Why Twitter Is Essential For Anyone Doing Business Online


by Michael Fleischner


At this point everyone has heard about the Twitter phenomenon and either have their own account or know someone who does. If you're like me you're probably wondering with the attraction to Twitter is but more importantly what it can do for you. Marketers are discovering the value that Twitter has from a number of different vantage points.

As someone who resisted Twitter for quite some time, I finally dove in and learned what all of the excitement was about. Similar to other social networking sites like Flickr and Facebook and others, Twitter provides a forum for real time communication. It connects us all and brings us closer to others with similar interests.

One of the aspects of Twitter that is so vital to me is the ability to stay on top of information in my industry. With so many information sources out there, its impossible to consume it all. By following certain individuals in positions of influence within the industry I can quickly find out whats worth my time and what isn't. More importantly, I can access information that's been referred from others I trust versus simply trying to locate it on my own.

Once you have established a good list of people to follow, you can add others to your list that are either outside your industry or perhaps bring something else of value to your day to day activities. What's great about developing a list of experts to follow is that you are in control and can either start or stop following people at will. This gives you a great way to focus your efforts and get value from everyone you follow.

Just like you follow others, others can follow you on Twitter. You might be asking what the purpose or point of building a list of followers may be. This depends on what you are trying to accomplish with Twitter. If your goal is to use it simply in a casual way, then you may be looking to build a list of followers among your friends. If you are interested in Twitter for business purposes, you should consider your list of followers just like you would a house list that you market to on a regular basis.

Once you've created a list and provide a good deal of value through your thoughts and ideas that are shared on a regular basis, you can begin offering information on affiliate products or your own products and services. When done correctly, others will learn more about these offers and even make a purchase. This is direct marketing at its best. One must be careful though as you don't want to abuse your list.

If you haven't already reached this conclusion, using Twitter is like have a direct dialog with prospects. Begin by offering something of value, gaining their trust and following. Once you've proven yourself as an expert or industry leader it's time to promote products or services that help to solve a problem. Twitter is a great tool for building your online business and targeting prospective customers.




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