There certainly has been a lot of talk lately about this thing called "Twitter." Are you sick of it yet? Are you totally clueless as to what Twitter is? Are you convinced it has nothing to offer your company?
You better think again!
Part one of this post is going to be a quick and painless peek into the world of microblogging, and it will help you answer the following questions:
- What is Twitter?
- Who is on Twitter?
- What can Twitter do for my company?
If you're a Twitter novice, hold on to your hats... this post may blow you away!
1) What is Twitter?
Twitter is a microblogging site that lets people post updates about what they're doing and share them with friends. The platform was created in 2006, and the original homepage described Twitter as "a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"
Over recent months, Twitter has evolved tremendously, and is now more widely recognized as a free tool people can use to exchange information at any time to anywhere in the world. Simply put: it no longer functions solely to connect friends, families and co-workers... it connects strangers with similar interests, celebrities with devotees, and perhaps most awesomely, it connects marketers with consumers.
2) Who is on Twitter?
Your target audience. Plain and simple. Look – you obviously have a website because you want to cater to your potential and existing customers in an online environment. Well, I have no doubt that the people you're looking to connect with for business are among the 30-something million registered members Twitter boasts.
3) What can Twitter do for my company?
Those members of your target audience are talking on Twitter, and their voices are gaining presence, power, and influence. Sally who bought a salad spinner from you last month is talking with Sue, who is looking to buy a salad spinner. Imagine if you can listen in on this conversation – you can hear what Sally thinks about your product, and you can contact Sue at the right time to let her know you're having a special sale of some sort. Well, Twitter takes this marketer's dream opportunity and makes it a reality.
In a nutshell, Twitter can help you achieve crucial marketing goals that were previously tough obstacles, to say the least:
- Identify your target audience
- Locate the places your target audiences come to converse
- Listen to the conversations they're having about your company, product, or industry
- Connect with your target audience in a personable, insightful way
Still not sure what this means in business terms? I'll break it down further. In the long run, Twitter can help your company
- Better understand your customers' wants and needs
- Monitor and manage customer feedback
- Stay in the loop when it comes to your brand reputation
- Create or contribute to brand-specific communication
- Create and solidify relationships with new and preexisting customers
When it all comes down to it, you have to understand that this technology is not a fad. I know Twitter may be intimidating, but the conversations about your industry, and maybe even about your specific brand, products and services, are happening on that platform whether you're on it or not! It's up to you to tap into this wealth of feedback and opportunity!
Stay tuned for tomorrow's post, where I'll explore the fundamentals of how to get started on Twitter.