Credibility With Social Proof

As a consultant, your most powerful marketing asset is a track record of client success. Fortunately, Twitter provides the perfect platform for showcasing your expertise and results.

Some effective ways to leverage social proof in your tweets include:

Sharing brief case studies or client success stories
Highlighting impressive metrics or ROI you‘ve generated
Retweeting client shoutouts or testimonials
Posting behind-the-scenes photos or videos of you in action

Here‘s an example of a consultant strategically name-dropping a client win:

[Insert example tweet screenshot showcasing impressive client results]

Of course, always get permission before publicly sharing any client details. But don‘t be shy about tooting your own horn – your followers want to know they‘re learning from the best!

8. Don‘t Just Broadcast, Engage!

It‘s called social media for a reason. To truly build a thriving community on Twitter, you need to be actively engaging with other users, not just broadcasting your own content.

Make a daily habit of:

Retweeting and adding your own commentary to relevant posts
Responding to mentions and questions in a timely manner
Joining Twitter chats related to your industry or niche
Proactively commenting on tweets from your ideal clients or peers

The more you give to your community, the more you‘ll get in return. Engagement breeds engagement, so don‘t be afraid to initiate conversations and share your unique insights.

9. Measure, Rinse, Repeat

Finally, to ensure your Twitter efforts are driving meaningful business results, you need to be diligent about tracking your performance metrics and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Your Twitter Analytics dashboard provides a wealth of data on your top tweets, follower growth, engagement rates, and more. Set aside time each week to review your numbers and identify areas for improvement.

[Insert screenshot of sample Twitter analytics dashboard]

Some key metrics for consultants to focus on include:

Engagement Rate: Total engagements divided by impressions. Aim for at least 2-3% as a benchmark.
Link Clicks: The number of times users clicked on a link in your tweets. Higher clicks = more traffic to your site.
Profile Visits: How many users are checking out your profile? If this number is low, it may be time to optimize your bio and header image.
Mentions: How often are you being tagged or mentioned by other accounts? This is a good indicator of your brand awareness and influence.

In addition to quantitative data, pay attention to qualitative feedback in the form of replies and DMs. What types of content are resonating most with your audience? What questions or pain points come up repeatedly? Use these insights to continuously refine your content strategy.

Bringing It All Together

Building a standout brand on Twitter takes time, consistency, and a willingness to experiment. But by leveraging the 9 strategies outlined in this guide, you‘ll be well on your way to becoming a respected authority in your industry.

Here‘s a quick recap of the key takeaways:

Optimize your profile with a professional headshot, compelling bio, and branded visuals.
Tweet consistently, but prioritize quality over quantity. Aim for 5-15 tweets per day.
Use relevant hashtags to expand your reach, but limit to 1-2 per tweet.
Incorporate video content, especially live video, to boost engagement by 10x.
Leverage Twitter Lists to streamline your feed and engagement.
Amplify your top content and offers with targeted Twitter Ads.
Showcase client results and testimonials to build credibility.
Actively engage with other users through comments, questions, and conversations.
Regularly measure your analytics and adjust your strategy based on performance.

Remember, your goal on Twitter should be to educate, empower, and build relationships with your ideal audience. Focus on providing genuine value, and the followers and clients will come.

For more tips on using Twitter to grow your consulting business, check out the following resources:

Happy tweeting!