How to Get Started With Twitter
By Victoria Player
Twitter, having been quickly adopted initially by key influencers, has grown into a mass-market communication tool with millions of users and is becoming more and more important for connecting with your clients, other business owners and for promoting your own work.
What is Twitter?
Twitter has changed the way that I use the web and connect with others online in many ways and there are a number of tangible benefits. Twitter is immediate, fast and is also an extremely effective resource. Not only will it help to reinforce your brand, network and collaboration but it also acts as the office water cooler and provides a place to chat and share your day-to-day activities with others.
Twitter started in 2006 and with an estimated 2.2 million users it really is becoming a powerhouse in online communication. It’s often referred to as a micro-blogging system, allowing users to stay in check with their subscribers (followers) via frequent status updates 140 characters at a time.
Why Should I be Using Twitter?
As I’ve mentioned, if you use Twitter smartly, it’s an outstanding tool for engaging with key influencers in your niche and also with your own target audience. Relationship building with your market is the most valuable thing your small business can do. These relationships grow and before long will turn into paying clients that you can reach out to for feedback and market research. Don’t forget that it’s this same group of people who can turn into brand evangelist which then turn into further valuable relationships.
How Do I Get Started?
Firstly I suggest you sign up to Twitter. I recommend that you use your name (with no spaces) or your brand/domain name minus the dot com/net/etc as your twitter account name. i.e. www.twitter.com/VictoriaPlayer.
Next, you need to track down the people that are worth following. I recommend that you use Twitter search, a Twitter directory service such as TwitDir or alternatively find out who to follow using Mr Tweet. Click ‘Follow’, once you’re on a person’s profile, to follow their Tweets.
The best way to learn about Twitter and understand how it can be used is to follow some leading bloggers and marketers and get a feel for the type of posts they are making.
Hopefully, I’ve given you enough information to fuel your imagination and make you want to get started with Twitter and its associated applications and services.
Remember, if you’re having problems I’m here to help. Just add me: www.twitter.com/VictoriaPlayer and feel free to ask me questions, or just say hello!
To get you up to speed, it’s also worth checking out the 'Twitter in Plain English' video, from the talented chaps over at Common Craft.
C'mon, let's get the conversation started! How has Twitter worked for you? What tips would you like to share with the rest of the small biz community? Share your comments below.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-NEWSLETTER, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Go ahead.
Please feel free to do so but ensure that you reproduce the article exactly as it appears here and include the following resource box in full:-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Victoria Player works with coaches and other women entrepreneurs to reach MORE people, change MORE lives and create a better lifestyle for themselves and others by utilising email, information products and the Internet. To get your FREE audio training program packed full of practical how-to business building advice, visit www.VictoriaPlayer.com