Have you ever wondered who your competitors are friends with? Would you like to see whether they’re listed anywhere? How about where in the world an account’s followers are from?

All of the following Twitter tools have specific uses for businesses, listed after the descriptions.

Let’s explore!

Our Top 3 Twitter Tools: Key Takeaways

  1. Tweet Tunnel: Provides insights into who competitors interact with most on Twitter, offering a visual representation of top interactions.
  2. Retweet Rank: Shows who retweets competitors the most, indicating tweet effectiveness and potential influencers.
  3. Tweepsmap: Maps the geographic distribution of followers, useful for targeting local business opportunities.

Why You Need to Use Twitter (X.com) Tools

Twitter tools help you analyze competitors, track engagement, and understand audience preferences.

With the right Twitter tools, businesses can:

  • Gain insights into competitor activities.
  • Identify the best times to tweet for maximum engagement.
  • Track and analyze retweets, mentions, and follower growth.
  • Understand geographic distribution of followers for targeted marketing.

1. Tweet Tunnel

TweetTunnel

Tweet Tunnel shows you some unusual views into your friends’ lives on Twitter.

For example, who are your friends talking to the most?

Above is an example of who I was talking to at the beginning of April, 2013. I like the visual, “at-a-glance” aspect of this view, with the user in the center and the eight people they are talking to the most surrounding them.

With Tweet Tunnel, you can also go back into your friends’ tweetstream 3200 tweets; it’s faster than scrolling through someone’s tweetstream using the Twitter client.

You can see who you or your friends followed when you or they first joined Twitter. When I looked back at who I first followed, I noticed that quite a few accounts aren’t even active on Twitter any more. What happened to them?!

Business Use: A business could use Tweet Tunnel to see who their competitors talk to the most.

RetweetRank

2. Retweet Rank

RetweetRank shows you your recent retweets and who has been retweeting you, along with where you’re ranked as a percentile.

You can also see whose tweets are getting the most retweets (similar to trending topics). This is a good way of seeing what people are talking about on Twitter at a glance.

From this dashboard (above), you can also check how many people have listed an account. And if an account is not listed, that’s a good sign that the account bought fake followers.

If you sign in using Twitter, you can see even more. However, to get the best times to tweet or rank history, among other features, you have to get a paid account.

Business Use: A good use of Retweet Rank for business would be to see how effective your competitors are at getting retweets, and if there’s room for improvement in your own social media strategy through the adoption or avoidance of your competitors’ practices. There are many ways to make your tweets more retweetable, which will help your retweet rank in the long run. You might also want to check when your competitors tweet to see if you could adjust your own schedule to be more successful.

TweepsMap Smaller

3. Tweepsmap

Tweepsmap shows you where in the world your followers are, with markers showing the percentages of who is where. The local view is particularly interesting.

The zoom is just like a Google map–using the scroll bar on the left side.

Business Use: A good use of Tweepsmap for business would be to ensure that the account is following enough local businesses. Those in the service industry (plumbers, electricians) could benefit. For example, if I was really dependent upon local business, I might decide to focus on following more locals, since I’m in the South Bay and have more local followers in San Francisco.

Honorable Mentions: Other Useful Tools

While Tweet Tunnel, Retweet Rank, and Tweepsmap are excellent tools, there are several other noteworthy mentions that can also boost your Twitter strategy:

  • Hootsuite: An all-in-one social media management tool that allows scheduling, monitoring, and analytics across multiple platforms.
  • TweetDeck: A customizable dashboard for managing multiple Twitter accounts and streams.
  • Buffer: A social media scheduling tool that also provides analytics to help you understand what content performs best.
  • SocialBee: Offers social media scheduling, content curation, and audience growth tools tailored for small businesses and startups.
  • Followerwonk: Helps you analyze your followers, track your social authority, and optimize your tweets for better engagement.

Pro Tips for Twitter Growth Using Tools

  1. Consistent Posting: Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged.
  2. Engage with Followers: Respond to comments, retweet relevant content, and participate in conversations to build relationships.
  3. Use Hashtags Wisely: Incorporate trending and relevant hashtags to increase your tweet’s visibility.
  4. Monitor Analytics: Regularly review your Twitter analytics to understand what type of content resonates with your audience.
  5. Use Visuals: Use images, GIFs, and videos to make your tweets more engaging and shareable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Ignoring Analytics: Not monitoring your performance metrics can lead to missed opportunities for improvement.
  2. Overusing Hashtags: While hashtags increase visibility, overusing them can make your tweets look spammy.
  3. Inconsistent Branding: Ensure that your profile, tweets, and overall presence align with your brand’s identity.
  4. Neglecting Customer Feedback: Failing to respond to feedback or complaints on Twitter can harm your brand’s reputation.
  5. Automating Everything: While automation is helpful, too much can make your account seem impersonal. Balance automation with genuine engagement.

What Twitter (X) Tools Do You Like?

Do you have any favorite tools that help you with your business on Twitter? I’d love to hear about them! Please share in the space below.