Twitter 101

Twitter is a fast-growing social networking Web site.  People can communicate with each other 140 characters at a time.  So the messages are short and to the point.

It is a bit like being at a huge cocktail party.  You can start conversations, or jump in and join another person’s conversation.  You can simply listen (read) what other interesting people are saying. You can meet new people and search for people you know.

The great thing about using twitter for business is that you can follow people who are in your target audience – If you are a caterer you can find brides to be, introduce your business to them and engage them in a conversation.  You can even offer them a “special deal” if they book their wedding with you.

Remember though that the point of social networking is to make “friends”, educate and share good content.  It is a place to build relationships.  It is not a good platform for being a pushy salesman.  Just like in the brick and mortar world, you must create credibility and trust before you gain buyers.

Be mindful of not making every tweet promotional.  Make sure to share tidbits of relevant information that your followers will benefit from reading.  The biggest compliment you can receive is when someone re-tweets (passes on) your message.  That means your message was truly of value.

One last thing to keep in mind.  All of your tweets are permanent and can be searched on the web.  The old adage still applies “Don’t say anything that you wouldn’t want printed on the front page of the paper”

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