You may have heard people tell you should use Twitter, but actually taking the plunge can be rather intimidating. Since I just got off of the phone after trying to explain the difference between MySpace and Facebook to my mother, I know that hearing the phrases “Twitter” and “tweet” make some people’s heads spin.
I am going to be brutally honest here: I’ve only recently embraced Twitter myself. I quickly jumped in to the world of blogging, but I had to be coaxed into taking the plunge into micro-blogging. And that is all Twitter is–a blogging application that is shrunk down so that each entry has a limit of 140 characters.
They are small but you better believe that this tiny microblogs pack a powerful impact and they can go a long way towards boosting your business. Just be sure that you do not jump into those waters before you’be had a few swimming lessons.
Like all social networks, Twitter has its own etiquette, and you do not want to be the one at the party who is unaware of the rules. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
Conduct Business as Usual
If you want to use Twitter for business, set up an account specifically for that purpose. You can use a separate account to keep family and friend updated on your latest personal news.
Be Polite
Just as you would not interrupt a private conversation, be aware that when you see @[insert name here], then that is a Twitter post that is directed at a specific Twitter user and you shouldn’t interrupt.
(Now some of you will say that if a person really wanted to say something privately, they should not post it on Twitter. You have a point, but I do not make the rules; I am just passing on the tip.)
It’s Okay to Pull Someone Aside
That being said, it is possible to send someone a personal message via Twitter. The Twitter control panel will allow you to do this and then the message is like an IM (instant message) and it will not be visible to the public.
Of course Twitter is just one aspect of social media. If you want to implement an entire social media marketing strategy, turn to Increase Visibility. We can go over your business and help formulate a comprehensive SEO marketing plan to optimize you web presence. Then we will assist you in creating buzz by using article marketing, social bookmarking and blogging. Social media marketing will help your search engine ranking by improving link popularity while at the same time building direct traffic to your site.
Come back on Wednesday to learn more about how Twitter can be great for business.
