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Microsolve has recently joined the fast spreading internet phenomenon that is Twitter. Since it's creation and launch in early to mid 2006, Twitter has grown immensely popular worldwide and become known as the 'SMS of the internet'. But just what is Twitter? And how does it benefit a business?
Simply put Twitter is a micro-blogging service that allows users to send and receive 'Status Updates' also known as 'Tweets'. Tweets are posts of solely text with a limit of 140 characters long. This text limit enables Twitter users to receive updates or update their status via Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications as well as the Twitter website. A poll earlier this year showed that Twitter was one of the fastest growing Member communities in Feb 09 with a monthly growth of 1,382%. However it also showed that Twitter only retained 40% of users.
Twitter has become popular not only with the general internet going public, but has been widely adopted by Celebrities, Politicians, Education systems, Businesses and organisations. Twitter can be much more than just letting your friends know what your up to or what your favorite celebrity might be eating.
On a business platform Twitter can offer massive opportunities to develop your brand. Twitter allows you to listen to feedback from your clients, colleagues or customers and what is being said and received about your brand or business. It allows businesses to ask questions directly to their demographic audience and make informed research and decisions based on this information, all while building closer relationships with their customers. Building hype or interest in new products and services is easily done and you know that followers will be aware of impending releases. This is more beneficial than some streams of advertising that may miss your target audience.
Microsolve will hope to benefit from these same strategies as well as networking better with followers of some of our service partners such as Citrix, Microsoft, Wyse to name a few. Bridging the gap for prospective clients and learning how we can better cater to out current ones.
Some things to remember are the 140 character text limit can be a drawback as it does limit complex dialog or discussions. Keeping your tweets light and easy going seem to be the most effective way to benefit from the service as most people find Twitter as a way of Humanising a company, putting a real voice to an otherwise robotic entity. Try to stay away from Tweet topics such as Politics and Religion or ranting about competitor brands as these could help you avoid messy mud-slinging matches that wont leave your business unscathed. Tweet, Tweet and Tweet often, Keeping followers regularly checking your updates will keep them from getting bored and losing interest.
Twitter may not be for every company out there and using it effectively to work for your business may take some time. For a service that doesn't cost anything but some time and dedication, its definitely worth a try.
Come and follow Microsolve now on Twitter: http://twitter.com/microsolve
Ref:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/publicrelations/prcolumnistrachelmeranus/article201378.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter
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