• Twitter is what happens when SMS text messaging meets social media.
  • 65 million tweets (social text messages) are sent each day, but Twitter does have retention issues – only 40% of users are retained.
  • Twitter is micro-blogging. It is social messaging / an event coordinator, a news reporting service and a marketing utility.
  • Mostly Twitter users want to be the first to find out about anything.

1. It is a cross between blogging, texting, and instant messaging.

It’s where you keep people informed on what you are up to without the need to spend a lot of time crafting an entire blog post on the subject. You just say what’s up and leave it at that e.g. Sometimes, you just want to say “why does my computer decide to have a hissy fit when I need it the most?” or if you’re Cory Jane you might say “I’m eating fish and chips in the bath LOL”

2. Twitter is social messaging

Whether you are out on the town and want to coordinate with a group of people as to what hot spot to hit next, or keeping people informed of developments at a company-sponsored event, Twitter is a great tool for quickly communicating a message to a group of people. It’s certainly a lot cheaper and faster than sending group SMS text messages.

3. Twitter is news reporting

Turn on any international news channel and you’ll probably see a news ticker streaming across the bottom of the screen. In a digital world that is relying on the Internet more and more for news, that streaming ticker is Twitter.

4. Twitter is social media marketing

Twitter has become a favorite method of social media marketing. This new form of getting the message out was used effectively by Barack Obama during his Presidential campaign, and is used commonly by celebrities as a quick way to connect with their audience.

Top Tips for Twitter

1. Share your expertise to build credibility

Help others with problems, share tips, provide selected highlights from a conference or event, report industry, company, world and other news that’s related to your business, link to articles and content posted elsewhere with a summary of why it’s valuable. Post original thoughts on your topic, industry and business.

2. Grow your network

Participate in Twitter chats related to your industry or business on a regular basis, research prospects before meeting them, discover trends, network to find new clients, stay in touch with friends and colleagues, get and give referrals, ask and answer questions, recommend other Twitter users to your network, use Twitter’s search feature to find topics, keywords and locations, use #hashtags or @usernames to limit results, spread your tweets throughout the day, rather than posting them all at once, as people check Twitter at different times of the day.

It’s always primetime on Twitter.

3. Marketing

Customer service – if your site / service is not working, give updates on Twitter so customers know what’s going on, track conversations mentioning your name or your brand and respond to the tweets, link to your content wisely and sparingly to avoid looking too promotional, put your Twitter ID on all marketing collateral so prospects can learn more about you, share what you’re doing so people learn about the type of work you do, focus on relationship building, write honest and valuable recommendations for your contacts, mention when you’re attending or speaking at an upcoming event, post discounts, coupons and package deals, announce job openings to find qualified talent.

4. Do the right (and fun) thing

Share information that is useful for prospective clients or employers to enhance your reputation, be nice even when you have a difference of opinion, use Twitter often to improve, tighten and sharpen your writing, laugh and have fun.

5. And finally…

Use keywords on your profile and a fun fact to earn trust, add personality and enable you to be found, use a photo of yourself or a suitable image, follow experts, companies, competitors and leaders in your industry,

Think quality not quantity, be authentic, genuine and real.