Technology > Business Websites > Social Marketing Optimization
How Twitter can Help Business

Social Marketing Optimization

How Twitter can Help Business

Written by Chris Martin for Gaebler Ventures

As an entrepreneur, you're probably pretty good at utilizing the fashionable social media like Facebook and MySpace to help promote your company. But what about Twitter? There are several Twitter sources that may be able to add value to your business.

As an entrepreneur, you're probably pretty good at taking advantage of current trends.

You may have incorporated the latest programming and design into your website. Perhaps you have embraced popular business strategies or approaches which help your enterprise function more smoothly and efficiently. And there's a good chance you're utilizing the fashionable social media like Facebook and MySpace to help promote your company.

But what about Twitter?

Maybe you think that Twitter is only about following celebrities and sports figures to see what they had for breakfast. You may not be able to see the relevance that this technology has for your entrepreneurial endeavors.

On the contrary, there are several Twitter sources that may be able to add value to your business. Here is a sample of them:

@exectweets: This serves as a clearinghouse for the musings and thoughts of different corporate executives and bigwigs in the IT sector. It was created by Microsoft and Federated Media.

@businesswiki: You probably have a few websites or sources where you go for advice on business. This source offers a nonstop fountain of tips, quotes, and links to articles which businesspeople would find appealing.

@mashable: It's billed as the ultimate social media blog. You can get everything from suggestions and wisdom bytes to links to other tweeters which might be of interest to you.

@chrisbrogan: Brogan, the co-author of Trust Agents, a New York Times bestseller, has garnered a reputation as an expert in social media. He relays bits of information relating to the melding of social media and business.

@Tom_Peters: The renowned management consultant has been a wealth of knowledge for years. Now that Peters is on Twitter, he has a forum to share his opinions about all things business.

@Scobleizer: The nom-de-Twitter for Robert Scoble, who keeps up with the cutting edge gadgets and technology happenings. Scoble is the co-author of Naked Conversations: How Blogs Are Changing the Way Businesses Talk With Customers.

@BrianTracy: Tracy is a bestselling author of literature which talks about helping people reach their goals. He likes to share morsels of wisdom about success, as well as links and free webinar announcements.

@garyvee: Another business/social media tweeter, Gary Vaynerchuk wrote Crush It: Why Now Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion. As the title subtly suggests, the book is about how Vaynerchuk transformed his family's wine business into a leader in the industry.

#FF: Short for Follow Friday, it's a designation used by many of the abovementioned sources for people they deem worthy of following on Twitter. It's an excellent way to extend your Twitter network.

Listorious.com: This website bills itself as the "definitive list of who matters on Twitter." You can use it as a searchable database of people and entities in your industry or areas of interest who like to tweet, and then sign up to receive their messages.

You can probably think of less famous but equally important people to follow on Twitter, such as an industry group, a trade journal editor, or a respected colleague in your field. The point is that Twitter is more than just vapid ramblings from stars; it can be a key business tool which can supply you with new ideas as well as timely updates on important developments which affect your entrepreneurial endeavors.

Chris Martin has been a professional writer for the last seven years. He is interested in franchises and equity acquisition.