Most businesses are now realizing that traditional forms of advertising such as newspapers, television, and radio are no longer effective methods of marketing a product or service. The development of new technology, particularly the Internet, has changed the way businesses advertise. Social media and social networks are fast becoming an effective marketing tool. If you are familiar with social networks, you probably have heard of Twitter.



Twitter is an online community of over 5 million people and growing who write text-based, mini-blog posts (max 140 characters) about their lives. Businesses have begun to see the potential of using Twitter as an effective method of marketing.

Using Twitter as a business marketing strategy can have number of benefits:

Build Relationships and Partnership Opportunities: Twitter can improve online business communication and build a relationship with customers. It is an excellent method of having a conversation with your targeted consumers and connecting with potential customers. It is easy to make Twitter friends. When you are surfing the web, and come across a Twitter box, click on it. You will be taken to a person's profile. Click on the 'follow' button and you will then start to follow them. The person will then 'follow' you back. Soon you will find yourself with many followers.

Gain Media Exposure: Twitter allows you to say connected to relevant bloggers and the media. You have the ability to follow various media outlets and bloggers and they will follow you. It is a great way to connect with influential people in the media. They will stay informed about current events relating to your business and if they see a story from what you typed, you may end up getting some publicity. CEO's can use Twitter from anywhere in the world as an effective marketing tool. It is perfect for a business owner who is always on the road.

Building a Brand: On Twitter, you are not supposed to constantly use it to promote a particular product or service. People on Twitter want to learn about the person. Once they learn about you then they will want to learn about your company. The CEO of Zappos created a sizable twitter following list by allowing users to know about him. Although he talks to his employees and about his company, he also comments on daily events in his life. When a CEO sends a message, people will feel as though they are getting to know him or her which helps promote the brand. The company does not seem as cold or sterile. You can also build a brand by providing live updates on events or conferences, promoting blog articles, webinars, news items, as well as announcing special sales and contests. Any content that is appealing to your audience will help you build your brand. Building a brand using twitter is a productive way of generating sales. A great example is Dell's use of twitter to generate sales. InternetNews reported that Dell has produced $1 million in revenue over the past year and a half through sale alerts via Twitter. People who sign up to follow Dell on Twitter receive messages when discounted products are available at the company's Home Outlet Store. They can click over to purchase the product or forward the information to others.

Generate Quality Leads and Website Traffic: Building relationships with customers, gaining media exposure, and building the brand, will all contribute to driving more traffic to your site. If your twitter is interesting, there will be a viral effect in that the word will spread over the web. If you are just getting started on twitter, get your friends and family from all over the world to follow you. Remember, in order to acquire followers, you have to follow others. Dell has now taken its Twitter campaign to a new level by offering discounts exclusively to the 11,844 people who follow @DellOutlet.

One helpful tip in building a group of followers is to select people to follow who are in your business's target market. You should also follow thought leaders who have credibility and are respected members of the business community. As well, keep your messages in a way that is consistent with your overall marketing strategy.

Technology has forever changed how businesses market their products and services. When done correctly, promoting a company's ideas, thoughts, business, brand, products and services in 140 characters, can lead to lo increased website traffic, leads, and sales. It just makes sense for any company or business to take advantage of a marketing tool that is spreading across the Internet like a wildfire.