The Right Way to Use Twitter For Business

For the right business, tapping into the heart of social media is a shortcut to success. There aren’t too many people fluent in online business who will disagree – the new rules of media have allowed the small business to blossom in a way that wasn’t possible before.

Referrals and word of mouth have never traveled faster, and though there is no such thing as instant success, you can clearly see from any of these real life Twitter success stories – it’s never been easier to achieve.

Blogs, in addition to a million or so social media hubs, have burst the damn into brittle shards when it comes to singular expression, allowing individuals to easily brand themselves and advertise what they’re best at for the first time in history.

This creates unlimited opportunity, but you will only truly tap it if you are willing to pay attention. If you are engaged in social media for fun, then go ahead and have a ball. Answer to know one. My only warning would be to be careful not to say anything you wouldn’t want to see quoted on later. Remember, search engines and cached pages means things you thought deleted can hang around in cyberspace forever. Otherwise, have fun.

HOWEVER …

If you are using social media to better the bottom line of your business or raise your online profile for potential and profit, there is one fundamental question you must ask yourself.

What is my purpose?

If you can’t answer that, you won’t pass GO and you can’t collect your $200. It’s time to get off the board. Twitter is a great place for sales, both direct and indirect, but if you spend every minute pitching, you’re never going to hit a thing.

• Twitter, above all else, is about relationships. Retweet those articles you find interesting and exchange some banter with your peers. There is an organic reciprocity to Twitter that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Be genuine, see what happens. Eventually you will have plenty of people helping you with the hard work of selling yourself, but you have to start the engine.

• Be honest. Promote your new book or product line and link to all the affiliate products you want, but always let people know where you’re sending them first. If you avoid this cardinal rule, not only will you deserve a swift ticket to Nowheresville, you’ll also be likely to get downgraded to coach.

• Work inside the net, don’t get lost in idle chatter. A handful of M&M’s is delicious, but a giant bag each day will make you fat. Know what you are doing and why you are doing it, otherwise you’re only wasting your time. There are a plenty of people saying money can be made on Twitter. I agree, but it isn’t being made by over-sharing or telling people what you had for lunch.

Like anything that can reap infinite rewards, properly using social media is a skill to be sharpened. Though it can be a playground in which we frolic, it is best served as a network. Don’t forget, “work” is hanging out at the end of that word.