Twitter, the next biggest thing?

So here we go again, just another fad for the kids, can’t see the benefit…

Well, maybe not.

If I’m honest, that’s kind of what I used to think.

Being an avid fan of facebook, I considered it to be facebook status updates only without all the other features of facebook. Well, that’s one way of looking at it, I guess.

Twitter on the face of it is a very simple tool that offers a very simple service.

So how does it work?
1) Simple, you sign up to twitter (free of charge) at www.twitter.com
2) You set your profile up perhaps with a photo of yourself etc
3) You post a small (up to 140 characters) update
4) You search for other people you know (you follow them)
5) You can then read their small updates or “tweats”

What are the benefits?

Get under someone’s radar
So you follow a lot of people and you can read their updates or “tweats”, so what’s the big deal?

Well, it’s twitter protocol, that if you follow someone, they follow you back!

Imagine you have a prospect or someone you want to get under the radar of. What better way to pay them a compliment by electing to follow them, and more to the point have them follow your updates to.
As a small business owner this can be a very powerful tool if used well.

You’re only as good as your sources
If you want to keep up to date with what’s happening in your industry and have your finger on the pulse, why not follow the movers and shakers in your industry.
Most key people post twitter updates and it’s often a way to get to that breaking update before anyone else.

If Bill Gates and Barak Obama can post updates, you can too!

Boost your credibility
I’ve seen many small business owners following their customers (remember it’s common courtesy for people to follow you back). And share updates from key industry specialists that they’ve picked up from the people they follow.

If you’re the supplier that’s distributing useful information and news to your customers, that’s a powerful tool and adds a huge amount to the reputation of your business. It can also trigger a lot of ideas with your customers and indirectly promote both you and your services.

Needless to say, it can often be a good business generation tool.

Build relationships
If your customers follow your twitter posts, it doesn’t hurt to post a few updates that give away a little about yourself.
Anyone that follows my updates will know that I come from the Isle of Wight, play in a band, have kids and love my motorbike. It sounds daft, but all these little things help people get learn things they have in common with you, start conversations and build relationships.

Relationship + Trust = Business

Want to know more? Follow me jasonsammon