Chris Brogan: 50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business
Alex
· 8 months ago
I read this post about a month ago when I had just started to use twitter and these tips have really helped me...........
wmtal
· 8 months ago
“Pedagogically” informative. Thanks.
Noah David Simon
· 1 year ago
How is it that Hamas has a twitter account and somehow twitter sees me as a bigger threat? This network is a BLUE STATE joke. I broke no terms. twitter is arbitrary tyranny.
iconsultant
· 3 months ago
It seems Twitter team is stupids
Chetan
· 1 year ago
Great post there Chris :) Nice list of various aspects, especially the positives to throw back!
Eric Miltsch
· 1 year ago
Chris -
Nicely organized batch of quality examples; I've had decent results from my mini-interview series (that you even participated in as well) at www.TweetandGreet.com
Matt Tharp
· 1 year ago
Chris,
I also posted some ramblings about Twitter related to business. I'm fairly obsessed with the branding aspect of Twitter right now. It seems applicable, hopefully it adds to your discussion here.
Great post - I especially like #s 31-50...I posted something similar about using Twitter as a marketing tool - specifically using that search bar to build your network on Twitter. There are so many tangent groups to your business, and this research and following can be done so quickly...http://tinyurl.com/55syrk. Thanks for all that you do... Julie
Daniel Richard
· 1 year ago
I've followed your tweets too Chris. It's always great to toot our own horns but always better to help others with their great articles on the net too.
Liked the ideas on the positive stuffs to throw back. :)
Daniel
SIGEPJEDI
· 1 year ago
Great post Chris! Now, we just need to ram it down their throats! - The concepts/ideas that is ;-)
Kenneth Darryl Brown
· 1 year ago
I love your post! Chris does it again! Nice job!
Seamus Anthony
· 1 year ago
I just find it's a great way to stop and actually pay attention to just what the heck it actually IS that I am doing with my time right now. Stops me from unconsciously blundering through the work day without noticing it.
Zack Gonzales
· 1 year ago
Chris, great post. I tweet for Hoovers.com as @hoovers, and I think your #18 is so valuable. I would add that those using Twitter for business should have a sense of humor in their tweets when they can. Not cracking jokes per se, but being natural. (Unless you're @PopeyesChicken, in which case keep the jokes coming.)
Thanks! zack
Gloria Miller
· 1 year ago
Chris:
Thanks for the great info on how to use Twitter. I always enjoy your tweets and will definitely incorporate some of your ideas into my future tweets!
Glo.
Stephanie Elsea
· 1 year ago
Thanks Chris. This is all good stuff. Once again, I'll be talking about and linking to your site on my blog (which is geared toward helping my MarCom team understand/adapt to Social Media). Pretty soon, it'll just redirect to you.
Earlier today, I was telling my team of the importance of being human on Twitter. It's a little scary for PR-types, I think, to blur that line.
You sort of cover this indirectly: Don't treat Twitter as an RSS feed. I enjoy getting news on Twitter but not when it's a string of tweets that are just a repurposing of a newsfeed. @ColonelTribune does it best. @statesman is getting there.
Eve Lopez
· 1 year ago
Awesome post! This is GREAT advice for head honchos who don't see the value of Twitter. My colleague, community manager @workdotcom has had tremendous success using Twitter - we've implemented things on our website that come from direct suggestions from Twitter followers. We've also had awesome new members come on board to contribue to Work.com. The key is TOTALLY to engage in dialogue with your fellow tweeters.
Ari Herzog
· 1 year ago
I'd elaborate the first item, Chris, by suggesting before someone creates a Twitter account that he or she or it listens first.
If you create an account before watching existing conversations on Twitter Search and Tweet Scan, you may inadvertently create the wrong account name, for instance, and be forced to deleting it and starting all over. It doesn't take time to delete an account but the principle takes a lifetime.
Your first mission is to listen. Your second mission is to join with a branded name/handle, but also with descriptive content in your profile description, at 160 characters or less.
You should also sign up for alerts on relevant content at Tweet Beep, which is akin to Google Alerts. If anyone tweets about you or any keyword or URL you choose, you'll get an emailed alert. Very handy.
The Red Rocket
· 1 year ago
Great post. Twitter's also great for learning about your target market - whether it's customers or in my case fellow professionals and journalists. I'm increasingly thinking that Twitter's a business rather than personal tool.
Bruce Shilander
· 1 year ago
Great post, twitter rocks
Jeremiah Owyang
· 1 year ago
Thanks Chris for the link. One thing to remember is that Twitter isn't right for all folks nor all companies. If their audience isn't there, or they truly don't want to be part of the dialog, then it doesn't matter.
First, let me start by saying "thank you!" You are too kind. My colleague Jim @jstorerj and I are honored to mentioned in this post alongside so many other great brands/names. To that end, Jim and I work really hard to put a "human" face on Mzinga (which also has a Twitter account that Jim and I sometimes tweet from).
Second, this is a wonderfully prescriptive post (and one that I will start sending to all my "newish" friends and followers. I like that you not only clearly stated clear business value but also mentioned up front what some of the detractors are saying/will say about Twitter. Thanks for once again bringing tremendous value to my feedstream!
Best, Aaron | @astrout
Jim Storer
· 1 year ago
Thanks for the mention Chris. For a lot of companies Twitter is an instant focus group and a great way to dip their collective toes in the social media pool. But as Frank from Comcast found out, you better be prepared to swim.
Jim | @jstorerj
Brooks Brown
· 1 year ago
Chris,
This is perfect for @clarisnetworks.
Thanks, we've got a new intern working on the @clarisnetworks account and she can benefit from your thoughts greatly.
chrisbrogan
· 1 year ago
@Brooks - you raise an interesting question, and this isn't intended to cast any negative light on your no-doubt-capable intern: did you put your brand in the hands of an intern? In your mind, is Twitter an intern-level platform?
I'm curious to know what others think about that one?
And again, no offense meant, but rather, a question.
Tom Webster
· 1 year ago
I agree that Twitter has business applications--certainly if a customer tweets you that they have a problem, then you should try and fix that problem. In that sense, it is a wonderful extension of customer service.
But I disagree with Red Rocket, above, that it is great for learning about your target market--unless your target market is Twitter users. While I use Twitter every day and have no doubts that it will continue to grow as a platform, current regular usage of Twitter still falls below 1% of the general U.S. pop. The potential to go awry here due to non-response bias (all the folks NOT on Twitter) makes using Twitter for _strategic_ purposes a bit dicey.
Chris, what are your thoughts on how the Marketing function can make strategic use of Twitter? The tactical applications are clear.
Jim Storer
· 1 year ago
@Chris & Brooks - I think it depends on the company and what stage they are in with regard to Twitter. Some companies are really focused on listening and that may be a just fine for an intern. As they progress (or decide) to begin engaging in the conversation they'll need more oversight. Again, depending on who the company is and how they've engaged their prospects/customers in the past, the role might need to be quickly transitioned to someone with more experience.
My two cents... YMMV.
Jim | @jstorerj
Colonel Tribune
· 1 year ago
@ Stephanie Elsea - Thank you!
Kris @ Fresh Focus
· 1 year ago
I would absolutely not put my business in the hands of an intern: and there are reasons for this. I do not feel that interns are incapable of handling that responsibility, but rather lack the experience of MY brand and what it is.
My company would have a seasoned employee doing the Twittering, because they know my brand, how we operate, and the sincere focus that we have on excellence in giving customer service and listening.
Interns can be very capable and valuable assets: however they lack the specific knowledge of my brand to be the sole representer. Perhaps if they were paired with a veteran employee, that might be a better situation. To learn the ropes with someone that's grown with my company would be essential.
rsomers
· 1 year ago
Twitter for an intern? Depends on the intern.
People commonly think of an intern as an undergrad making copies for $10/hour. Leading a company's entry into Twitter and other social media wouldn't be a fit.
The word 'intern' also applies to higher-level folks, though. I'm thinking of MBA interns who may have 5-10 years of work experience, often as consultants with major firms, and are paid a heck of a lot more than $10/hour. With those folks the challenge is finding assignments that are meaty enough. I always fight to have them do something meaningful and big that'll leave an impact on the company long after the assignment is over. For a company without dedicated social media headcount, leading the Twitter charge would fit that bill, IMHO.
Other note - getting ANYONE to take this on as part of their job can be a challenge in many corporate environments. That's why I'm so grateful to @zackgonzales for taking it on not as a side job, but as one of the many missions he leads for Hoover's.
Cara
· 1 year ago
I echo some of the others that say it depends how you plan to utilize Twitter. If you are just starting out with the listening phase, or if you have a super high level intern that you can trust...perhaps it might work.
But, for me, the relationships we are building are too important for that. I am connected with members of the media, partners, area experts, etc. I would not want to intrust an intern to build those relationships. The relationships have value because the two people on both ends know how to make them have value, how to collaborate together. Most interns would not be able to manage that.
Alanna
· 1 year ago
I could see an intern teamed with someone with more experience as a great combination for a twitter account. The veteran could contribute company-specific tweets and the intern could offer the interesting stories and relevant links that add value to the account.
Michael Schneider
· 1 year ago
re: @chrisbrogan's tweet: chrisbrogan Is Twitter an intern-level responsibility for a business? http://tinyurl.com/5u75pe . Look@comments
Like anything with Twitter, the more transparent you are, the better. It depends on the social media related goals of the company. I see pros and cons to this dip-your-toe-in-before-jumping-in strategy.
If the intern is twizzlin' to get a sense for web related buzz, to make announcements about upcoming objects-of-interest or take feedback with an "I'll check and get back to you" sort of flare versus being expected to be the online voice of the organization, then I think it is excellent. The intern could be twitter triage! It would be difficult to expect an intern to be able to represent the company. That's a lot of pressure for someone who may not know the company very well. That said, if Claris Networks has not made a "we're on twitter" announcement to their customers, they might find that they have a limited, manageable following/stream at first that they can use as a microcosm for what they actually want.
Businesses should expect that they are going to achieve limited benefits vs. putting an executive or even a full-time community manager online. And I'm sure they do. Businesspeople are smart. They understand the value of their resources and tend to at least try to allocate their sparse resources carefully.
Let's look hypothetically: I can picture the decision makers of Claris Networks in a room talking about social media and its impact. I can picture both evangelism and naysaying. I could picture them coming to the conclusion that they should be doing something and that either they will use an intern to get learnings about the benefits or until they can hire a community manager (anyone checked their site for this exciting potential career opportunity? hehe)
If you look at Claris Networks' twitter stream, it is pretty sparse on the "social" and heavier on the announcements. This article will certainly help them shape their strategy and perhaps help them engage in a more warm and transparent way. I'm a new follower and I'm excited to see how their twitter and social media presence evolves. 加油 Go Claris Networks! 加油 Good to see an increasing number of people like Brooks Brown out there who get it!
Monthiel
· 1 year ago
Chris Brogan, i'd like to say that this is a great post. Sorry about my short comment. I'm brazilian and i am learning english, this is whay i have a limit to write..
Alexis Karlin @ Forrester Rese
· 1 year ago
This post not only gives businesses great ideas to as what they should be doing, but to as what they should not be doing. All company's should read this and understand the benefit of joining Twitter to enhance their brand.
marmon122
· 1 year ago
Businesses should expect that they are going to achieve limited benefits vs. putting an executive or even a full-time community manager online. And I’m sure they do. Businesspeople are smart. They understand the value of their resources and tend to at least try to allocate their sparse resources carefully.
Patsy Stewart
· 1 year ago
Thanks for a great list! I found things that I can implement to improve my Twitter experience!
Dale Beermann
· 1 year ago
One of the things that commonly gets overlooked is that Twitter can be a great tool for companies that have a much more local focus as well. Using search.twitter.com and near:Madison,WI I can find out what people are saying in my area. Combine that with more targeted keywords and you have a pretty good direct marketing tool. I wrote about some of this here as well: http://www.dalebeermann.com/2008/08/social-medi...
Libby Krah
· 1 year ago
Great post, Chris. And the stream of comments provides yet more evidence for the argument to get into social media.
As a recent intern, I'd like to throw my two cents in. I don't think the intern should be solely responsible for creating and maintaining the Twitter account. You need someone who understands completely the company's values to be able to develop the tone in which your tweets represent your company. That in mind, you also need someone who understands social media so you don't end up looking like Shannon Paul's "that guy."
Like you recommended with #12, it's important to build a base of people who tweet. Most interns last about three or four months, right? Say you hand over the task of building a Twitter community to your intern and she does a great job; conversation is flowing with a large following. And then she leaves. If you don't have a full-time employee already participating, there will be a lapse in Twitter activity and a possible lapse in credibility.
Maybe the best way for interns to use Twitter is to encourage them to create an account if they don't have one already. @internATcompany could tweet about what he's working on and what the company's like from a newbie insider, as well as all those expected "human" comments.
Unfortunately Twitter has become another channel to spam people. I get lots of followers who are just spamming me every day trying to rustle up customers.
Brooks Brown
· 1 year ago
Chris and friends,
Thank you for your recent conversation about our decision to allow our new marketing coordinator try Twitter on for size.
A couple of key points:
1. Our corporate Twitter account (@clarisnetworks) is relatively new. We are still feeling our way through the applicable uses Twitter brings to the enterprise...specifically the information technology industry.
2. At the moment, we are limiting our tweets from @clarisnetworks to corporate announcements, client announcements, and related IT information/news. As we continue to move through the process, we'll add more strategically-minded information that will assist in our branding efforts.
3. We're the largest information technology provider in the East Tennessee Innovation Valley, and have done a terrific job at marketing/branding ourselves through other traditional means, and view @clarisnetworks, and Twitter for that matter, as an opportunity to orient ourselves with its possibilities, etc.
Do you remember the first tweet you made? I know mine wasn't pretty...I didn't even understand the "@" rule. But alas, as we move forward, we learn and we get better at what we do.
Some have asked if it is responsible to put your corporate branding in the hands of a new employee. I would respond by saying that I would be foolish to view Twitter (less than 1 percent of the US population) as my primary means to promote and market our company. On the contrary, Twitter is a learning platform in the 2.0 realm and a small component of our branding strategy, but one that we believe will play an important role in the near future.
Chris, in response to your specific questions:
1. Our clients, employees and culture make our brand what it is. A brand should never be reserved for a single employee or the CEO of a company. Hearts and minds, hearts and minds.
2. Twitter is considered by many to be a newbie itself and I tend to agree given the longevity of traditional IM apps, blogs, forums, facebook and MySpace. What better avenue for a new employee to orient themselves with than a relatively new 2.0 platform?
The great fact that I believe we can all agree with is that there are no Twitter rules. There is no handbook, no official do’s and don’ts. Thus, there should be no reason to judge each other’s efforts, but only to support the proliferation of its use and integration into the 2.0 world.
We’re excited about the opportunities that Twitter presents to our business and excited that we have employees who are willing to dip their feet into the 2.0 experience and are confident in time, our viral efforts online will meet and exceed the success we enjoy from traditional marketing today.
Take care.
Lee Jarvis
· 1 year ago
Great advice there Chris, much appreciated :)
It's tough to dedicate time to the 'niceties' of Twittering, but you are right that they are important.
Mark Evertz
· 1 year ago
Chris,
I really appreciate the insightful guidance on this. I see so many Twits out there telling me that their feet hurt, the chili cheese dog they ate isn't agreeing with them or they're just plain bored. It makes it hard to bring this outreach mechanism into the boardroom and illustrate actual brand building or bottom-line value by simply being genuine and human. Thanks for helping arm me with actual business applications. I promise to not become "that guy" and pollute the Twittersphere.
How can Twittering be called "niceties"? Is communication with your customers a "nicety" or a necessity? If businesses continue to think that Twittering is a "nicety" instead of a very valuable tool in gaining customer satisfaction, as well as future customers by word of mouth, they will be left in the dust by the businesses that embrace it.
Bat Masterson
· 1 year ago
Nice duck photo. Did you take it? I do not see credits
matthew hunt
· 1 year ago
Great list/post of ideas! Every business owner should read this.
Just be human, get involved in the conversations, and treat others how you would like to be treated - BTW, have fun - it's suppose to be social!
frank
· 1 year ago
thanks for putting something like this out there Chris. i just got done doing a presentation on social networking for nonprofits ... this would have been great info to use as a resource or point people to.
I've been thinking about how all this is used in the not for profit space ...
If anyone has thoughts or experience in this space i'd love to hear!
Lee Jarvis
· 1 year ago
@Kris @ Fresh Focus
I'm not saying that Twitter IS a 'nicety', simply that you can spend too much time chatting about books and looking at photos etc. Maybe more so for me as I am a one man band. I produce, sell, market, socialise, host, and try to spend some quality time with my goldfish.
Brooks Brown
· 1 year ago
By the way, doesn't it seem as though 95 percent of those folks on Twitter seem to be talking about themselves instead of spurring conversation, ideas, etc? Too much talking and not enough listening?
Chris, I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Adam Denison
· 1 year ago
Your comment regarding Twitter being an excellent place to ask questions is exactly in line with how we(GM)have found success with Twitter. A few of us will try to ask a few questions via GMblogs a couple of times a week. Sometimes the questions will be GM-specific (what are your thoughts on the 2008 Malibu?), and other times they are just fun in nature (What's your favorite roadside diner?). It's really brought the conversations to a whole new level.
Manuel
· 1 year ago
Hi Chris,
thanks for this post. It is great and it provides me with some nice arguments for using twitter as I am currently putting together a social/new media tool list and strategy for my departement at university. I will let you know about other purposes to use twitter there. Manuel
chrisbrogan
· 1 year ago
@Bat Masterson - if you click the photo, it will go straight through to the original and the artist's page. If you go to the bottom of my post, you'll see a text link that says the photo credit as well. And yes, really great snap.
Bat Masterson
· 1 year ago
Nice... thanks for that.
Dale Cruse
· 1 year ago
Local wine retailer Bin Ends in Braintree, MA, is using Twitter in an interesting way: They're hosting online virtual wine tastings. In fact, check out @binendswine tonight (8-21) after 7pm EST to see them and me and some other bloggers and Tweeters tasting wine and sharing our notes.
chrisbrogan
· 1 year ago
@Brooks - oh, lots of self-love on Twitter, that's for sure. But that's also people trying out a new medium and starting where we all do. With ourselves. As it evolves, we figure out ways to add more value.
Michael Schneider
· 1 year ago
@Brooks There is a lot of self evangelism on twitter! Many people are on twitter to build up their own online brands. That said, there are also a lot of people on twitter that share valuable business thoughts and insights that we cannot get from their blogs alone.
Shayne Packer
· 1 year ago
Wow Chris! These are really great tips! I've been learning so much about the power of twitter when used appropriately. I'll apply some of these ideas for even more success! Thanks.
Laura Hecht
· 1 year ago
As a newby to the twittersphere, I appreciate your tips. Will adhere! I need to build a community for MY BIG DREAM and you provided me with sound advice. Thanks too for subscribing to my twitter.
Doug Firebaugh
· 1 year ago
Wow- now THIS is some powerful discussion about a powerful post. twitter has more than doubled our consulting business segment- and we have never once said what we did as a company or even named the company-in any tweet. We just follow Chris' lead and try and add value and promo others. great job.
Judith George
· 1 year ago
Great helpful post. Thanks. I love that I've found some amazing people to follow and learn from on Twitter. I'm pretty new to Twitter and sometimes feel a bit like a little kid at high school. Your post has great information to make an awkward kid more comfortable with the big kids. Thanks.
Patrick Byers
· 1 year ago
Really helpful post, Chris.
I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever beat you to the punch on a post...I was working on a similar post but you've done it now, and done it better.
So, thank you, now I can just share your post and write something else. :)
One more way to use Twitter is to update your customers and members on what's new with your company. We use Twitter at www.LeadVine.com to help keep our members updated on new sales leads posted. This is done automatically like RSS. Helps keep our members in the loop. We use Twitter as a great way to expand our brand.
Kim Bayne
· 1 year ago
In 2007, I blogged about existing and potential business uses for Twitter. Finally, finally, finally...businesses are catching on and catching up. Thanks for the consolidated outline, Chris...people can use your post as a blueprint!
Great post, Chris. Earlier I thought, why shld I tell people what I am doing on the web. And here I am following...I follow as and when I can, to read ur posts.
Rich
· 1 year ago
Excellent Post on Twitter! I found this post to be really useful in promoting a business
Mari
· 1 year ago
I'm still learning how to use Twitter with/for Apex Publications. Posts like this go a very long way and are very much appreciated. Thanks for this.
accessrx
· 1 year ago
Excellent post Chris! I wil be using some of these ideas about Twitter.
davidhurley
· 1 year ago
Great post! Of course, I just tweeted it. Title plus URL fitted nicely into the Tweet field/box/text space thingummy.
DH
Matt Mattelig
· 1 year ago
I started using Twitter over a year ago as a fun thing to do and I was amazed at how fast I got hooked and "into" it all. Just recently I began using it for my online businesses and I like how it gives me an opportunity to add a PERSONAL touch to what I do. Online adventures can seem unconnected and impersonal from the real world. Tweeting changes that and adds tremendous value. Besides, I like how it makes me feel when communicating with my contacts.
May
· 1 year ago
another amazing one. the great thing of having a marketing background mixed with web2.0 is that you can recognize the value of every new name around... how important is to know what's the buzz about you? and how easily we got to connect with what people have to say about you... to ignore it is to be out of it, completelly. benchmarking was never this social before.
Sarah
· 1 year ago
Great tips for using twitter! When I first tried twitter, I wondered, "what's the point?!" But it only took a couple of days to catch on. Unfortunately I've seen some business people either sending out tweet after tweet about what they're selling... or they go in the opposite direction and write tweets such as "using twitter" YIKES! You need to write a manual about the wonders of twitter for businesses!
Jay Young
· 1 year ago
Chris: Thanks for answering my question on LinkedIn. I enjoyed this post and the list offers some quality insight. Rethinking the question is a really good idea.
Shayne Packer
· 1 year ago
Nice, practical tips. I have been doing a few of these already. I'm going to start implement the others right away! Thanks Chris!
Jordan Levy
· 1 year ago
Really great post! I like the short compact formatting, straight to the point and easy to digest just like twitter messages.
Mike Chapman
· 1 year ago
Chris, this is really, really good. How on earth do you find the time?
Mike
speed yo
· 1 year ago
We really can’t deny the fact that businesses are testing out Twitter as part of their steps into the social media landscape. You can say it’s a stupid application, that no business gets done there, but there are too many of us (including me) that can disagree and point out business value.
Josh Owens
· 1 year ago
You guys didn't link to http://tweetbots.com as the easier way to power a business account from your own account. You can even use your own sms to control your company bot!
Viagra
· 1 year ago
Thanks for great article!
WL Wong
· 1 year ago
Definitely some good tips here for bizness, personal and other forms of tweeting! It also helps when you connect with a good group of acquaintances.
Sarah
· 1 year ago
Thanks for the great article Chris since I'm new to twitter. Hope that I won't make the mistakes you pointed out.
Kasumi
· 1 year ago
Great Article Chris, with loads of very good ideas on how to use Twitter successfully for business.
Melek
· 1 year ago
as a Twitter newb, it's great to see (in list form) all the things you can do, should do, shouldn't do with Twitter. Greta reference.
ALBsharah
· 1 year ago
Nice article, Chris. These are all great ideas to help promote the use of social media throughout business. I think the most important barrier to adoption is the fact that Twitter is a major distraction...IF you allow it to be. However, if you use it at your own pace and under your control it can be quite a useful tool.
Cheers, AL
Malcolm Bastien
· 1 year ago
Great Post, it's a good list that isn't too specific but it's easy to come up with a particular action for almost every point mentioned.
It seems social media tools really help businesses not "be evil" more and more.
Lea Curtes-Swenson
· 1 year ago
As a beginning blogger and Twitterer, I'm finding your contributions really helpful -- thanks so much! Just finished a post for others in my boat (quoted you in it, of course): http://tinyurl.com/5gduro
Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Resideo.com
· 1 year ago
I'm the webmaster for Resideo.com (online hotel reservations) and the "voice" of our Twitter account -- @resideo
We strive to be non-threatening and non-spammy, and I believe we've succeeded. We have a modest "community" of followers and followees, and are happy so far.
As far as how we use Twitter, we try to pass along hotel information & special deals -- information that would be useful to travelers.
We also keep an eye on the public stream for folks who are asking for help in finding a hotel -- not everyone checks there 'replies' like they should, and I'm sure a fair number of folks think we're spammers, but we've had some success overall.
Ron Robinson
· 1 year ago
great list ! i will certainly use it as I launch my new on-line beauty business. Thanks, Ron Robinson founder, CEO beautystat.com
Amy Lauren Young
· 1 year ago
You have converted me to try twitter for business purposes. Your blogs are so informative to a newcomer. Thank you!
gacconsultants
· 1 year ago
Man you grind out a tremendous amount of useful information; Do you do it all solo, or are you part of a cloning experiment?
Twitter message server http://t411.linkstore.ru lets you build your own information system on top of Twitter
Twittonary
· 1 year ago
Great article. The positives of Twitter most definately out weigh the negatives there, great comparisons and very valuable information!
Thank you!
ed cure
· 1 year ago
Great article. wow
Tammy Bryce
· 1 year ago
Great article! As a newbie Tweeter trying to incorporate Twitter into my social marketing strategy, I thank you.
Pericles Tarsinos
· 1 year ago
Chris,
Thank you for the information. I am one of the Co Founders of Fooducopia.com and while we prepare to launch soon we are polishing our strategy for networking on and offline. Do you or anyone else have any thoughts on introducing farmers to online networking?
jthrgefw
· 1 year ago
mjythrgreger
billbas
· 1 year ago
Great post! Thank you Chris! I am doing an assignment on Web 2.0 tools for business promotion, and your list is really helpful. Thanks again!
Fee Gentry
· 1 year ago
Chris,
Thanks for the post. I joined Twitter a few days ago after getting my arm twisted to do so. It pushes me out of my comfort zone (maybe not such a bad idea). I'm still confused about all the rave of social media, but hey I figured I better get with it rather than be left behind. Your post made it a bit more clear on what I could do with my personal life, but my business life. Especially as I'm getting to launch MiddleClassBailOutPlan.com in late January.
Live Well,
Fee
Pericles Tarsinos
· 1 year ago
Hey Fee. I would love to talk to you about the launch process. We are on the verge of launching an online market place for food entrepreneurs and local farmers and would like to hear about your process, some of the great triumphs, and some of the obstacles. Let me know.
Forgive me if this has been addressed already. I am curious about the ethics about 'soliciting' to Twitter users. Say I am in design and I search that on twitter. I find a lot of people doing great things, and folks who are stuck and may need my services. Since Twitter is public, yet I am not following that user, I sought them out...should I send an email and say, "I have a service that could help you!" or is that too intrusive and spamming? I am sensitive to this and feel it's spam, however on the business side, what do you think? Thoughts? TIA
Saibay
· 11 months ago
Thanks for the great article. It was usefull for me to learn that there are 3rd party clients for Tweeter, like Tweetdeck and Twhirl. I'm gonna test them right now.
chris yates
· 11 months ago
What I like the best about Twitter and other social networks is the interaction. I worked for the broadcast Networks like Fox Sports for over a decade but that was more about me giving the viewers "my take" on information. I like that this is more an open forum where "the viewers" are actually part of "the show".
Bill
· 11 months ago
31. Twitter takes up time. 32. Twitter takes you away from other productive work.
Beth
· 11 months ago
Nice article. I started on Twitter two weeks ago. I am not sure if I'm going to continue. Here's why: the frenetic nature of Twitter (or at least TweetDeck) causes me anxiety (seriously). Am I the only one? The Twitter police don't help (I even posted a friendly tweet suggesting that unfollowing is always a great option). I often wonder with the people I see on there, "How do you take care of your clients?" and "Do you do anything else, or just promote people's stuff all day on here?" and "Are you addicted to this?" I popped on Sat night around 8 to answer a DM and there they were tweeting away .... these same people who are on all day M-F. I guess in that respect, I don't get it. Maybe their entire business simply rests on driving people to their sites. If so, Twitter is absolutely perfect. I have been thinking about taking two weeks and going on Twitter for two 15-minute intervals per day. In those intervals, I will strictly promote others, reply to tweets, etc. My intention will be only to relationship-build. Then, after two weeks, I will begin a 1:2 ratio of self-promotion to external promotion. I actually think this strategy might work. If I can make it through the panic attacks, that is. :-)
Beth
· 11 months ago
To Savvy Enough: If you do this, you will be reprimanded by the self-appointed Twitter police. It's my experience that it's all about promoting other people. And if everyone follows those rules, then I guess it would work like a dream. ??
BTW the thing that I find humorous about Twitter is that it is NOT "What are you doing right now?" No one on there cares what you are doing right now, unless it involves promoting others. In fact, if you answer that question, people will probably unfollow you.
Chris, Brilliant post with very useful information about using Twitter. Thanks.
Jag
· 10 months ago
Such great ideas am really happy to land this page, i have bookmarked :)
Lucy Thomas
· 10 months ago
Thanks for all your tips using Twitter - I'm just beginning but learning so much and your tips have been really helpful. There is so much you can do with it, and its fantastic for networking and just finding out information to help others or in my own business. Thanks!! Lucy
Romondo Davis
· 10 months ago
Man, this is perfect materials at a perfect time. We just put up our Community companion (http://share.ctainc.com) to our ten-year-old ecommerce site.(http://www.ctainc.com). This site was not performing well because it was built for ecommerce and not for creating and sustaining community.
We've been using Twitter to prime the pump, but I can see now that even after the community is on auto-pilot, I'll still use Twitter for straight-ahead marketing. The profile website links provide a great way to find other sites that appeal to our target audience.
Bravo for taking the time to put such a comprehensive list out there.
Tony Hogan
· 10 months ago
Thanks for posting this Chris.
I have 16 students who have just started studying a Web Diploma and they will be made aware of your site as they are needing to shift from the old way of web design
Regards Tony Hogan
Worlds Best Guitar Blogger
John Bradford
· 10 months ago
For old farts like me, staying on the PC and getting "hip" with new media and methods is a very slow process. I see many of these things as valuable but like other disciplines that business people encounter, well handled by experts and vets - and a place for new service business. So how can I find fair value subcontractors who will do all this social networking stuff for me so I can concentrate on my specialty which is training - not PC. My son says I am a dinosaur - which is what I told my father in his time. But I know enough to avoid trying to be a PC/Video star...I can barely run a microwave.
Ginger Marks
· 10 months ago
Food for thought. Thank you for compiling this list. Ginger
Lorne Pike
· 10 months ago
Thanks Chris. Short and to the point, with some solid content. You seem to have a knack for that!
Bob J.
· 10 months ago
Plenty of common sense the we all need more of. Great Job !
Sacramento Web Designer
· 10 months ago
Great ideas for Twitter. Thank you! The people saying that it's a waste of time aren't disciplined with their days. How hard is it to just dedicate 20 minutes a day to Twitter? Seriously...how could your business benefit?
Brandon
· 10 months ago
I am using Twitter as a business model in and of itself and it's working out great. As soon as I am at the point where I can monetize my model, It should be a pretty fun way to make a few bucks by only spending a half hour a day working.
Thanks for sharing, Chris. I've experience a great deal with social media marketing using the micro blogging platform of twitter. You must develop a strategy to best optimize using twitter so your business can greatly benefit from it.
Shallie Bey
· 10 months ago
Chris, there is a new trend developing of Baby Boomers who are retiring and starting second careers as entrepreneurs. Many of my fellow boomers have been slow to embrace social media, though the statistics show that we are closing the gap rapidly. Twitter offers a unique opportunity to listen to the pulse of the world and to identify a market. Your article presents some unique ideas on plugging into the world using Twitter. Thanks for a great post.
Shallie Bey Smarter Small Business Blog
Nicole
· 10 months ago
Great post! Thanks.
Den
· 10 months ago
Yet another useful Twitter mashup: Local Twitter - see tweets in your area
Kevin
· 9 months ago
Thanks for taking the time to compile this list. I have been trying to figure out why Twitter may be useful, and this certainly helps!
Winston Barlow
· 9 months ago
Great post with some useful points and good ideas. I recently read a Twitter business related blog post which you can read here if you're interested: http://www.impactexecutives.com/journal/clivese...
Clifford
· 9 months ago
Nice post, thanks for share.
Jan Kirchner
· 9 months ago
In order to create some solid ground for the emerging hype about finding a job on twitter, we created a basic easy-to-use job search engine for twitter. Unlike tweetmyjobs.com and other jobboard-like listing accounts, it actually allows you to search the tweets. The alpha-version can be tried out here:
Thank you so much for taking the time to create this list and posting it for everyone to see. I am so NOT technologically saavy (can't believe I have come this far!). But I do think it is all useful, twitter, facebook, myspace, etc., and I will not be left behind! I was feeling overwhelmed by it all. Your list really helped me to put it all into perspective. Thanks again!
Best, LA
Mike
· 9 months ago
Great article on twittering. I think the point you make saying that you should also comment on other peoples things is important. Too many people solely use these services like twitter, digg, etc. to just post an advertisement and thats it.
Jason Volk
· 9 months ago
Thanks Chris for the info and for letting us put this on our blog Jason
Little Black Box
· 9 months ago
Chris,
Thank you for the information, we are a start-up company that is trying to use social networking as a form of advertising during this recession and your blog explained Twitter much better than many of the other sites we visited. Much appreciated.
Bryan Adams
· 9 months ago
This information is fantastic. Tonnes of resource and its so topical and important for business to start harnessing the power of microblogging now whilst its still relatively within its infancy. follow us @phcreative
Leigh Spencer
· 9 months ago
Thanks for this! @ScoutsMom
peterrubel
· 9 months ago
The haiku is a form of poetry defined in part by its restriction to seventeen syllables. The sonnet is limited to fourteen lines and various restrictions on syllables per line. Such limitations in form act to discipline the writer to express himself or herself concisely and artistically. Or its a kind of game with rules.
Why limit tweets to 140 characters (as opposed to, say. 100 or 175)? Part of the answer surely lies in sliding hypothetically to extremes. Too few characters (say 10) and little could be accomplished per tweet. Too many, and the pace would slow. Twitter would also be too like various alternative communication sites.
Its the muddle in the middle of these extremes that I don't quite get, unless 140 is a somewhat arbitrary compromise that disciplines the writer to be concise and helps control the pace of communication. At least the limit is enough for a subject, predicate, and a little more (perhaps a link). Do I strike near the mark?
Your article seems to be about how to win the game.
Scott
· 9 months ago
Can I find a job using Twitter?
Scott
Matt
· 9 months ago
While I haven't spoken with the folks at Twitter about this, I'm pretty sure the 140 character limit isn't arbitrary, but rather has something to do with SMS being limited to 160 characters by most (all?) carriers.
Forza Mia
· 9 months ago
Thanks, Chris! I’ve updated the Index accordingly. This points out a risk inherent to Twitter, but in this case the community pointed out the error. My apologies to Mr. Godin as well.
Alan
· 9 months ago
Good read! Thx Chris!
Brandy
· 9 months ago
I love Twitter for both business and chatting. I have found many supportive people through Twitter! (@brandyellen) Some days I find I am on there tweeting about "nothing" so I have been trying to do less tweets about "nothing" and more productive tweeting. Not necessarily throwing my business and links out there - you are right - that just loses followers people want to know YOU ARE HUMAN!
I don't have much to add - think you covered most of the important tips on Twitter for business! Great post - had a blast reading it!
Skumar
· 9 months ago
Thats a really good list of quality examples shown, Really appreciate your effort on putting this all together, great work!
D.Sathiamoorthy
· 8 months ago
Great Ideas. I going to use it for my business too. Thanks Chris
Anna Lippert
· 8 months ago
"Pedagogically" informative. Thanks.
Fabian
· 8 months ago
Chris, thanks champ this is just what I have been looking for. As I am new to this whole Twitter thing I went in all guns blazin...look at me like..LOL. Recently I started interacting more...and it's so much more fun than the big sales pitch whohar;)
Danny Bags
· 8 months ago
I saw this when I signed up for Twitter and thought it was a great idea for a business:
Instead of posting marketing messages, this medical supply company puts interesting and fun health facts.
Jennifer Norene
· 8 months ago
Hi Chris, Thank you for this post - it encouraged me, and I agree with you on the reality that Twitter builds community and can grow your business.
Do you have any ideas for how us online design media types can find non online design and media types? I want to use Twitter for growing my business but somewhat feel like I talk to others trying to do the same all day. So I am targeting those that sell to seniors and caregivers, do I just use search for those words? What do you think?
Thanks in advance, Jennifer
mingyu
· 8 months ago
good
Rent Calgary Apartments
· 8 months ago
Hey this was a great list and it was made even better with all the great feedback. I'm using twitter for a new Online Apartment Database and I've found it to be very helpful in driving traffic to my site as well as acquiring new clients.
Dani
· 8 months ago
These tips are all very helpful!! Thank you!!
Howard Deskin
· 8 months ago
Thanks Chris. This is very helpfu. As a new WSI IC, I've been very curious how Twitter can add value to my clients (well prospects) business!
claire stokoe
· 8 months ago
great post chris, some superb information.. i do love it when i get the odd little gem from things.
Many thanks claire
Tweets
· 8 months ago
All good points there. I'm gonna post this on my new website as a guide for some of the new members I'm going to be aiming at.
The thing is with twitter is that its hard to get customers in the line for seeing your tweets. I've built a website with the main concept of connecting suppliers with customers in one place using live feeds of their twitter feeds. Kinda like a special offers website... with all the content coming from twitter users... all I need to do now is convince the industry what a cool idea it is!
ros
· 8 months ago
I'm still in the deciding stage....but this post helped my cross the line...I'll have to start tweeting. Thanks for the helpful hints.
markhoots
· 8 months ago
I predict Twitter will be supplanted by something actually useful, and disappear within 4 years.
flyers
· 7 months ago
I found this very useful. thank you!
rosaleen
· 7 months ago
Great advice really helped me on a project im doing!!! Thank you!
Scott
· 7 months ago
good article. some common sense stuff that people (myself included) may otherwise have not realized.
definitely going to follow along with some of these tips
Phil Webb
· 7 months ago
Some fantastic tips! I am about to try Twitter and this blog will be very useful! Many thanks
Web Designer
· 7 months ago
Twitter is a great tool and can be beneficial for a variety of users. It is a useful tool for personal communication. At the same time businesses have found it defective for judging customer reaction to a product or to get their feedback on a new product. It has proven equally effective for political and social movements.
Lani & Allen Voivod
· 7 months ago
Hi Chris,
Thanks for continuing to be a down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is inspiration on all things social media. My wife/biz partner and I have come back to this post many times, particularly for its straightforward handling of Twitter objections.
In fact, we included a link to this post in the Resources section of a free 19-page Twitter Special Report we just released this week, "37 Easy Ways to Boost Biz Visibility, Revenue, & Results With Twitter" (http://bit.ly/37ways).
Like you, we hope to encourgage corporations and entrepreneurs alike to grab hold of this powerful tool and run with it confidently, strategically, and creatively.
Loved your recent Hubspot interview/webinar on making the case to one's boss for social media, too. ;)
Best regards, Lani & Allen Voivod Co-owners and Content Lovers of Epiphanies, Inc.
P.S. Al met you at PodCamp Boston 2007. Because of your work in making the event such a success, he marks that as the time he truly started to "get" the whole social media thing. Thank you for that gift.
hookey4
· 7 months ago
I really need to start using twitter more. I feel like I am missing out on a ton of money by not using it. I will definitely put these tips into play now.
Interesting post Chris! I wil be using some of these ideas about Twitter
Bookrambler
· 7 months ago
I agree with a lot of what you say - listening on twitter is probably just as important as tweeting - I've learnt what people are reading and what books are being recommended. I recently started asking -what are you reading?- as a way of connecting to readers who tweet. The response has been very positive and opened some helpful business leads to my professional blog too.
Richard Perry
· 7 months ago
I am new to twitter and this was very helpful. @21cwr
Ian McManus
· 7 months ago
Hey Chris, nice post... What do you think of business networking sites that are specifically designed for business marketing and networking? Such as biznik.com and buzzherd.com ?
Jeremy Waite
· 7 months ago
Great words. I'm new to facebook but realise that people must get their heads around it, if they want to compete online over the next few years. twitter.search seems to be where it's at because of the power of finding out what anyone is thinking, about your subject, at ANY time - giving you the power to comment on it.
Thanks again Chris. Great content.
In the words of the legendary Zig Ziglar, "You can have everything in like you want, if you just help enough other people get what they want".
Claudia
· 7 months ago
Thanks for this, its really helped answer a few questions. and back up a few arguments.
Carroll
· 7 months ago
I use Twitter and find that many are following me and as a courtesy I will follow them back. However, the great majority are pushing internet businesses and products on automation and it gets really old. I enjoy social networking but it is not doing me any good with my own business and I play by the social rules. I work to provide value with articles and blogs and it creates little business for me. Maybe I am doing something wrong since I am new to the Social Networking World but I do everything as has been suggested by you as well as others. I take the time to look at what others are offering but it just becomes a time killer for me. I was hoping to increase my social network to increase my speaking engagements. So far it has been a waste of time. I welcome any comments on this.
Thanx Nice Tips for using and utilizing twitter, last week i opened twitter Account and it helped me a lot and amazing thing is that i am getting traffic to my website from twitter by posting Products and Services.
Sweet Serendiptiy
· 7 months ago
Wow, super info. Thank you for the interesting article. Well done.
greeksteve
· 6 months ago
Always useful to get others opinions and tips - and these are sound. greeksteve.
Colin Friend
· 6 months ago
Tradesmen that built America? yes indeed true but also with the biggest hearts they give most even though they have less to give. Please help my cause by promoting my web site www.new-forest-bed-breakfast.co.uk you will see if you go there that it is a portal for Accommodation in the New Forest. difference is that 100% of the advertising revenue collected goes to the Charity Starlight Children's Foundation that grant wishes for seriously ill children. I have 3 healthy boys and every day I thank my 'lucky stars' will the tradesmen of America, familly men all, help blog the world about my site.
Phil Jansen
· 6 months ago
Great stuff! Keep up the good work! Why not add a retweet button at your articles?
BR_Parkway
· 6 months ago
We're a small wine shop, but we're doing a lot on Facebook & Twitter - we just launched a promotion for someone to win a B&B Dream Vacation along the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday to see how very small "mom & pops" can use social media to get the sort of results that the big guys like Queensland and Goode are doing. We'll see if people are as competitive to get a vacation as they are to get a job. More info here: http://whyineedabreak.ning.com
David Ross
· 6 months ago
Another thing I would add is to pay attention to keywords in order to develop local followers if you're a local business. For instance, I try to mention our locations using the words Chandler, Phoenix, Mesa, Ahwatukee because many times people search for the city they live in to find a Twitter to follow.
Also, Seesmic is an excellent program if you run multiple Twitter and FaceBook accounts.
kathy
· 6 months ago
Thank you for this great list, it is nice to find great tips without having to sign up for ebooks to do it, very helpful tips I am bookmarking as a reminder list for twitter Kathy
Alicia
· 6 months ago
I get this question most often from clients who don't know the real value or validity of using social media. Thanks for keeping the light on in dark places! I've also added to our blog at http:organicsemseo.com
Nimesh
· 6 months ago
It is good to read it.
Nimesh
· 6 months ago
Nice to read it. It is informative one.
paramendra
· 6 months ago
Twitter is basic.
Jasa Pembuatan Web/Blog Murah
· 6 months ago
Wow, super info. Thank you for the interesting article. Well done.
Sundi Jo
· 6 months ago
Thanks for the great information - very useful. I do marketing for a resort, and I'm trying to present to them exactly how Twitter will impact their company. Need all the information I can get.
SEO Blog
· 5 months ago
Great twitter ideas and I am going to start using them right now!
Pat Graham-Block
· 5 months ago
I read this long ago when you first posted it and re-reading it again, I see things that make more sense to me this time around. Thanks for all you BE and DO! :-)
Brent
· 5 months ago
Thanks Chris, new to twitter and I'm just trying to derive the business value!
wholesale korean clothing
· 5 months ago
Good informations, thank you.
Zara
· 5 months ago
Question - has anyone seen any problems with competitors looking at your followers or whom you're following to find potential customers? I've heard of our sales reps seeing this happen on Linked In.
Twitter Backgrounds
· 5 months ago
Hey guys, I make custom Twitter backgrounds for businesses and companies that use Twitter for promotion and marketing.
We are rated #1 in the Twitter design industry. Check us out! TwitterBackground.com. The site also has free backgrounds!
Thanks, James F.
howtoweld
· 5 months ago
I am usually pretty good with technological things, but twitter is the one that I just can't seem to get the hang of. Thanks for your tips... these will be a big resource for me.
How To Weld
· 5 months ago
Very Interesting! I will put these into my strategy for Twitter.
RiverwoodWriter
· 5 months ago
Even almost a year later, this is one of the most practical and helpful collection of tips and information I've seen about Twitter as it relates to Business. And I love the fact that you begin by advising everyone to Listen!
Adams
· 5 months ago
Thanks for the great topics .really I enjoyed this tweet .and i will take it in the mind.
resveratrolultra
· 5 months ago
How do you use Twitter for business purposes? I just signed up for Twitter and I'm just wondering how it can be used as a social marketing tool for my business. It seems to be kinda like facebook.
resveratrolultra
· 5 months ago
How do you use Twitter for business purposes? I just signed up for Twitter and I'm just wondering how it can be used as a social marketing tool for my business. It seems to be kinda like facebook.
bethmorgan
· 5 months ago
this is a great moment in every person life because they start his business after read this article.
Chris- Great Post...very informative. For great Twitter tips, I also recommend watching the latest seminar by Guy Kawasaki and how to use Twitter to promote your business. http://www.youreeeka.com/content-network/ It is only $19.99 and worth EVERY SECOND! VERY INSIGHTFUL
lisastevens
· 5 months ago
Great Post! Twitter can be a very valuable tool to help build a business. I've used a lot of his tips and they have been EXTREMELY helpful The "Twitter King," Guy Kawasaki recently gave a seminar in San Diego regarding how to build your business through Social Media. Check it out: http://www.youreeeka.com/content-network/ WELL WORTH the $19.99.....very insightful!
chuckbluestein
· 5 months ago
That is a lot of good information. But the best one is that instead of telling what you are doing, tell about what has your attention. That is what many are doing anyway.
Theresa
· 5 months ago
Being relatively new to Twitter, this was useful information. Thanks!
Barrier Technologies
· 5 months ago
Just starting out with Twitter, and I'm hoping these tips are useful for communicating and marketing directly with customer segments within hospitals and surgical centers that we can't reach yet due to 'gate keepers,' cost of buying lists/sponsoring meetings, and direct mail costs. As a business problem, it is difficult for us to obtain individual contact information (names, address, e-mail) for the healthcare professionals that are the actual end-users.
I hope that twitter will add value to our marketing communication efforts, so that we can not only 'tweet' about the benefits of our radiation protection products (aprons/eyewear/gloves/x-ray shielding accessories), educational updates, safety tips, but also build a brand relationship with those hard to reach but influential customers.
PowerSellingMom
· 5 months ago
Thanks for putting this together! I added a link to this article from my eBook "Twitter Simplified" Keep up the good work and looking forward to seeing you at IzeaFest! Danna Crawford Founder/CEO, PowerSellingMom, Inc.
such a really amazing site twitter i have very enjoy this site because this site has good information all of viewers
ivankluznyn
· 4 months ago
Thank you for the article. Now I also will use Twitter for promotion of the business.
geraldmaliszewski
· 4 months ago
I also just started using twitter and found this article to be a huge help in figuring out many of the "how to" and "why".
TwitterForBusiness
· 4 months ago
Nice post Chris. People should be more confident that Twitter is useful.
But I think the main thing about Twitter is not to think of it in isolation. It isn't something extra you do, it should be a "part" of what you do.
A simple blog, store or website FollowMe badge may seem like a benile start, but it is a step in the right direction, which should spark off your strategy. You can get a customised tiwtter followme badge for free from http://www.TrafficHug.com/twitter/category/badge/ On the same site is a series of Twitter training videos about developing a Twitter For Business strategy. These are also free.
Happy Tweet'ing Peter
TwitterForBusiness
· 4 months ago
Nice post Chris. People should be more confident that Twitter is useful.
But I think the main thing about Twitter is not to think of it in isolation. It isn't something extra you do, it should be a "part" of what you do.
A simple blog, store or website FollowMe badge may seem like a benile start, but it is a step in the right direction, which should spark off your strategy. You can get a customised tiwtter followme badge for free from http://www.TrafficHug.com/twitter/category/badge/ On the same site is a series of Twitter training videos about developing a Twitter For Business strategy. These are also free.
Happy Tweet'ing Peter
ilona fordham
· 4 months ago
I'm such a social media virgin and I'm finding your posts really helpful. I also recently attended your conference call with Peter Shankman - now I have so much information I just need to figure out how to integrate and actually DO something with it! I seem to be doing a lot of readign and no actual doing!
hiporsmith
· 4 months ago
I have a jewelry business account that I run and I was wondering (without polling on Twitter) if you're a Twitter follower, what would you like to hear from a local Twitter jewelry account? Just sales and specials? Fun facts and links? Jewelery random news? A mix of everything? And how often should I tweet? 3 times a day all throughout spread out?
And ideas and what YOU would like to see would be helpful. Trying to get ideas. Thanks ahead of time.
BingMarketer
· 4 months ago
Here are more great resources for Twitter business.
Twitter Tips Twitter Secrets Twitter Tricks Twitter Guide Book Twitter Kindle Twitter Money Twitter Business Twitter for Dummies
jacquesdevilliers
· 4 months ago
Thanks. These tips are extremely handy. I'll send the link to my database and hopefully they can benefit too.
internetseo
· 4 months ago
No offense, but that "only a few million" is pretty skewed towards the under 30 crowd and first adopters. While Facebook has an average age of 42, Twitter doesn't even come close. (Of course, this is only my personal observation). As an Online Marketing professional, I deal with business people every day. Unless they are selling to a young crowd and are definitely B2C, I steer them away from Twitter (on the rare occasion I come across a middle-aged business person who has a clue about Twitter and actually asks.)
Bob McClain
internetseo
· 4 months ago
No offense but I don't see the value in Twitter for anyone marketing to B2B or the over 30 consumer. My experience (although I have no data to back it up), has been that most of that "few million" have been under 30 and early adopters.
If this is your target market, go for it. Otherwise, as an Online Marketer, I recommend to my clients that there are better ways to market their products and services. Twitter is not ready for prime time...
Why Is My Computer So Slow
· 4 months ago
This is awesome, great tips!
deehoseo
· 4 months ago
Great article, good balance, useful links and tips.
alinaamarc
· 4 months ago
I would like to start business but I need at least £50,000 is there any ideas how to get that amount of money?
alinaamarc
· 4 months ago
I would like to start business but I need at least £50,000 is there any ideas how to get that amount of money?
Great post, I learn more about Twitter with each passing day. Definately a media that can't be classified as a sprint, more of a marathon. Thanks for the words of advice.
kimdebeau
· 4 months ago
Really good twitter article, thank you for sharing. Should be a MUST READ for all new signups.
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steelers5478
· 4 months ago
nice article I am trying to get my business off the ground and was wondering if twitter is a resource. Thanks for the info it was very helpful, Brian
Kate
· 4 months ago
Very helpful as well as making one feel less like a twit (idiot) for tweeting!
Douglas
· 4 months ago
Nice, Chris. Very thoughtful. Thanks.
anm476
· 3 months ago
thanks for posting this - very informative! however, i'm doing some research to see how we can incorporate twitter into our communications with our employees. we are in a virtual environment and we only get together once a quarter for updates - but there are happenings going on all the time. is it possible to create an account for our group and have the employees follow? is it possible to restrict others following a specific account? feel free to reach out to me via my personal email address if you have some specific advice to offer. thanks!!
Yemi Onigbode
· 3 months ago
Great article!
retropatriot
· 3 months ago
I would add that many are seeking to monetize their following, don't just focus on this, build the following - use www.sokule.com/retropatriot to monetize the following. www.sokule.com/retropatriot is another "deck" or 3rd party poster that posts to twitter and also posts to 40 other sites simultaneously and allows for longer "tweets" or "squeaks" as it's known to sokule. It's a way to put twitter on steroids - AND monetize it.
robjday
· 3 months ago
Great post. Were each of these points under 140 characters :) I'm in product marketing, and I have been working for over a year to get marketing communications to embrace some social media. Needless to say they are afraid, and vastly under-informed. I can only dedicate so much of my time away from my actual job to assist them, but this post is a great piece to share. Thanks!
babapots
· 3 months ago
Thanks. Chris. I find this very useful for me as a beginner. Cheers.
Erik Ehresman
· 3 months ago
I have been looking for points to show that twitter has a legitimate place in a business. Your post showed the good and the bad. I especially appreciate the sanity for me. Specifically, that it is not necessary to respond to every tweet. I am going to continue to try to find ways to use twitter to benefit my computer repair and web design business. Thanks
Cactus
· 3 months ago
Considering using Twitter for my company, not sure whether I should go direct or indirect. After reading this article, get a clearer picture: direct! Good tips. Thanks a lot!
OrangeGroveSEO
· 3 months ago
I am a huge fan of this list as it has helped me immensely as a new Twitterer!
@lilseize @orangegroveseo
bori1033
· 3 months ago
I have to give it to you, Chris. We sure have came a long way in such a short period of time. Thesis is definitely a great, if not the best, interface that I have seen. It's features and everything else I have seen in Thesis makes it a well addressed SEO. I dressed up wordpress with my own website (www.highyieldcashmoneyinvestments.com) and Google loves it. I have no problem with how far I want to get ranked. Good work you put in there, Chris!
nonatooliveira
· 3 months ago
VERY GOOD TIPS!!! GOOD JOB!!!
mrtax
· 3 months ago
Excellent Post on Twitter! I found this post to be really useful in promoting a business.
Twitter can do wonders for business. It's great in connecting with people. I didn't have time to manage an account for my own company so I hired Java Social Networking to do it for me. They set me up with a Twitter and Facebook account and they also maintain it for me. www.javasocialnetworking.com
mariannecruz1
· 3 months ago
Welcome to iCare Senior Services!Care Senior Services provides non-medical companion, homemaker, and personal care services to seniors and others needing assistance. Our experienced, compassionate and dependable caregivers provide our clients with loving care and assistance to help make their lives easier and to retain their independence, while providing their families with the peace of mind that their loved ones are safe. All of our caregivers are carefully screened, bonded, and insured so you can trust you are getting the best possible assistance. If needed, our agency also provides services to individuals who may reside in an assisted living facility or nursing home. Our caregivers provide any of the following:
* Cooking and light housekeeping * Laundry and change of bed linens * Grocery shopping and errands * Companionship and range of motion exercise * Bathing, dressing, and grooming assistance * Assisting with walking and transfer from bed to wheelchair * Status reporting to family * Medication reminders * Transportation to doctor's appointments, supermarket, or pharmacy
Each member of our team has had a thorough reference and criminal background check. They are experienced, compassionate, and deeply committed to providing the best in-home care possible.
Call us Today for a Free Assessment! (408) 850-0504
mariannecruz1
· 3 months ago
Welcome to iCare Senior Services!Care Senior Services provides non-medical companion, homemaker, and personal care services to seniors and others needing assistance. Our experienced, compassionate and dependable caregivers provide our clients with loving care and assistance to help make their lives easier and to retain their independence, while providing their families with the peace of mind that their loved ones are safe. All of our caregivers are carefully screened, bonded, and insured so you can trust you are getting the best possible assistance. If needed, our agency also provides services to individuals who may reside in an assisted living facility or nursing home. Our caregivers provide any of the following:
* Cooking and light housekeeping * Laundry and change of bed linens * Grocery shopping and errands * Companionship and range of motion exercise * Bathing, dressing, and grooming assistance * Assisting with walking and transfer from bed to wheelchair * Status reporting to family * Medication reminders * Transportation to doctor's appointments, supermarket, or pharmacy
Each member of our team has had a thorough reference and criminal background check. They are experienced, compassionate, and deeply committed to providing the best in-home care possible.
Call us Today for a Free Assessment! (408) 850-0504
Arihant Kothari
· 3 months ago
Twitter is sometimes better at customer service as some tweets help solve common issues faced by customers.
Mario
· 3 months ago
me too - very good for business. We are a german Arbeitsvermittlung. A private Company searching for the best stuff for bigger companies. We need salesman (electronic branch).
Mario
· 3 months ago
We are a german Private Arbeitsvermittlung and this tips helped us wonderful. thx.
http://www.originalyric.info
· 3 months ago
thanks 4 share this
Regional Sales Jobs
· 3 months ago
Great tips! One I would add is check your @mentions at least one a day and reply where appropriate.
Beautiful Life
· 3 months ago
Just started using twitter and this post has really helped me think about how I use it for business. Thanks
Freida
· 2 months ago
Great information! I've 'been' on twitter for a few months, but with less than 200 combination of following and followers, it's clear that I'm not using it - personally or for my business! Thanks!
You have a lot of great ideas for making the most of twitter. Most people don't realize just how versatile twitter can be to their blog, website, or business.
work at home
· 2 months ago
Great Idea really. Before I underestimate twitter and thought twitter as for fun. But after reading your article and lots of article on twitter I can now understand how it help us for our business. Anyway nice post. Thank you.
John
· 2 months ago
interesting and balanced article of how twitter may help business. I am going to give it go and try to sync it with my royalty free music facebook page.
Martin Ayon
· 2 months ago
Items 11 to 20 are great advise for all of us involved in new media. Thanks Chris!
frog
· 2 months ago
not yet
djthistle
· 2 months ago
I had to come on and check this out. I found this from Gary's new book Crush It and I must say it was well worth the time. Great article.
hotmail email
· 2 months ago
I am really new on twitter, I really enjoy the information.
Glenn
· 2 months ago
Great post...
I use twitter for both business and personal - different accounts. Your blog is very comprehensive and contains both positives and negatives which should always be considered whenever you are contemplating the use of a web 2.0 tool. I have also posted a 'blog' on twitter for business - http://n4702077.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/how-to... My blog post is not as detailed as yours, but is a basic overview.. thanks for the read
Business Plan
· 2 months ago
Hi, WOW! Amazing post! I will definitely used this. Thanks for sharing
kevin george
· 2 months ago
hi Chris. decided i gotta look at ths social media phenomenon. Im a designer -artist -storyteller, producing some great wall decor products. can twitter help me build an audience and how do i start from scratch ? its a fascinating area cause its so new and holds a lot of promise. because it so new, we can be pioneers in a sense. I like that. being a pioneer,. Example of my products can be found at http://kevingeorge-walldecals.blogspot.com. thanks Chris, talk soon, or twitter soon !
kevin george
· 2 months ago
hi Chris. decided i gotta look at ths social media phenomenon. Im a designer -artist -storyteller, producing some great wall decor products. can twitter help me build an audience and how do i start from scratch ? its a fascinating area cause its so new and holds a lot of promise. because it so new, we can be pioneers in a sense. I like that. being a pioneer,. Example of my products can be found at http://kevingeorge-walldecals.blogspot.com. thanks Chris, talk soon, or twitter soon !
Hi, we are germans and looking also to this informative Posts. Best regards. Mario
BodyDreams
· 1 month ago
I just came across these tips and I think it will be helpful. I am in the process of changing my ecommerce website and am adding the twitter button on my website which is http://bodydreams.com.
I plan to twitter coupon codes for discounts.
Thanks for the post as it has given some great ideas.
Shawn A.
· 1 month ago
This post was awesome. I was looking up ways to share our colunteer management services for young professionals across the United States and was directed to this list. What a great way to enhance our presence and mission via Twitter. Also, including which twitters in particular perform certain qualities well provides a nice reference point !
nancy
· 1 month ago
Hi, I enjoyed this post, as I am a newbie to all this. My husband and I are working out the kinks to start our own business, and the information was helpful on "Not to be THAT guy" I am researching Twitter as a way to get the word out and to promote what we do, in a non-obnoxious way.
nancy
· 1 month ago
Hi, I enjoyed this post, as I am a newbie to all this. My husband and I are working out the kinks to start our own business, and the information was helpful on "Not to be THAT guy" I am researching Twitter as a way to get the word out and to promote what we do, in a non-obnoxious way.
Antonio
· 1 month ago
Great article thanks help me out so much as i'm just starting out my own dancing business and its given me hope and i'm exited
dalebuchanan
· 1 month ago
Great post, I found it through Crush It.
tygerq
· 1 month ago
very good ideas, some i already use, will be using the others.
Nikola Mandic
· 1 month ago
I think these informations can be very helpful for the twitter.
Nikola Mandic
· 1 month ago
I think these informations can be very helpful for the twitter
Table Saw Reviews
· 1 month ago
I boycotted Twitter for the longest time, thinking it was just a lame wast of time. I've finally embraced it as a powerful ecommerce tool...even though there's more spam on there than anything.
Graham Perch
· 4 weeks ago
I was unsure of what Twitter was and how it could be used for marketing and developing business opportunities, even though I have a twitter account. I do realise the potential of 'new' media but often do not understand how best to use it, additional information such as this is a great help in learning how new media can be used in developing business opportunities.
Best Twitter Applications
· 3 weeks ago
Thank you so much for this! Now I can get max value out of Twitter!
This is a very detailed guide for those who are not quite familiar on how Twitter works, just like me. I've been more inclined in using facebook than this one, but at this pace of internet marketing, I am very much considering to join this community. Thanks for the guide. Mac Pro cosmetics website
suptabspillsbuy
· 3 weeks ago
Yeah, real cool suggestions for business ;)
I never thought the biz could go around twitter :)
Nice POST !!!!
Joyce
· 3 weeks ago
After reading the tips I realized I had started off on the right foot! Thanks for confirming some things I was wondering about...
Dolores Stephenson
· 2 weeks ago
Enjoy reading help articles like these...I am new to social networking and admit still a bit confused on "how to tweet"...using my twitter for diary. I also comment on other people sites I find interesting, helpful and useful. I tried to "retweet"here, but I don't know it worked so I will post something about you/this article on Twitter. If lost recipes/foods interest you or your followers I hope its okay to say visit me too -Dolores Stephenson
Praz
· 2 weeks ago
Fantastic post....
Duncan Oldham
· 2 weeks ago
Good advice.
twitter applications
· 2 weeks ago
A lot of my clients have asked me where they can find a comprehensive guide to using Twitter as a platform...I will definately direct them here...
pooja_36
· 2 weeks ago
Great post!!! Just starting to use twitter for my small web based business as well I believe the background and image are also important when it comes to twittering for your business. I got my page designed by www.vinfotech.com
hanz
· 1 week ago
Great post, very informative. I'll be looking forward for your new article.
All Comments
Nice list of various aspects, especially the positives to throw back!
Nicely organized batch of quality examples; I've had decent results from my mini-interview series (that you even participated in as well) at www.TweetandGreet.com
I also posted some ramblings about Twitter related to business. I'm fairly obsessed with the branding aspect of Twitter right now. It seems applicable, hopefully it adds to your discussion here.
http://www.originalanalogmachine.com/2008/08/20...
Thanks for all that you do...
Julie
Liked the ideas on the positive stuffs to throw back. :)
Daniel
Now, we just need to ram it down their throats!
- The concepts/ideas that is ;-)
I would add that those using Twitter for business should have a sense of humor in their tweets when they can. Not cracking jokes per se, but being natural. (Unless you're @PopeyesChicken, in which case keep the jokes coming.)
Thanks!
zack
Thanks for the great info on how to use Twitter. I always enjoy your tweets and will definitely incorporate some of your ideas into my future tweets!
Glo.
Earlier today, I was telling my team of the importance of being human on Twitter. It's a little scary for PR-types, I think, to blur that line.
You sort of cover this indirectly: Don't treat Twitter as an RSS feed. I enjoy getting news on Twitter but not when it's a string of tweets that are just a repurposing of a newsfeed. @ColonelTribune does it best. @statesman is getting there.
If you create an account before watching existing conversations on Twitter Search and Tweet Scan, you may inadvertently create the wrong account name, for instance, and be forced to deleting it and starting all over. It doesn't take time to delete an account but the principle takes a lifetime.
Your first mission is to listen. Your second mission is to join with a branded name/handle, but also with descriptive content in your profile description, at 160 characters or less.
You should also sign up for alerts on relevant content at Tweet Beep, which is akin to Google Alerts. If anyone tweets about you or any keyword or URL you choose, you'll get an emailed alert. Very handy.
First, let me start by saying "thank you!" You are too kind. My colleague Jim @jstorerj and I are honored to mentioned in this post alongside so many other great brands/names. To that end, Jim and I work really hard to put a "human" face on Mzinga (which also has a Twitter account that Jim and I sometimes tweet from).
Second, this is a wonderfully prescriptive post (and one that I will start sending to all my "newish" friends and followers. I like that you not only clearly stated clear business value but also mentioned up front what some of the detractors are saying/will say about Twitter. Thanks for once again bringing tremendous value to my feedstream!
Best,
Aaron | @astrout
Jim | @jstorerj
This is perfect for @clarisnetworks.
Thanks, we've got a new intern working on the @clarisnetworks account and she can benefit from your thoughts greatly.
I'm curious to know what others think about that one?
And again, no offense meant, but rather, a question.
But I disagree with Red Rocket, above, that it is great for learning about your target market--unless your target market is Twitter users. While I use Twitter every day and have no doubts that it will continue to grow as a platform, current regular usage of Twitter still falls below 1% of the general U.S. pop. The potential to go awry here due to non-response bias (all the folks NOT on Twitter) makes using Twitter for _strategic_ purposes a bit dicey.
Chris, what are your thoughts on how the Marketing function can make strategic use of Twitter? The tactical applications are clear.
My two cents... YMMV.
Jim | @jstorerj
My company would have a seasoned employee doing the Twittering, because they know my brand, how we operate, and the sincere focus that we have on excellence in giving customer service and listening.
Interns can be very capable and valuable assets: however they lack the specific knowledge of my brand to be the sole representer. Perhaps if they were paired with a veteran employee, that might be a better situation. To learn the ropes with someone that's grown with my company would be essential.
People commonly think of an intern as an undergrad making copies for $10/hour. Leading a company's entry into Twitter and other social media wouldn't be a fit.
The word 'intern' also applies to higher-level folks, though. I'm thinking of MBA interns who may have 5-10 years of work experience, often as consultants with major firms, and are paid a heck of a lot more than $10/hour. With those folks the challenge is finding assignments that are meaty enough. I always fight to have them do something meaningful and big that'll leave an impact on the company long after the assignment is over. For a company without dedicated social media headcount, leading the Twitter charge would fit that bill, IMHO.
Other note - getting ANYONE to take this on as part of their job can be a challenge in many corporate environments. That's why I'm so grateful to @zackgonzales for taking it on not as a side job, but as one of the many missions he leads for Hoover's.
But, for me, the relationships we are building are too important for that. I am connected with members of the media, partners, area experts, etc. I would not want to intrust an intern to build those relationships. The relationships have value because the two people on both ends know how to make them have value, how to collaborate together. Most interns would not be able to manage that.
chrisbrogan Is Twitter an intern-level responsibility for a business? http://tinyurl.com/5u75pe . Look@comments
Like anything with Twitter, the more transparent you are, the better. It depends on the social media related goals of the company. I see pros and cons to this dip-your-toe-in-before-jumping-in strategy.
If the intern is twizzlin' to get a sense for web related buzz, to make announcements about upcoming objects-of-interest or take feedback with an "I'll check and get back to you" sort of flare versus being expected to be the online voice of the organization, then I think it is excellent. The intern could be twitter triage! It would be difficult to expect an intern to be able to represent the company. That's a lot of pressure for someone who may not know the company very well. That said, if Claris Networks has not made a "we're on twitter" announcement to their customers, they might find that they have a limited, manageable following/stream at first that they can use as a microcosm for what they actually want.
Businesses should expect that they are going to achieve limited benefits vs. putting an executive or even a full-time community manager online. And I'm sure they do. Businesspeople are smart. They understand the value of their resources and tend to at least try to allocate their sparse resources carefully.
Let's look hypothetically: I can picture the decision makers of Claris Networks in a room talking about social media and its impact. I can picture both evangelism and naysaying. I could picture them coming to the conclusion that they should be doing something and that either they will use an intern to get learnings about the benefits or until they can hire a community manager (anyone checked their site for this exciting potential career opportunity? hehe)
If you look at Claris Networks' twitter stream, it is pretty sparse on the "social" and heavier on the announcements. This article will certainly help them shape their strategy and perhaps help them engage in a more warm and transparent way. I'm a new follower and I'm excited to see how their twitter and social media presence evolves. 加油 Go Claris Networks! 加油 Good to see an increasing number of people like Brooks Brown out there who get it!
As a recent intern, I'd like to throw my two cents in. I don't think the intern should be solely responsible for creating and maintaining the Twitter account. You need someone who understands completely the company's values to be able to develop the tone in which your tweets represent your company. That in mind, you also need someone who understands social media so you don't end up looking like Shannon Paul's "that guy."
Like you recommended with #12, it's important to build a base of people who tweet. Most interns last about three or four months, right? Say you hand over the task of building a Twitter community to your intern and she does a great job; conversation is flowing with a large following. And then she leaves. If you don't have a full-time employee already participating, there will be a lapse in Twitter activity and a possible lapse in credibility.
Maybe the best way for interns to use Twitter is to encourage them to create an account if they don't have one already. @internATcompany could tweet about what he's working on and what the company's like from a newbie insider, as well as all those expected "human" comments.
http://www.senokian.com/barking/2008/08/06/usin...
Thank you for your recent conversation about our decision to allow our new marketing coordinator try Twitter on for size.
A couple of key points:
1. Our corporate Twitter account (@clarisnetworks) is relatively new. We are still feeling our way through the applicable uses Twitter brings to the enterprise...specifically the information technology industry.
2. At the moment, we are limiting our tweets from @clarisnetworks to corporate announcements, client announcements, and related IT information/news. As we continue to move through the process, we'll add more strategically-minded information that will assist in our branding efforts.
3. We're the largest information technology provider in the East Tennessee Innovation Valley, and have done a terrific job at marketing/branding ourselves through other traditional means, and view @clarisnetworks, and Twitter for that matter, as an opportunity to orient ourselves with its possibilities, etc.
Do you remember the first tweet you made? I know mine wasn't pretty...I didn't even understand the "@" rule. But alas, as we move forward, we learn and we get better at what we do.
Some have asked if it is responsible to put your corporate branding in the hands of a new employee. I would respond by saying that I would be foolish to view Twitter (less than 1 percent of the US population) as my primary means to promote and market our company. On the contrary, Twitter is a learning platform in the 2.0 realm and a small component of our branding strategy, but one that we believe will play an important role in the near future.
Chris, in response to your specific questions:
1. Our clients, employees and culture make our brand what it is. A brand should never be reserved for a single employee or the CEO of a company. Hearts and minds, hearts and minds.
2. Twitter is considered by many to be a newbie
itself and I tend to agree given the longevity of traditional IM apps, blogs, forums, facebook and MySpace. What better avenue for a new employee to orient themselves with than a relatively new 2.0 platform?
The great fact that I believe we can all agree with is that there are no Twitter rules. There is no handbook, no official do’s and don’ts. Thus, there should be no reason to judge each other’s efforts, but only to support the proliferation of its use and integration into the 2.0 world.
We’re excited about the opportunities that Twitter presents to our business and excited that we have employees who are willing to dip their feet into the 2.0 experience and are confident in time, our viral efforts online will meet and exceed the success we enjoy from traditional marketing today.
Take care.
It's tough to dedicate time to the 'niceties' of Twittering, but you are right that they are important.
I really appreciate the insightful guidance on this. I see so many Twits out there telling me that their feet hurt, the chili cheese dog they ate isn't agreeing with them or they're just plain bored. It makes it hard to bring this outreach mechanism into the boardroom and illustrate actual brand building or bottom-line value by simply being genuine and human. Thanks for helping arm me with actual business applications. I promise to not become "that guy" and pollute the Twittersphere.
Cheers,
Mark
www.bnj.com
How can Twittering be called "niceties"? Is communication with your customers a "nicety" or a necessity? If businesses continue to think that Twittering is a "nicety" instead of a very valuable tool in gaining customer satisfaction, as well as future customers by word of mouth, they will be left in the dust by the businesses that embrace it.
Just be human, get involved in the conversations, and treat others how you would like to be treated - BTW, have fun - it's suppose to be social!
I've been thinking about how all this is used in the not for profit space ...
If anyone has thoughts or experience in this space i'd love to hear!
I'm not saying that Twitter IS a 'nicety', simply that you can spend too much time chatting about books and looking at photos etc. Maybe more so for me as I am a one man band. I produce, sell, market, socialise, host, and try to spend some quality time with my goldfish.
Chris, I'd appreciate your thoughts.
thanks for this post. It is great and it provides me with some nice arguments for using twitter as I am currently putting together a social/new media tool list and strategy for my departement at university. I will let you know about other purposes to use twitter there.
Manuel
I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever beat you to the punch on a post...I was working on a similar post but you've done it now, and done it better.
So, thank you, now I can just share your post and write something else. :)
Thanks.
http://mincedmedia.blogspot.com/2007/03/48-hour...
DH
Mike
Cheers,
AL
It seems social media tools really help businesses not "be evil" more and more.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
We strive to be non-threatening and non-spammy, and I believe we've succeeded. We have a modest "community" of followers and followees, and are happy so far.
As far as how we use Twitter, we try to pass along hotel information & special deals -- information that would be useful to travelers.
We also keep an eye on the public stream for folks who are asking for help in finding a hotel -- not everyone checks there 'replies' like they should, and I'm sure a fair number of folks think we're spammers, but we've had some success overall.
Thanks,
Ron Robinson
founder, CEO beautystat.com
Thank you!
Thank you for the information. I am one of the Co Founders of Fooducopia.com and while we prepare to launch soon we are polishing our strategy for networking on and offline. Do you or anyone else have any thoughts on introducing farmers to online networking?
I am doing an assignment on Web 2.0 tools for business promotion, and your list is really helpful. Thanks again!
Thanks for the post. I joined Twitter a few days ago after getting my arm twisted to do so. It pushes me out of my comfort zone (maybe not such a bad idea). I'm still confused about all the rave of social media, but hey I figured I better get with it rather than be left behind. Your post made it a bit more clear on what I could do with my personal life, but my business life. Especially as I'm getting to launch MiddleClassBailOutPlan.com in late January.
Live Well,
Fee
You can reach me at periclest@hotmail.com
Pericles Tarsinos
Co Founder Fooducopia
I am curious about the ethics about 'soliciting' to Twitter users.
Say I am in design and I search that on twitter. I find a lot of people doing great things, and folks who are stuck and may need my services. Since Twitter is public, yet I am not following that user, I sought them out...should I send an email and say, "I have a service that could help you!" or is that too intrusive and spamming? I am sensitive to this and feel it's spam, however on the business side, what do you think?
Thoughts?
TIA
32. Twitter takes you away from other productive work.
BTW the thing that I find humorous about Twitter is that it is NOT "What are you doing right now?" No one on there cares what you are doing right now, unless it involves promoting others. In fact, if you answer that question, people will probably unfollow you.
Brilliant post with very useful information about using Twitter.
Thanks.
We've been using Twitter to prime the pump, but I can see now that even after the community is on auto-pilot, I'll still use Twitter for straight-ahead marketing. The profile website links provide a great way to find other sites that appeal to our target audience.
Bravo for taking the time to put such a comprehensive list out there.
I have 16 students who have just started studying a Web Diploma and they will be made aware of your site as they are needing to shift from the old way of web design
Regards Tony Hogan
Worlds Best Guitar Blogger
Ginger
Great Job !
Check out my concept at FollowToWin.com and follow us on Twitter @FollowToWin
Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
http://www.personalberater-blog.de/twitter-jobs...
Please send feedback to @atenta
Best,
LA
Jason
Thank you for the information, we are a start-up company that is trying to use social networking as a form of advertising during this recession and your blog explained Twitter much better than many of the other sites we visited. Much appreciated.
follow us @phcreative
Why limit tweets to 140 characters (as opposed to, say. 100 or 175)? Part of the answer surely lies in sliding hypothetically to extremes. Too few characters (say 10) and little could be accomplished per tweet. Too many, and the pace would slow. Twitter would also be too like various alternative communication sites.
Its the muddle in the middle of these extremes that I don't quite get, unless 140 is a somewhat arbitrary compromise that disciplines the writer to be concise and helps control the pace of communication. At least the limit is enough for a subject, predicate, and a little more (perhaps a link). Do I strike near the mark?
Your article seems to be about how to win the game.
Scott
I don't have much to add - think you covered most of the important tips on Twitter for business! Great post - had a blast reading it!
http://www.twitter.com/cwimedical
Instead of posting marketing messages, this medical supply company puts interesting and fun health facts.
Thank you for this post - it encouraged me, and I agree with you on the reality that Twitter builds community and can grow your business.
Do you have any ideas for how us online design media types can find non online design and media types? I want to use Twitter for growing my business but somewhat feel like I talk to others trying to do the same all day. So I am targeting those that sell to seniors and caregivers, do I just use search for those words? What do you think?
Thanks in advance,
Jennifer
Many thanks
claire
The thing is with twitter is that its hard to get customers in the line for seeing your tweets. I've built a website with the main concept of connecting suppliers with customers in one place using live feeds of their twitter feeds. Kinda like a special offers website... with all the content coming from twitter users... all I need to do now is convince the industry what a cool idea it is!
Thank you!
definitely going to follow along with some of these tips
Thanks for continuing to be a down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is inspiration on all things social media. My wife/biz partner and I have come back to this post many times, particularly for its straightforward handling of Twitter objections.
In fact, we included a link to this post in the Resources section of a free 19-page Twitter Special Report we just released this week, "37 Easy Ways to Boost Biz Visibility, Revenue, & Results With Twitter" (http://bit.ly/37ways).
Like you, we hope to encourgage corporations and entrepreneurs alike to grab hold of this powerful tool and run with it confidently, strategically, and creatively.
Loved your recent Hubspot interview/webinar on making the case to one's boss for social media, too. ;)
Best regards,
Lani & Allen Voivod
Co-owners and Content Lovers of Epiphanies, Inc.
P.S. Al met you at PodCamp Boston 2007. Because of your work in making the event such a success, he marks that as the time he truly started to "get" the whole social media thing. Thank you for that gift.
Webkinz
Thanks again Chris. Great content.
In the words of the legendary Zig Ziglar, "You can have everything in like you want, if you just help enough other people get what they want".
greeksteve.
Also, Seesmic is an excellent program if you run multiple Twitter and FaceBook accounts.
It is informative one.
I make custom Twitter backgrounds for businesses and companies that use Twitter for promotion and marketing.
We are rated #1 in the Twitter design industry. Check us out! TwitterBackground.com. The site also has free backgrounds!
Thanks,
James F.
I just signed up for Twitter and I'm just wondering how it can be used as a social marketing tool for my business. It seems to be kinda like facebook.
I just signed up for Twitter and I'm just wondering how it can be used as a social marketing tool for my business. It seems to be kinda like facebook.
Resveratrol ultra
http://www.youreeeka.com/content-network/
It is only $19.99 and worth EVERY SECOND! VERY INSIGHTFUL
Check it out: http://www.youreeeka.com/content-network/
WELL WORTH the $19.99.....very insightful!
I hope that twitter will add value to our marketing communication efforts, so that we can not only 'tweet' about the benefits of our radiation protection products (aprons/eyewear/gloves/x-ray shielding accessories), educational updates, safety tips, but also build a brand relationship with those hard to reach but influential customers.
I added a link to this article from my eBook "Twitter Simplified"
Keep up the good work and looking forward to seeing you at IzeaFest!
Danna Crawford
Founder/CEO, PowerSellingMom, Inc.
But I think the main thing about Twitter is not to think of it in isolation. It isn't something extra you do, it should be a "part" of what you do.
A simple blog, store or website FollowMe badge may seem like a benile start, but it is a step in the right direction, which should spark off your strategy.
You can get a customised tiwtter followme badge for free from
http://www.TrafficHug.com/twitter/category/badge/
On the same site is a series of Twitter training videos about developing a Twitter For Business strategy. These are also free.
Happy Tweet'ing
Peter
But I think the main thing about Twitter is not to think of it in isolation. It isn't something extra you do, it should be a "part" of what you do.
A simple blog, store or website FollowMe badge may seem like a benile start, but it is a step in the right direction, which should spark off your strategy.
You can get a customised tiwtter followme badge for free from
http://www.TrafficHug.com/twitter/category/badge/
On the same site is a series of Twitter training videos about developing a Twitter For Business strategy. These are also free.
Happy Tweet'ing
Peter
Just sales and specials?
Fun facts and links?
Jewelery random news?
A mix of everything?
And how often should I tweet? 3 times a day all throughout spread out?
And ideas and what YOU would like to see would be helpful. Trying to get ideas. Thanks ahead of time.
http://seoflexmedia.com/html/twitter-business-g...
Twitter Tips
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Bob McClain
If this is your target market, go for it. Otherwise, as an Online Marketer, I recommend to my clients that there are better ways to market their products and services. Twitter is not ready for prime time...
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Continued success to you,
Kim De Beau,
http://twitter.com/Kim_De_Beau
My company (NYSE listed) is looking for a few people who would like to earn extra income by working 4 to 6 hours per week.
If you, or someone you know, are interested in extra income, please visit WWW.LASTINGSUCCESS.NET
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* Cooking and light housekeeping
* Laundry and change of bed linens
* Grocery shopping and errands
* Companionship and range of motion exercise
* Bathing, dressing, and grooming assistance
* Assisting with walking and transfer from bed to wheelchair
* Status reporting to family
* Medication reminders
* Transportation to doctor's appointments, supermarket, or pharmacy
Each member of our team has had a thorough reference and criminal background check. They are experienced, compassionate, and deeply committed to providing the best in-home care possible.
Call us Today for a Free Assessment!
(408) 850-0504
* Cooking and light housekeeping
* Laundry and change of bed linens
* Grocery shopping and errands
* Companionship and range of motion exercise
* Bathing, dressing, and grooming assistance
* Assisting with walking and transfer from bed to wheelchair
* Status reporting to family
* Medication reminders
* Transportation to doctor's appointments, supermarket, or pharmacy
Each member of our team has had a thorough reference and criminal background check. They are experienced, compassionate, and deeply committed to providing the best in-home care possible.
Call us Today for a Free Assessment!
(408) 850-0504
I use twitter for both business and personal - different accounts. Your blog is very comprehensive and contains both positives and negatives which should always be considered whenever you are contemplating the use of a web 2.0 tool. I have also posted a 'blog' on twitter for business - http://n4702077.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/how-to...
My blog post is not as detailed as yours, but is a basic overview.. thanks for the read
WOW! Amazing post! I will definitely used this. Thanks for sharing
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Looking for more followers
Eric - http://www.dreamhomefinancing.com
I plan to twitter coupon codes for discounts.
Thanks for the post as it has given some great ideas.
I never thought the biz could go around twitter :)
Nice POST !!!!
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-Dolores Stephenson
I believe the background and image are also important when it comes to twittering for your business. I got my page designed by www.vinfotech.com
http://www.software-with-key.blogspot.com/