By now you’ve probably heard about Twitter, an increasingly popular social networking site where everyone from actors and athletes to business owners and potential customers share messages known as “Tweets.”
The second-largest player in the social media game, Twitter labels itself as an “information network” where individuals, businesses and groups can “discover and share new information.” With 460,000 new accounts being opened every day, it’s easy to see why making your business a part of this ever-growing online community is so important for staying relevant and achieving growth in the digital age.
Twitter allows users to create and share posts of no more than 140 characters that anyone can view – this is referred to as a Tweet. Those following your business’s Twitter feed will see your messages appear on their homepage, which Twitter calls a “timeline.” Your account can be used for a variety of purposes, including the sharing of knowledge and observations, staying on top of news relating to your industry and connecting with new clients.
Start communicating pieces of existing content by Tweeting or “retweeting” information relevant to your business and its followers. This can include tips and tricks, current promotions and the latest news regarding your company.
A “retweet” is a Tweet posted by another user that’s forwarded to you by someone you follow or passed along by you to your followers. Use the @ sign to call out a specific username in your Tweet, such as “Hello@turfprofessional.” You can learn the rest of the Twitter language by exploring Twitter’s Business Glossary.
Registering your business on Twitter is a cinch – a quick visit to twitter.com/signup is all it takes. Be sure to create a simple, easy to remember handle (your username and accompanying URL) so that your feed can easily be found. Afterwards, you can seek out other Twitter members using the “Find People” tab and begin following current and potential customers, industry leaders and brands – even the competition!
Helpful links to get you started:
http://support.twitter.com/groups/31-twitter-basics
