Twitter: It’s Not Just For Bloggers Anymore

Posted on 07. Jan, 2009 by Adam in Blogging

You probably already know about Twitter.

It has been touted as a ‘micro-blogging’ platform since it was established a couple years ago. But more and more brick-and-mortar businesses are using it to help generate a buzz about their company. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t be blogging anyway, but even if you only update your blog a couple times a week, Twitter can be used all day, every day to keep your company’s name on the fingertips of potentially thousands of other users.

A Quick Twitter Tip

When you sign up for the free service, make sure you choose a username that reflects your business – if not the actual name of your business. Set up your profile to include the link to your website and a brief bio. The key to Twitter is brevity, so try to make it short and catchy.

It takes a couple weeks to really get the hang of Twitter. On the outset it seems inane. You wonder why people are telling you what they are eating for lunch, or what they saw on television last night. But soon, you begin to notice that interspersed between these light-hearted comments are links to important blog posts, sales and promotions, and press releases. You’ll see that certain people are passing along (re-tweeting) links that are of particular interest.

At the speed of light, information comes in and goes out – and with surprisingly unique and personal flair for being limited to 140 characters. Twitter is to blogging as haikus are to poetry. The best of the best condensed down to the most concentrated form and peppered with humor, abbreviations, and good old fashioned camaraderie.

Mobile Twitter – The Way Forward?

The real value of Twitter can be demonstrated through handheld mobile communication devices like the iPhone or the Blackberry. Sitting on a train or waiting for a movie to start, you can send a message to a few hundred of your closest friends. And if it is interesting enough, they’ll forward it on to all their friends – reaching potentially thousands of people within seconds. Once you build up a reputation as a good ‘twitterer’ with interesting ‘tweets’, you’ll find people seeking you out and signing up to follow you.

The great thing about Twitter is that it gives you access to thousands of people who have all demonstrated an active interest in hearing from you—and it can be used with very little time and effort. You don’t have to be a particularly good writer, or even have something earth-shatteringly important to say. As long as you are regularly contributing to the community, you’ll build a rapport with other users and over time will find that you have a loyal following.

Eventually, tweeting a link to your site will result in hundreds—even thousands of visitors within a short period of time; and you’ll have the ability to get the word out about important business-related news before you even get back to your desk.

Follow Blogtrepreneur on Twitter!

Are you on Twitter? Follow us: http://twitter.com/blogtrepreneur and leave us a comment with your Twitter ID and we’ll follow you back!

Who are some of your favorite Entrepreneurs on Twitter that you currently follow?

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags: bloggers, microblogging, twitter

13 Responses to “Twitter: It’s Not Just For Bloggers Anymore”

Mike Smith

07. Jan, 2009

Nice article. I love twitter and use it to connect with other designers, bloggers, marketers, ect. I also have got a fair amount of work through it indirectly (not marketing the services – just people finding me and seeing what I do).

http://www.twitter.com/blogdesigner is my twitter link

Reply to this comment
Adam

07. Jan, 2009

Mike,

Thanks! Yes, twitter has been a good way for us to keep our followers
updated and doesn’t take up too much time either.
We are now following you!

http://www.Twitter.com/blogtrepreneur

Reply to this comment
Tom - StandOutBlogger.com

07. Jan, 2009

I decided to go with my name instead of my blogs name for the simple fact that I wanted it to be more personal – and it gives me the chance to brand my name alongside my blog.

http://www.Twitter.com/TomSinfield

I am now following both of you :D

Reply to this comment
Mikael

07. Jan, 2009

I’ve been signed up with Twitter for a long time but I don’t ever use it. I am so afraid that it’ll take up too much of my productive time and result in a decrease in revenue because I get “hooked” :)

Reply to this comment
Mike Smith

08. Jan, 2009

Nice – haven’t tried twitter yet, but will try it after I read this..

Reply to this comment
Andy Iskandar

08. Jan, 2009

Hey, just followed you! I now demand for you to follow me!… (pweeeaaase….)
:D

Andy

Reply to this comment
Andy Iskandar

08. Jan, 2009

Can u believe it… I forgot to put in my Twitter ID.

http://twitter.com/andyiskandar

Reply to this comment
Adam

08. Jan, 2009

Andy,

Your are now followed by http://twitter.com/blogtrepreneur

Cheers!

Reply to this comment
Adam

08. Jan, 2009

Tom,

Your are now followed by http://twitter.com/blogtrepreneur

Thanks!

Reply to this comment
Joe Anderson

08. Jan, 2009

Following :) computerjoe :)

Reply to this comment
beauty salon equipment

14. Jan, 2009

@Mike Smith,I agree with you about twitter.It doesn’t take much time, that is to me very important, because I am short with time almost always.Soon I will get my twitter account.
Till

Reply to this comment
Web Design Beach

14. Jan, 2009

Yes, more and more companies are going over Twitter. It has become matter of reputation to be Twitter member and to have large number of followers. And i support that, and only that, as with Twitter you can really fast get news or important reminders about events of businesses that you are involved it.

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