There are lots of fun ways to grow your twitter following if you are a consumer brand looking to reach potential customers. What about business twitter users though? Many of the same tactics can be used, but B2B social marketing can be a completely diferent beast!

This list though should apply to pretty much any business-to-business twitter user from an IT company to a commercial lender.

Before you start though, it is essential to have a goal in mind. It really doesn't matter what that goal is, but if you don't know what you want to accomplish it you never will! A B2B marketer should have that goal in mind when tweeting. After all, these are simply techniques to grow a twitter following.

Ultimately it is your responsibility to keep your twitter followers satisfied.

Trade Show and Event Tweetups

Most businesses have periodic events. This could include trade shows or casual Friday afternoon gatherings. Take these opportunities to promote a "real world" networking opportunity through twitter but also other communication mediums. Once you meet, share your twitter handles with those in attendance. You could also post photos to Facebook, twitter, or even include a post in the company newsletter so people know what they missed.

These tweetups could be as few as three people as as many as hundreds. Don't worry about size though, if you are a dynamic and exciting person with something to say that others want to hear, your groups will grow over time. If not, you might want to focus on that first, or find someone else from your company to lead your social marketing efforts.

You will find that over time others in your circle will re-tweet your tweetup invitations too.

In addition to having a drink and socializing, this is a great opportunity to ask your new business contacts what works for them on twitter and who they follow. This will also help your network grow!

Business Cards and Promo Materials

This should be obvious, but you probably hand out paper to customers, coworkers, and vendors all day. Is your twitter address on there? If not, how are they ever going to know how to follow you? The reality is that twitter is so new and sort of "fun" right now that (depending on your industry) just having it on your business card can start a conversation.

Follow and Join Business Lists

Are you a member of a chamber of commerce? Chances are they have a twitter list of members. This is often true for other professional groups too.

Additionally, you might want to go through the people who follow a local business journal and see if there are any interesting people you might want to follow there too.

When you follow someone, they receive a note saying that you are following them. This gives them an opportunity to check you out and possibly follow back if they think you are interesting or might be a valuable contact.

Respond to Industry Tweets

When you respond to tweets by others in your industry they may respond to your comment. At very least, they might see you in their stream when they search for mentions of their name on twitter. "@mhnpr Great Article on twitter!"

Industry Specific #HashTags

Hashtags are a great way for people to navigate their way through a conversation or to maintain a topic of conversation. Are you an expert in something? Start a hashtag or start using one that others are already using. If you are trying to attract small business's interested in PR, you might use #smallbizPR. This way someone can track the conversation and see who is involved in the topic. This will help you be discovered. It will also help you discover other interesting B2B twitter people to follow!

Giveaways Work for Business Too!

Yes, I know - this is actually the sixth twitter tip! But I just wanted to throw it out there because business people like getting free stuff too. Chances are you already have tons of swag from pens to hats and maybe even a putter with your logo on it or something cool like that left over from the holiday party.

You don't need expensive items, there are so many giveaways on twitter that unless it is worth several thousand dollars a simple, fun, unique item will do just fine.

One quick idea would be a "Friday Trivia Question" about your business or industry that you promote to customers, vendors, and friends via your website, email list, direct mail, newsletter, and of course twitter. Simply throw the question out into the twitterverse at a specified time and then pick a winner.

You could mail the item, or for added benefit you could hand deliver it, take a twitpic and extend the opportunities for social media engagement that way.