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I'm sure you've probably heard the word "Twitter" by now. Retirement
Revenue has a Twitter site (called 'retirementdosh') and it's easy to
become a follower of our 'tweets' by clicking on the link on the right
hand side of this page. Twitter is big news - all the sports stars, film
stars, and news channels are getting on Twitter. But is it for you and can it help your business?
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A quick description of Twitter is that it is a social media tool that you can access from your computer or cell phone. Twitter allows you to post comments, or tweets, that are no longer than 140 characters at a time. Twitter has been called a "micro-blog" because of the 140 character limit.
Twitter now has millions of users, not just because it's the cool new trend in social media, but because it is a beneficial and easy to use communication tool. You can use it for personal use and/or business use. Simply go to www.Twitter.com, follow the instructions and sign up. It's free to use and there's no steep learning curve. You should add your picture, which you can get from any of the pictures you have on your computer from your digital camera. Or you can use the default picture that's already on there.
Personal Use
Twitter is an excellent way to keep track of your friends and family. Because of the 140 character limit, you can post little snippets of what you're up to, and likewise, read what others are doing. It's a fun way to post your jokes that only your friends can appreciate, and you can point them in the direction of an article or website you found interesting. You can include a link to a website within your tweet.
Keep in mind that your tweets can be seen by the public and found on the Internet, so don't put anything out there that you wouldn't want seen. Think of your children, grandchildren or your employer when you tweet. Otherwise, have fun with it!
You can click on the box for Protect my Updates which will keep any tweets you do after that private. The advantage, besides your tweets being private, is that people cannot follow you (become one of your followers) unless you approve them. So if you're extremely private and only want to tweet with your friends you might consider this option. If you want to build relationships with other people who have the same interests as you, then don't check the box.
Business Use
Twitter is a great business tool. You can brand yourself and your business, get loyal followers who want to buy from you online or offline, use your services, and do business deals with you. One great example is a coffee house we know. They've built relationships with their followers by tweeting about specials, what's going on in their community, when they're having "tweet-ups" (face to face gatherings of people who tweet in the area) to benefit a charity, and they even accept take-away orders through Twitter.
Many businesses are finding Twitter to be a great marketing tool to add to their marketing arsenal. Big companies have designated employees to handle the Twitter aspect of not only tweeting special deals but handling customer service issues. People like being able to contact a real person behind the big name and get some answers. Twitter can also be used for surveys and feedback.
We would suggest if you want to use Twitter for both business and personal use, that you get separate Twitter names and keep your personal tweets separate from your business tweets. However, you should allow your personality to show through in your business tweets as that attracts people/followers to you.
There are many benefits to using Twitter. It's a way to talk briefly with your friends, family, and acquaintances with similar interests. Twitter is also good for business and is an excellent way to brand your business and get further exposure.
Give it a try - you can't break it. And, no, you're never too old!