How Do You Use Twitter for Business To Engage Your Audience?

This is my first post relating to my MIS 750 subjects. I feel sorry for myself for not starting earlier as my working conditions require me to committ with the current task given by the management. My company is in the process of fulfilling the legal due diligence request for IPO listing. InsyaAllah I will try at my level best to fill up my blog with 5 entries as required.

Everyone seems to have a Twitter handle these days:  News reporters, celebrities, restaurants, friends, and your business contacts.  Twitter usage has skyrocketed to over 100 million active accounts.  Moreover, this dynamic social medium can be the X factor for business. A game-changer, Twitter offers people the ability to strategically build and leverage their business brand.

While Twitter’s audience continues to grow in popularity, many businesses have not harnessed its power. One possible reason many companies are not adopting or mastering the tool: Twitter is not intuitive.  Few of us are immune from inertia and resisting new ways; but oftentimes once we have concrete steps to follow, we feel we can do almost anything.  So before you add Twitter to your things to do “whenever” list, ask yourself this question, “Can I afford not to give it a try?”

Below articles I got it from the internet. The reference is reflected at the bottom of this topic. I think this is a good article for our knowledge as it can be one of business networking process.

 

Engaging Your Customers

Depending on the nature of the business and goals, companies use Twitter effectively in different ways.  Although, fundamentally, the common denominator is that they are actively “engaging” with customers and building communities.  By not engaging, businesses risk squandering great opportunities to build desired brand awareness and perceptions, and shape their marketing messages. Yet, one of the biggest mistakes many enterprises make is that they start using Twitter without first assessing their situation and identifying aims.  Before you start tweeting, you should carefully think through and determine the specific goals that work best for your business.  See list below:

 

15 Key goals and objectives for businesses using Twitter:

1. Generating awareness and leads
2. Servicing customers
3. Expanding reach and creating buzz
4. Sharing thought-leadership & participating in industry conversation
5. Gaining competitive intelligence
6. Monitoring your brand’s reputation in real time
7. Building relationships with community
8. Distributing rich, SEO content
9. Offering special discounts, white papers, eBooks
10. Crowdsourcing ideas, products, etc.
11. Finding, cultivating influencers and brand advocates
12. Obtaining customer feedback on potential or new offerings
13. Developing relationships with bloggers and journalists for PR
14. Recruiting for freelancers or permanent hires
15. Establishing brand leadership position by communicating, reinforcing vision, purpose, differentiation, relevance, etc.

Requiring no more than 140 characters (in a tweet) for interaction, Twitter can be used on PCs and mobile devices. It has become one of the largest platforms in the world for sharing real-time data.  According to a recent report by Pew Internet & American Life Project, more than half (54%) of Twitter users access their service on a cell phone.  Small business owners can use a Twitter app to communicate, engage, network, share and drive their business forward.

A Survey by the Author...

Tom Pick - Online Marketing Executive at KC Associates.

“Just as many of your customers are probably on Twitter, so are your prospects. They care far less about your advertising than about what your customers are saying about you, and how you respond. An active Twitter presence enables you to demonstrate strong customer service, rather than just claiming you offer it (after all, who advertises poor customer service?).”

Ted Rubin Chief Social Marketing Officer -Collective Bias and Social Marketing Strategist – MARS Advertising 

“Tweet to keep your brand on your followers’ radar, to answer questions, to provide value… to build relationships! Remember… trust is built upon interaction, when you’re true to your word, authentic, and genuine. To build relationships, you (as a brand or individual) have to engage, interact and be responsive.”

Jamie Crager - Founder of CROWDSHIFTER Media

“It can be as simple as retweeting someone, asking questions and mentioning them in a positive way. You can gain valuable insights that will lead you to ‘knowing’ your audience so you can provide the best content that adds value to their business and lives. Not only will this create wonderful friendships and a loyal fan base, but opens opportunities in a wide variety of ways for you to grow your business & income.”

Gini Dietrich - Chief Executive Officer – Arment Dietrich, Inc.

“We use Twitter to network, build relationships, and stay top-of-mind, both with prospects and current clients. It has allowed us to become further integrated into our client’s businesses instead of being seen just as that firm that helps us execute some things that aren’t always tangible. It has contributed to more than half of our new business this year. As well, it’s our number three driver of traffic to Spin Sucks. We’re big Twitter advocates!”

Brian Rice - Sr. Marketing Manager, SAP Global Social Media Marketing

“The value of Twitter for businesses is the ability to listen to and engage in real-time conversations with prospects and customers.  In order to be successful, you must focus on adding value to the conversations and humanizing the brand through one-to-one interactions that help to establish thought leadership.”

Above are a survey made by the author from the view of a business people. Anyway using twitter help the business people to get more customers in the wholeworld and let them know what kind of products that they offer. Instead they can get instant feedbacks and comments relating to their products therefore it is an encouragement for them to upgrade or expand their current businesses.

As for me it is an encouragement for those who are in business to use Twitter for their businesses. It is fun and for a new learner it is a one step ahead to be more updated with the IT nowadays. Have fun!

Source from : Jean Hendricks (http://networkingexchangeblog.att.com)