by Doreen Martel

Created on: May 16, 2010

While the original concept behind Twitter was that of a social network, today it has become this and much more to the thousands of users who actively participate in the constantly expanding community. Businesses that are online and the more traditional brick and mortar are turning to online marketing opportunities and are often drawn to Twitter as a potential market. Regardless of the size of the business, the great equalizer is their knowledge of Twitter. Today, more businesses are trying to find out how to make the most of Twitter.  Here are some options that are available to business owners, big and small.

New product announcements

New product or service announcements often take time to "hit" their target audience. If a business offers their new product or service through Twitter, then chances are they will be getting the information out to people who care about it. A well thought out product roll-out can be done successfully through Twitter.

Customer inquiries

Many businesses spend thousands of dollars on market studies to find out "which way the wind is blowing" and to make necessary tweaks in their business model. Today, with the help of Twitter, a business can quickly find out what their potential clients want to see from them.  This can range from improved product (or service) delivery, better customer service, more access by email or telephone or a range of other items.  Business today has the unique opportunity to run online surveys using Twitter as the portal.  Rather than paying a marketing company thousands of dollars, you can turn your Twitter account into a powerful tool to understand what your customers really want.

Customer service

Several large companies including Dell Computer, Comcast and others, have turned to Twitter to help with basic customer service needs. By using a "hands on" approach to dealing with customers, they have improved their global image by being available to answer questions for customers.  This type of service can be a win-win for customers and businesses alike.

Money making

One would be foolish to overlook the potential money-making opportunities of Twitter.  Affiliate marketers, article writers (who often depend on page views for income), blog owners (who often depend on advertising revenue that requires page views) and more often use Twitter to help increase their earnings.  While Twitter makes no suggestion that it is a money making tool, many Twitter users have found creative and

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>