10 Business Reasons To Use Twitter

Twitter has over 1 billion users registered on its social media platform. Roughly half of that number are occasional users, 313 million are active monthly users, while 100 million use the service every day. Regular users spend an average of 170 minutes per month on Twitter, with 117 million actually posting a tweet more than once a month.

341 million of all registered users have never even posted a tweet.

Twitter is like Marmite. Some people love, it and have it every day. And some try it once and never touch it again.

If you tried it and didn’t like it the first time, why not give it another go. You might acquire the taste.

Here are 10 business reasons to use Twitter:

 

1. Communicate.

Twitter is an informal environment – even when used for business purposes like making contacts or communicating with clients. Think of Twitter like socialising in a bar, or at any other event. Business etiquette still applies but is more relaxed – and is less formal than Linkedn. It’s an opportunity to indulge your interests, passions, and let your personality shine.

2. Inspire. And be inspired.

Share what you love, show your humanity – inspire and motivate others with your knowledge and enthusiasm. Engage with others, be open minded and take an interest in others – you’ll be surprised at what you can learn.

3. Be seen. Be heard.

Of course,  Twitter gives everyone an opportunity to become a “publisher” to get your message out to the world. By all means, self-promote, but do so humbly and in moderation, or you risk annoying or alienating the very people you are trying so hard to impress.

4. Raise your profile.

Be known for what you do – be seen as an expert in your specialist area. Many strive to be recognised as a “thought-leader” in their particular area of expertise, or the “go-to” person whenever there are problems to be solved.

5. Build a brand.

Twitter is an important component in the digital marketing strategy for many brands. It is important to get the brand message across, but it should not come across as sales pitch or one-way stream of advertising. The 80/20 rule is often recommended, where no more than 20% of content is self-promotion. 

6. Network. 

Stay in touch with your customers and existing contacts, or reach out to potential contacts. Twitter is a great “icebreaker” for introductions, and can pave the way for building business relationships and growing your network. Just remember that courtesy and convention apply as much on social media as anywhere else – don’t be that networking guy/gal.

7. Stay informed. 

Twitter is a treasure trove of information and a great research tool. Use “social listening” to monitor your brand, keep an eye on your competitors, do customer discovery, market research, and so much more. Tap into Twitter’s data and build it into actionable business intelligence to support your marketing strategy.

8. Share information.

Content should entertain or inform and be curated to suit your target audience. Share links, photos, videos, and more to turn fans into brand advocates to spread the word. Harness the power of your network to reach a wider audience. 

9. Get help. Give help.

Many brands use Twitter for customer service and fielding queries, which can then be directed away to the appropriate company representatives. This is especially useful for managing negative feedback before it gets out of hand by early contact with the customer and taking the issue offline. Transparency is key to building trust, and approachable brands who respond to customers’ concerns quickly and sympathetically enjoy greater success on social platforms.

10. Have fun. 

Don’t forget to put the “social” in social media, enjoy it and have fun!