| p>About nine months ago I was contacted by a | | | | password. |
| customer who was excited about Twitter and all it had | | | | Look For People to Follow: Twitter has a 'people finder' |
| to offer. At the time, I must admit I knew very little | | | | in the top right corner. Look for companies or people |
| about social media: Twitter was simply a name I had | | | | you know and press the follow button. The more the |
| read in the paper but I was naive to all it had to offer. I | | | | merrier. Try to find and follow companies or people |
| felt like perhaps I had ignored one of the most | | | | you would like to follow you and ultimately do business |
| important new marketing tools on offer and I put | | | | with you. If the businesses and people you follow are |
| Twitter on my list of things to try in the very near | | | | interested in your products and services they will. This |
| future. I was still a little unsure about tweeting and | | | | will help create a community of followers: a captive |
| decided to first give it a go with something which was | | | | audience if you like of people that are interested in |
| not business related: my karate club. I am so happy I | | | | what you have to say. |
| did and I am now using it daily in my own business as | | | | Make contact with those following you: When people |
| well. | | | | begin to follow you, be sure to make contact with |
| In my pre-Twitter days, I would keep in touch with my | | | | them. Thank them for following you and offer your |
| customers as often as possible but it was always a bit | | | | details again. Something like: "Thank you for following |
| worrying that perhaps I was sending one too many | | | | (your company). If you require any information about |
| e-shots or making a phone call too few. Those days | | | | (your product/s or services) please do not hesitate to |
| of worry are over. You see, anyone that wants to get | | | | contact me", will do just fine. |
| updated on what is new on offer simply needs to | | | | Tweet Regularly: Perhaps you could make a habit of |
| check out my Twitter page. Before Twitter, I would | | | | tweeting your special of the day every morning with a |
| need to despatch e-shots, brochures etc. Now my | | | | link to the special on your website or you could |
| information is already distributed! It is there for anyone | | | | introduce your customers to an article you just had |
| that wants to read it when they want to read it. They | | | | published. Try not to make it all about business. Take |
| simply need to visit my Twitter page to get up to date | | | | an interest in your Twitter community. Think of this as |
| fast. | | | | a way to make both business and casual conversation |
| You might ask how this is different to visiting a | | | | with your online community. If all you do is speak about |
| company's own website. Can you not put updates | | | | business all the time, people will soon switch off and |
| there instead? Well, it is a lot different. You see, | | | | stop following you. |
| Twitter only allows you to write short statements of | | | | Spend time on Building Your Community: After only |
| 140 characters or fewer, including a web page link. | | | | one month on Twitter, the Google Page Rank of my |
| You need to make your messages short and to the | | | | Twitter page had already gone to PR3. That is fast. |
| point. This popular social media site is also interactive. I | | | | The more people that follow you, the higher your |
| have much more regular contact with my customers, | | | | Google Page Rank. Links pack to your site could |
| friends, suppliers and even competitors that was every | | | | become more significant. |
| before possible. | | | | Don't forget to Advertise You Are on Twitter: In your |
| So how do you achieve success using Twitter? Try | | | | blogs, articles and of course on your website let the |
| the following five suggestions and you will be well on | | | | people that matter know where you are. You can also |
| your way. | | | | promote your Twitter page on any printed media you |
| Open your free account: This is easy. You simply need | | | | may send out. Make sure your customers know |
| to visit and fill in your details along with an email and | | | | where to find you and to keep in touch. |