ReTweet refers to sharing or posting another tweet. On Twitter, you can ReTweet a post using the ReTweet button located under each tweet.   See image below:

Most websites and blogs also offer the ability to ReTweet the page with the help of ReTweet plugins and buttons typically displayed next to the title or below the post.

ReTweeting is an integral part of the Twitter experience and marketers are always working on new ways to get more ReTweets for their content. It is even more powerful that a standard tweet because it suggests the post has resonated enough with someone to encourage them to share it with their followers.

How to Recognise ReTweets

It is a general practice to include the words RT at the start of the tweet when ReTweeting another user’s post. As such, the letters RT at the start is the simplest way to identify ReTweets on Twitter.

How Many Tweets Get Retweeted:

Social media Analytics company Sysmos carried out a research by examining 1.2 billion tweets posted over a two month periods. The study found that approximately 29% of the tweets spark a conversation. Of this, 6% are ReTweets and the remaining 21% are replies.

Following Are The Main Benefits of ReTweet:

1. Share Quality Information

The most important reason to ReTweet is the same as tweet i.e. to share quality information with others. However, there are other benefits as we will see below.

2. ReTweets Off More Value for Your Followers

ReTweet lets users share the best posts from other Twitter users with their followers. In many ways you are filtering the wide range of information posted on Twitter and identifying what is most relevant and informative for your audience

3. Increase Your Exposure

ReTweets do not go unnoticed. When you ReTweet another user’s post, they are likely to take notice and reciprocate by ReTweeting your posts, giving you more exposure. When they ReTweet your content, it goes to the newsfeed of all their followers.

4. Improve Your Chance of Going Viral

ReTweets can improve your reach manifold. We have seen how ReTweeting can generate more ReTweets for your own content. It is also the foundation for going viral.

Let’s say you have 100 followers on Twitter and you tweet a link to your new blog post. If one of your followers with 5K followers ReTweets your post, it gets posted to the newsfeed of all their 5K followers. And if one of those users with 10K followers ReTweets it again, your link gets delivered to another 10K users. You get the picture. This is how content goes viral on social media.

5. Get More Followers

We have seen that ReTweets allow you to share valuable content with others increases your reach. All this increases your exposure which is bound to result in increased followers.

6. Build Relationships

Social media is all about engagement and relationships. ReTweeting is a very effective way to build relationships with others. E.g. If you are a blogger, ReTweeting posts of other influential bloggers from your niche gets you noticed by them and allows you to form a form a relationship over time.

7. Establish Your Influence

ReTweeting quality information regularly is a great way to enhance your reputation and establish your authority within your niche. Influence in any subject matter cannot be achieved by only tweeting your own content or blog posts.

8. Reward and Acknowledge Others

ReTweet is also a great way to acknowledge those who have supported you in some way. This includes those who read your blog, follow you, share your content, comment on your website, or engage with you in some other way. By ReTweeting their content in return, you are acknowledging their participation and rewarding them by sharing their posts with all your followers.