Search Marketing Blog
Should my business be on Twitter?
Posted by Tyson Braun on 04.02.2009Everyone is Talking about Twitter
Twitter is gaining a lot of attention lately, for um…gaining a lot of attention. The site’s popularity even warranted a news story on CNN this week, leading to millions of social media laggards to ask two questions: ‘wait, what is Twitter?’ and the more introspective, ‘Do I need to be on Twitter?’
For businesses, the tempting answers are ‘who cares’ and ‘of course, it’s popular!’ But smart businesses will give the prospect a little more thought. Twitter is hardly a ‘magic bullet’ for every social media campaign. Consider if and how Twitter can fit into your business before you buy in to the latest fad.
Twitter for businesses
As a part of our Social Media Marketing campaigns at EngineWorks, we may recommend clients engage in Twitter feeds. If done well, it can be a great way to engage potential customers with their brand, drive qualified traffic to their site, aid in Online Reputation Management, and reach Search Engine Optimization goals.
We stress to our new Tweeters to spend some time learning the language of their online customer. Businesses should be able to know why anyone would want to ‘follow’ their business on Twitter and what they can give, which others will find useful. After this research, you should understand:
1. How your customers tweet
2. How you can join the conversation
Start by doing a search on Twitter. Search for keywords that are relevant to your business and see what you find. You’ll most likely find many tweeters are indirectly looking for your products or services. Some example tweets: “I need a vacation” “Anyone know of a good restaurant” “Anyone know of a good book?” “I love Brittany Spears!!!” “Can’t wait to hit the slopes after work”
If your business can offer a vacation package, a free appetizer, a two-for-one book coupon, a Spears CD or a ski conditions update, then start your Twitter account and dole out the goods!
Creative use of Twitter
Whether Tweeters mean to or not, they are often either proclaiming their approval of something or searching for a solution to a problem. One new Tweeter has noticed a common problem among the masses and carved a niche to help them. The problem: trying to find employment.
Portland Twitter Jobs responds to tweets for help through its Twitter feed, and connects people to available Portland jobs. Job seekers can ‘follow’ these feeds and receive updates when new jobs are posted on to popular job sites, a convenient service to those who are tired of sifting through the countless job postings.
Another great example of a successful Tweeter here Portland is the Portland Trail Blazers. No stranger to social media, the Blazers sprinkle their followers with tweets about injury updates, trivia contests and ticket deals through the team’s Twitter stream.
That’s It
Businesses that are successful with Twitter take the time to understand how they can fit it. Twitter may be a great tool for your businesses, but it’s hardly a one-and-done venture. Keep your tweets fresh and always be thinking about your followers. Earn their trust by showing them something useful, instead of just ads for your products. Also, craft pages on your site to satisfy their expectations set by your Tweets and you’ll earn their businesses when they arrive.
Hopefully, you can gain a few life-long customers along the way.
From Engineworks: Should my business be on Twitter? « Portland Twitter Jobs 04.02.2009 at 5:32 pm
[...] Twitter is gaining a lot of attention lately, for um…gaining a lot of attention. The site’s popularity even warranted a news story on CNN this week, leading to millions of social media laggards to ask two questions: ‘wait, what is Twitter?’ and the more introspective, ‘Do I need to be on Twitter?’ Read more at engineworks [...]
Amelia Brazell 04.03.2009 at 7:36 am
Can’t turn on CNN without Twitter being discussed, used, promoted… With so much media interest, Twitter is edging into mainstream media. It surprises me when my clients and other companies look like deer in the head lights when I suggest strategies using Twitter.
I laughed this week when local radio was making fun of twitter…could it be that they are afraid of the new media giant and perhaps loosing some of their ad dollars?
Zach D 04.07.2009 at 11:47 am
It seems like Twitter for business accounts seem to travel down two major avenues. Either A) a traffic generator by directly linking to their site or B) building the brand by trying to portray the company’s (or individuals, i.e. Kevin Rose) personality.
Most companies seem to be a combination of the two, but personally, I prefer the latter. Being a salesperson is being a salesperson, just because you’re hiding behind social media doesn’t disguise the fact that you’re trying to get me to buy your product/service. I’m much more likely be a fan of your company once I build a trust with your brand.
Very sound advice Tyson Braun.