How To Use Twitter For Business Connections & Results
April 16, 2008 by Sherman Hu
Filed under Blogging, Interviews, Social Media, Video
Alejandro Reyes (SuccessFool.com) interviewed me about Twitter - a social networking, microblogging web-based service utilising instant messaging, SMS or a web interface to stay connected in real time. You can communicate and stay connected through the exchange of short status messages of less than 140 characters.
We discuss who should use it, why to use it, how to use it and more. During the interview, I littered a host of tips and resources to use Twitter effectively, eg. connecting it to Facebook, your blog and the many applications that work with Twitter. Keep an eye out for those.
Check this video out and I appreciate your feedback and comments.
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Beautifully articulated, Sherman!
I, too, have found all the same things. For example, how would I ever get through the noise to you without Facebook and Twitter?
I won a prize in an experiment Warren Whitlock was conducting because I responded spontaneously to his tweet.
I got answers to a technical question quickly and from a pro I would not have been able to reach otherwise – all by putting forth a question in an under-140-character tweet.
With Twitter I can stay abreast of who has gone where – as Dave Lakhani in Cambodia – and who’s evaluating a new product in which I might have interest. And I’ve been following these people, developing a sense of their personalities and competencies…of whom I can trust.
On Twitter, I find links to new tools, new sites, new blogs – That’s how I found this one! As soon as it was posted!
I’ve Stumbled this video post and social bookmarked it, because others need to come here, too, if they are considering Twitter.
Many thanks for the insightful guidance and tips you give!
Margaret
Sherman, I agree with your points. Alejandro tweeted the interview link, I watched the video and then followed you on Twitter. Many of my new connections are a direct result of Twitter. It has added business value but the side benefit is really having an opportunity to quickly engage with people in a way that is not possible through any other medium other than face to face. However, even face to face in a professional setting you don’t often get to dining habits, kids and other life details in the first meeting.
Sherman,
Good stuff as always. Twitter is very addictive. I find it hard to explain to my wife what exactly and why I need to be engaged in it. I find it’s pretty amazing that with 140 characters you can get a glimpse into people that you probably wouldn’t be able to get any other way.
For example, while following @newmediajim I get a glimpse into a network cameraman’s daily life, while he follows/films the President. There are many other examples.
The other cool thing about twitter is all the interesting and useful websites and pieces of software that I probably wouldn’t have ever heard of or seen without someone else letting me know.
Keep up the good. Oh yeah those tweets from the weekend at Howie’s were priceless.
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Looks good Sherman. The time at the top is wrong though.
Hey Sherman,
Just trying to watch your videos, loading a little slow for me.
I’m new to Twitter and it seems like you’ve got a lot of knowledge in the area.
I wanted to ask you: Do you think there is a distinction between Twitter being a good tool for use in promoting your business… and Twitter being a good tool for use in promoting your business IF you’re involved in internet related niches (ie online marketing like us, software, e-commerce etc)
Andrew
Andrew, thanks for your patience (may have something to do with loading at Blip.tv)
Twitter is a tool. Period. A broadcast and relational medium.
That said, its popular amongst early adopters. There are still folks asking me what a blog is?
You could attempt to bring your tech-unrelated audience to use it so you can broadcast messages to them in real-time (be sure to use a separate account for that business) and it could work.
Sherman, cool vid man. One question on this one. How can I get Justin.tv to send a notification to Twitter when I go live with it? I must be missing the obvious but I don’t see any way to integrate the platforms.
Thanks
HI Sherman,
Im writing to you from South Africa. I am in the process of writing a course for a prominent university in South Africa on: How can a business gain competitive advantage through applying social network(media) marketing techniques as a business strategy? I just bought more than 10 books on the topic. I would love to show some of your work in class and or quote you in my course material. How do i go about it? My course need to start early 2009.
Thank you,
Hey Riaan, thanks for stopping by from South Africa
Congrats on your gig writing a University course on Social Media for Business Strategy!
I welcome you to quote me in your course material or in class. Please credit and direct your students to my blog here at http://ShermanLive.com or my web TV show at http://ShermanHu.tv.
All the best with your course creation. Cheers!