: Web marketing: tangible advantages of being on Twitter? Could someone explain me what could be an advnatage of being on Twitter for a company website? Except the fact that it's on fashion right

@Sims2060225

A raw twitter stream will typically look like gibberish for the uninitiated, especially when Twitter is used right. The short format (max 140 characters) typically force the tweeter to use very domain specific lingo, which may look weird for the outsider. This is why you might feel alienated when you visit certain Twitter streams.

You should only follow companies/people you care about, and you need not read all their tweets, at least not addressed messages (those tweets start with "@somename"). Create your own twitter login and follow those that interest you. When you follow someone, you don't see addressed messages to strangers and this typically remove the 'private noise' you see on their Twitter profile page. If you find the tweets from someone boring or just too frequent, stop following them. Tweet, re-tweet and reply wisely. When done well people will start to follow you.

Some companies tweet short sensible announcement, like a long boring list of short news headlines. The more savvy companies manage to engage with 'their followers' - people (typically customers) who somehow take an interest in what the company is doing. Companies who manage to do this have a 'direct line' to their most hard core customers/fans out there. They can chat back and forth with them both as a collective group and more individually.

I would say that Twitter has value for a company if - and only if - they can reach and engage customers, potential customers or relevant influential people via their Twitter activity. Twitter without engagement is probably a waste of time.

Obvious benefits of engaging relevant people via Twitter are keeping the outside world up-to-date with your products and getting feedback from people who care enough to give it, but you can also use Twitter to build up your brand as a caring company with great opinions on industry matters (react to feedback, share tips, voice you opinion on major relevant events). If you manage to do this you will probably get higher customer loyalty, and as a side effect you also get great input for future product development and voicing your opinions might also spawn of more awareness inside your company.

Some companies can benefit from Twitter while other would be wasting their time. If you sell high-end skateboards to rich teens, Twitter could probably boost your sales a lot. If you are a mortician I'd guess you wouldn't find Twitter useful.

Question UPDATE:
twitter.com/inmotionhosting

talks with customers and respond to positive feedback and negative feedback - those customers are probably happy being heard. He is also following people who contact him. Both can build loyalty.

He is sharing some tips and he is showing a social side of the company by tweeting about employees birthdays and pictures from social events - this is to try to make him interesting to follow and show a human face. He also has some personal “now I’m going to meeting” tweets which I guess he might as well not do – I expect no one cares.

In short he is engaging customers and showing a side of the company that would otherwise have gone unnoticed. The followers (that read his tweets) are often reminded of the company’s existence and get a more personal relationship with the company.
twitter.com/arhoster
just use twitter as a list of news headlines. They don’t seem to spend much time on it and they don’t seem to be using Twitter as a social media. They might be starting up their twitter activity – it takes time to learn Twitter and engage people.

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@Speyer207

I have a client who is VERY social media saavy. She tweets multiple times daily in some cases, always with a bit.ly link to her latest work. Also, facebook and linkedin are kept up-to-date with her latest site updates.

Traffic-wise, the social media brings in twice as many people as Google (despite heavy emphasis on SEO) Her industry is saturated (think Realtors, Auto Dealers, and the like which are just over-advertised) so AdWords are scary expensive, but she's getting quality impressions for free thanks to social media.

Be aware, to do it right like she does takes determination, attention to detail, and most of all time.

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@Kristi941

Why use Twitter:


It's a great way to communicate quickly and easily to people interested in your product/service/company. Many people have Twitter running whenever they are on their computer or smart phone. Reaching them is as easy as a 140 character or less tweet.
Tweets are easy to forward. Let your twitter followers advertise for you. It's not uncommon for tweets to go viral and big part of this is people see tweets from friends and people they follow to be more personal then random advertisements.
It's easy. Seriously. There's a million ways to use Twitter and they're all easy to do.
It helps you build a network. Not only are your followers part of your network, but so are their followers if they retweet you.


Don't use Twitter:


If you don't plan on being semi-active. You don't have to tweet every day but if you don't keep yourself active you may no longer seem interesting or relevant to many followers.
To post personal messages. Separate business from pleasure.


Randomness:


Twitter is a great way to handle customer service issues. Many people will complain on Twitter but not to you directly. This is a great way to catch those and turn them in an excellent customer service experience. I've personally seen this done many times by large companies.
Try to create your own hash tag. That will make it easier for you to find tweets that are about you.
Follow people that are related to your product/service. They may follow you in return.
Don't expect huge awesome things to come from Twitter. It's just one of many tools your company can use to market yourself and even do some good customer service.

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