Twitter’s nearly 200 million account users send 50 million Tweets a day. Friends, family members and colleagues stay connected via Twitter. However, entrepreneurs should not overlook the impact that Twitter can have on their businesses’ bottom line.
Twitter as a Global Platform
It was an ingenious idea that started the company in 2006. Twitter was founded by a handful of leaders: Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone and Evan Williams. Unlike Facebook, Twitter messages must be kept short, to 140 characters. This might be a reason that business leaders get more traction when it comes to connecting with their clientele when they use both social media platforms.
The ability to connect with a global audience swells for companies that opt to use Twitter. Applications are available in six languages: Italian, English, Spanish, Japanese, French and German. Tweets can be sent via a desktop computer, laptop or mobile device (e.g. cell phone, Blackberry). Artists can use Twitter to blasts messages to audience goers about upcoming concerts, speaking events or book signings.
Using Twitter to Grow the Bottom Line
Twitter can help entrepreneurs grow their bottom line when entrepreneurs:
- Create Twitter pages that mirror their company’s mission or personality. Include the company’s mission statement or a catchy quote from the CEO in the company Twitter profile. Entrepreneurs should also add their company’s website URL to their Twitter profile.
- Send private messages to the company’s new followers on Twitter. This increases the number of times the company interacts with Twitter users. It also builds and deepens new relationships.
- Allow users to post Tweets to their family and friends from the company website. Media sites like Zing and Blog Talk Radio have built-in applications that allow companies to add the Twitter application to their website using as few as ten lines of code.
- Review Twitter analytics at least once a week. Pay attention to “follower” reactions to company Tweets. If more people start to follow the company’s Twitter page after a Tweet about an upcoming sale, new venture or government regulation impacting one’s industry is posted, Tweet more of these types of messages.
- Invite current customers, colleagues and friends to follow the company on Twitter.
Getting Creative on Twitter
Entrepreneurs and artists can exercise their creative muscle on Twitter to grow their bottom line. To do this, they can:
- Tweet about a main character featured in their latest book or film. They can tweet comments, quotes or mishaps that the character is experiencing so that their Twitter followers become emotionally connected to the characters. Artists can also tweet about the progress of their latest CD (e.g. date music entered production).
- Tweet uplifting quotes once a day via Twitter.
- Give out the company’s Twitter URL during radio, newspaper, magazine and television interviews.
- Add the company’s Twitter URL to the side or bottom of gift bags and newsletters.
Twitter is a social media platform that companies, entrepreneurs and artists can use to spread the word about their products and services. Motivational quotes, tweets about book characters and upcoming performances help business owners remain connected with current and prospective customers. Although Twitter messages are limited to 140 characters, if a company’s tweet is picked up by mainstream media, that company could receive millions of hits to their website.
Rhonda Campbell - Reading gave me entrance into the world of writing. As a kid, I loved to read. I still do. I was in the fifth grade when I started ...
