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Twitter is like micro blogging, 140 characters updating the world of what you're doing, hearing, seeing... whatever.
It's fast, simple and free. And businesses are taking full advantage, evolving Twitter into a powerful marketing platform, businesses like Spur Communications in Overland Park.
"We're like, let's do it for Spur and see how much we can increase our traffic to our website and our blog," Paul Miser said. "So we did it, and it increased like 1,000 percent in a week."
Think of Twitter as a public conversation. The more "followers" you have, the more your message gets heard, and the more your message has opportunity to be repeated.
Kimberly Qualls tweets for the Kansas Department Of Transportation.
"Your message can actually grow three-fold depending on how many people are following you, who then take that information and "retweet" it," Qualls said.
Retweeting on Twitter is like a cyber pat on the back. It's your followers way of saying, 'Hey, look it! So-and-so's just said something worth repeating.' And so your message grows, as does your popularity. It's a cost-effective promotional tool for businesses.
While TV and print can build brand awareness, Miser says Twitter provides a way to engage an audience more intimately. And more quickly. Speed was one of the reasons KDOT recently started using Twitter.
Qualls said not that long ago, websites were considered cutting edge, but now they tend to be more "static." And in today's fast-paced, don't-slow-down-or-you'll-be-left-behind world, static websites are becoming so yesterday. Twitter gives those websites a new element of personal conversation, a cyber-bullhorn of sorts to draw people in. And there are a lot of people out there, over six million of them, accumulating over three million tweets a day.
As for who's twittering? Just about anyone.
Surgeons in Michigan twitter from the operating room.
The FDA twitters major recalls.
NASA even twitters from outer space.
Closer to home, Sen. Claire McCaskill is all a-twitter, posting political updates, and even personal ones: "Up early again. Trying to work out every morning. Ugh."
She's on to something with a tweet like that. Although Twitter can be used as a marketing platform, it is still a social network, and experts say a personal approach beats cold, hard facts.
So what about you? Are you a fascinating individual who's every day happenings beg to be told? Or are you looking for a new way to market your business?
If so, check out our How-To Twitter Guide. It has everything you need to know to get started, including Twitter etiquette and the lingo. You wouldn't want to be caught off guard with techy terms like hashtags, retweets and tweepls!
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