Submitted for your approval, the following case study:

The companies Rockler and Woodcraft offer an interesting comparison involving Twitter.  Both companies are stalwarts in the woodworking industry, roughly the same size, have similar web sites, and both started tweeting almost a year ago (Rockler began in December 2008,  Woodcraft got started in January of 2009).  However, it is in their Twitter strategies that we see a huge difference.

Woodcraft has used Twitter almost extensively as an advertising component.  Nearly every tweet they put forth is pushing a sale, discount, or product line for emphasis.  They rarely receive any tweets from their followers.

Meanwhile, Rockler has used Twitter as an opportunity to engage its customers and followers.  Roughly 80% of its tweets are NON-COMMERCIAL.  They ask questions of their followers (i.e. what is the best music to put to wordworking?)  and respond to questions or comments that are posed to the company (which occurs many times every day).

The results:  Rockler has more than three times as many followers as Woodcraft (2500-800).

So, what can we take from this?   By being more engaged with the customer and finding ways to keep their tweets interesting, Rockler has developed a much bigger and more involved following.  When they do tweet about their products and/or sales, they are reaching a significantly larger audience and more interested audience than Woodcraft does.  If every message is pushing a product, it is too easy for the followers to dismiss the company’s tweets as spam.

It should be noted that without access to the accounting books, it is impossible to say definitively which company is seeing a bigger return from Twitter.  Yet, it is probably safe to say that any salesperson in the world would take the much larger and more captivated audience over the opposite.

Social media is looking more and more like a viable business model every day, but it is important to never forget the social aspect of it…or your customers might forget you.

-EW

Here is a list of 100 Call to Action Keywords to get your online ad campaigns going.

In alphabetical order.

1. Act Now
2. Add to your
3. Apply today
4. Be sure to
5. Book now
6. Buy and Save
7. Buy Now
8. Call today
9. Check our
10. Check out
11. Check this out
12. Choose your
13. Click button
14. Click for more
15. Click Here
16. Come see our prices
17. Compare prices
18. Contact us
19. Contact us today
20. Discover
21. Do not buy unless
22. Don’t forget to
23. Don’t miss
24. Don’t wait
25. Download now
26. Find Items
27. Find out more
28. Find savings
29. Find yours
30. Follow this
31. Get a quote
32. Get Free
33. Get it here
34. Get More Info Here
35. Get the Best
36. Get your
37. Give a gift
38. How to
39. Hurry
40. Investigate
41. Join today
42. Join us
43. Learn more
44. Learn to
45. Look at
46. Need more
47. No obligation to try
48. Now you can
49. Order Now
50. Order Your
51. Pay Less
52. Please see
53. Please view our
54. Purchase
55. Read reviews
56. Register
57. Request yours today
58. Research
59. Respond by
60. Rush today
61. Save Big
62. Save Money
63. Save on
64. Save Today
65. Save up to
66. Save with
67. Search for
68. Search Now
69. Search our
70. See deals
71. See more
72. See our coupon
73. See our products
74. See pricing
75. Send for
76. Shop at
77. Shop low prices
78. Shop now
79. Shop online
80. Shop today
81. Show price
82. Sign me up now
83. Sign up
84. Start now
85. Start today
86. Stock up
87. Submit
88. Take a closer look
89. Take a look at
90. Take a tour
91. Tour our
92. Try it today
93. View all Products
94. View features
95. Visit our
96. Visit us at
97. Watch for
98. You might also try
99. You might consider
100. Yours for asking

Definitely mix it up a little and add phrases to your liking.

Always be testing!

From John Caples Tested Advertising Methods:

ACTION- that’s the vital quality that emotional copy possesses and that “reason why” copy lacks.  “Reason why” copy appeals to the the readers’ intelligence and makes them nod their heads in agreement with you. But emotional copy goes deeper. It gets into those portions of the brain where love and hate and fear and desire are. Both types of copy are important. Skillfully combine the two and you will make the readers get up out of their chairs and start for the store.

Urge the Reader to Act - Do not leave them hanging in midair.  Tell them what to do. If you can give them a definite reason for immediate action, such as “Price is going up” or “Supply will soon be exhausted,” so much the better.