Twitter, is it worth the effort? 5 reasons the answer is yes.

Posted by: Guest Author

Twitter has been the buzz for the last few months due to all of the media hype and its usage by celebrities. But many "average Joe's" still haven't taken the plunge. I often get questions from friends and colleagues about whether it's really worth the effort. I say, unequivocally, "YES." Specifically for business, Twitter allows me to:

1. Listen and learn - By "following" people that talk about subject matter that is important to me, I can quickly read and digest new info daily. Yes, sometimes I click on a link and someone is trying to "sell me" something. But more often than not, I'm linking to commentary, news articles and/or resource listings that are topical and valuable to my job.
2. Build relationships with customers - I monitor Twitter all day long. The reality of Twitter is that friends and foes can post whatever they'd like...whenever they'd like. As a marketer, it's very important for me to monitor comments about our company, brand and service. Through Twitter, I can see what's being said and offer customer service, thank people for positive mentions or quickly respond to concerns as they arise.
3. Track competitors - All of my competitors tweet as well. And so do their customers. I can stay on top of product launches, announcements and promotions right from Twitter. Furthermore, I can see if anyone is having customer service issues or doing a great job of satisfying their customers...right from Twitter.
4. Connect with industry influencers - Most talking heads are on Twitter. I know many people who are influential to both VoIP and Small Businesses and immediately began following them when I set up @aptela's Twitter account. But over time, I've discovered many other individuals who offer really good guidance, share their insights, point me to tools that help me do my job...and more. It's also helped with Business Development and has already led to a couple of new partnership opportunities that I may not have otherwise identified.
5. Identify prospects - Twitter is a great way for people to ask for a product or service. And many do. While prospecting is way down the list of reasons why I use Twitter, I find a gem every now and then, and can connect directly to see if the prospect would like to engage directly with me or another member of our team.

I'm learning more and more about Twitter every day. Stay tuned for future postings about Twitter tools I like, new tricks I learn and how @aptela continues to evolve its usage of Twitter as we expand our small business!

If you're new to Twitter and want to learn more, the company has just put out a great new resource, Twitter 101 - A Special Guide. I encourage you to check it out.