How to Use Twitter

I tweeted him and him and..."

Yipee! Look a new follower!

Oh my God! ______ (Celebrity name) actually replied!!!

I don't need to tell you about this aspect of twitter, do I? How to use twitter as a social communication tool - you've got that down pat. After all it is a social networking site so there must be enough interest generated there. Yes, twitter is a social tool and people use it to lament and to 'follow' others' daily happenings (no matter how mundane), so also to peruse through an account of their thoughts and actions and basically to connect. Fun when you get into the groove of it. But that apart, twitter need not be relegated to mere entertainment, but can also take up other roles and serve other purposes. For business purposes, for example.

Using Twitter for Business

Aim Directly
Most companies have blogs that they use as an extension of their corporate profiles. This helps them dole out added information about the company, its achievements, the awards etc. They can also add related links that take people on an in-depth tour of the site and thus help promote the business on the whole. Tweeting works in the same way. When there is information added, it helps people know the company more personally and that helps by way of advertising.

Now here's how twitter is different. It did not start out as a tool for business. People ventured into the territory of using twitter for marketing after it was established. Thus the tone and mood of twitter was already set. People did not want to follow company activities and business deals, but were more inclined towards being able to read personal tweets. So also the rule that only provided 140 characters for each tweet. So businessmen and corporates had to devise ways by which to be able to tweet and yet promote business. How did they do that? By using one liners and turning the message into a conversation piece. For example if a company wants to promote their new line of perfumes - a tweet like: 'Check out the new perfumes at so and so...(celebrity name) thinks they are rad!'. That gives an instant connection to the public and also promotes the product.

Aim Indirectly
This works in the same way that the direct marketing does, but this uses a different means to get that message across. Instead of personally tweeting, the company's employees tweet on its behalf. These are subtle messages and use a lot of public relations tactics to promote the business. Le me elucidate further. Here is an example: 'The guys at work just gave us a bonus...out of the blue! I love these guys!' This employee has added a seemingly innocent tweet about her personal life, but the effect? It throws her employers in good light and works to create a positive effect in the tweeting community about them. Result? Business promotion and a great way of making money tweeting!

Promote Employee Rapports
Using twitter professionally has also shown to promote a healthy work environment and relationships at the work place. Employers who use twitter to go beyond and share personal aspects of their lives like 'Carpooling fixed for tomorrow?' lead to improving relationships with their colleagues. This directly affects the quality of work in a good way that is. And happy employees directly translates to good work. Promoting business all the way!

Listening In
Many companies do not use twitter to necessarily tweet others and promote their business directly or indirectly, instead, they listen. They 'follow' professionals and catch on for signs of any shift in market or the like. For example - 'Gary says that the market is going to hit an all time low soon! Just when I needed the cash most!' This kind of feedback (not about the cash people) - the market hitting a low could help some company be prepared and devise ways of not incurring a loss.

There are so many applications that come with twitter and they can help in so many ways. So all you need to learn now is how to use twitter on your phone and you won't even be restricted to finding a computer for tweeting. Seems perfect to me. Great business boost, no less.