Communication takes many forms, especially these days with social networking web services, blogs and Twitter. “What is Twitter?” many people ask me, thus the inspiration for this article.
Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send and read other users’ updates, which are called ‘tweets’. These updates are short text-based posts, 140 characters in length or less. (this paragraph is 215 characters to give you an idea of “micro-blogging”)
Tweeting your way to business success: With a very simple account and profile setup, you can then use Twitter’s search tool to find people who are talking about your company or industry. Follow key commentators, customer’s even colleagues and listen twice as much as you ‘tweet’. Offer valuable tweets, something of interest, advice, or humor. Avoid constant self promotion. You will benefit by asking people about themselves, their interests and tweeting about their accomplishments. Respect is earned when people feel that you are genuinely interested in them.
I follow people I can learn from. A few famous people in my industry of motivation are Jack Canfield and Brian Tracy, as well as local people who are in similar businesses, Andrew Patricio from Bizlaunch in Toronto, and Scott Clark of Clark Communications here in North Bay. When I log into my Twitter account, I can see a chronological list of the tweets posted by these people, give them a quick read and post my own tweet or reply to people individually with a @reply which only goes to them.
You don’t have to login to Twitter for updates, they can be sent as SMS (text) messages to your mobile phone. Go ahead, tweet yourself and receive instant information to your personal device.
People use Twitter for personal or business purposes. It can be used within a family to keep in touch, or a company to coordinate business tactics, or even the media to keep followers informed. For myself, I use Twitter to let people know what I am doing as a speaker, trainer and author, which are building a fan base for me.
I have tried my best to answer your questions of “What is Twitter?” It’s micro-blogging and social messaging, a business and marketing tool, an event coordinator, with news capability and keeping people up-to-date all in one. Sounds like a lot, but it’s all so short and tweet. Tweet it, you might like it.
Happy summer!
Penny
