There’s no question that the single most internationally exposed Social Media tool of the last 12-18 months is Twitter.
Already well on it’s way last fall, by Spring 2009 Twitter reached a Popular Culture high of success when Oprah Tweeted for the very first time on live TV in front of an estimated 10 million people. By July 2009, ComScore reported that Twitter had reached 21 million U.S.visitors, and this number did not include mobile Twitter users, which some sources report represents more than 75% of their users.
With numbers like that even executives like Richard Branson and the CEO of Ing Direct are using the platform to communicate with customers and the public in general. Managing their brand and releasing new product through Twitter and Facebook. Many Internet marketers and Social Media Consultants will say Twitter is a must when it comes to the top Social Media sites to add to your list of ways of managing your brand and reaching existing and new clients and customers. Kraft Foodseven used Twitter for their latest product launch, using the Social Media platform to arrange meetings, Tweetups and tastings all geared to generating buzz about their new Flatbread Pizza.
So why should YOU use Twitter? It’s free to use and there are dozens of sites available offering free tools to help users manage their accounts. Some of the most common are TweetDeck, Hootsuite and Socialoomph. Twitter can be used to generate traffic for your site, network, promote your brand, receive instant feedback, help you find new clients and customers. So the question really should be not why should you use Twitter, but WHY NOT?
Recently, several clients have indicated that while they understand and use the basics on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace, Twitter is somewhat of a mystery to them. Unnecessarily sheepish comments ranging from “how do I use it?” and ”I’m not sure how it works”, to “I have a few hundred followers, what do I do now?” are the most common.
To those of you already Tweeting, this will be less than a revelation, but to new comers, or a neweeter, this lists below should be helpful.
Ask no more! Here’s a list of just a few “Twitter Terms” to get started:
- Tweeter: Twitter user
- Tweet: Posting an update to Twitter (also called tweeting)
- Tweetup: Tweeters meeting in person
- Neweeter: You! A new Tweeter
- Re-Tweet or RT: to reuse or retweet a previously posted Tweet
To read more about how to post on Twitter, ReTweet or reply to another user check out Twitter’s user guide here: Twitter 101.
Happy Tweeting!
Follow Author Source on Twitter!
I recently became active on Twitter and managed to gain a few hundred followers (which I did by following so many others that I get dozens of tweets per minute and there’s no way to keep up with them.) I tried to target people that I thought might have an interest in my product (just released a children’s book. However, I have found that tweeting, like blogging, is mostly full of people trying to network and sell their own thing. Everyone’s selling, no-one’s buying. Consequently, I have seen no benefit from using Twitter.
This is not an uncommon sentiment Author Source hears from some of our new clients. Not every tool is meant for every author, and not every tool is out there with the sole purpose of generating sales.
Social Media tools, such as Twitter and Facebook, when used effectively, are about reaching people who you may not have otherwise had exposure or access to.
They are about communicating in a unique way with your prospective audience, in a way that benefits both users.
best information thanks