Twitter for Business
December 12, 2008 by Summer
While Facebook — and, to some degree, MySpace – continue to be the most well-known social networks among non-early adopters, Twitter is actually the fastest growing network, according to a recent report by Nielsen. As a result, this communication tool is receiving massive amounts of press coverage – including articles in the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. This increasingly important social network is becoming a place to conduct business – as discussed in yesterday’s “Twitter for Business” webinar from Duct Tape Marketing (@ducttape) and Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan).
The speakers suggested thinking of Twitter as the Chamber of Commerce for the online world. That makes sense, when you consider that participating in Twitter is similar to attending a networking event roughly the size of a large city – say Los Angeles, population 4 million. But, don’t be overwhelmed. Jumping in opens the door to “virtually” endless benefits and possibilities for your business. For example, if you want to know what your online reputation is, chances are people are tweeting about you. Have a question you need answered ASAP? Ask your followers to get real time answers.
But, like any community, there are “cultural rules” that must be followed. As Chris Brogan put it, Twitter is similar to “offline” relationships – requiring commitment and consistency. He suggested Twitterers adhere to these three guidelines:
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Don’t be rude
- Don’t be boring
- You have to give to get.
As the speakers explained, social media – including Twitter – is a key component to the future of business development. And that’s something we can all use a little more of in this economy.
