Using Twitter as a Marketing Tool

These days, almost everybody uses social networking sites. People find them the easiest way to meet new people, stay in touch with friends and, most importantly, reconnect with old friends that they have lost touch with. It’s quite common to hear of people who have reconnected with childhood friends or school friends whom they haven’t met in years but are now able to keep track of their friends.

However, keeping track of people has now taken on a new dimension. Take Twitter, for instance. It is a social networking site that offers a messaging system in real time for friends. Twitter provides a service online that facilitates broadcasting of short messages to friends and acquaintances. It also lets you identify which Twitter users you want to keep track of to follow their activities. But that is not all.

Apart from micro-blogging, Twitter now is considered an important tool for marketing. There are many different theories as to how to make the most of it as a marketing tool. The fact that all you need is a cell phone and don’t have to be tech-savvy has had a tremendous effect on Twitter followers.

Twitter lends itself to socializing and communication. People use Twitter to share resources and tips with links to interesting, relevant sites. They also share pieces of personal and business communication. Twitter is also found to be most conducive for promotional information and publicity. Many commercial applications have surfaced such as politicians giving updates on their activities.

Twitters efficacy for marketing and commercial applications is evident when you consider that it is used for news items posted by the BBC; it is used by online retailers such as Woot for offering deals all day long; for news posted by Apple; and special promotional offers made by JetBlue.

Among those who find Twitter an effective marketing tool are restaurants, who find it economical to promote themselves because it’s free and instant. They send out ‘tweets’ when being newly launched; about new menu’s being introduced; and recipes being shared. They often find that the bulk of their patrons are ‘tweeters’.

To make the most of Twitter as a marketing tool, first freeze on your objectives. Then develop a data base of ‘friends’ or groups who would form your target audience. Formulate your message, keeping it crisp and effective. You would be surprised to know how much you can pack into 140 characters.  All you need to do now is click on ‘send’ and your marketing strategy is up and running!

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