Twitter for Businesses

I've been telling you about how businesses should be taking advantage of social media networks such as Twitter, but I haven't explained exactly how to do so.

So first off, how do you set up a Twitter account?

1. Go to www.twitter.com, and click “Get Started-Join”
2. Fill out form using First and Last name (or supply exact company name if creating a business account). For username, pick any name you would like, but for a business account I would recommend using the exact name of your business in order to prevent confusion. Develop a password and supply the email which will handle the twitter-related traffic. Click Create my account.
3. Log in and start Tweeting! Express personality by posting “Tweets” into the “what are you doing” form. Using the ‘Find People’ tab, search for those of interest to you, follow them, and hopefully they (and others) will follow you. Using the guidelines highlight in this blog, you can successfully give some personality to your business, answer questions, and see what consumers think of your company or products.

Not so difficult at all..

But now what do you tweet about? Well, according to the article Tweeting for Companies 101, there are a number of possibilities:

• Thoughts & Reflections from the perspective of your business' personality.
• Your business' and others' events
• Contests - it is always entertaining, and who doesn't want to win stuff - people will follow you like crazy.
• Replies to other people (make sure to use proper Twitter Lingo as described in the article)
• Direct replies - discuss an issue with a consumer on a non-public basis
• Blog posts (your's and other's) - make sure not to gloat your own posts, but also to focus on other people's posts you find of interest.
• Company announcements
• Overhear something interesting or utterly hillarious? Share it.
• Internet games - show some personality and humor in your Tweets
• Lyrics and Quotes - once again, keeps your company's profile interesting and different
• Links to media you (and other people/businesses) create
• Shout outs - give thank you's, draw attention to others, etc. They'll appreciate it.

Again, I strongly suggest reading the entire article - it's very detailed and interesting.

That's all for now,

IMM, LLC

7 Characteristics of a Successful Social Media Profile

I stumbled an article the other day which lays out what business owners should be doing on social media networks. What particularly comes to mind when i read this article? Twitter.

I cant say much about the seemingly irrelevant Lego-themed images scattered throughout the article, but the content seems pretty legit none-the-less. It's a good read.

Here's a brief overview of what was said:

1. Strong Profile Visibility: Developing Brand Recognition

Teach, guide and help others adopt and use the social media service.

Visibility is also reliant on your participation levels

Brand recognition; Broad visibility will give you a lot of opportunities for networking, which helps you along the way.

2. Active Participation: Maintaining a Continuous Presence

The amount of time you spend on the site is directly proportionate to the growth of your brand presence.

You must not only be active but regular.

3. Practice Reciprocity: Seek Win-Win Outcomes

Comment, respond to or vote on others’ comments or articles. Instead of reacting, take the initiative doing someone a favor, and ask nothing in return. The unspoken rule of reciprocation will ensure that it’ll come back to you.

4. Effective Communication: Conversations are Important

Request and listen to feedback.

Make a point to connect whenever you have issues to discuss and not only when you need a favor.

5. Support the Community: Putting the Collective Before Oneself

Develop Credibility, be self-less – don’t just flaunt your own articles, products, comments—point out others which you believe are important

6. Provide Value Above All: Gaining Trust and Attention

Earn trust by providing value through your participation.

Offer something, it may not be your own articles—don’t just seek profit.

7. Demonstrate Integrity

Don’t do anything that violates each social media website’s rules.

For more information and to view the article, click here.

Twitter's Upcoming Presence in Business

A recent article on SiteProNews highlights how Twitter may not be just another social network aimed at wasting people's time - It's becomming an important asset for online marketing & creating a branding strategy.

According to the article, CEOs of Fortune international corporations such as Zappos, Virgin, & AOL are taking advantage of Twitter to keep in contact with their customers - with purposes ranging from solving customer service issues, generating a flow of ideas between the company and consumers, creating marketing campaigns to increase sales or draw attention, or simply create a personality to go along with their business.

It also highlights a number of success stories (and failures) from using Twitter for business purposes.

Check out the article at: http://www.sitepronews.com/2009/06/21/how-twitter-is-teaching-business-the-lost-art-of-conversation/

Welcome

It's incredible how Social Media has developed these past few years--household names such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, among others have changed the way businesses market to their target audiences. Businesses are creating online personalities to help them reach these markets, and in doing so create an online following for themselves. But how do they go about doing so? There are countless strategies - some as simple as tweeting whatever's on their mind, others more complex internet marketing campaigns aimed at increasing their online visibility.

This blog is meant to keep you informed on these internet marketing strategies.

Hopefully, we'll answer questions such as:

What can your business do to be seen via social media? How do social media and internet marketing link together? What are the latest trends in social media & internet marketing?

This blog is brought to you by the internet marketing & SEO firm, IMM-LLC. Enjoy & feel free to comment.