Twitter- To do or NOT?

Have you heard the recent uproar about the Motrin ad targeting moms... and the flurry of posts on Twitter? It's obvious that Twitter has the power of influence to bolster or hurt a brand.

While some find it as a mindless tool, believe it or not, if used correctly it can enhance your marketing, branding and customer service. Even large companies are now using Twitter including Zappos, CNN, Apple... and even the Obama campaign.

Computerworld.com describes twitter like this... "Imagine a business tool that lets you broadcast information about your company, listen in on discussions about how people are using your products and what they think of them, and get involved when one of your customers -- or one of your competitors' customers -- has a problem. Imagine a tool that lets you have a conversation with early adopters and influencers who are eager to share what they learn with their friends and followers. A tool that offers something even the best focus groups cannot: genuine interaction with the people who choose to use your products."

Here are some tips from ChicExecs PR on maximizing your impact:

• Twitter can become addicting so limit your time... it should not take away from your day-to-day activities and to-dos.

• Look for key influencers to "follow." Blogs and other websites often list the twitter accounts of their press contacts (including the eleven moms of Wal-Mart.)

• When you post, make sure to include valuable mentions about your company, links to your site, discounts, behind the scenes info, etc. But be sure to keep it personal too... as too many plugs about yourself will drive people away.

• When people follow you, try to follow most of them back. A profile with 10 "following" and 5,000 "followers" gives the appearance of a strictly consumer-driven profile with no personal interaction. Most don’t want to be listening to someone’s tweets if they can’t reach back.

• Listen to what others are saying. You can get a glimpse into the world of your target market and can also gain leverage with the media.

• Use twitter as a research tool. Ask valuable questions about a product you're launching, marketing tips, etc.

• Use Wordtracker.com to determine heavy keyword searches then post on your twitter for Google search engine links back to you.

• Promote your twitter on your website, facebook, blogs, etc for added exposure.

That's it for now... let us know if you have any questions or further thoughts.

And contact us for more tips like this as a ChicExecs PR Member. Email nikki@chicexecs.com!

ChicExecs PR

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