So What's Twitter?

By now nearly every marketer has at least heard of Twitter. A social networking tool that allows users to 'tweet' what they are doing 140 characters at a time. If you have not heard of Twitter, there is a good chance that you have been internetin' from under a rock. (Nope, internetin' is not a word and Open Office is screaming at me for using it.)

Myspace, FaceBook , and Plurk enjoy a wide base of members who are very familiar with the services provided. Uploading photos, integrated blogs, and tons of games you can annoy your friends with. Twitter has applications made by third parties, but there is no integrated blogging platform. No folders for pictures. No MMORG type games. Not a lot of anything, huh?

So just what is the allure of Twitter and why should you use it?

Imagine a global real time chat complete with your favorite celebrities, your mom, and sometimes that creepy guy in the cubicle across from yours. Aside from the guy, it sounds pretty cool, right? Millions of people sharing snippets of their lives and conversations that span the planet.

Twitter has become so popular that major companies have jumped in the nest, so to speak. Tweeting-which is what Twitter fans or 'Tweeple' refer to the micro-posts as- everything from coupon codes to what color socks the CEO has on. Writers share links to their articles, marketers hawk wares, and foodies contemplate recipes.

What does this mean for you? If properly approached, a Twitter account can drive a massive amount of traffic to your site(s). The key to using the application is to be personable. Spammy Tweeple are blocked so fast that their accounts are often banned in a very short time. Account locked? No traffic, no increased sales or recognition. Bad, bad.

The core of Twitter is sharing. Share your thoughts, a bit of your life, reply to others, and only offer good information. Never start an account and follow hundreds of people before entering any posts! To do this will make it appear that you are a spammer.

When Friday rolls around be sure to participate in what is called #FollowFriday. This is when members share their favorite Tweeple to follow. Some separate their FollowFriday tweets into categories. An example is- “Great Foodies for #followfriday- @yummytweets @fatboycooks @stinkychef”

(The @ in front of a name allows members to click on it and visit the member page to decide if they would like to follow that person.)

Twitter has the potential to give you the networking pool you have only dreamed of, if you use it correctly! A little time and effort in building a quality profile can ensure your Tweeting success.