What is X?

X (previously known as Twitter) is known for its ‘tweets’: short posts of up to 280 characters that are shared with followers. Tweets may contain photos, videos and links and you can include hashtags so more people can find your posts. Although not as big as Facebook and Instagram, X still has a large following with around 19 million users in the UK.

How X can benefit your business

• X is often used as a customer service tool. It’s easy for customers to send you a message and as it’s all publicly visible, companies tend to answer more quickly. If you’d like to use it in this way, you need to have someone on your team checking it and replying to messages every day.
• Widen your reach. X is popular with small local businesses; they use it to share news and promote each other. If you follow businesses nearby and get involved in their conversations, then they could help you find a wider customer base by reposting your posts and tagging you in posts.

Who uses X?

• GEN Z Age 12-27
• GEN Y (MILLENNIAL) Age 28-42
• GEN X Age 43-62
• 23.7% of users are aged 13-24
• 38.5% of users are aged 25-34
• 20.7% of users are aged 35-49

What’s X all about?

News trends

If something big has happened in the UK such as the final of The Great British Bake Off , then many people go to X to share their thoughts and read what others think. If a big event comes up that’s relevant to your business and offering (maybe you have some cake specials coming up), then put some posts out during this time to gain maximum publicity. Use the most widely used hashtag so others can see your posts. Don’t just jump on the trend for the sake of it though – add something of value.

Videos

As on the other social platforms, videos are a great way to get noticed in a busy news feed. On X, they can be up to 2 minutes 20 seconds. Share cocktail-making clips, behind-the- scenes tours and fun videos that show the personality of your business and team.

Retweets

A retweet simply means that someone reposts a tweet you’ve put out. If you have a special offer available, a new menu or drink launching or an exciting competition coming up, then ask followers to retweet (use the initials RT) your posts to help spread the word.

How to do X well

Is it worth it? X isn’t widely used in hospitality (Facebook and Instagram are the favourites) but it can still offer exposure. Consider how much time you can dedicate to social media when deciding whether to use it.

Update often Always make sure your profile bio and website link are up to date as customers will look here for information on your venue and how they can get in touch.

Positive reviews Look out for customers tagging you in tweets. Retweet positive reviews so other customers can see them and respond to the post.