2. Presented by Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce at ashevillechamber.org Kelby Carr of Carr Creations LLC at carrcreations.com Dulcita Love of dulcitalove.com
4. What is Twitter? Twitter allows people to communicate in 140 characters. Twitter can be used on a mobile phone or a computer. It allows people to communicate real-time. It is a way to connect to people of similar interests, geography or lifestyle. It can serve businesses as a marketing, customer service and focus group all in one.
5. How to Sign Up Visit twitter.com and click join Create a user name Add a profile picture Post updates of 140 characters or less Follow other members of Twitter Chat with those members
6. Why Twitter? allows real-time updates creates brand familiarity quickly facilitates personal connections can receive customer feedback can thank customers publicly
7. Unexpected Benefits Invitations, connections can come through direct messages (DMs) Familiarity online is like the first handshake Connections online carry over to connections in person Some people will be more likely to connect via Twitter than emailing you directly Your tweet may be retweeted multiple times and expand your reach to other circles
8. Staying Visible Online How Twitter helps… allows updates as often as needed each update increases visibility tweets show up in Google others may help spread the word shows business as active and vibrant
9. Business uses of Twitter Dell Outlet has booked more than $3 million in revenue attributable to its Twitter posts. CoffeeGroundz of Houston receives 'to-go' orders via DM. Etsy’s account was followed by Martha Stewart, and community on Twitter created Etsy Day to boost awareness of the site. Naked Pizza in New Orleans offers Twitter only specials. This resulted in record-breaking day where 68.60% of total dollar sales came from customers who said "I'm calling from Twitter.” Pepsi responds to complaints, and says when they do they get kudos on Twitter. More case studies at business.twitter.com
10. Why Twitter Works People want information fast People don’t want to wait People may not want to call People can read your tweets and begin to know, like and trust you Tweets are short which makes them manageable
12. “Twitter is a huge untapped outlet for reaching Boomers, who increased utilization 469% during 2009.” Source: Nielson, Mining the U.S. Generations
13. Twitter Isn’t for Kids The 55+ group is seeing bigger growth on Twitter than the teens and early 20-somethings. The dominating age group on Twitter is 35-49 year olds, who make up 41%. (Source: Nielson)
14. Twitter grew from 475,000 in February 2008 to 7,038,000 in February 2009, a 1382% jump.
17. Finding Friends and Followers Twitter search (people or tweet and hashtag search) Twitter email address import Twitter lists Twellow Tweepz TwitDir (search location, user name or bio) WeFollow Mr. Tweet TweepSearch Google search “X on Twitter”
19. Tips on Following Follow a little at a time. Start locally, for example, then branch out. Target followers that make sense to you, but don’t automatically dismiss others. Consider your primary audience: local, national, global or all of the above. Don’t read too much into not being followed back. Sometimes engaging (@ing) leads to follow. See who people you follow are talking to.
22. Twitter Etiquette Don’t just self-promote When people talk to you, reply Don’t automate Don’t spam Don’t @ people something you should simply tweet Don’t ask for favors if you’ve never conversed Don’t mass DM Follow people you talk to
23. “The qualities that make Twitter seem inane and half-baked are what makes it so powerful” – Jonathan Zittrain Harvard law professor and Internet expert
26. Tips for Engaging Tweets Be personal, entertaining, interesting and clever. Offer help, advice and assistance to fellow tweeters. Engage in conversation. Reply to tweets, even complaints about your company. Thank people for retweets (RT) Little details are not always minutiae. Sometimes, these are tweets that help people feel connected. Retweet information of interest For company or organization accounts, it increases personal connection by showing in bio who is tweeting
27. How to Use Twitter Efficiently Ideal to update daily to few times per week Consistency makes it easier Set aside 15 minutes to: check for people talking with you on Twitter other tweets of interest creating your update
29. Tweetdeck A desktop and mobile phone application to help you organize, track and get notifications about Twitter.
30. Other Twitter Tools Hootsuite CoTweet Twitterfeed Browser plugins like TwitterFox Mobile phone apps like Twittelator Twitpic Qik Twit This Twitter Grader TweepML
32. Twitter Expectations It can take time and experimentation to find success on Twitter. Have specific, measurable goals (for example, will answer certain number of questions). Know your purpose to being on Twitter. You will need to build relationships first before you see payoff. Have a timeline.