Monthly Archives: January 2010

Listed in this article are some more important Twitter functions, jargon, and URL shortener tools for making the most of Twitter. Please be sure to view Getting a Grip on Twitter Basics Part 1 where we cover more Twitter functions such as Tweets, @replies, and Hashtags#.

Direct Messages: Direct messages are used to communicate directly and privately with other Twitter users. Direct messages are commonly referred to as DMs within the Twitter landscape. If you would like to send a direct message to another Twitter user, Type D and then follow this with the Twitter user name for the person or company that you would like to direct message.

Since we are limited to 140 characters within Twitter, it is a good idea to shorten the length of links or URLs that you post within Twitter. The best way to do this is with a URL shortener. URL shorteners will shorten the number of characters in the posted URL to about 16 to 20 characters. Some of the more popular free online URL shortener services include tinyurl.com and bit.ly for squeezing down the amount of characters used in your URL. If you would like to track the amount of clicks that your shortened URLs generate and generate shortened URLs at the same time, then be sure to use twitalyzer to track your traffic.

Coming to grips with Twitter is fairly easy. Even a child can do it. Better yet, even grandparents can do it.  Here are some definitions of common Twitter functions and jargon:

Tweets: In short, a Tweet is a quick, precise text message that contains 140 characters or less. That includes spaces and punctuation too. Grammar and punctuation suffer a little bit due to the 140 character limit. People often use “w/” for with, “ppl” for people, “4″ for four or for. Messages can contain a variety of content.

@replies: This is used when you want to reply to someone else’s Tweet. Click the “Reply Button” or type @ followed by the User ID of the person that posted the message that you are replying to. By using @reply, you are letting other people know who you are talking to and it also allows people to know when you are talking about them.

Hashtags (#): Hash tags enable you to make groupings, and they allow you to draw attention to a particular keyword or subject. Hashtags can be about news, tips, events, sports, a sports team, a sale at your favorite store, your business, a product,  and the list goes on and on.

When creating your Twitter profile, you will need to be short and concise because you have 160 characters to share your story or message with the Twitter community in the bio of your profile. Within your profile, you also get to add a photo which can be yours or a company logo if you choose, list a URL to your blog or website, include your name, and indicate your location. They will also let you personalize your background. This is a great spot for your company logo and a short message that you would like to share with the world.

Because a Twitter profile is not as elaborate as a Facebook or MySpace profile, people may overlook adding their information, but do not make this mistake. Your Twitter profile serves as a great introduction to potential clients who may want to follow your company. The whole premise of Twitter is to pack as much quality concise information into quick bite size pieces and a Twitter profile is no different.

With the the internet and social media in particular, companies need to be more transparent and own up to their mistakes. They also must take the time to fix them quickly before things get out of hand, and that can happen quickly. One of the best ways to monitor your brand and its reputation is to set up Google Alerts for your company name and monitor what is being said about your business on the web. Google will send you emails or RSS feeds for anything that they index in their search engine that pertains to your business name. You can also monitor products and services that you offer and you can even keep a good eye on your competition too. These Alerts can be read in Google Reader. Both Google Reader and Google Alerts are free services from Google.

If you try to hide your mistakes online, you will get eaten alive with social media sites like Twitter. Everybody knows everybody’s business now. You will want to respond very quickly to any negative feedback left about your company because if you don’t, serious damage can be done because it is easy for an angry mob to form. Just a little helpful information can quickly diffuse the situation and help keep your brand image in a positive light.

With consumers taking on the broadcasting role on sites like Twitter, it only makes sense to turn these broadcasters into raving fans of your products and services. When this happens, your message can go viral throughout the web. These fans will help create warm, ready to buy referrals for you, and we all know that there is nothing like getting a good prequalified referral. Those truly are the best people to sell to because they are ready to buy and buyers are what we are in this for.

This is a very interesting marketing shift because now your customers are selling to future customers, and it costs us nothing in return. Now, that is some effective advertising at great prices! Companies no longer have to spend untold hours developing elaborate impressions of their online brand. Their brand image is now being created by everyday people as they write online about their experiences. They do this as they sit in their homes, at work, and at local cafes typing away to their heart’s content on their computers offering their latest opinions, news, tips, and reviews. Social sites like Twitter are now at the forefront of this revolution, and you should do your due diligence to get involved in the shaping of your brand’s image online.

By getting involved in social media conversations, you cannot control what is said, nor the end result, but you can help shape the direction that the conversations go in and help bring about a positive outcome. Disgruntled people are everywhere, and you will not please everyone, but you will have an opportunity  to correct inaccuracies and downright lies about your products and services, and if there are any misunderstandings, you can quickly resolve these.