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A Quick Guide to Twitter for SMEs

Ralph Averbuch, ENN

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It’s 140 letters• Often described micro-blogging it’s just

one or two sentences: a comment and a link.

• The short format of the message or ‘tweet’ is the defining characteristic of Twitter

• It allows informal collaboration and quick information sharing

• Provides relief from rising email and Instant Messaging (Yahoo, Skype, etc) fatigue.

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Hello Stranger

• Twittering takes you outside your existing circle of contacts

• Messages you post can be followed by anyone, not just those in your email list

• This is like broadcasting – you say it once but many people can tune in

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Why would I use it?

• You can quickly broadcast to many ‘followers’ (Communication)

e.g. Company NewsBusiness Blog updatesA Business offer unique to your followers

• You can follow relevant business tweeters or influential individuals (Research)

• You can interact with existing customers and gain customer feedback (Service)

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First Steps

• Set up your ID in 15 characters • Do keyword searches about your business• Find people worth following• Listen to what others are saying• Who are you following? Who are they following?• Build your list but keep it relevant

Claim your Twitter ID before someone else does

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Do’s & Don’ts

• Don’t spam people with sales pitches

• Do give good advice and links… you’ll earn trust

• Don’t post unless you have something worthwhile to say… It’s about gaining reputation

• Do respond if you have something useful to add

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More Do’s & Don’ts

• Do listen regularly for comments about your sector, company, brand and products

• Do address concerns, offer customer service or thank people for positive comments.

More tips at:

http://bit.ly/TWWTRBP

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It’s about Relationships• Include in your Bio page

or custom background the names (or @usernames) of the people twittering from your company account.

• It’s also a good idea to include additional contact info, like email addresses.

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Where?• On your PC/Mac• From your mobile using SMS• Via your smartphone or iPhone

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How?

• On your main twitter page

• From your mobile• Using specialist software

e.g. TweetDeck• Using online software

e.g. CoTweet or HootSuite

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Who

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Who 2

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Who 3

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Who 4

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Who 5

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And a biggie to finish

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• What do you want to accomplish?

• Are your customers on Twitter?

Listen… Listen… Listen

Things to think abouthttp://m

ashable.com/2010/03/18/tw

itter-infographic/

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Lastly…

• Some Useful resources

http://www.twellow.com/

http://nearbytweets.com/

http://business.twitter.com/twitter101

http://www.chrisbrogan.com/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-business/

http://cantondog.com/128/top-7-twitter-commands-everyone-should-know/