This is adapted from an email I wrote in response to the question, 'why do you Twitter?'
From a business perspective, Twitter enables you to:
1. Gain insights into people’s lives that you wouldn’t (e.g. I follow a number of ‘gurus’ in the states because I look to them as role models. I look at this group as roles models and news providers… I follow them because I get to see what they’re ‘following’ in terms of trends, information, people etc)
2. Direct traffic back to your site by posting links about your latest blog, offer, product, program, service etc.
3. Finally and yet I think most significantly…. To create a network and then maintain regular contact with them…. this builds familiarity, credibility and therefore trust. The power in Twitter is you can literally maintain multiple conversations at once…. Similar to how you do at a networking event…. except you can do with far more people than you can do face-to-face. The power comes in as you don’t actually have to leave your computer.
To effectively use Twitter you therefore need to:
1. Post a combination of ‘what I’m doing’ posts as well links to useful and interesting information – be an information provider, be ‘follower-worthy’
2. Engage in meaningful conversation with the people in your Twitter network – i.e. when you see someone’s post that resonates with you or you can help, reply…. Publicly most times (because it helps to build your follower list), but then by Direct Message (DM) as that is private – this is where I share email and phone details for example – for specific follow-up and more personal conversation.
My final tip for the newbies…. Don’t try to manipulate it… just voyeuristically participate for now and you’ll get the hang of how to make it work for you… that’s how I started only a few months ago…. Now I have over 120 followers and an very active 'response' network.
Be warned - it can be addictive - but it's a lot of fun and an extraordianarily powerful social media too.
If you want some more info on how to use Twitter, check out these sites...
http://prevential.com/twitter-tips/
http://www.briansolis.com/2009/02/finding-tweet-spot-top-tips-for.html
See you in 'Twitter-Land' :-)
Cat
(are you following me? www.twitter.com/catmatson)
