Twitter for Business

By mary | Published April 22, 2009

(Originally presented at BYU on March 12, 2009) Listen to the AUDIO here.

What is Twitter?

Microblogging. It’s like a series of Facebook status updates in 140 characters, but better: more interactive, more open. Combines elements of StumbleUpon, Facebook, Email, IM, social/business mixers, and blogging.

Why should I be on Twitter?

It’s the fastest way to share and get information on the web. It takes time at first to build p followers and a good list of followees, but once you’re established, you can do anything on Twitter.

If you want to have any sort of online presence, you should start with Twitter (which can automatically update your Facebook account and your blog, so it’s really not adding too much extra effort).

What can I do with Twitter?

Network. Connect with people across the world (@Kirstyt in AUS) and locally (@sahans in UT). (e.g. Why I’m here instead of @StartupPrincess tonight).

Share stories/pictures/ideas. Send news articles (shorten links using tinyurl.com or tr.im), upload photos (twitpic.com), or take a poll to see if an idea is interesting.

Promote your product/website/brand. Tweet giveaways, events, sales, links to special posts. When people offer to stumble, don’t be shy.

Provide customer service. Set up an RSS feed for your brand name on search.twitter.com (e.g. Chris Brogan).

Build Relationships. Have real people (more than one, if possible) at your company tweet. Be personable and likeable (use humor). Interact, link to other companies.

Find mentors/sponsors. Follow people who are doing what you want to be doing, or who give opportunities to the people who are doing what you want to be doing. (e.g. Leapfrog, @morethanmommy).

Where should I start?

Sign up on Twitter, then explore the different platforms to access Twitter (on the web, on your iGoogle homepage, on your phone, on your desktop). Find an app that works for you. Many people like Tweetdeck and Twhirl. iPhone users like Twitterfon. I use BeTwittered – a gadget on my iGoogle homepage.

Add followers, but do it slowly, trying to keep your followers and followees pretty equal. And tweet – at least once a day, so you don’t look like a bot.

Want to know more? Try these:

How To Twitter (Wall Street Journal) (Note on settings – WSJ is mistaken. You can (now) determine whether you get all @replies or none, or only those that are between people, both of whom you follow).

50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business (Chris Brogan)

Shannon Johnson (Jane @ What About Mom?) is as committed to motherhood as she is to writerhood, which is to say that she should probably be committed. She lives in Utah with her husband Dick and their three daughters.

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7 Responses to “Twitter for Business”

  1. Emily on April 23rd, 2009 3:02 pm

    Thanks for the Twitter tips. I love Twitter and think it’s been great for my blog. More people should use it!

    Emilys last blog post…Anne Taintor is my kind of humor!

  2. Rebecca Leigh | Smart Fresh Writing for Business on April 25th, 2009 1:27 am

    Everyone is talking about twitter right now and this post had some neat suggestions and tips that aren’t in all the other ‘how to twitter’ posts.

    Like setting up an RSS feed at search.twitter.com to help your customers. Great!

    And in the spirit of the thing… feel free follow me @rebecca_leigh :)

    Rebecca Leigh | Smart Fresh Writing for Businesss last blog post…What they don’t teach you at school: learning how to learn in business

  3. startupprincess on April 26th, 2009 9:47 pm

    This was a great post, Shannon I learned a lot too! I’m still a newbie on Twitter it seems. Thanks for filling in for me and for shining so bright as a teacher and example!

    Hi Emily and Rebecca, thanks for your comments here… nice to meet you.

    If you’re not following me, I’m @startupprincess

  4. Jane @ What About Mom on April 27th, 2009 2:07 pm

    Hi Ladies!

    I hope my tips on Twitter are helpful. I’m not an expert by any means, but it has been my experience that Twitter almost instantly adds value to any endeavor — whether you’re in it for the community or the marketing possibilities.

    I encourage you to listen to the audio of the presentation I gave. It’s quite a bit more fleshed out than these notes here.

    Good luck!!

    Jane @ What About Moms last blog post…Biker Babes

  5. Jones on May 9th, 2009 12:55 am

    Great information, Shannon! Almost all the traffic for my blog comes from twitter! It was great meeting you today, Kelly. I enjoyed the speakers and the networking opportunity!

  6. startupprincess on May 11th, 2009 12:34 pm

    Hi Jones, great to see you here ;) thanks for checking out our site and this post…glad it was helpful. See you again soon!

  7. April~Living The Sweet Life on May 15th, 2009 12:41 pm

    I am so glad you posted this on your site. I can always learn new things about twitter and Social Media.
    Thanks!

    April~Living The Sweet Lifes last blog post…Fun Free Fridays Giveaway * Swim Fashions Week 2009 * Freebies

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