What is actually Twitter?
The social media channel Twitter started in 2006. Twitter is actually a mini blog, somebody can post messages with a maximum of 140 characters. For example messages about things you’re doing, things you have noticed, interesting  facts or the news.

Robert-Jan Mast, owner of RRMast & Go mentioned: “Twitter is more than:
- 140 characters
- A hash tag (#)
- Direct messaging
- Following or being followed
- Tweeting or re-tweeting”.

You probably heard about Twitter before, more and more people discovered that twittering is not only fun, but it can also be really useful. Websites, TV programs, newspapers, magazines they almost all do something with Twitter.

What can you do on Twitter?
It’s a channel to connect with other people, you can follow for example stars, the news, authority or just your friends. You can build relationships via this channel. But it’s also possible to share information. You can post “Tweets” or to “re-tweet” messages from others. The breaking news is most of the time earlier on Twitter than on TV. Moreover, Twitter is a good channel to use in business.

 

Twitter in business
When you’re on Twitter as a company you have to ask yourself questions about what you would like to show on this channel? Where do you want to talk about? What are your goals? What is our brand about? You should make a plan with a strategy. Before that, you should do your research. Monitor your clients, but also look at the competitors, Robert-Jan mentioned: “It always start with listening, listen to what the competition is doing”. He also gives the tip, to keep up a register of your customers and partners. On your own Twitter page it is possible to make some lists of Twitter profiles. For example it’s possible to make a list of some tourism organisations. Furthermore, it’s important to put promote the Twitter page on other channels (e.g. on your website, Facebook page, Linkedin, blog, etcetera).

But if you, as company, are doing something wrong it can also be bad promotion. Robert-Jan says: “Let everybody talk with the same mouth, on every channel”.  For example, posting a bad “Tweet”.

I’m not using Twitter, but I can imagine that using Twitter actively can boost you business. But, you should use this channel actively and upload relevant messages which are useful to know for your target group. Just give the people something to think about, you as company can lead the way of the stories you’re telling.