Twitter is a mass text-messaging service that allows you to send updates to a mass audience in one shot. Now that we know what it is, we must look at why we should use it. A co-worker of mine once said that sharing information takes time and energy. The information that you share should make the audience form opinions and educate themselves. If the information communicates your personality, opinions, habits and interests, you are developing your perceived brand. What too many people fall victim to is “over-twittering” by sending useless information that ends up diluting brand “you”. Mundane updates only show that you are interested in “you” and not interested in telling people about your brand.
Twitter, when used correctly, is a personal selling tool. The question of the day is how to use it. First we must learn the lingo.
“Tweets” are your updates, “followers” are your audience. Is a follower the same as a friend as seen on Facebook? The answer is no. The biggest difference, in terms of friends, between Facebook and Twitter is on Facebook when we are friends we can read all about each others day, updates, comments, birthdays, bowel movements. On Twitter its the exact opposite. People you subscribe to “follow” don’t necessarily have to “follow” you. And without “followers” your account can not be activated. Twitter can be a lonely place with no “followers”.
So how do you fix that? Easy, make your “tweets” mean something. Write them to make people think for a change. Challenge the status quo, start a revolution, form a tribe. The more you “Tweet” about things that matter the more “Followers” you will get. Study other peoples “Tweets” to get a feel for what warrants a response and what is left unnoticed. If you can’t fit your opinion in the 14o character limit try posting a URL to your own blog.
The main objective when “Tweeting” is to “Tweet” about something that means anything to everyone. Hopefully this will cause you to think about your next Facebook status update from telling everyone you are tired instead of asking someone for their opinion.
