For the last few weeks I have been using TweetLater to manage my twitter automation and grow my business.  I plan to use the scheduled tweet function and other functions soon.

Tweet Later is a free tool that integrates with your twitter account.  Once I had an account, I set up the automatic relpy feature to send automated thank you notes to new followers, and automatically follow them back.

Now I can’t stress this point enough but when you write your automated reply try to make it sound like you are talking to your new follower and only them.  Dont  try and sell them something with this first welcome message. Very few people like that.  Be careful even if you’re giving away something for free.  The purpose of this message is to say hello and welcome.  Most people take a dim view of you when you do any kind of self-promotion with this message.  If your message smells remotely like, “Hi, thanks for the follow, now buy my stuff or do something that will benefit me or check out how cool I am,” then you really are misusing this welcome message.  Don’t send what you wouldn’t like to receive from others.

You should try to think about what you want your followers to do and how you would like to engage them.  Do you want them to write you a message back?  In this case your automated message may read:

“Hi, Thanks for the follow, nice to meet you!  How are you?”

Or do you want them to join your cause? then your automated message may read:

“Hi thanks for supporting diabetes awareness. Get more info about the charity here www…”

By using the second technique you can move a significant share of your Twitter followers on to your email list where you can continue to develop a trusting relationship over time.

To do this you put an opt-in email subscription form on the page where your new Twitter visitors are directed - and promise to send them the free report via email as soon as they join your list (and confirm their subscription)!

You can do this in many different ways.

1. You could make it mandatory to opt-in - in which case, you should make a strong case for WHY your new Twitter follower might want that report.  Highlight the value inside it, show how it will benefit your prospect’s life.

2. You could permit the download and ask for opt-ins within the report itself.  That way you’ll get better qualified and interested subscribers who have actually consumed your free content, liked it, and want more.

3. You could do both… give away a download link, and at the same time ask them to opt-in so they can receive even more value from you.

So thats a quick intro to TweetLater and I’ll be unlocking new features and techniques with it soon but until then let me know how you use TweetLater…