Why Isn’t Your Business On Twitter Yet?

Twitter has entered the mainstream. In the past few days, we’ve seen and heard Twitter being talked about by everyone from Hip Hop impresario, Sean “Diddy” Combs, to quirky and dance-happy talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres.

Talk about a “unique” pair! Even Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon have gotten in on the mix.

Fallon even has his own Twitter account (I believe Jay Leno decided to opt-out) and, during one show, decided to make a random member of his audience “more famous than Barack Obama” by telling everyone on national TV, to “follow” him. His name is Bryan Brinkman, by the way (http://twitter.com/bryanbrinkman).

What does all of this recent Twitter talk mean for you and your business, and why should you care? Well, for starters, it means that Twitter is becoming a widely accepted communication tool.

From it’s inception, the microblog drew people who were more of the tech savvy crowd… The social media enthusiasts, the bloggers, the technophiles.

But now, Twitter is beginning to pull nontraditional users… The mom looking to buy a new house, the father who wants a new car, the college student looking for cheap discount items.

Over time, Twitter’s power will not rest in the fact that people like Ashton Kuther and and Lance Armstrong use it. Rather, it’ll be in the fact that everyday, ordinary people do.

If opportunity and a sense of urgency is not going off in your head right now, it should be.

You have a chance to begin using Twitter now in order to build your brand and engage with your customers. What’s exciting about all of this, is that you’re still on the cutting-edge of technology… You’re still ahead of the curve.

As I write this, Twitter has around 8 million users. That’s just a blip on the radar of online media. By comparison, Facebook has over 170 million. You do the math!

At this moment, you’re sitting on a prime opportunity. This represents a chance for you to reach out to your customers — current and potential — and engage them in ways that your competition, more than likely, isn’t doing so right now.

Marketing is moving away from the traditional methods. Pretty soon, it won’t be about you and your “latest, greatest offer.” Instead, it’ll be about the relationships you form with those who keep you in business. People are looking for the face behind the business. Provide one for them.

They’re looking for someone to listen to their needs, wants, and occassional trivial banter… Because that’s what friends do. Now, ask yourself, “who would you rather give your money and support to: a faceless stranger, or a trusted friend?”

If your answer is the latter, then what are you doing on Twitter to engage your friends and followers?

About The Author

Carol Hansen, a Twitter specialist focusing on building and monetizing your network. You can connect with Carol on Twitter or Facebook and follow her latest projects, blog posts and cool tips on building and monetizing your Twitter following.

About The Author

Dali Burgado, also known as "The Dali Blogger" teaches creative entrepreneurs how to carve a web presence that connects with their Inner Guru and their target audience. Her first online marketing love is SEO. She's an avid connector on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. When she's not coaching or teaching, she's tweaking sites for Search Engine Visibility, working on her PHP and Javascript coding skills, Singing Opera, or learning about gardening. Circle Dali on Google+