Walter P
Branding and Marketing, Social Media, Thought Leader, Customer Intimacy Architect, Speaker, Writer, walterpike@gmail.com
Twitter, How important is it as a business tool?
Do you use twitter for business and how?
follow me @walterpike
Clarification added 4 months ago:
Ann
It is a different question and a very relevant one - in fact scheduled as my next. Funny that you should say it - I am slap in the centre 52 this week, so wish me happy birthday.
I would love to know - but unless you want to I will ask it tomorrow
Answers (19)
Christopher B
Software maker for online marketing.
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Walter
It's a game changer. Now brand owners can hear directly what consumers are saying about their brand, good or bad. This is as important as Search. We are helping brand owners to build tools to react appropriately... A great tool is summize, below.
Chris
Links:
Kent L
Owner, Anvil Media, Inc.
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We use Twitter to provide special promotions and last minute updates for our networking group, pdxMindShare. While the Web site and emails primarily consist of job and event posts, there are times that special events or promotions do not coincide with the weekly emails and Twitter provides an excellent alternative channel. To help grow the list of followers and provide unique value, we provide promotions and discounts unique to Twitter followers.
Overall, however, I recommend Twitter as a cost-effective communication platform for internal and external communications. During crisis, it is easiest to communicate to constituents via the ubiquitous cell phone vs. email or other channels. This worked well for local broadcasters during the big San Diego fire last season. The Oregonian, our local newspaper, has half a dozen Twitter accounts, for news, weather and traffic.
Regardless how use use Twitter, it's important to communicate the value proposition and deliver consistently over time. Lastly, keep in mind Twitter is one of many social media platforms that may benefit your business, and the more strategically you integrate media, the better. That is what we're doing with pdxMindShare via LinkedIn, Facebook, Meetup and Twitter. Good luck.
Links:
Carter F. S
Educator, Consultant, Coauthor The Emergence of The Relationship Economy
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The importance of Twitter as a business tool depends on your 1) focus in business, and 2) understanding of Twitter specifically and social media generally.
I used Twitter in a personal consulting session recently (see 4score and . . . how would Lincoln do on Twitter? at http://carterfsmith.blogspot.com/2008/04/4score-and-how-would-lincoln-do-on.html
One of the Fortune 100 Telecoms recently in the news has used Twitter to enhance their customer service, too (see The COMcastic forecast — chance of storms at http://carterfsmith.blogspot.com/2008/04/comcastic-forecast-chance-of-storms.html)
Fire Departments use Twitter (http://carterfsmith.blogspot.com/2008/04/twitter-catches-on-fire.html)
And so do Police Departments (http://carterfsmith.blogspot.com/2008/03/police-20-to-protect-and-to-twitter.html).
I'll stop with the offsite links -- just trying to keep it short, but if you go to my blog and search for Twitter, there's more. Other than my Twitter profile (@carterfsmith) below, there's a link to a spinoff of a classic fable that incorporates Twitter in a not-so-fictitious business scenario.
Links:
- http://twitter.com/carterfsmith
- http://carterfsmith.blogspot.com/2008/02/cio-versus-cmo-slow-and-steady-wit...
Clarification added 4 months ago:
I'm not all that well-connected, but I posted (in Twitter-speak, that's re-tweated) your question on Twitter . . . see http://twitter.com/carterfsmith/statuses/813823529 - Feel free to do the same!
If you follow me you shall be showered with riches :-) Your choice of Rands, Dollars or Euros.
@crownvic
But seriously, I search in summize.com for company names, buzz words, places etc. as part of the trend-tracking I do.
Links:
Twitter is a great resource, it helps to generate traffic. It is another source of social networking.I came across a site today that is helpful. the link I have listed is the one. i hope this helps you. have an awesome weekend! my name is starturfuture on Twitter
Links:
Stevie W
Consultant for Brands and Web 2.0, Editor, Writer
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The answers given are all worthwhile and definitely great suggestions and ideas about using Twitter. The biggest issue is that someone has to be plugged into twitter and able to check twitter often. However for generating traffic and buzz, it's awesome! I have seen it do some very interesting things and I have seen things set in motion -- when carefully used.
email me if you want more 411.
Steve H
Director of Instructional Technology Center & Web Services at University of Tennessee at Martin
Well, I can't say I have used Twitter as a business-only business tool. But I can say that it has given me a much more personal look into the lives of the people that I work with, and I believe that has enhanced our relationships.
But I can tell you that it certainly is going to be used much more on our campus as an education tool. We are planning on using it with Service Learning projects to capture participants thoughts and feelings during the SL activities.
Steve
James M. K
Registered Professional Architect
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Walter,
Is a Twatter what I think it is?
Jamie
This is actually a question -- but it's related, so I didn't want to start a new thread.
is Twitter effective with an older demo, say 45-64?
Back in the day, the middle aged folks were technology-averse. But now, since those folks are ME, I don't have as clear an understanding of how they relate to new stuff. Personally, I LOVE technology, but I'm not really and "average" Boomer. (Can there be such a thing as an "average Boomer?" another qustion for another day!)
Dina M
Director, Online / Interactive/Digital Media at Bernard Hodes Group/OmniCom Media
Twitter can effect a consumer AND recruitment brand in a rather small timeframe. I have learned so much from those within my industry that utilize twitter. Not having enough time to read all the blogs I "aim" to, I can count on those I respect and work with in the industry to point me in the direction of interesting industry news and tools.
For recruitment the ability for a candidate to peek into a company’s culture is amazing. This will allows a candidate to make a more intimate career decision.
I LOVE twitter and believe it has many business uses.
Take a look at how Southwest is using it, Zappos, and many others...
Clarification added 4 months ago:
Twitter can affect a consumer...
no spell check here on linkedIN ..sorry
For recruitment, I think it has various uses. For instance, create job feeds into widgets then embed them in your Twitter profile. Every follower would then be able to see these job updates as they're listed.
Andromeda E
CEO Internet Image Management (online reputation management company)
Best Answers in: Internet Marketing (1), Customer Relationship Management (1), Web Development (1)
It all comes down to who are your public and what product are you trying to market.
There are two types of people you would target on Twitter:
1) The actual public themselves who would buy/use your service
2) People who "write" about your product or "write" towards your public
If these people are found on Twitter, you definitely want to be there. It takes some work and you really need to interact with the community, participate with other people in addition to sending out your own message.
With that said, definitely follow me, I love twitter and have made some great friends!
Links:
Stewart M
Head Nerd at PacketExchange ( stewbagz @ stewbagz . com )
Best Answers in: Business Development (1)
If you are a heavy user of RSS feeds to keep abreast of developments, then you *can't afford to be without* Twitter! Also, if you work in a IT/hi-tech environment, you may find your suppliers/customers/competitors are already Twitter users - can you afford to not know which is talking to which ?
HTH
http://twitter.com/stewbagz - follow me: @stewbagz
Kind regs
Stew
Daniel T
Social Media Marketing and Community Manager, Strategist and Addict
Best Answers in: Blogging (2), Telecommunications (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
For consumer contact, external business contacts, and brand monitoring.
It's as important as the other methods of communication - email, phone, face-to-face etc. And it all depends on the company/individual engaging for their company/brand, and not just broadcasting any old pr-spun line.
Links:
I think Twitter is an important business tool, I think it is a great way to communicate with your customers, something about Twitter makes people more honest with the feeling and opinons. In addition I think it is a great marketing tool if you can find a way to mix you marketing messages with non-marketing stuff.
In answer to Ann's question I just have to say that (and I just turned 50--eeek!--the other day) I LOVE Twitter and use it daily for most of the reasons listed below.
Allen
James B
Corporate Internet Marketing, Social Media & SEO Expert
Best Answers in: Direct Marketing (1), Internet Marketing (1), E-Commerce (1)
I'd say very important, here's why:
Twitter is a real time micro-blogging platform that uses very short messages to share information. It’s format is similar to SMS text messaging without the fumbling thumb typing.
What I’ve been asked — more than a few times lately — is “How can I use this social media platform to market my business?” Here’s a few simple, yet powerful ways to put the power of Twitter to work for you:
****************************************************
How To Market Your Business Using Twitter
****************************************************
You can use Twitter to post:
* News announcements
* Messages to Twitterverse
* Survey questions to the Twitterverse
* Requests for feedback (eg. website redesigns)
* Links to:
- press releases
- special deals
- events
- programs
- promotions
- blog posts
- videos
- podcasts
- free software
And of course I recommend sharing non-promotional materials too like the great stuff you find on the web. Remember to ’share the love’ because it gets pretty lame if all you do is sell me, me, me…
Links:
Not too long ago I read a brief but thorough blog post on how to use twitter and potential applications for it (including business). The post is called Twitter for Dummies on a blog called JenuineJen.com. The link is below.
Links:
Gregory N
Creative Director, Direct Marketer, Blogger, Elvis Impersonator
Best Answers in: Internet Marketing (1), Viral Marketing (1)
I have been asking this question a lot lately and as an obsessed Twitterer (@gregoryng), the answer I keep coming up with is "I'm not sure."
I don't think anyone has truly optimized their business use of Twitter. But with companies like Comcast (@comcastcares), Southwest (@southwestair), Zappos (@zappos), and Jetblue (@jetblue) leading the way, we are certainly learning about the effects of instant feedback and accessible CEOs.
I have actually recommended Twitter presence to clients and my reasoning is this: With so many thought leaders, influential bloggers, and technorati on Twitter, it would be foolish to not think there is some potential.