Written by Carl Freelove, Marketing Manager, Big fish Recruitment
It seems that everyday there is a new social media network that you MUST join, and at almost all of the online marketing conferences that Big fish attended over the past few months, there’s been a lot of talk about Twitter and its potential benefit for business communications.
What is Twitter?
Twitter is a micro-blogging service that allows its users to send updates or ‘tweets’ to their followers while following other individuals as well. Tweets are essentially text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length (about two sentences long) and can be received and sent on the Twitter website, a mobile phone or blackberry and a host of other websites.
Twitter is essentially a free PR tool and has relevance for almost every type of business. But whilst many businesses are flocking to Twitter, there are lots who still aren't sure how to leverage the tool to grow their business.
So below, we’ve put together some tips on how it can be used for marketing, market research and communications with customers and colleagues.
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Generate brand awareness - Spread brand awareness by sending tweets to connect followers to the company blog or website (also giving you additional web traffic)
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Launch viral marketing campaigns - Twitter is a useful tool for launching and maintaining viral campaigns due to its near-instantaneous updating capabilities. Brands can encourage users to follow them on Twitter in order to receive exclusive updates and news directly through instant Tweets
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Promote products and services - Twitter is an easy and free tool to share an idea or gather opinions from a large audience. Companies can promote products and services to their audience by simply writing a few sentences on Twitter without investing a great deal of time or money.
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Network with customers - Companies that tweet on a consistent basis tend to generate a larger audience on Twitter. These businesses are able to insert themselves into conversations about their industry that are already taking place, in order to promote themselves and their company's brand.
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Foster customer loyalty. Search Twitter for the questions your customers have, and the critiques they offer. Depending on the situation, you might respond with a tweet, or contact them directly.
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Enhance your company's impact at events. Converse in real time with other attendees and presenters at industry conferences and trade shows, and provide ongoing updates for those who can't make the event.
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Recruit new employees. With a vast network of social web savvy professionals just 140 characters away, tweeting about a job opening could be a great way to connect with the best and the brightest marketing & creative.
Although not a definitive guide to all things Twitter, this is hopefully a simple, practical road map to show you how to start using twitter to reach some of your business and marketing objectives. And don’t forget, if you have any other innovative ideas about how Twitter can be used effectively in business, please send them over - we'd love to hear them.
Best wishes
Carl Freelove
Marketing Manger
Big fish Recruitment
