If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you are trying to understand what the big deal is about Twitter. And you’re probably wondering, “Can Twitter really help my business?”
The answer is, “very much so!”
But, what is Twitter again?
Twitter, like Facebook, began life as a tool for college students. Allowing only 140 characters per message, a “Tweet" was used to update friends and family in a casual way via the tagline "What are you doing?”
It has since evolved, and, what at first seemed to be about as far away from the world of business as it can be, is now considered a “must have” marketing tool for any serious business, large or small.
Here’s something you need to know. Each day 5 to 10 thousand new people join Twitter, and it currently has around 5 million users, according to the State of the Twittersphere report. That’s a lot of opportunity waiting for your business!
How it works:
• Twitter allows you to post short updates (AKA Tweets) as often as you want; they are limited to 140 characters.
• Follow other users, and you’ll be able to read their tweets.
• When they follow you, they’ll read your tweets.
• A business should follow everyone who is following them, because when they follow you, it means that they want to engage in a conversation. This is an opportunity to make a connection with your existing or prospective customer.
Can you see the potential yet?
Here are a few more reasons why you need Twitter for your business:
1. Your message can reach hundreds and thousands of people instantly, so you won’t have to chase after customers. They will find you—for free.
2. You can grow your reputation as an expert by offering advice and/or referring people to interesting business-related articles. As long as you go easy on the self-promotion, people will come to trust your advice and will be more open to visiting your website to find out more about you and your business.
3. You can provide coupons and special offers in a matter of seconds with a Tweet.
When it comes down to it, Twitter provides tiny snapshots of what's going on in your business world, all day, every day. The limited number of characters per Tweet means there is no over-thinking or having to craft everything perfectly. It's about having relaxed conversations with your customers, your potential clients, and your peers in a no-pressure environment.
What could be more useful to your business than that?
Lastly, here are some of our favorite Twitter related services, which makes tweeting even more fun:
• http://twitpic.com lets you share photos on Twitter.
• http://cheaptweet.com/ scans Twitter for the best deals, coupons and sales that people are tweeting about.
• http://twitterholic.com/ gathers data and updates a list of the most popular twitter users. Who’s the most popular Twitter user? Our new president with 346,422 followers.
• http://www.crazybob.org/twubble/ searches your friend graph and picks out people who you may like to follow.
Happy tweeting!
Learn more about the author, Mariela Perez-Simons.
Ok Folks if you rate an article you have to comment. it isn't fair to the author if you don't.
Mariela, Thanks for the article. Just this morning my tweet was "struggling to find value in twitter" So your article is very timely. I still find it difficult to wade through. But what I am getting is that there is more value in being followed than in following. humm....
Thanks Mariela....I was just asking someone the other day what "Twitter" means and they didn't know either! Now I'm in the know and can share this valuable information with others.
Hi Mariela, Thanks for the information. I just recently joined Biznik and Link In. I've been wondering about Twitter for awhile and you explained it beautifully! Jill
Mariela - thanks for the information. As real estate agent what do you think about putting a short description of a listing or market stats. Being new to Twitter I am not sure how to use it for my career. Any suggestions.
Interesting application of Twitter: Musician Amanda Palmer was touring Australia recently, and found out she had young fans who couldn't get into a club to see her play. So she sent out a Tweet to meet in a local park. (Look at March 9th...)
She bought a soccer ball, and showed up in the park, and got to hang out with 100 fans who would not have had an opportunity to see her otherwise.
THIS is the power of Twitter... and why I finally signed up for it.
Thanks everyone.
I subscribe to an online marketing newsletter and just received this, "Skittles increased its own traffic by 1332% in one day after a campaign that sent Skittles.com directly to a Tweet-stream..." It also said that Twitter grew 33% last month, according to Compete data.
Another piece of advice: follow your competition to see what they are Tweeting about. Robert, I'm following several real estate agents and they do just what you are suggesting.
The best way to learn is to go there several times a day and see what others are doing. I have a client who said she didn't have the time and didn't understand it; well, she emailed me today saying, "I'm addicted."
It's a lot of fun!
Thanks again. It was a fun article to write.
You can "follow" me, and I'll follow you too; we can learn from one another.
Have a wonderful day!
Thank you - I really loved all the links at the end with the various applications and uses for twitter. I just started using it and am trying to think of ways to make it really worth my followers' while!
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